I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

2 November 2013

Jimbo and Gary Have an Adventure

Jimbo Bazoobi and his good friend Gary
were strolling round Sydney, down at the Rocks
(Jim was clean-shaven and Gary was hairy)
when who should they meet but a couple of cops.

Gary was hungry, and there were some flowers
by the edge of the road, so he ate them of course.
The coppers decided to use their powers
to charge him and fine him. Could things get worse?

Four hundred dollars they said — no, four–forty.
Gary didn’t have that and Jimbo was broke.
They didn’t even think what he’d done was so naughty.
Gary, after all, was actually a goat.

And goats do eat plants, the judge pointed out.
No-one could prove they went there with intent.
They were simply visiting, walking about
like anyone else, these two good friends.

The case was thrown out, the fine was refunded;
the people of Sydney reacted with cheers.
Why shouldn’t a goat eat some grass if he’s hungry?
Gary said nothing, just wiggled his ears.

(There were ear-holes in the hat on his head.)
‘We travel all over: north, south, east, west.
We just like to have adventures,’ Jim said.
He grinned. 'This adventure was one of the best.’

Poetic Asides, November Poem A Day Chapbook Challenge 2: A news item.

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