The Name Says It All -Poem

Often we celebrate the shape of a poem or the patterns it presents. This poem is all about the sounds of the words, in particular the sounds of a host of towns and suburbs in Australia. These rich and varied places owe their names to our first peoples, our indigenous Australians. The names have meaning attached. Yackandandah for example, means, 'one boulder on top of another at the junction of two creeks.' The town I grew up in, Monbulk, means 'hiding place in the hills.'

The names of these places possess a musicality unique to Australia. Proud to say I've visited many of them. Come with me now and get your mouth ready to dance with delight.

I’ve Never Been to Tumbarumba

Australian towns

Have memorable names

Some of them astounding

They dance upon my tongue

Delightful in their sounding

I’ve always known in Yarrawonga

That I should try to linger longer

But should I try to chitter-chatter

If I find myself in Cabramatta?

All the kind folk of Kalangadoo

Do they chitter-chatter too?

How many people in Geelong

Start the day with a joyful song?

And I hear the coastal town, Aldinga

Is another place for folk to linger

When you visit Kalamunda

Don’t be concerned if you hear thunder

And when visiting Yackandandah

Take a walk and have a gander

Manangatang might float your boat

A tiny town though, quite remote

Chinkapook is worth a look

It’s rather quiet, take a book

And would the folk of Oodnadatta

See me coming and all scatter?

I’ve never been to Tumbarumba

-famous for its use of lumber

The residents of Jabiru

Could teach us all a thing or two

And I wonder if in Jindivick

It helps to know a magic trick

And if I went to Paraburdoo

I’d like to travel there with you.

Alan j Wright

It is Poetry Friday for everyone! This time our host is Rose Capelli at Imagine The Possibilities. Rose writes about observation and the art of reflection. She adds a poem sure to resonate with readers.

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