Sunday 30 December 2012

Goodbye 2012




Goodbye 2012

Jacaranda flowered for the first time,

Wrens came back for a while,

Magpies packed up and left.

Honeyeaters moved in.

Yellow faced black cockatoos flew over West Footscray.

Marbled geckos patterned our red brick driveway,

Possums invaded.

 

Sunsets were viewed all over Victoria,

Moon and Stars watched from the fly wire windows of our campervan,

Industrial sunsets were watched every night on West Footscray walks.

 

Rode over many hills from Lilydale to Warburton,

For many kms on wondrous adventure with son.

Formed a close bond and shared the love of a new dog in my life.

Doubted myself and my talents and learnt not to do this anymore.

 

Observed spiders spin webs,

Ladybirds explore marigolds,

Dragonflies glisten and hover above water,

Reeds dance in the wind.

 

Shared sense of wonder of nature with children.

Swam in the ocean alone,

Went fishing with a friend,

Walked for MS,

Rode for Smith Family,

Over Westgate bridge twice.

Watched the moon,

The moon watched me.

 

Experienced sadness,

Shared sadness and hard times with friends

Felt fear which froze me,

Said goodbye to my job at the Royal Botanic Gardens and cried a river of tears.

Farewelled friends,

Made new friends,

Cared for Quolls,

Watched sunset on top of boulders at Mt Rothwell,

Observed deep space,

Fell in love with Pleiades all over again.

 

Taught teenagers for the first time,

They taught me.

As a team helped the planet,

Shared the wonders of the world,

 

Shared love and support of loved ones,

Took up challenges,

Shared my writing on social media,

Let my heart ache,

Experienced disappointment,

Watched my family grow and love life,

Laying on the grass at Warburton watching the moon and stars with my 8 year old son,

Knowing that moment was one of the best in 2012.

At the end of our cycling journey – just us- watching the universe- in shared wonder.

 

Goodbye 2012

 
Robbie 2012

 

 

 

 

Saturday 29 December 2012

West Footscray Wool Stores


West Footscray Wool Stores

 
West Footscray- Watson’s Wool store,
Sunshine Rd,
Goldsborough, Mort and Co LTD neighbours.
Drawn to these haunting, vast buildings on my West Footscray walks.
Coral’s dad worked at Watson’s in the 60s-
As a child she loved the fish pond out front –koi swimming under date palms-
The Xmas family picnics-
One year Coral wore her tartan skirt and powder blue cashmere cardigan – which was torn climbing fences- hence was a memorable Xmas picnic.
 
Walking past the wool store I watch pigeons roosting up high on the stained rooves,
I wonder of their views over the West Footscray “Hansen for Houses” 40s estate.
Who is intriguing them today?

 
Randomly broken window panes of the wool stores are openings for my curiosity,
Child inside me yearns to climb through and explore these vast buildings,
For clues of the times Coral’s dad worked there.
Like the stencilled signs on the brick walls out front,
Faded but still there-
Tattoos of time.

Imagine the gardens restored to their original state,
I see my reflection in the garden pond,
Up the path and knocking on the bulging burgundy doors,
A VIP visitor from one of Hansen’s houses,
Tea and scones with the manager and a complimentary bale of wool.

 
Some buildings still used to store wool- love the bales lined up outside,
The smell of wool wafting through broken panes,
Intriguing architecture,
In an exquisite Industrial Landscape.

 
Rob 2012

 

 

 

 

Monday 24 December 2012

TED'S STOCKING

Ted's Stocking

Ted is eight year's old- the same as you,
This year he has a sequinned, spangled stocking,
Hanging from the knob of the white chest of drawers that were my Nan's,
Hanging parallel to your silky red stocking- Ted is as excited as you-it's Christmas Eve.

I am perplexed- what will Ted receive from Santa?
Maybe a new ribbon like the one he wore to hospital to first meet you ?
In Aunty Karen's outstretched arms-
It was love at first sight-
Ted's glistening eyes filled with love when he saw you,
Curled in a squished ball of soft blankets - he dreamed of the day you would hug him gently and share dreams.

I know -maybe some honey - Ted's favourite food in a  silver thimble to drink,
Or a  badge of bravery-
For Ted has shared many more first times than us.
He's shared your surgery just last week,
Snuggled you tight as you drifted into slumber.
He whispered stories of shared adventures to soothe your fear away.
Ted's travelled to Ballarat on your first scout camp,
He calmed you to sleep  and blocked his ears in a room of noisy boys.
Ted's climbed trees and sped down pulley systems,
He's been on bike rides in pannier bags,
Head poking out to watch the views of rolling hills and vineyards to Warburton.

Ted's gone missing many times,
Discovered in the depths of couch cushions,
Under the bed,
Alone and frightened - brave Ted,
Been stitched unevenly and operated on-
Re- stuffed unrecognisably,
And lovingly squashed back to Ted with your familiar cuddles.

Ted's shared your sadness and happiness,
His fur soaked with your tears,
Even pegged on the line by his ears.

Ted's proud of your new cub badges for bike riding and first aide,
I know now what Ted will get in his stocking!!!!
A badge of your love - a fabric love heart- of silver and sequins,
The always unconditonal love of the life's journey of a Teddy Bear !!!!
Ted .

Robbie  Dec 24th 2012

Saturday 15 December 2012


West Footscray Moon

My West Footscray moon gazes down at me,
Through mazes of wires and lights of Tottenham railyards.
It sees through my walking heart,
Soft ,melted, exposed,
But wrapt in strong corrugation -protected.
Only the moon sees the wild beating,
A heart which yearns,
A yearning -walking heart in West Footscray.
Pounding past the barbed wire fences,
Adorned with Angels made from white torn plastic,
Dancing freely- though trapped.
The moon follows the path of my heart.
My heart it yearns for the wilderness,
Beyond the railway yards-
Of adventures in lands only the moon has seen.
To other galaxies and nebulas-
I wait for my sliver winged horse to take me.....
My West Footscray heart yearns,
While the moon shares my dreams.

Rob 2012