ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

‘Grist to the Mill’
Leonie Parker © 2012

I feel sorry for Julia Gillard,
being hated can’t be too much fun.
I wonder if she thinks it’s all been worthwhile,
her quest to become number one.

I bet when she started her journey
she never expected to find
that when she had finally made number one
some people would be so unkind.

I wonder if things will be different
when she is no longer on top.
I wonder if hindsight will change people’s minds
when Julia’s given the chop.

I guess then we’ll have Tony Abbott
and after a year maybe two
I reckon that there is a pretty good chance
that some will be hating him too.

There’s some who would hate him already.
They don’t need to wait for a year.
Just being a pollie is often enough,
to bring out the haters I fear.

Not long ago some hated Kevin
and wanted him gone without doubt
and now they are screaming that he should come back
I’m not sure what that’s all about.

But I guess it helps to sell papers
and pad out the news on TV,
a healthy abundance of ‘grist to the mill’
for wannabe poets - like me.

True story Leonie, you well describe the whims and idiosyncratic views of the Aussie public - I actually hate the tall poppy syndrome that seems to strike so many people when it comes to pollies IMO we don't give them a fair go - they don't even have time for their bums to warm the seat before someone is trying to oust them from the chair. Rome wasn't built in a day and even the good lord who has everything at his fingertips took 7 days so why do we think that pollies will solve problems in such a short period of time.

Personally I like Julia, but hate her fashion sense, also had a soft spot for Anna Bligh, and thought Kev was OK but then I liked Bob Hawke and Gough Whitlam so what would I know. Everyone has something to offer and pollies don't make all these decisions entirely on their own and those who live in glass houses should know better than to cast stones. Insurance premiums are very high these days. and how many Joe Bloes on the street would in reality do a better job I wonder.

Good poem though - poking a gentle stick and having a little stir - another Aussie trait.

Are you Feasting

Cheers

Maureen

Politics - it is just one long grind.
Jim.

Ha ha, clever Jim,

Hi Maureen, I rather liked all of those people you mention too, so obviously I have no idea either lol. I even had a sneaking admiration for Paul Keating so I guess I'm even more tragic. Funny thing though I heard a radio show a little while ago and people were being asked to ring in and tell the person running the show (can't remember who it was) who in their opinion was the greatest Prime Minister we ever had. Gough and Paul featured pretty high on the list. He was supposedly our most hated until poor old Julia came along. Oh well it's all just a matter of opinion. I had no time at all for our supposedly most popular Prime Minister Bob Hawke so what would I know either.

Good to see you posting some stuff Leonie. Since we are proud of our supposed democratic system I suppose we get the leaders we deserve.

I agree Leonie . . . there's a touch of that in Queensland now with Campbell the saviour suddenly being Campbell the slasher. But the toughest gig must be the ALP leader who has to try and deliver a sound-bite with sincerity how he'll bugger up the state. Undoubtedly federal Labor will be left with same numbers in the next 12 months.

Keating was a one-off. I found myself wanting to hate him like everybody else but I just couldn't.

Marty

...I never had any trouble Marty!......maybe you weren't buying a house then...