The day started a little rainy and
windy, with apologies from Joan, Gloria, Eoin, Alex, Judy, Vincent, Paul,
Lisbey, Graham and Sandra. Eighteen poets made it along for our monthly
recital. The pies, cake and coffee from the canteen in the foyer are really so
delicious, it’s my once a month dietary naïve treat. The optional monthly theme
of ‘Three Score and Ten’ and optional first line being ‘Laughter is the best
medicine, it will…..’ were both well utilised and most wrote on the topic with
a wide varied interpretation of the subjects.
Bob started the day off with his poem on
the 3/10 theme and made us laugh at all our politically incorrect politicians
and their attack on the very fabric of the life of the man in the street. His
second poem was directed toward many of today’s youth titled “Respect” he
commented on traditional family values and how respect for elders was once a
priority in Australian society and that it is now sadly fading away. He closed
the day with his funny and sad poem about a water spout that was pointing down
yesterday and will probably be pointing down today, should have bought a hat
mate !!
Roger came along early and he replied to Marta’s invitation to use his
native Afrikaans language as he recited their national anthem. He was keen to
recite his birthday poem written on the day he turned seventy, a very nice poem
about his life and included praise to his Son Brandon and his lovely partner
Pammy. In his second poem he told us how he wanted a rest after doing the
mowing and gardening so he got a cold beer and sat in front of the idiot box
and watched the idiots in Canberra deciding our future, he was so impressed he
turned it off an had another cold beer instead. He then recited a very funny
poem about his water works and I think it was titled “My thing don’t work
anymore”.
Allen let us in on a
secret that even the ‘Oldies’ get wild on Facebook and crash parties!! A friend
of his posted her 80th Birthday party on a ‘public’ post and along
came wheel chairs, motorised buggies, electric scooters, walking frames and
even a pirated Aged care bus made it onto the front lawn, all sorts of
debauchery took place and they rocked all night!! His second poem was an
anaesthetic inspired journey through his mind as he was put on trial and told the
jury of every single car he has ever loved from an 1951 Austin A 30 to the
legendary Bugatti Veyron.
Judi brightened up
our day with her lovely poem about the best medicine, she reminded us of the
importance of family and the power of a smile. Recommending we don’t waste time
on hate and anger and fill our days with as much happiness as we can. Judi’s second poem was about the upcoming
winter and how we have to get prepared for the cool change coming our way,
extra blankets, rugs, hot drinks and maybe some more rain.
Joyce wrote on the 3/10 theme and how her reward for making it to that
date is to enjoy the slower pace of life and still remember to have fun. Joyce told
us that the reward of making it to 4/10 will be to enjoy the peace serenity and
the relaxation of sitting around in a wheel chair and still writing and
reciting verse. Her second poem was titled “Fairway to the Fairway” and
narrated the story of a happy devoted wife of mother of two adult children that
discovered the joy of her newly found free time and she started playing golf,
much to the dislike of her over dependent family that then had to learn how to do
daily chores for themselves!!!
Mac followed in her footsteps and recited on the 3/10 theme and told
of how much he enjoys the spare time he now has and how he has a lot to be
proud of in his life as he remembers all the wonderful things he has done, and
he closed with how much he enjoys his time with P.I.P. His second poem included
the old ‘Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone’ statement
as he reminded us of the value of friendship and doing ‘good’ in while you are
here. His third poem was written by an old mate of his tilted “The cooks
revenge” a very funny poem about a very effective curry that worked on the
digestive system and the cooks efforts to nail the dunny door shut and then
also screw down the lid, and the sad and poor hapless chap that probably
regretted criticising the cook as he paddled up the proverbial creek.
David wrote a really good poem on the 3/10 theme and it included a break
down edited into stages of every five years of a person life from birth to
three score and ten, he recited the first half on his first turn at the podium
and the other half on his second. A big thank you went to David for handling
the poetry book distribution in Joan’s absence.
Ted did a parody of a TS Elliot poem and titled his work “Obama T the
Presidential Cat” very well written and very funny. Ted’s second poem was on
the laughter theme and included a mention of his Son ‘Super Dan’ the media
adviser to Anna and his thoughts on the value of political polls; mentioning
Phil in Wagga Wagga.
