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.

1 January 2014

Getting Re-acquainted

I had forgotten
crowded Melbourne trains,
but I'm ushered to a seat
for 'special needs'
by a smiling, standing passenger.
(I'm elderly, with luggage.)

Through bits of windows between heads
I see thick bushes, agapanthus blooms
and colourful walls of graffiti.

Middle-aged men stand reading their phones.
There's a loud buzz of conversations
all up and down the carriage.
Many men are wearing hats.
The day is very hot.
My sun-hat's in my bag for now.

I try to read the names of stations
through the crush whenever we stop,
sometimes succeed.
When we get to the city,
my destination,
everyone will pour out.

No, they pile out at Richmond
wearing baggy shorts 
and toting drink bags.
Then I know,
this is the cricket crowd.
I stay on board
for one more station
with the quiet and hatless few remaining 
in a compartment suddenly spacious.


Submitted, 9 Feb. 2014, for dVerse Poetics — Sketchbook / in-the-moment poetry


31 comments:

  1. cricket-fans everywhere seem to be the same...love the vivid description and that bit of generosity..Happy New Year Rosemary :)

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  2. Many thanks, and Happy New Year to you too! :)

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  3. Hello. Great job. I did not expect this this week. This is a great story. Thanks!
    jeux de fille

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  4. Reminded me of my days on the subways in Boston...gosh it would be packed some days...couldn't wait for people to get off and leave some breathing room. Good sketch, Rosemary.

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    1. I'm sure crowded trains are much the same everywhere. :)

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  5. I always love anything to do with traveling observations...being in the midst of it as you are give you a special perspective...nice

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    1. Yes, having scored a seat, I sat there and wrote. :)

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  6. ah yes...you australians love to play and watch cricket... very cool capture of the train journey...i so love traveling by train and just watch other passengers...so interesting... a cool write rosemary

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    1. Ha ha, I am not one who loves it - though plenty do. I, you will note, was not getting off at that station, and was barely aware there was a game happening until I put two and two together and finally remembered there was an important test match happening. LOL

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  7. a kaleidoscopic view through the windows of the moving train. Nice idea to arrange your sketch this way.
    the men are more thoughtful down under it seems. I could stuff a cushion under my clothes and not get a seat :-)

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  8. def made me think of the subway...all the chit chat...so many people to take in and experience...i grew into cricket on a trip once as it is much different than our baseball etc....

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    1. Not all that keen on sport myself - but many are. I don't watch cricket, or even baseball - find it boring, sorry - but can come at a good Aussie Rules footy Grand Final, or even a bit of soccer.

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  9. Well penned. You captured Melbourne and the world of public transport and a culture shock compared to the Northern Rivers:)

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    1. Aha! So where are you, then? Do pm me on facebook if you're there (in my friends list already, I wonder?). I lived in Melbourne 30 years and have visited during my 19 years in Northern Rivers - but it had been a while before this last trip.

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  10. You've brought train travel to life. I wish sometimes we had more places we could go by train. Truly train travel is a RARE thing here. It is always good when one doesn't have to get off at the most popular destination...more relaxing to have a bit more room.

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    1. It's a rare thing in my life too, nowadays. When I lived in Melbourne, two decades ago, I loved it. You can't read, write, crochet, people watch and admire the scenery at leisure while driving a car!

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  11. Familiar and yet different..you took us through every minute..beautifully done

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  12. Lovely capture, the crowd, the space & noise & what the people are wearing & going into ~ For me its the subway & train rides where I can indulge in people watching ~

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    1. Yes, I used to enjoy that too when I travelled by public transport a lot. In the small town where I now live, it just isn't necessary.

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  13. I can really see you on that train.. I know how it is to be on a hockey train.. he he.. but the warmth... I hope you had air-con on.

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    1. Do you know, I never thought about it. With all doors and windows closed while travelling, I guess they must be air-conditioned.

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  14. thank you for sharing that moment, I felt it. Your words take that trip and share it so that across the globe - I can feel it.

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    1. Thanks. That's one of the great thing about sharing our poetry, isn't it?

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  15. Wonderfully sketched to put us right there. The details you capture had me picturing it vividly. Your first stanza gave me a chuckle too! Enjoyed much.

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  16. This is a very nice sketch of your journey on a crowded train. What I noticed in the first stanza is that chivalry is not dead. The details you pick out like the colorful graffiti, bushes and blooms are important details that give us the picture of where you are.

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