riding our bikes
alongside factories
we watch the sun set
on rows
of broken windows

On top of Possum Cave

On top of Possum Cave

Sound of mop squeezing

Swishing across linoleum floor

Fast legs escape outside into summer

Peppered by nasturtiums

 

Basking in morning sun on

Rough cement whilst

Peering into a dark space

Waiting for blue tongued lizard to emerge-

Learning patience and stillness

 

I leap to swing on the hills hoist

Looking skyward at dizzy clouds

Drop with a thud to roll

On summer buffalo to gaze at slow motion clouds

Through mosaicked sky of eucalypt

 

I traverse my worn track

Across the yellowed back paddock

Down the sprawling aniseed and box thorn

River valley to Possum Cave

Clustered granitic boulders

My dreaming rock ledge of escape

Soaring skyward

With the pair of white kites

And the skeletons of dead trees

Interlocking and twisting upwards.

 

In company of the Great Egret

I slow my thoughts

And breathe easy- far away

From the smell of polished

Linoleum and order

 

My small shadow is adult on the rock face

Tiny tanned arms wrapped  around my knees

I slowly unfurl

To sprawl across the rock

Lizard child-

Tightness is released

As I breathe in the sky.

 

This place is where

I come to ask all the questions

Of the sky, river, trees and birds

For they have always known the answers

To the hard questions

The answers drift up the Valley

In the seeds from golden grasses-

I am home

Rob 2014

 

For Andrea

 

In memory of my dear Cousin Andrea

I remember –

Childhood parties at your place,

Your mum’s lemon filled fairy cakes,

Swishing our patterned skirts to Dancing Queen,

Nana’s glamorous dress ups from her ornate glory box- full of fun,

Fox fur hiding in the darkness of Nana’s cupboard- red beady eyes peering out at us.

Hopscotch, barbie dolls and elastics in the street- skipping ropes and hoola hoops.

Your smile was the sun-

Now it swirls in the Winter winds- melting morning frost-

Thawing hearts of city stone statues-

Your smile tells huddled birds-

Stories of laughter and song in your heart-

Childhood dreams-

Adult aspirations-

Your smile left this Earth too early,

But makes Winter snowdrops sing-

You see you were just too smart for this world,

Clever and funny and beautiful,

Ocean eyes- contagious laugh,

Quirky and most of all brave.

Fighting a courageous battle in a world you didn’t want to leave.

Cousins-

My Dad – your Mum- brother and sister-

Shared history, blood,

Lives entwined- childhood dreaming,

Your smile- it fills bare Winter trees with hope of new buds in Spring,

Your smile- spirals and lifts towards the sun-

Illuminates the stars-

I always thought you shined-

Glitter in your veins

 

Goodbye Andrea

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

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