Love lived at Binalong Avenue
In the Kitchen and Library
The boundary fence was our fortress
We would protect it with dirt bombs and guns made from branches
The water fights and cricket games
Between neighbours were legend.
Summer holidays were forever
And everyone came back to school all different.
Love lived at Binalong Avenue
At Christmas it was Ker-Plunk, GI-Joe and Meccano
Mum would serve three meats with ‘tators and vegies
And money was hidden in the big pudding
The table was packed with food and laughter
We went to bed stuffed both inside and out.
Despair came for a while to Binalong Avenue
Christmas was vouchers, shirts and excuses
The tables was still full but half the chairs empty
“Too much to do, can’t make it today”
Dad sat in the shed with his books and his pain
The haunted look in his eyes seeking better days
Hope and Joy arrived back at Binalong Avenue
With the arrival of the kids that we all made
The Christmas wrapping hid all the carpet
The squeals of delight were music to the old house
That had forgotten the sounds
The table and chairs were again full to bursting
The pain of the past replaced with the hope of tomorrow
History is all that’s left of Binalong Avenue
Sold to Developers for a fortune
Something about ocean views
Mum now lives in a comfortable unit
Not to far from what we used to call home
I often go visit and try to convince her
To spend our inheritance and go see the world
But the conversation always comes back again
Reminiscing when love, hope and joy
All lived at Binalong Avenue
Ange
This poem left a tear in my eye when first read a few wks back. I still love it.
chanel
This is a lovely poem, makes you think about how precious our time is.
Xavier Shay
fantastic
Jessica Tremp
great piece Danny
Jessica Tremp
great piece Danny
mister khan
yeah man, that’s one to read just before christmas. totally fogotten what once existed.
danny you’re a fucking fantastic writer, and clearly one of the gifted few when it comes to everything from ironing your socks to makng a twat out of yourself with photoshop.
doubtlessly you have a cheeky way with the ladies, and are to duvet gymnastics what that cheating sri-lankan with the unspellable name is to spin bowling. just to piss in the eye of your fellow man, you are probably a lovely guy to boot.
i take my santa hat off to you and wish you hearty seasons greetings, and a happy fucking new year.
mister khan.
Danny
Thank you Mr Khan
LittleHelen
Sweet memories ;)
Anne van Alkemade
It’s beautiful Danny, and I can relate to 2/3 directly.
I can see why it means so much to you because I think it will also hit home for many of us former Aussie kids.
Cathie Tranent
This is wonderful Danny.
Brings back memories for me, when Christmas took forever to arrive and when it was all about the joy of spending time with your family.
regina
that is really beautiful danny
Danny
Thank you everyone
Lawford
Lovely Aussie feel. From the heart. Well done Danny.
genevievem
this poem is so beautiful, so many captured feelings, wonderful!
Anne van Alkemade
I so love this story. Good luck with In the Moment.
deliriousgirl
This piece of writing is pure fucking artistry. The emotional ranges it takes the reader to and the encompassing of both the past and the present and the future is freekin amazing.
Just please don’t submit it to Mr. Arrogant Prick’s group, hon.
Danny
replied
Thank you soooo much
This is a special one
a few people know that.
There’s another one hidden in the profile if you can find it.
It’s called My Uncle Kevin
After those two i never wanted to write personally again on this site.
Soxy Fleming
Writing from life is a good thing to do…I had an email from a well known writer yesterday (I was asking permission to quote from a letter he had sent me) and he said (well I’ll actually quote him – Peter Dickinson – because I know he won’t mind) “I find that writing about actual events is much harder work that dreaming the story up”...
At present I find it the other way around. But I hope I’ll get it out and move on to the dreaming up, as you have.
This is a very beautiful poem and, like a lovely picture of one’s children, the poem will stay with you (and your family) for years to come.
Faizan Qureshi
This is fantastic Danny!!
jemimalovesbigted
thanks to Roger for pointing this out….
Thank you Danny for this amazingly moving piece! Bloody Genius!
Danny
replied
thanks dear I’m glad it’s getting a second wind.
Pip Gerard
Danny.. this is truly brilliant. It all just seems to fit and work so beautifully. In my view… it flows so well. And what i love about your writing is how it’s so accessible and so relatable.
Danny
replied
Thanks Pip, this one’s a bit special
Nick Ford
yup …. ^^ what she said! Great stuff.
MagpieMagic
Lovely.
Danny
Thanks MM
msdebbie
Gorgeous gorgeous sentiment. You should definitely return to the hut and make sure it’s first cab off the rank IMHO
I especially adore The pain of the past replaced with the hope of tomorrow
Beautiful poem Danny xo
Danny
Thank you for the kind comments, it’s good to see an older get a bit of attention.
cheers