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Distant Family and Friends
I wrote this poem while recalling memories of times spent with my brother and his wife and family, who live 800 km north of my hometown of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. They come down to visit family and friends a few times a year. Every year, I wish I had the money and time to go up and see them. Finally, in 2019, I went up to live in their town for a year.
Back in 2011, I went on a travelling/working holiday with my then-husband, driving across the top of Australia to Broome, Western Australia, 6000km away from my hometown. I missed my daughters and family so much, physically and emotionally; they felt so far away. I couldn't just jump in the car and drive down the road to visit them. It was a five-hour flight from Perth to Brisbane across the width of Australia to see them.
After travelling for three years around Australia and Tasmania in our motorhome, I wanted to and needed to settle back to live within a two-hour drive of my daughters, my ageing dad and my family. Even though I don't live in their pockets, I find it comforting to know they are only a short drive or plane flight away. I couldn't imagine permanently residing in a different country from them, yet many people have to do just that.
My interpretation of the featured image, which I chose for this poem, is that the eyes gaze into the distance, slightly tired, patiently waiting, looking forward to the arrival, hoping the journey will be a safe one. The scenery is desolate and lonely, seeming to go on forever. Time is ticking away, stopping for no one, not the traveller nor the loved one at the other end of the journey. Life ticks away as we wait to travel. The clouds shield the sun's heat, showing mercy to the traveller. Will the clouds shower the traveller with refreshing light rain to cool the journey, or with a thunderstorm that hinders and delays the arrival? Either way, tears of joy will flow at the journey's end?
Read or listen to my poems on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn and at simplystorypoetry.comThank you for listening. I really appreciate it. Beverley Joy
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By Beverley JoyI wrote this poem while recalling memories of times spent with my brother and his wife and family, who live 800 km north of my hometown of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. They come down to visit family and friends a few times a year. Every year, I wish I had the money and time to go up and see them. Finally, in 2019, I went up to live in their town for a year.
Back in 2011, I went on a travelling/working holiday with my then-husband, driving across the top of Australia to Broome, Western Australia, 6000km away from my hometown. I missed my daughters and family so much, physically and emotionally; they felt so far away. I couldn't just jump in the car and drive down the road to visit them. It was a five-hour flight from Perth to Brisbane across the width of Australia to see them.
After travelling for three years around Australia and Tasmania in our motorhome, I wanted to and needed to settle back to live within a two-hour drive of my daughters, my ageing dad and my family. Even though I don't live in their pockets, I find it comforting to know they are only a short drive or plane flight away. I couldn't imagine permanently residing in a different country from them, yet many people have to do just that.
My interpretation of the featured image, which I chose for this poem, is that the eyes gaze into the distance, slightly tired, patiently waiting, looking forward to the arrival, hoping the journey will be a safe one. The scenery is desolate and lonely, seeming to go on forever. Time is ticking away, stopping for no one, not the traveller nor the loved one at the other end of the journey. Life ticks away as we wait to travel. The clouds shield the sun's heat, showing mercy to the traveller. Will the clouds shower the traveller with refreshing light rain to cool the journey, or with a thunderstorm that hinders and delays the arrival? Either way, tears of joy will flow at the journey's end?
Read or listen to my poems on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn and at simplystorypoetry.comThank you for listening. I really appreciate it. Beverley Joy