My Little Town

The local bespoke crematorium,
and pottery kiln, under restoration.
Where I hope, one day, to be smoked
and then placed in an urn of clay.

Michael Le Multiple may think
that’s an idea magnificent.
Upon the foothills of time
this mere mortal coil
one day will cease to unwind.
So, I say . . . Burn baby, burn🔥😎

Folks around town are looking
rather feral since the local
beauty parlour burnt down.

Wally’s nails are getting kinda long.

BALMY ALLEY

Kevin & Ben, proud Castle Rock men,
and proprietors of the Lock Down Café.

A tidy little town.

But Max, the town’s only plumber,
is nowhere to be found. He’s gone
looking for CoCo, his missing puppy.

Last seen heading down
to Dead Man’s Gully!

Where Larry patiently

awaits his quarry.

But I’m sure CoCo is safe.
Such a small ball of fluff
wouldn’t even suffice
as a piece of dental floss
for this King Croc 🐊
Backpackers who camp
too close to the river bank
are Larry’s preferred snack.
He can never resist
the occasional multicultural
taste of tourist.
As for the locals . . .
Larry leaves them in peace.

Thankfully, as what Larry can do
to a moving car is truly scary.

“Better get a sports car, son.
You better get a real fast one!
Even that Alfa Romeo
may be a bit too slow?”

Being very green

Larry never

throws anything away.

Luckily, the old homestead was
spared last summer’s bushfires.

The old school bus
lovingly converted
into a guest house
is starting to rust.

In the cool of the evening

By the waters clear

And flowing free

I still see Grandpa

Riding high upon his tractor

Harvesting the pastures

Of an omnificent forever

Noel and Philomena
Thanks for entrusting me
With your daughter
The ever lovely Linda

You both will be sadly missed

. . . in my little town.

Incendiary Portrait;
~ Courtesy of Multiple Michael

Words and Images;
~ David B. Redpath © 2020

123 thoughts on “My Little Town”

    1. Thanks for taking the trip, Basilike.
      I do suspect Coco was abducted
      by alien gypsies, and sold to a
      childless couple of mutant canines.
      Perhaps it’s all for the best. I’m sure
      they’ll afford little Coco a better life
      than poor old Max.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  9. I’m stunned a single post could contain such multiple themes. You touched on love, loss, solitude, sadness, humour…
    Some posts make greater impression than others and will occupy a special place in mind for a very long time. I think this one is amongst those masterful works…

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  10. What an absolutely amazing post. Fills the heart with happiness and beauty. And yes, that shoe tree!!! And so many other beautiful animals, buildings, and most of all, people, to see. 💛 Thanks for sharing with us, truly. 🙏🙏

    Liked by 2 people

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  11. P.s. and yes, the death, the death; it’s sad but also kind of lovely, as in memento mori, and/or funny. Like in your first lines, which made me smile with glee. 🔆😇🌤

    Liked by 2 people

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  15. Mr. Redpath, once again I bow to you in awe of your artistic brilliance,
    cool-cat humor and just amazing talent to both entertain and a-muse, in a deep kinda way! Eres un artista al cien por cien. Awesome photos and story! Gotta love Larry. Really love it, a great Friday-read! Gracias!! Abrazotes 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

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    1. Thank you immeasurably, Queen Gypsy.
      I was really just doing a diary/journal
      kind of thing. So, very pleased to get
      such a positive reaction 🙏 😎
      Much Antipodean hugs back in your
      Andalusian direction 🐨 🇦🇺 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  16. I thought that the old incinerator would do for me. However, with global warming… I’ve been reading up on Human Composting and have changed my documents to reflect this. I’m sorry for your loss.
    Thank you for the fascinating photos, I do believe Thailand and Vietnam were as close to OZ as I shall see. Fingers in France are crossed for Coco!

    Liked by 4 people

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    1. No problemo, Léa.
      Coco was spotted sipping
      a mojito at the Copacabana,
      a local dog friendly cocktail bar.
      Dust to dust.
      Human composting
      sounds like a must.
      Especially since some of us
      are already halfway there 😎
      Thanks for reconnecting
      in a trains-pacific direction 🙏

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. As you say, I am well on my way there… However, I shall have to dig a bit to discover if that is allowed here, yet… Good news about Coco. I would be lost without my two divas (or should I say masteIs?)
        I’ve yet to have a mojito (The Hemingway special) but being that my region is the largest producer of grapes in the nation, I’ll stick with some of our local red… I do like red. 🤣

        Liked by 1 person

      5. I haven’t made chick pea lasagne but I have made spinach lasagne or zuchinni / courgette lasagne. I do love a good curry and also eat a lot of salads and soups depending on the weather. Naturally, what ever is consumed deserves to be washed down with a good red, n’est pas? 🍷🍷🍷

