In My Own Words – Page 64 – The Poems of David Garlick

In ancient times great caravans

of camels, horses, mules and men,

marched in swaying unison

across the great plains of the world.

Camels with supercilious stare.

Arab horses, tails held high.

The plodding mule in stubborn mood

and merchants in their flowing robes.

The railways brought a faster pace

to the trade routes across the globe;

with belching smoke and clanging bell

their steel wheels rode the gleaming rails.

The Engineer who stared ahead.

The Fireman sweaty caked with coal,

controlled and fed this great machine,

that carried trade across the land.

Today huge trucks go roaring by,

as engines strain through many gears,

to pull containers filled with goods

for destinations far and near.

Their gleaming tractors high and clean,

with flashy paint all decked with chrome.

The rattle of their Jake breaks sound

in concert with a strident horn.

And though we live with speed and noise.

Still most prefer some peace and quiet

and dream with longing to enjoy

the slower pace of yesteryear.

David Garlick, Victoria, July, 1986

I woke to the thought,

ringing in my ears,

that things seemed so

ordinary but they aren’t.

In a few days,

unlike the Canada Geese,

I shall fly south to a place

of sun, happy smiles and

bright colours.

Why don’t the geese fly south?

Perhaps it is because

people feed them.

I wonder if this is kind?

Now instead of enjoying

a change of scene.

They stand in a cold park

expecting hand outs!

They are beautiful birds

but like so many creatures,

exposed to mankind,

have lost the will to do

what is ancient and natural.

I think that there are

so many of them,

that perhaps we should

feed hungry people with them.

Perhaps a pay back

for what it costs the city

to clean up their mess.

A welcome feast for

the homeless and hungry.

Or we could stop feeding them;

as we have with the bears

and then they would fly south

to a place of sun, happy smiles and

bright colours.

Joy to the world !

David Garlick, Victoria, December, 2000

If a journey must start with a first step,

then surely, before this first step,

there must be an idea, a thought,

an impulse, a vision, a goal.

May your continuing voyage through life

be full of ideas, visions, their spectrums

and the impulse to travel the road joyfully.

David Garlick, Sidney, February, 2005

Burdened with groceries we crossed the road.

Look right, look right, the traffic comes from there.

And then a waif, in tears. “Come quick, come quick,”

he said. “Me mum ‘as ‘ad a fit. She’s a laying over there.”

We ran, there she was, down on the ground, shaking,

out for the count, an epileptic fit, but she was on her side.

Has your mum had one of these before? We asked.

“Me mum, she ‘as ‘em na’ an’ then.” He smeared his nose.

What is your name? “Antony.” He said.

Me Mum, ‘er name is ‘lizabeth. Is she a’right?”

Yes she will be fine, we will call the ambulance

Do you have a dad? “Ye’ but ‘e don’t live wi’v us no mor’.”

“‘e’s gone, I don’t see ‘im na’, since ‘e beat me Mum.”

“Will she be a’right?” He asked again. Yes Antony

“When will the doctor come.? Can I go with ‘er?”

It makes me scared when me mum is sick.”

“Where do you live Antony?” “The second ‘ouse, next road.

White door, number twenty Malvern road.

Perhaps I can play on the swings till she comes ‘ome?”

Lets wait and see. You are a very brave boy Antony.

David Garlick, Fenny Stratford, England, September, 1996