Thursday, October 7, 2010

Re-Creation

Japanese Garden Gosford NSW

WATERY WEDNESDAY

RE-CREATION

When one thinks of Australia, babbling brooks don't come to mind;
That's not to say they don't exist but they're rather hard to find.
And the waterfalls are often dry; one couldn't say they gush!
The water doesn't surge a lot, or splash down in a rush.
This is the dryest continent on earth, so we are told.
Even on our lush East Coast, water is like gold.
So for pleasant falls of water we must thank the Japanese
Who build us lovely gardens, using their expertise.
Many towns have a Japanese Garden; many gardens have waterfalls.
A lovely change from the buildings and the busy shopping malls.
*
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This is in praise of a noxious-looking yeast extract on which Australians grow up. They adore it but...........

VEGEMITE 

Kids like Vegemite!
They eat it from the pot.
It stimulates the appetite
And really, truly hits the spot.
Kids like Vegemite!
They like it thickly spread
They eat it morning, noon and night
On buttery buttery bread.
Don't give them icecream!
Don't give them ham,
Or roly poly sugary doughnuts filled with jam!
Kids like Vegemite!
It keeps them feeling bright.
What the World is needing now is VEGEMITE!
*
Kids like Vegemite!
It has a lovely taste.
It keeps them flying like a kite
And never never goes to waste.
Kids like Vegemite!
They gobble every bit.
Their eyes are clear, their step is light,
They're terribly terribly fit!
Don't give them popcorn!
Don't give them cake!
Or barbecues with sausage and chips
And well-done steak!
Kids like Vegemite
(It's not a pretty sight!)
What the world is needing now is VEGEMITE!
*
Kids like Vegemite!
They eat it from a spoon.
They eat it when the sun is bright;
They eat it underneath the moon!
Kids like Vegemite!
They always shout 'Hooray!'
They ask for it, they plead for it,
On every single day.
Don't give them onions,
Don't give them hash,
Or rabbit stew with lashings of sauce
And pumpkin mash!
Kids like Vegemite!
They think it's dynamite!
What the world is needing now is VEGEMITE!
*

2 comments:

Susan said...

Thanks Brenda, love your work.
I'm an old kid who still loves her buttery toast and vegemite !

Kat said...

The sound of Water gushing is universally loved by everyone.

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I remembered the terrific intro' you gave earlier to this poem on Vegemite

Was a pleasure reading it.

Sound the trumpets! Wave the flags! Forget your worries! The billionth jar of Australian VEGEMITE has just rolled off the production line! Which isn't bad for a population of 20 million! We admit it's taken since 1922 to reach this milestone, but still ....
For those who don't know, Vegemite is a concoction made of vegetables and yeast. It looks like dark brown boot-polish and it packs a punch. It is certainly an aquired taste. Children weaned on it become addicted! (Those weaned on English Marmite cannot abide Vegemite and vice versa.) Australians take it overseas on holiday with them and it was a vital ingredient in the army supplies in WW2. It is as much of an icon as the Opera House! So congratulations Vegemite!
I wrote the following as a song for children many years ago. Now I've altered the final line of each stanza to suggest that Vegemite might cure all our ills (Credit Crunch included!).