Echoes I: A Book of Poems

By Ruth Stefano

At the tender age of ninety, my dearest wish has been to publish my remaining poems before I depart this world, and so I register my name on the list of published poets, thus avoiding my life’s work from disappearing in the midst of time.

My grandmother on my father’s side wrote poetry, so I guess I inherited from her this wonderful gift. Unfortunately, she didn’t publish her work so when she died, her poems died with her. Sadly, I didn’t get the chance or opportunity to read any of her work. What a loss! So, dear reader, I trust you will enjoy the words of my heart, mind, and soul—happy reading!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Mar 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796001150

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 by Ruth Stefano.

ISBN:                  Softcover                        978-1-7960-0116-7

                            eBook                             978-1-7960-0115-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 03/05/2019

Xlibris

1-800-455-039

www.Xlibris.com.au

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CONTENTS

Special Thanks

Introduction

The Great Australian Pie.

I’m Getting Tired Of Dolphins.

Oh No John!

A Shattered Night.

A Householder’s Nightmare.

A Collection Of Limericks,

My Epitaph

To Arthur………….

For Years To Come…….

The Original Bushwhacker.

Christmas When I Was A Child.

Sonnet To War.

Hopes Realized.

Moods Of The Wind.

Farewell To Bribie.

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow?

The Picnic

Misty Mountains.

Noon Songs On Mt. Tibrogargan.

Our Planet - Its Plight.

Along The Sea Shore.

Hands.

A Garden Rabbit

A Hat

It Seemed A Good Idea At The Time

Three Butterflies

To Mr. Rudd

Wedding Acceptance

Cat On A Hot Tile Roof

Pies Sausage Rolls And Doughnuts.

A Time To Pray.

Fruits Of Love

Path Of Fate.

Time For Love

Sonnet To A Sunday Afternoon.

A Musing

Five Galahs.

To Be A Lemon?

If I Were.

Paying The Piper.

The Poinciana Tree.

The Plum

Roofs.

Love’s Language

A Christmas Song.

Hasty Tasty Breakfast

I Had A Dream.

Nostalgia.

Sonnet To Sunday Morning.

A Suburban Morning.

A Bird Song.

Christmas In July.

Goats!

Crossing The Nullarbor.

A Tribute To Princess Diana.

To Marty.

To Clone Or Not To Clone.

No More.

The Old Days.

FOR

MY DAUGHTER LIANA

MY SISTER MARGARETTA

SPECIAL THANKS

I give special thanks to my dear sister Margaretta for her support and encouragement, to my dear favourite and only daughter Liana for just being my daughter and last but by no means least to my printers and publishers Xlibris for causing this last dream of my life to come true – not forgetting all my dear friends for their greatly appreciated and ongoing support and encouragement, Thank you all so very much.

With love,

Ruth Stefano

INTRODUCTION

At the tender age of ninety, my dearest wish has been to publish my remaining poems before I depart this world, and so register my name on the list of published poets, thus avoiding my life’s work disappearing in the mists of time.

My grandmother on my father’s side wrote poetry so I guess I inherited from her this wonderful gift. Unfortunately, she didn’t publish her work so when she died her poems died with her. Sadly, I didn’t get the chance or opportunity to read any of her work. What a loss! So dear reader I trust you may enjoy the words of my heart, mind and soul – Happy reading!

THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN PIE.

THERE’S BEEN VERSES PROUDLY WRITTEN OF ALL THINGS AUSTRALIA MADE

GOOD OLD BUSH YARNS SWAPPED ’ROUND CAMP FIRES BY THE DROVERS PASSING BY

TALES OF DUNNIES PUBS BAR ROOM BATTLE

RED BACK SPIDERS SNAKES AND CATTLE

I RECKON TIME’S COME TO GIVE A MENTION TO OUR GREAT AUSTRALIAN PIE.

I STRONGLY FEEL THIS AUSSIE ICON DESERVES A PLACE IN HALLS OF FAME

AS A FORMIDABLE CONTESTANT WITH WHATEVER IT MAY VIE

IT NEEDS NO GRAPHIC INTRODUCTION

MAINLY HEARD BY SLURP AND SUCTION

BY THE LOYALIST CONTINGENT OF TRADITIONAL AUSSIE PIE.

FROM THE SEASHORES TO THE OUTBACK ITS THE ALLTIME FAMILY FAVOURITE

AND THE PANTRY SHELF IS NEVER IN THE ‘DRY’

FROM THE NIPPERS OF ALL AGES

TO THE MUMS AND DADS AND SAGES

THE VOTE IS QUITE UNANIMOUS ‘LET’S ALL HAVE AN AUSSIE PIE’.

I REMEMBER AS A SCHOOL KID ON ONE SPECIAL DAY EACH WEEK

MUM WOULD GIVE US TWOPENCE EACH FOR LUNCH TO BUY

WHEN THE LUNCH BELL RANG YOU’D FIND

ONLY ONE THING ON EACH MIND

THEN ALL HEADS DOWN THE ONLY SOUND CONTENTED MUNCH OF AUSSIE PIE.

YOU CAN KEEP YOUR FANCY DISHES AS SET OUT IN GLOSSY PAGES

YOU CAN KEEP THE CULINARY ARTWORKS ALL THE CHEFS IN KITCHENS TRY

IT’S FOR ME FOR NOW AND EVER

NO CUISINE DELIGHT COULD SEVER

THERE’S JUST NOTHING RIDGY DIDGE AS AUSSIE PIE.

FROM A QUICK AND EASY SNACKING TO A GIANT GOURMET FEAST

WITH TRIMMINGS OF MASHED SPUD VEG AND GRAVYIGH

AND ITS TWO FOUR SIX AND EIGHT

BOG RIGHT IN DONT WAIT

FOR ENTHUSIASTIC EATERS OF OUR GREAT AUSTRALIAN PIE.

AND ITS