Life, a long time ago

[John B]

Not really that long Ago

KALGOORLIE/BOULDER
REMEMBER WHEN.

REMEMBER IN KALGOORLIE, WHEN WE WERE JUST A KID
FULL OF LAUGHTER AND THE JOY, IN EVERYTHING WE DID
MAKING KITES WITH PAPER, BITS OF RAG & STRINGS
TOOK ‘EM OUT & FLEW ‘EM, THEN PRANGED THE BLOODY THING.

FLYING FOXES MADE FROM WIRE & A PIECE OF WATER PIPE
NEVER WORRIED ‘BOUT SAFETY, IT’LL BE ALRIGHT
ONE END TIED WAY UP HIGH THE OTHER WAY DOWN LOW
CLIMB THE TREE & GRAB THE PIPE, THEN **** SCARED TO LET IT GO.

HILL TROLLEYS WERE THE GO, WOOD & WIRE & BOLTS
USED OUR FEET TO STEER ‘EM, DON’T WORRY ‘BOUT THE JOLTS
LUG ‘EM TO THE TOP OF THE HILL, HAVE YA MATE WAIT DOWN BELOW
HE’D YELL, “THERE AIN’T NO CARS COMIN, AWAY YA BLOODY GO.”

CLIMBIN’ DOWN OLD MINE SHAFTS, TO GET PIGEONS THAT WAS FUN
HANGIN’ ON WITH ONE HAND, DIDN’T EVEN NEED A GUN
A PIECE OF KEROSENE SOAKED RAG IN A TIN CAN FOR A LIGHT
DIDN’T NEED A SAFETY HARNESS, JUST KNEW YOU’D BE ALRIGHT.

MADE CANOES FROM CORRUGATED IRON AND WOOD, THEN SEALED WITH TAR
CARRY ‘EM DOWN TO THE DAM, DIDN’T MATTER JUST HOW FAR
PADDLED THEM WITH YOUR HANDS, COULDN’T WAIT TO PUT THEM IN
THEN CUT YOUR ARMS TO PIECES ON THE EDGES OF THE TIN.

MADE PIRATE SHIPS FROM OLD PRAMS, A STICK MAST AND A SHEET
TEST THE WIND WITH A LICKED FINGER, THEN OFF AND UP THE STREET
CROSSROADS WEREN’T A PROBLEM, AS LONG AS YA GOT A RIDE
YOU’D JUST PRAY FOR A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE.

“DON’T GO NEAR THOSE SLIME DUMPS,” OUR MOTHERS ALWAYS SAID
“ NO, COURSE NOT MUM,” WE PROMISED, AS WE TRIED TO HIDE OUR SLED
THEN WHEN WE CAME HOME, CLOTHES COVERED IN THE SLIME
THOUGHT WE WERE SO CLEVER, IT HAPPENED EVERY-TIME.

HOPPED ON YOUR BIKE TO VISIT MATES JUST UP THE STREETS OR LANES
TOES IN SPOKES, JEANS IN COGS OR BROKEN BLOODY CHAINS
WHEELIES JUMPS AND OTHER THINGS THAT TOOK A BIT OF GUTS
WHILE THE CROSSBAR WAITED PATIENTLY TO CRUSH YOUR BLOODY NUTS.

AND EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL, OUT THE FRONT WE’D PLAY
AND WITH THE SMELL OF HOME COOKING, YOU KNEW A MEAL WAS ON ITS WAY
BRANDY, HIDEY, CHASEY, THEN THE CALLS CAME FAR & WIDE
ALL OUR MUMS YELLING OUT, “TEAS READY,NOW GET INSIDE.”

JUST HOW WE ALL CAME THROUGH IT, WONDERS WILL NEVER CEASE
NO TIME TO SAY, “I’M BORED,” OR TO BECOME OBESE
AND WHEN THE DAY WAS OVER AND YOU FINALLY LIMPED HOME
“GET IN THE BATH,” YOUR MUM WOULD SAY & OUT WITH THE MERCUROCHROME.

SO TIRED AND OH SO WEARY, YOU’D STUMBLE OFF TO BED
WITH A MILLION THOUGHTS AND VISIONS RUNNING THROUGH YOUR HEAD
SLEEP CAME QUICK AND EASY IN KALGOORLIE, REMEMBER WHEN
YOU JUST COULDN’T WAIT ‘TILL TOMORROW TO DO IT ALL AGAIN.

Edited November 22, 2019 by John B
spelling

[Karl S]

Yes, those  were  the days for sure, I remember we were so tired at the end of the day, and as you said,  always looking forward to doing it all over again tomorrow. We didn't know some of our forays were dangerous, nor did we worry about them. I wonder how we survived LOL!

 

[LarryEA]

Wow, such memories,,, yepper, I did some of those things too