Just Kidding

JUST KIDDING

I'm standing here in my swimmers, ready for a dip

And the ocean's waiting, cool and bright and blue.

For a moment I am standing here, readying myself

And, incidentally, taking-in the view.

Now! A deep breath! I stride towards

The doors that are swinging wide,

Over the tables, over the rail

To splash on the other side.

Picture it, ladies and gentlemen!

How athletically I flew!

Sadly, I make an admission.....

Not one word of it is true!

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The sea is quite a way away

(Note the strip of green).

And.... me in my swimmers! Don't make me laugh!

That's a sight not to be seen.

What is real is the location,

A hotel by the sea,

Where we often go for lunch,

And where the view is free.

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A HINT OF GOLD

Only a hint of yellow and a name that's incomplete,

But a huge piece of my memory-bank and a well-remembered street.

This was 'Kangaroo Valley', or, to be precise, Earls Court,

Where I lived in London, the city where I taught.

The street was called the Cromwell Road; I suppose it's called that still.

I remember it so very well and I think I always will.

I lived there with friend Margaret, now in the USA;

Was it two years , was it three? The memory slips away.

We used to go to dances and we had boy-friends I know,

But I've forgotten most of them; it was all so long ago!

When Margaret left for America, and I sailed away as well,

Our changes of direction suddenly broke the spell.

But I often consider the nick-name of the Cromwell Road because,

Many decades later I ended up in Oz.

'Kangaroo Valley' they called it and it didn't mean a thing,

As I hadn't the remotest idea of what the years would bring.

It was full of Australians. They seemed a foreign breed,

But full of great exuberance, enjoying life, indeed!

Yes, I know it was a happy time, that youthful time of old.

The picture may be 'yellow' but the memories are GOLD.

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