The Banjo recited the classic AB Paterson work “The Geebung Polo Club” he
never missed a beat and had us all thoroughly entertained. Banjo recited a poem
live on 91.7 ABC Coast FM on the 17th with Peter Scott and did us
proud; next month is Bob’s turn. His second poem was by the well know Anon, written
about a little girl that had no father to take to show and tell “Dads Day” at
school, the other kids teased he about no dad and some even questioned why she
was so keen to present. The little girl bowled them all over with the words
tributed to the love her Dad had for her and the loves she still has for him,
he was a solider that was killed by UXD in Afghanistan and yet she could still feel
and see him right there by her side!!
Kathy made a long awaited return to the group as she took a break from
her many travels and joined us common folk. Kathy told of the joys and benefits
of retiring and the extra time for self that she now enjoys, her selective
deafness to requests from her children to baby sit or loan money. Kathy was
remembering petrol station attendants and real people in call centres and ones
with Australian accents; she closed with advising us to enjoy this time and to
outwit the twit wits. Kathy’s second poem vented her frustration and annoyance
with Government departments forcing pensioners to double up on the applications
for discount cards and benefit schemes.
Margaret told us how in a day dream she was nearly rejected at the pearly
gates by St Peter but she was let in once she explained all the good she has
done in her life and he decided to let her stay. Margaret’s second poem was
written by Hilda Richards titled “Be your Age” a tribute to turning eighty that she recited at husband Rays’
birthday last week, a nice poem and was well presented and received. Ray
completed some great pencil portrait caricatures of us poets at the podium.
Marta also made a welcomed return after a long absence and she recited
only one poem, a very short poem on our future being set by politicians and the
changing of the age for eligibility for the aged pension, nice poem Marta and
say hi to David.
Tom was in his comedy mode today and he recited a very funny poem
about his observations at the local lawn bowls club and the idiosyncrasies of
the crew of regulars that ‘live’ there on a daily basis. His second poem was in
two parts and he left his comedy hat on his chair as he recited a tribute to
those lost in wars in the heat of the battle, the soldiers and their riderless
horses; the second part relating to the lost souls that wander in the mist on
the heath of past battle fields. Tom then put his Monty Python hat on as he
displayed four accents in one set and told of the Yorkshire men discussing
their childhood and all the luxuries they did not have, a collection of tall
and true tales of suffering and misery that you just can’t tell the young
people today, cause they won’t believe ya!!
Jean made it all the way from God’s country NSW to join our group and
she received a warm welcome and many hugs, her first poem was a tribute to all
she has done in her life, from surviving the blitzkrieg in WW11 in London to
moving half way across the world and raising her only son in Australia to now
having a loving granddaughter, Jasmine, to enjoy and be proud of. Her many hats include Mother, Grandmother,
Artist, Published Novelist, Poet, Actor, Bushwalker and downright lovely
person!! Her second poem was short and was a positive affirmation to the
benefits of laughter as the best of all medications. She closed with a perfect rendition of Isobel
Marion Dorothea Mackellar’s iconic masterpiece written while feeling homesick
in England, “My Country”.
Trish recited a funny
poem titled “Between Marriages” about spearfishing in Greece and eating
calamari; the cooking was not up to par and the result was compared to eating a
weathered horse bridle. Her second poem was about her desire to be become an
overnight sensation and how she may have left her run a bit late?? She may have
to lift her game and be happy with being the best she can be; and that is, our
favourite inspirational poet!!!
Manya rounded off the day’s list of poets nicely as she recited a witty
retort to Roger’s funny critical poem two months ago about the members of
P.I.P. Her second poem was inspired by Michael Cacoyannis’s statement used in
Zorba the Greek “Life is trouble. Only death is not. To be alive is to undo
your belt and look for trouble” as she told of her travel’s to the hills in
Thailand and sipped on Gin Slings while watching orchids bloom then making a
bucket list with her sister while they both received massages, what a life
indeed. Manya’s third poem was from another island, the Island of the Gods,
Bali, where she enjoyed similar treats and avoided the drunken Aussies in Kuta
while eating mushrooms in the lovely resort up in the highlands.
Thank you to all our poetry friends
and to another successful month. See you all next month and enjoy the start of
winter, in the best place in the world to be at the best time of the year in
the whole world. Remember Morgan Freeman does not have sex, when he smiles a
baby simply appears in a field of kittens!
Jeffrey and Irene and the Poets in
Paradise 18/05/2014
