Tea Party

RUBY TUESDAY
http://rubytuesday2.blogspot.com.au


TEA PARTY

(A Poem for Children)

The cats sat down to party; the table-cloth was red.

'Let's act like human beings' the furry creatures said.

'They all act so politely; their manners are refined;

They're neat and smart and gentle and unutterably kind.

We must pass the plates to each other and never slurp our tea,

And make polite conversation like the humans that we see.'

Just then the dog next-door bounced in; I think his name was Rover.

With a bark and a wag and a 'Bow wow wow!'

He kicked the whole thing over!

*

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KING COAL

Tens, dozens, lines of ships,

Off the coast of New South Wales.

Ships full of coal.

Coal, the backbone of our region:

The Hunter Valley.

Making us rich:

Our inheritance.

Will I cheerfully forego the benefits

When the ships

No longer call?

Will I gladly be less warm,

Less pampered, less well-fed?

Will I be happy

When my grandsons inherit a life

Less comfortable and cushioned than mine?

No!

*

Tens, dozens, lines of ships

Bound for the wider world.

Ships full of coal.Will I be cheerful

When their cargoes pollute

Someone else's skies?

Will I shrug my shoulders

When their Greenhouse Gases

Clog someone else's lungs?

Will I be happy

When my grandsons can no longer enjoy

The Great Barrier Reef?

No!

So I merely drift.........

Fiddling while Rome burns.