ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Seeing I haven't been posting anything much lately I thought I'd put this one by Zora Cross up.
I came across it in an old book called 'The Wide Brown land'. ( not sure where I should post this)

Zora was fairly well known and was active around the time of Lawson and Co.

I really liked this one, what about you? - Terry



MEMORY by ZORA CROSS

Late, late last night, when the whole world slept,
Along to the garden of dreams I crept.
And I pulled the bell of an old, old house
Where the moon dipped down like a little white mouse.
I tapped the door and I tossed my head:
"Are you in, little girl? Are you in?" I said.
And while I waited and shook with cold
Through the door tripped me—-just eight years old.

I looked so sweet with my pigtails down,
Tied up with a ribbon of dusky brown,
With a dimpled chin full of childish charms,
And my old black dolly asleep in my arms.
I sat me down when I saw myself,
And I told little tales of a moonland elf.
I laughed and sang as I used to do
When the world was ruled by Little Boy Blue.

Then I danced with a toss and a twirl
And said: "Now have you been a good, good girl?
Have you had much spanking since you were Me?
And does it feel fine to be twenty-three?"
I kissed me then, and I said farewell,
For I've earned more spanks than I dared to tell,
And Eight must never see Twenty-three
As she peeps through the door of Memory.


What do you think?

I love it Terry.

I'm wondering if "charme" should be "charms" is that a typo?

Hi Heather,
You're right I checked the book and it's 'Charms'

I cheated and checked it up on the web and copied and pasted their version, wonder if there are more mistakes?

I'll fix that one now.

Terry

Terry I think it's great. Love the idea of going back to visit one's self at an earlier age and I love Zora's poetry ...
Along to the garden of dreams I crept and When the world was ruled by Little Boy Blue

Wazza

Love it as well Terry - an age of innocence and simpler things - nothing wrong with that. It's actually quite charming. Thank you for sharing

Cheers

Maureen

Hi Wazza & Maureen,

Yes Zora was around in the golden era of Lawson Paterson and co. and like many other fine poets has been overlooked to some extent.

You often stumble onto gems like this in some of the old poetry books that had numerous authors in each book.

Glad you enjoyed it - I sent it on to Irene who included it in our last club Magazine.

Like many others here I'm always keeping a lookout for old poetry books.

Cheers Terry

It's a lovely idea for a poem!

Hi Robyn,
It has some great lines as well.

Cheers Terry