Bellingen Youth Centre: A Prophecy

Yesterday I wrote this poem and read it at the monthly poetry night at the estimable BellaBookafe:

Bellingen Youth Centre: A Prophecy

On the one dollar coin, see the gold kangaroo.
He leaps like an angel, but his leaps are too few –
I’ve noticed myself, and I’ll bet you have too.
In fact – care to make it interesting? I’ll bet you ten roos!

And around and around the kangaroo spins,
And abound and abound the kangaroo leaps.
A hundred in the world lose for each one who wins.
The lucky win once, while some win for keeps.

Now, no one I’ve met has ever enough.
Fair dinkum, this writer wants more of the stuff.
Some call it ‘mammon’, ‘filthy lucre’ or ‘pelf’;
The rich man wants more … and I want more myself.

And around and around the kangaroo spins,
And abound and abound the kangaroo leaps.
A hundred in the world lose for each one who wins.
The lucky win once, while some win for keeps.

Three decades ago the Community Centre was felled
In Hyde Street, because the council ‘planned’ well.
“We’ll build something better,” they grinned, then it dawned
On the people, the council had built only a lawn.
And now while our children are running the streets
And smashing their bottles that cut into your feet –
And while a youth centre’s needed, the council tells you
We need a tourism centre … to breed gold kangaroos.

And around and around the kangaroo spins,
And abound and abound the kangaroo leaps.
A hundred in the world lose for each one who wins.
The lucky win once, while some win for keeps.

But by our sacred totem, the bold kangaroo,
I tell you, you men of the gold kangaroo,
You ‘Chamber of’ … Horrors,
Will quake in your boots when this prophecy’s known:
While our children have nowhere to go but the road,
And Saturday nights they are far from their homes
Smashing bottles and fences and getting in strife
And snorting on ice, and carrying knives,
The men of the quids and the gold kangaroo,
And the women and men who believe their lies too,
Will remember these words from 2008:
“Tourism be buggered. Act, before it’s too late.”

Written by Pip Wilson, Bellingen.

Countersigned by 32 others. If you wish to sign endorsement too, even if you are not a local, please do so by clicking 'Comments' below this post. Please write "I endorse Pip Wilson's poem on the Bellingen Youth Centre", then give your name (or just email me). The poem and endorsements will be used locally in activism for an urgently needed youth centre in a town with growing youth problems. And please pass this on as soon as you can. Thank you.

Categories: bellingen, bellinger, poetry, australia, youth, crime, law