Introduction

This poem is about Tony Kitchener (retired bikee and former resident of Bellthorpe), and his quest to write a history of that fabled district. Those who know Tony will more fully appreciate the finer points of this poem. It is written in the style of Oliver Goldsmith's "The Deserted Village", with my character plugged in.

Ode to an Historian

Perch'd in yon bracken-bowered abode
The village muse compiles his weighty tome
Concatenating chronicles and photographs of old
To grace the mantel of each Bellthorpe home.

Oft would we meet him on his fervid quest
In lane and field from East Bellthorpe to West.
Or in some shaggy dell of weed-choked ground
Bearing strange tales from hoary pioneers
Or photocopied missives garnered from the town.

With raven mane and studded leathern belt
He roved from gate to gate through drouth and wet.
The children huddled at their mother's knee
If his gaunt form they did perchance to see.

He set about the task with tape and quill;
His notebooks did the general gossips fill.
Through quavering lip the past it did unfold
To twitching nib unloos'd upon the scroll.

At last with fact and fancy quite replete
Our sated hero lurches to his feet;
And trailing ravelled lists he doth repair
Unto his blu-tak postered hilltop lair.

Then would he there with scale and glass assess
The ancient feuds teased out from 'broidered texts;
And he would weave each wondrous tale anew
Till across the hills the wonder ever grew
That one small head could hold all that he knew.

So let our village Hume in glory bask -
He hath but hied to his appointed task.
Those who scoffed - they shall remain to pay,
To purchase Kitchener's "Bellthorpe: Yesterday".

Copyright; Wil Elgey
Email: wil.elgey@mailexcite.com
Web Site: http://www.hotkey.net.au/~elgey/w/