ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

THE THIEF OF MEMORIES PASSED

When you wake each morning in a place that’s heaven
and daily feast your eyes upon the view,
you don’t think to take a photograph to capture
the beauty, for it’s always there with you.
You might rave to friends who still live in the city
of far horizons and acres of sky,
but never once think to photograph the beauty.
You know it will be with you till you die.

Then the winds of change blow cold and grey and dreary,
the picture disappears before your eyes
now the only stars you see are city streetlights
and never again will you hear a ewes sigh.
The things you’ve come to realize as precious
are in your head as plain as plain can be,
even though you talk and may still write about them -
there’s no picture for other folks to see.

So I’ve now become a thief of others pictures
to fill the pages of my photo book.
For other folks that called, by beauty were enthralled
and luckily lots of pictures they took.
But I guess there is a lesson for the learning,
for all of us who live and love today.
Make sure you capture all those precious memories -
for tomorrow they might simply slip away.


Maureen Clifford © 02/12

Recently I read a piece somewhere by a bloke who argued that photographs were unnecessary. He preferred his memories, which he thought were much more significant. . I haven't decided whether I think he's right or wrong.

When you get your drawing practice going Maureen, you will find that drawn sketches can be better than photographs. The reason is that you can chose what elements to include or leave out in a sketch. You can include just the things that affected you most. I have a collection of sketches over the years ( mostly crummy ) which are more memorable to me than photographs.

That's probably correct to a point Neville for things are so clear in my head but sometimes I just wish I had the photo to prove the point and never having been a photographer regret not taking photos of my time on the property - but in all honesty I believed it was a lifetime commitment at the time - should have known better as I have never stayed longer than 7 years ever in one place in my whole life.

I now find myself gleaning photos from friends and even from the real estate pages when the property came on the market again recently. Although the Charolais didn't look right when one was used to sheep.