My Want Then and Today
by B Robertson, Oolong House, Nowra, NSW
My Want Then
Here I sit
Alone in the park
I'm bored to the hilt
15 hours til dark
A drink I'm thinking
To have some fun
And forget about the pain
In this morning sun
It's 8 o'clock now
The doors open wide
To invite the drink one's
To mosey inside
Got the first cask
Tucked under me arm
Feeling good now
I'll soon be calm
Thoughts of feedom
Soon touch my lips
As grog hits my guts
Back in the habit's grip
No sooner I start
I start rollin' around
I know I'm cosy
On this clover ground
Soon I'm asleep
Blowin' zzzz's galore
A few hours' sleep
Wake up to some more
Funny this ride
I can't get off
Goes 'round and 'round
It's surely my boss.
My Want Today Here I am today Some new ways learned To try and stay calm And not crash and burn Still ways to go To improve my life And not pick up a beer It'll surely lead to strife Sit back, take a breath Something I've never done Learning not to stress A new life has begun I'll go and throw a line It's a beautiful day The breeze in my face Bad memories fade away It's comin' on dark I didn't know the time Home to cook a feed And settle for the night My want for the day Is embedded in my heart Don't stuff up the day Tomorrow's a new start. [1]
Learn more about Aboriginal alcohol consuption.
[1] Koori Mail 448 p.23