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Peter M. Atkins
I believe that a person becomes the product of their life experiences. My life’s experiences ranged from windmill erector/repairer out at the back of Bourke, White Cliffs and Wanaaring, through to ...view moreI believe that a person becomes the product of their life experiences. My life’s experiences ranged from windmill erector/repairer out at the back of Bourke, White Cliffs and Wanaaring, through to abattoir worker in Canberra, Townsville and Bourke. Pest control man based in Perth, Canberra and Wagga which allowed me to access to each cities surrounding areas. Laboratory assistant at Macquarie University involved in antivenin research against the Sydney Funnel Web spiders’ venom. Bull catching up the Gibb River road and down towards the Great Sandy Desert in the Kimberly. Orderly, ambulance driver and mortuary attendant at Derby district hospital Western Australia for three different dry seasons and one wet season. Mining exploration in 1981 east of Turkey Creek to the Bungle Bungles and down the Duncan Highway to the upper reaches of the Ord River. 1986-88 spent in mining exploration from Charters Towers to the Clarke River and at Maytown and Barrow Point. Manufacturer of Goanna Swags of Bourke that saw the bright lights of the advertising world on Great Temptation, Family Feud, Wheel of Fortune and Price is Right. Other occupations took me to Port Adelaide, Queensland railway Dalby, the opal fields of White Cliffs and western Queensland, mail truck driver from Bourke to Wanaaring, hay carter out of Katanning and Ballarat, contract painter in Isisford, over 20,000 miles of hitch hiking in Australia and New Zealand, six times across the Nullarbor and five years living as a hermit in a tin shack by the Darling River. Had a tumour removed from my neck which involved radiotherapy for my 21st birthday and resulted in severe facial palsy for my 27th birthday. An abscess burst in my belly and took away 200mm of my colon in 1997 from which I learnt the meaning of wearing a colostomy bag. I have made and lost friends, some passed on while others I left behind. These are the wins, losses and the trials that made me the person I am happy to be, and which gave birth to my book “Short Stories in Rhyme”. There is of course one last thing. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis fifteen years ago near the beginning of my books writing, so I now live in a wheelchair and travel abroad to the boardwalk on a mobility scooter. I dedicated my book to ‘Those who remind us our faith in human nature’. They are all around, family, friends, carers, community nurses, Homecare. Those who see to it that I am able to cope with the tasks that I used to take for granted, change my catheters and pick me up when I fall. Everyday Australians to whom I am thankful to, for their patience and their choice of careers.CONTENTSMY FRIENDIf you needed my eyes to see for youthe light of the moon or a starTO SEE, TO TOUCH, TO BETo awake and watch the sunrisein colours red and goldTHE PARADEThe band struck up the anthemas the soldiers moved along mainWISHESA rising river miles away washes dirt and black soil claythrough gullies deep until this place I seeTHE LONELY BUSHMANS MATEEven with his woolly coatthe wind still blew right throughLOOKING BACKHe looked back at the little boyand pulled a funny faceTHE MARINERS MEANING IN LIFELoose the mooring ropes me heartiesleave the harbor lights behindNATURES PEST CONTROLTime is short and time flies byand outback sun dehydratesOCEAN STORMRolling restless water flowsand ebbs from soaking sandA REMINDERShe’s the rose without the thornshe’s the light on winters mornTHE RIVER RED GUMShe stood on the banks of the darlingjust out of Bourke the townRABBITSSoft and furry with fluffy taila pet in children’s sleepSMILES IN STONETo acres of marble monuments through gates of no returnwhere angels rest with smiles set in faces of weathered stoneTHE PIONEERS HOUSEOf wattle and daub and plank and boardthe settlers house still standsMY DARLING RIVERSunny Sunday warm all aroundRIVER TO OCEAN TO CLOUDSShe’d lived by the riverhe’d first met her thereSEVENTH HEAVENOf gidgee alone, by soot covered stonea fire alive in its placeTHE SWAGMANS DOGHe was a leftover from the depressionthat finished twenty years beforeA DAY IN HER LIFEShe’s the infinity of spirit gentleand as light as eiderdownTHE SILENT PARTNERShe’d given her life as a farmer’s wifelived with the drought on the landWESTERN AUSTRALIA BY FIRELIGHTIn the still and quiet bush twilightas sunset leaves the skyTHE WEDDING DRESSThe wedding dress was an ivory shadebordered with handmade laceTHE WRONG SIDE OF THIRTY NINEWhen time is short and the game near playedand forty plus on the scoreboardALL SHE WANTED FOR CHRISTMASHe kissed his wife and loverand hugged his children threeFROM ONE EXTREME TO ANOTHERFluid the flooding riverof rain when fallen, flowsIN WAYS MYSTERIOUSIf God wills the rains will comeand the earth will drink ‘til fullVENGENCE NEVER ENDEDThe buzz of the bee begins with flightbuzzing by contentedA FISH STORYUsually when he told a lieof fish he’d caught on lineI COULDI could walk the hills of my homelandor over mountains carved in stoneECHOES OF FLORENCEWith footfall light through dark of nightthe sentinel finds her wayGOLD TO SILVER TO STONELook there in gold she raisesa silent glowing ballTHE PARTYIt’s time to leave the partyI know you don’t want to goTHE BLADE SHEARERHe was a shearer from the outbackhis blows were self taught styleBOGGEDThere’s no moonlight, just a star lit nightwith the colour of the darkness all aroundBUSH POETS NIGHTNorth Bourke hotel, bush poets nightstories tall but trueDUST, STORM, RAINThe sun shines through in silverred clouds of grit wind blownCASKET OF MEMORIESThe casket held pictures and piecesfrom the corners of this landCHILDRENS IMAGINATIONOf seas and trees and mountain breezeof frogs and toads and streamsDAYDREAM VAPOURSometimes red in coloursometimes a lighter greyA DOGS LIFEAh, it’s nice to doze in the sun‘til my human arrives back homeDREAMING BY THE DARLING RIVERThey’ve irradiated Indian groundand the earth of Pakistan tooDROUGHT IN DEFEATOur wait was always with questionour hope was in declineMY DARLING RIVERSunny Sunday, warm all aroundshady tree and stubbies brownEDGE OF THE NESTI see your son as he walks awayout into the light of a clear sunny dayA SOFTER SIDEI hear your stories of floods and droughtof an outback as wide as the skyThank you for your patience.Best of days to you.Peter M. Atkins.view less
Books by Peter M. Atkins
Short Stories in Rhyme End It With A Lie Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings