“Dad! Don’t annoy the man. Leave him alone.”
The house, daughter’s and husband’s, and her tone
Suggests she’s dealing with a fractious child
Poor dad! Additional humiliation’s piled
Upon this widower, taken in to look correct
In others’ eyes. Resented. Given no respect.
I’m not being annoyed. Can work and listen too.
Here is a very interesting man who knew
A world that’s gone, a world that I can only see
Through photographs and other links, and he
Is skilled in verbal portrait, and creating ambience,
He takes me there his fascinated audience.
But no! His daughter must shoo him away.
She’s paying for my time. Therefore I have no say.
Late teens and Auckland born, new to the scene
I’ve yet to see much evidence of what this district’s been.
Of major kauri boom towns there’s now little trace.
He’s one of very few who hold that world in their embrace.
By now it’s getting close to fifty years ago
That he and others shared this distant past and so
My mind’s been well equipped to slip back to the day
Of sailing ships, the river as the main highway
Sawmills, log-booms, jetties down each shore. But history,
Their life, is mine as well. Come time trav’ling with me.
I don’t remember putting this here. Richard.