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.

21 October 2014

It's Time

Vale Gough

















It’s time for mourning,
time for knowing
all that we’ve lost
since his time.

It’s time to remember
that long-gone euphoria,
time to ponder
the brief taste of freedom,
time to farewell
the last of the giants —
it’s his time.

It’s time to be thankful
he once walked among us,
time to praise
the reforms that he gave us,
the peace he enacted,
the pacifists un-prisoned,
not before time.

It’s time to celebrate
affordable health care
truly life-saving,
free Universities
for all who could qualify,
the restoring of land rights —
oh yes, it was time.

It’s time to believe
we must not forget him,
it’s time to recapture
the decency, the caring
of that earlier era,
time to maintain
the rage for our time.

It’s time for morning,
a new day, a sunrise.
Yes we can do it.
Yes, now, it’s time!

31 Poems in 31 Days (Poewar / Writer's Resource Center). Prompt: Start with a negative, turn it to a positive.  Also submitted for dVerse Poetics — Good News, Bad News, Your News!

In honour of Gough Whitlam, 1916-2014, former Prime Minister of Australia





34 comments:

  1. He did redefine the country for the better. These times wont be back I'm afraid. May he rest in peace.
    PS
    And he was the only handsome politician we have ever had.

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    1. But we have to bring about better times than the present ones! Unfortunately there's a great lack of giants.

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    2. Agree....pipsqueaks and misogynists are dominating the fray !

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  2. He certainly made an impact during his time. One used to hear his name mentioned in the news most times then! Wonderful lines Rosemary!

    Hank

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    1. Thank you. Yes, I guess he made an impact in the region, not only nationally.

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  3. Yes, he was in power less time than Julia Gillard but his impact was enormous. He was the sort of politician we need again..... one with vision and despite his flaws, we all have them, integrity and courage.

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  4. Alas I had not heard of him.. but there are those points when person and opportunities all interact for the best.

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  5. I like the faith that takes one from mourning to a new morning...inspiring lines Rosemary...

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  6. we have lost many a figurehead or icon from my youth over the last several years....there are certain people that polarize the times....sad to lose them, but part of their legacy can live on in us, if we let it...

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    1. Yes, that's the crucial thing now - not only letting it live on but preventing it being eroded by less iconic figures.

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  7. A fitting tribute to a wise and good leader ~ Some benefits that we enjoy now, free healthcare and Catholic education are due to some of the efforts of our caring leaders ~ His legacy lives on ~

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    1. It seems that leaders not so wise and good are doing their best to undo many of those benefits. Another reason it's good to remember the great Gough, and also what things were like here before his reforms.

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  8. A wonderful tribute, Rosemary. It is sad news to hear that such a great man has died; but hopefully what he worked for will live on (or return).

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    1. Well, he couldn't live forever. He was 98, and his great love, his wife Margaret, had already gone on ahead. But his passing causes us to reflect on that earlier era of so much hope and vitality.

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  9. I had never heard of him but your poem makes me believe that I would have liked this politician. Somehow at present it is very hard to like the ones we have.

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  10. each one of us have a job/responsibility to the world we live in

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    1. Yes. It is fortunate indeed when we get leaders with not only that awareness but the vision of exactly what is needed.

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  11. You create a nice balance in your piece - I like progression and the positive energy you build on the close.

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  12. Great tribute. I really like the repeated use of time in different ways. And the way you end it "a new day, a sunrise" was perfect.

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    1. Thank you, Justin. I was of course partly copying the famous (in Australia) campaign song - see the DVD I posted.

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  13. He sounds like a fantastic man, and leader. We need one of him in every country!

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  14. Very moving poem Rosemary, even for a Philistine like me!? I was in my first year at Uni when Gough came to power, and saw and felt how he so magnificently changed the political landscape away from the let's-just-do-what-we-always-have-done conservative way, to a real vision-based course of action. Alas, Australian politics is now in the grip of conservative ideologues devoid of reason and heart. If I felt Australian I would be ashamed!

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    1. Thanks, Eddie.

      I feel Australian and I am appalled.

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  15. I like the contrast of past and present..with the hope for future..loved the closing lines ...

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  16. Oh, well said Rosemary! Every detail so beautifully expressed! And a truly inspiring finish. Wow!

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  17. A great tribute beautifully penned.

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