Changes
I wrote this some years ago and dedicated it to my ancestors. While deeply involved in researching my family’s ancestry I came to appreciate what we have today compared with the struggle our forefather’s had to bear – maybe they didn’t know that times were tough, but I do know they were a hardier lot than us and I can only admire what they achieved with so little – however they left us so much!
Changes belongs to the following groups:
All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Farms and Countryside, History, Remember When, Rural NSW, Something To Say and The Word TreeHave you ever stopped and pondered
about how things have changed
About the bush and all it’s folk who lived upon the range.
About the townships scattered wide to help them with supplies,
And the many community gatherings that helped them to survive!
There was the rail and horse drawn coach before the car arrived,
Then the manually operated telephone – that certainly changed their lives!
The travelling salesman ventured far to coax them into debt
With the advent of time payment, it often meant they spent
The money that they didn’t have to help them get ahead,
To buy the fridge or radio, or the great big feather bed!
Out in these remote areas they lived upon the land.
They didn’t have the luxuries that city folk demand
But they thought their life was normal if they were clothed and fed.
With chooks and fesh grown vegies, it’s often been heard said
That they lived their life far cleaner despite the dust and dirt
And hard work and a few blisters they said would never hurt
them in their growing years when they worked around the farm
And walked for miles to go to school in weather cold or warm!
The country folk they gathered round to celebrate events,
Like weddings, birthdays, christenings,
And when a life was spent -
They rallied round to cater and to comfort at the wake,
To check they were all right again
and try to ease the pain!
Life was certainly simpler then without the stress and strain
Of today’s rush and bustle – you must admit’s a pain!
But the old days were much harder without the new advent
Of all today’s appliances which often meant they spent
Longer hours toiling for less to see the job complete
and without the pressing feeling that we really had to compete
with our friends and neighbours instead of sharing all
and helping one another with our gains and falls!
The many jobs of yesterday we’ve seen them come and go -
There were jobs for all and sundry no matter what you’d do.
Like the man who lived upon the rails to open up the gates
and switch the line to let the locos move along the tracks.
There was the night time dunny man who ventured in the dark
You didn’t dare disturb him as he collected all our pans.
There was the butcher, and the grocer,
and the baker with his cart!.
The iceman, and the boot maker, and the blacksmiths with his fire,
the girls who worked the telephones and the telegrams that came by wire.
The doctor and the midwife who helped the rich and poor
and all the many services that were delivered to our door.
Don’t forget the barber with none of that bisexual stuff,
the frolics, the shows, and circuses with all their pomp and fuss!
The open-air pictures and church picnics in the park
where everyone would gather to play and have a lark.
The bullock teams, the drovers, and the shearers who appeared
to rid the sheep of their fleece with their trusty hand held shears.
There were many others, too many for this list
But I hope by now you realise and understand my gist,
So thank your lucky stars and know that you’ve been blessed
by those who went before you and established what we have -
Those brave, hard working ancestors who settled this grand land!
(© copyright Beverley Woodman 2005)
Woodyk2
Thats really good bev.
Bev Woodman
Thanks Woody – pleased you liked it and its great to get feedback.
georgieboy98
Hi Bev and you know what is REALLY alarming about this wonderful poem? It’s the fact that I can clearly remember those days you speak of! Or most of them! LOL Like you I have spent many a year researching my ancestors and have never ceased to wonder how on earth they managed to raise such large families in such tiny, cramped, accommodation.- they should all have been given medals. So there’s an idea for your NEXT poem! Peter
Bev Woodman
Thanks Peter for the comment. I’m pleased you do still remember these days. With a vast number of the population being diagnosed with a dementia of one kind or another both you and I are very lucky. Like you it intrigues me as to how they raised the huge families in such small cottages with no real comforts, sleeping multiples to beds but then back in those times you didn’t sit around idle in the house, you were either working or sleeping. So I guess if they had somewhere to eat and sleep at night they were a happy lot – at least I hope they were. Thanks for understanding what I was getting at and yes I will give some thought to another poem based on your suggestion.
barnsis
I remember when there were 10 people on a phone line and each had their own ring so they knew it was for them, I remember walking 3 miles to town and carrying groceries home; and a lot of things just as you do. But I agree those before us made it easier for us just like we are making it easier for those who follow us, we hope at least.
Bev Woodman replied
Thank you so much for this great comment on this poem. I wrote this quite a few years ago and still love reading back over it. There has been so much change in this last 100 years and technology is zooming ahead in leaps and bounds. I wanted it documented for the youth of today and for the oldies to remember how far they had come.