Bronte Poem

I was born in Buckin’amshire

Where all was green and soft m’dear

But my little children were born right here

And they grew up in Bronte

Learnt to swim in the ocean pool,

Walked through the park right after school

Under the trees, it’s nice and cool

Splish splish splash at Bronte

Past the beehive up in the tree

Salty honey made by the sea

Never once were they stung by a bee

Buzz buzz buzz at Bronte

Hasty Tasty was the name of the shop

Where after school each day we would stop

Liquorice, gobstoppers and fizzy pop

Such a treat at Bronte

Down the slope on cardboard they’d slide

Sometimes slip off, not good for the hide

Then the gyrobike in the park they would ride

Round and round at Bronte

And where’s the oldest lifesaving club?

There’s many an argument down at the pub

Is it Bondi or here? Now there’s the rub

Between the flags at Bronte

The lizards in speedos bake in the sun

Adonises once, but now they are done

But still they’re all there just having fun

Down at the beach at Bronte

And what about the engine shed

The kids ride the train whilst the adults fed

Oh that’s so random my daughter said

Toot toot toot at Bronte

While adults sipped on chardonnay

The kids would ride and ride and play

A book of tickets could last all day

Clickerty clack at Bronte

Pic nics every Friday night

After school t’was our delight

Parents and kids, oh what a sight

Tea from the Chippa at Bronte.

Paella pans and samovar

Maoris Greeks, all from a far

Arrive by bus or in a car

You can see the world at Bronte

Cards and soccer even boule

Brazilian cross dressers playing the fool

On a blanket for a bit of tool

We all grew up at Bronte

And there’s the cutting where the tram used to go

Up the hill it would be real slow

But down the hill they’d hit the toe

All in the past at Bronte

Now a few things have changed since I moved here

It appears some people now live in fear

Tall fences! Paranoia! Some people might peer!

That ain’t the life in Bronte

And where are the shops to just buy some bread

Some eggs and bacon and fishing lead

I think the dollar has gone to their head

The cash registers ring in Bronte

But oh we’ve got some heritage now

Let’s not make it a sacred cow

Let’s all just take a quick vow

To share the pleasure of Bronte

Congratulations to our Siobhan

Who’s collection, lets not just rely upon

And so with a hey noni non

Keep having fun at Bronte.

C. Chris Haywood 2004

Email chris.haywood@optusnet.com.au