        Liked by 1 person

      8. BTW, perhaps you will check out the poetry blog on 14 July as you may find a laugh. A throw back to the Common Wealth Days… (lots of family in Canada, a bit in the UK and more (the other side) Sweden… I’m a mongrel. 🤣

        Liked by 1 person

      9. Will do, Léa 👍
        I believe it to be genetically
        most therapeutic to mix up
        the gene pool. If you don’t
        give the DNA a good stir …
        well, just look at the British
        Royal family 😱

        Liked by 1 person

  19. So, you just lost your in-laws? Is that your hometown with all the burn scars? Is the old homestead your family’s or your in-law’s?
    I don’t wanna mess with no crock-a-gators.
    I’ve never seen a shoe tree like that.
    When I depart, no embalming for me. That’s crazy. Ashes to ashes (dust to dust). Funk to funky. (We know) Major Tom’s a junky.
    Love the family shot.
    Hope Max finds his dog. 🐶🐕

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Ask me no questions, Victoria
      and I’ll tell you no lies 😎

      Noel and Philomena were my
      in laws, both now deceased.
      Noel passed just last week,
      hence the necro-centric post.
      He lived close to “my little town.”
      So we spent many days visiting
      him, up in the alpine region of
      Australia, before the end.
      I don’t know what has become
      of Coco, but I’m certain Larry is
      innocent. He’s over 80 years, four
      metres plus, and has only one eye,
      and wouldn’t bother himself with a
      lightweight piece of canine fluff.
      He does prefer backpackers, since
      they taste just like chicken 🐔😎

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  27. What a fabulous post that provokes many different emotions. I smiled at that croc. and glad my husband and I aren’t backpacking anywhere near him. I’d prefer not to be his afternoon snack. 🙂 Really though, this is a wonderful post. Thanks for all the personal touches!
    ~Lauren

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Thanks for taking the grand tour,
      Lauren 🙏 You’re welcome back
      to Castle Rock anytime 😎
      Larry is over 80 years old, and has
      only one good eye 👁️ So, with a bit
      of head start, I’m sure you and your
      husband would stand a fair chance.

      Like

      Reply

    1. Like a platypus being crowned
      Miss Universe, I’m truly flattered.
      Thank you muchly, Chuck 🙏 😎
      Environmental factors coming into
      play, in a natural state of nurture.

      Like

      Reply

  32. R.I.P. Noel and Philomena.
    I imagine Larry the Big Croc can be invited to the Vatican to receive the Laudato Si Environmentalist of The Year Award (for his recyling efforts!) as presented by Pope Francis.
    The image of the papal beanie cap and the white robe and cassock (possibly slightly blood stained) lying on the Sistine floor after Larry gets his medal should make for awe inspiring and gripping visual news footage on television.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Actually, Larry is a follower of
      the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.
      He’s been a dedicated member of
      the Rajneesh movement, only
      green instead of orange, ever
      since they established an Ashram
      right next to Dead Man’s Gully.
      Apparently, anyone wishing to
      leave were introduced to Larry,
      the hard way. In fact, one of the
      Bhagwan’s Rolls Royces is the
      pride of Larry’s scrap metal
      collection. But I’m sure he’d be
      honoured to recieve such an
      award from a fellow polytheist.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Undoubtedly.
        When I worked as a reporter for an Alberta weekly newsmagazine many moons ago, I once did a story on the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh as there were a couple of Rajneeshi inclined professors in the University of Alberta Faculty of Education who were trying to recruit their students into the movement.
        I actually phoned their female mayor of Rajneeshpuram (the renamed small town in Oregon they had taken over at the time) to find out about them.
        She said the town was a cashless society.
        People were given cards from the Rajneeshpuram bank and they used cards at local businesses and the money was automatically withdrawn from the account.
        I remember thinking at the time, this sounds like the future Antichrist system being implemented on a small scale.
        Flash forward 35 years and this is indeed how the world global banking, commerce and economic system are run.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. A sneaky electronic fleecing of the
        sheep, who are now being convinced
        that cashless is clean and hygienic.
        However, I remember that there was
        quite a scene when Narendra Modi
        did a spot of demonetisation in
        India back in 2016. The public didn’t
        like it at all. But I guess you can’t
        stop the future. It’s been predicted,
        some even say prophesied, for a
        long time. At least the oncoming
        out of control train wreck referred
        to as the End Times, means that the
        number of the beast will soon be up.

        Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks Anna 🙏
      Most of us residing in the Lucky
      Country (or The Great South Land
      of the Holy Spirit, as referred to by
      Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros,
      the Portuguese explorer) are truly
      fortunate to be Australian.
      Michael lives in Miami, Florida,
      9,680 miles away. We share an
      appreciation of great art, artists
      (such as Salvador Dali), and poetry.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  44. What a fun post. I loved the poetry in between the great photographs. You have a nice big family, that is a blessing especially if you can get them all together. That croc was scary looking, he was massive. Thanks for sharing this with us. Sending love and hugs Joni xoxoxo

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