Views in Verse on 'a fair go'

I, for one, still cannot reconcile in my mind the way that Adam Goodes was treated ...not just by the populous at large over his stance against racism but by the administration of AFL that did nothing to stop it ...or correct it. Just one of the matters touched on by Stan Grant in this very moving speech on Australia Day. What an advocate for his people! Stan, you may have just won a few over today!

The Others

You took me in when I needed help
I know that you are my friend
He vouched for me also at that time
A ready hand to lend
She too was like a sister to me
Without asking a thing in return
But it's not about them of whom I speak
It’s the others that I spurn

I didn’t mean you, when I spoke of ‘a plot’
I didn’t mean him, involved he’s not
I didn’t mean her, I’d be needlessly hurting
It’s the rest of the others to whom I’m referring
It’s all the others, who offer a threat
It’s all the others, whose intent I get
It's all about them, their motives aren't true
I know this just simply, because …I do!

from my desktop Grahame J Flynn Views in Verse

Views in Verse on 'the great Aussie bloke'

I was luckier than most, I had two fathers who fashioned my life. Jack, whom I lost some time back now, and my Uncle Les who only left us sadly in this past year. They, and many other men of the post-war generation who inspired me with their forthright ways, were the roots of this poem. 'Happy Australia Day' to all of us (our gift from them). They selflessly made us who we are! We should remember them well in celebration of where we find ourselves today.

The Great Aussie Bloke

He's been the lovable larrikin
The butt of many a joke
For he speaks his mind right at you
plain speaking kind of folk
To get a true likeness of him though...
the painter would need few stokes
For straight up and down 
just as you find him
is the great Aussie bloke:

Give him a field
He'll raze it clean 
In just a given day
Give him a bar 
he'll fill it with fun 
At his regular pay
Open his eyes 
to a worthy cause
He'll move 
without delay 
Yet introduce him 
to a worthy miss
He'll quietly shrink and choke...
Not much with his softer side
The great Aussie bloke

The 'engine's always running'
He's 'chatty' and forthright
A friend in need...? 
He'll turn up ready
to help him with his plight
Injustice found?
In his own way
He'll defend the given right
A time of darkness...?
he'll be there too
to raise his sleeves to fight...
Then without words
he'll tip his hat.... and
slowly roll a smoke...
Straight up and down
Just as you find him
He's the ...great ...Aussie ...bloke

Forwarded from my I-phone Grahame J Flynn Views in Verse

Views in Verse on Tamworth Country Music Festival

Image: Chicken Train Skifflers - almost typical of the energy you find performing in the pubs daily. Yep we'll be back same time next year ....21-27/1/19

But ...ARE YOU COMING?

High on the Country

We're setting forth

We're travelling North

It's Tamworth time again

with songs I've chosen for the trip

from Bill, Troy, Beccy and Slim

The road up ahead

It dances and plays as

I shield my eyes from the sun

It's gonna be hot

be it outdoor or not

even when day is done

We'll be high on the country

So high on the country

Our mates all come

Up highway one

With Bill, Troy, Beccy and Slim

The buskers are out

Some need to shout

As they joust out loud to be heard

Give them a grin

They grin right back

In tune to your every word

Each one unique

never coiffured or chic

To themselves

they're gonna be true

Ask for a song...

You can sing right along

Might buy the odd CD too

Cause we're high on the country

So high on the country

There's music galore

in Peel St Mall

in tune with your every word

The pubs are tight

they rock alright

That's another great act to thank

Behind each door

More music plays

Be it rock, roots, skiffle or Hank

This band plays Dwight

Right into the night

We dance and drink till two

On the way back home

You're never alone

They're happy there just like you

And we're high on the country

So high on the country

Top bands all come

Great party fun

Be it rock, roots,skiffle or Hank

A morning scene

Surreal ...a dream?

Bo Jenkins on a wild mouth harp

Wazza's acoustic,

Killer's electric

Its the Albert Pub ten sharp

Gallie arrives

He steps right up

Borrowing a stray guitar

You guess the rest...

Were we impressed?

Something special happened in that bar...

And we're high on the country

So high on the country

A 'Tamworth moment'

Such as this...

The Albert pub ten sharp

Australia Day

They're out to play

Kevin Bennett plays soulfully

A living icon

of country song

as Aussie as you and me

Then the Bushwackers turn

to steal the show

emotion was high just then

Sweaty moonlight

The great outdoors

"we are Os-trale-ien"

And we're high on the country

So high on the country

The legends played

On Australia Day

As Aussie as you-n-me

Well ...there it goes

You've seen the shows

You've had just enough of the sun

Its back to the road

for the long trip home

Say goodbye to everyone

New songs to be sung

For the homeward run

The 'oldies' never far away

just tune your station

to 94 one...

More music gonna fill your day

Cause we're high on the country

So high on the country

More music to play

On 'going home' day

We'll be back same time next year

Yes we'll go...

to where the music flows...

We'll be back same time next year

Grahame J Flynn - Sent from my iPhone - Views in Verse

Views in Verse on 'the inner compass'

The new year brings to each of us not only immense opportunity but also trepidation re our focus, capabilities and competencies to meet with those challenges...

The Path

Beauty so surrounds us
Are our eyes too dumb to see?
What is this makes such dazzling light
Lo, turn to dark on me?
Even when the sky’s on fire from a warm baked summer’s day
How cannot the entendant joy well-keep the doubt at bay?
When there’s life in every pore…
So rich in gifts galore…
Gentle breeze and deep blue seas do woo
Look away …see a path well-marked for you!

Grahame Flynn Views-in-Verse

Views in Verse on 'time to reflect'

The Aussie holiday silly-season
(The day’s between...)

Views in Verse on 'time to reflect' (on what really matters)

The Aussie holiday silly-season
(The day’s between...)

Summer colours bubbling bright
Parties hum into the night
Celebrate hard, its that time of year again!
Beach crowds, they hurry slow
Warm embrace very much ‘the go’
So overdue with family and very much loved friends

The seaside shops they can distract
Perhaps a casual interact
With smiling passers-by along the way
The boulevard long and sweaty
Conversations short (sic petty)
Noise a rattling from children who like to squeal at play

Moon on-water after dark
At the beach or harbour park
The bay lights rise with nature’s song
Great memories shared with friends
Conversation so easily lends
‘Reminiscing’ the key as 'the story' moves along...

‘The Unresolved’, unwanted guest!
An alcohol-endangered quest
Family glibly interfere with each other’s thoughts...
But no matter what to think, expect or fear
The new year still awaits us here
The daytime vibrant, thick with outdoor sports

Onward as the eve unfolds
Another year, of getting old
Whatever these days is worth celebrating...?
A further candle on the cake?
How much more money can we make?
There must be more to life than this...
Perhaps to consider others for a change
Respect their ways although they seem strange
And to appreciate more of what we truly have to give!

Grahame Flynn Views in Verse

Sent from my iPhone