SHADY LADIES

ABPA Financial members can post their Bush Poetry here ...
All Forum Visitors can view but only Financial ABPA Members can post and reply.
Post Reply
User avatar
Maureen K Clifford
Posts: 8047
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:31 am
Location: Ipswich - Paul Pisasale country and home of the Ipswich Poetry Feast
Contact:

SHADY LADIES

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Tue Sep 24, 2019 11:34 am

Inspired to share by Shelley's lovely poem on the old Queenslanders, which are part and parcel of my home town at Ipswich as well.

SHADY LADIES ... Maureen Clifford © The #ScribblyBark Poet


There are lots of shady ladies in the town where I reside.
Standing on street corners, morning through to night.
They never coyly ever try their attributes to hide.
But stand there strong and proud, and that’s alright.
Some are beautiful, some pretty, some are just old and tired.
Worn out from many years of passing time.
Each one has an inner beauty if you look at them just right,
though perhaps a few are really past their prime.

Shady ladies come in colours of white, cream, pink and blue,
fresh and clean they stand there looking quite divine.
Some wear lace and pretty trimmings and have roses at their feet.
their new renovations bringing glitz and shine.
But in life we all are different; all have strengths and love to give.
We can all tell tales of old and different days.
The lovely Shady ladies in the town where I now live,
could tell stories that I ‘m sure would just amaze.

Shady ladies, lovely ladies. May you always grace our streets.
May your gracious beauty last for many years.
Will your elegant verandahs, and your sweeping gable roofs
offer shelter to more families who’ll hear,
the muted whispers fleeting of the ghosts of long ago?
Then life was far less hurried, and with time
to sit and smell the roses and enjoy the evening quiet.
You were younger then and looking mighty fine.

When the summer sun is burning down upon our city streets,
it’s pleasant to sit in their welcome shade.
A most relaxing way to pass time, escape summer heat,
drinking a beer or homemade lemonade.
You can sit and watch the swaying of a Jacaranda tree,
covered in purple blossoms feather light.
Or just while away the hours doing nothing much at all.
Doesn’t matter what you do – just do it right.

Shady ladies. Shady ladies of the night.
Shady ladies in the morning sunshine bright.
Shady ladies standing in the fog and mist and rain.
Shady ladies it’s good to see you again.
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

Terry
Posts: 3287
Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2010 6:53 pm

Re: SHADY LADIES

Post by Terry » Tue Sep 24, 2019 8:28 pm

G/day Maureen
My Daughter and her family live in one up in Darwin - although it's a more recent construction than the old Queenslanders.
Somewhere along the way we lost our grip on common sense and began building completely unsuitable brick and concrete homes,
we even got rid of the verandas that once shaded most of if not all the house.
I was brought up in one of those - love to have one like it now.
Enjoyed your poem Maureen.

Terry

Ron
Posts: 740
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2010 5:55 pm
Location: Blue Mtns.

Re: SHADY LADIES

Post by Ron » Thu Sep 26, 2019 4:27 pm

Ah Maureen,
Once again I was caught off guard by the title, :D enjoyed the read! "The muted whispers fleeting of the ghosts of long ago" well said! They were built of an era weren't they, and I guess there was more time (or time was made!) for maintenance in the old days.
Cheers
Ron

User avatar
Shelley Hansen
Posts: 2224
Joined: Sun May 04, 2014 5:39 pm
Location: Maryborough, Queensland
Contact:

Re: SHADY LADIES

Post by Shelley Hansen » Wed Oct 02, 2019 3:24 pm

What a lovely term for them, Maureen - "shady ladies"! Very apt indeed!

Your poem conjured up visions of D'Arcy Doyle for me! A word picture well drawn!

Cheers
Shelley
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com

"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")

r.magnay
Posts: 1402
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 1:41 pm
Location: Port Lincoln SA

Re: SHADY LADIES

Post by r.magnay » Fri Oct 04, 2019 8:49 pm

I find it quite sexist.....shady ladies indeed.... :D

I too was a little misled by the title... :oops:
Ross

User avatar
Maureen K Clifford
Posts: 8047
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:31 am
Location: Ipswich - Paul Pisasale country and home of the Ipswich Poetry Feast
Contact:

Re: SHADY LADIES

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Sun Oct 06, 2019 2:00 pm

Thanks everyone for your considered comments :D It was written very tongue in cheek with the intent to perhaps channel the ladies of the night - which was in fact the title I first gave it Ross :shock: and doubtless in its day Ipswich had its share of those as well, but then as Shelley picked up on I thought something a little more refined might be better when I put it into the IPF competition and D'arcy Doyle is of course a much loved son of Ipswich. Having owned my own shady lady for a period of time they are dear to my heart, but oh boy! High maintenance which my budget could no longer sustain.

Glad you all seemed to enjoy my poem and thank you all for commenting :lol:
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

Post Reply