Over The Ranges

What lovely names they have

Emerald, Cockatoo, Gembrook

They are lovely communities

Within seventy kilometres

Of metropolitan Melbourne.

But what a world apart!

There the shops open only

For the afternoon 

Or week-end trade.

One has the feeling to be

Back deeply in a fifties time warp bubble 

Back with the Chinese restaurant

The only one in town mind you

A cafe open at certain hours

The real estate agent only opens

On appointment

No need for a permanent office

A library, a school or two.

A hair dresser or two.

A fish and chips shop,

Despite the fact we are

Within fifty kilometres of the sea

Not a fresh fish on display in sight

Only frozen battered and fried

And I forgot the old opportunity shop.

And that's about, folks!

An absolutely nihilistic cultural experience

Profoundly Australian in its essence.

So many dirt tracks,

I don't dare calling them roads

With very large pot holes

With a muddy sliding surface

What fun it is to drive there!

An acquired sportive skill I suspect.

Sorry, one needs a four wheel drive here

With a working winch

It took us amazingly two hours to come back.

I like nature but there is
The real isolating experience.

After all that beautiful scenery

Grand ash trees amongst the fern trees

One has the feeling to be on the edge of

A developing society.

Everything goes and specially prices

Up, up and up!

L. Bailliet©

18/06/2012