ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

The males in my family seem to have spent the weekend glued to the tube How many times do you have to watch a V8 roar around a track before it becomes boring. Probably as many times as you watch a poet writing poetry which you don’t relate to – it all comes down to

PERSPECTIVES

Life in the fast lane passed on by with no show of regret
for those who once were flying high – how quickly they forget.
Now it’s the odd email they send, sometimes a lone request
to help them out with this and that – but no care for the rest.

Once off the beaten track it seems one slips from some folks minds.
Perhaps that’s somewhat cynical but she speaks as she finds.
The journey of discovery is sometimes a mystery tour
that oft leads up the garden path, or does it? She’s not sure.

Life in the slow lane suits her fine – there’s no stress on her face.
No need to rush or hurry now it's not a challenge race.
Office politics are not here – she with herself competes
and if it’s lazing that she fancies there is no one to beat.

Content with what life offers for the main part anyway,
she has a shot at most things – some of them she gives away
for they don’t hold her attention or fulfil the inner need
she’s discovered she loves poetry but can’t manage V8 speed.


Maureen Clifford © 10/11

That's the way Maureen.

I often wonder about people in their 70s and 80s and even beyond, who still have ambition to make more and more money or who still work hard to gain positions of high status. I wonder why ? It just seems to me ( and I think to you Maureen ) that as we get further down the track, the reality of the ephemeral nature of material things becomes so much clearer.

Will usually take some life shattering event to instigate the change Nev. Like a heart event or loss of a close loved one.

I see so many people who leave it too late to retire and then ill health stops them in their tracks just as they are as they think ready to relax.


Bob

agree with both your comments as they are valid...people think they can't afford to retire but it is amazing how well one can manage on a smaller income, when you don't have to pay transport and petrol and parking costs, good work clobber, the keeping up appearances factor, and of course all those coffees and lattes that creep into your day..I reckon I am easily $70 a week better off without that little bit alone. I am certainly no worse off by not working and I sure as hell am not stressed I don't go without much or anything really and still manage to pay hefty vet bills - so really do wonder why people put it off as long as they do.