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Best Poems Written by Lachlen Smith

Below are the all-time best Lachlen Smith poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

Details | Lachlen Smith Poem

Battered Shattered and Scattered

Mrs Gladys Wackjob:
“What the goodness is wrong with this hospital,
I receive better service in a restaurant.
You nurses sit there doing nothing while my
Husband is dying. Why isn’t anyone talking to me.
And you little miss perky nurse, Yes you,
With the 80’s hair style. Are you actually old enough
To be a nurse. What the heck is going on..”

Nurse Rachel:
“I worked very hard at Medical School I gave up
everything. I didn’t have a social life. Yes I am old enough to be nurse.
We are doing everything we can but your husband
is very ill. Instead of yelling at me you might go and hold his hand.

Mr Jason Rightbrain,
“What is this crap. I ordered  eggplant parmesiana.
This looks like cow manure. If I want to throw up I would
eat my x-wife’s crap. What is wrong with this place.
Are you really a Chef or just grabbing boxes from the
supermarket and heating them in the microwave.
I can’t believe this. And you think I’m going to pay
for this rubbish.
Chef Greg.
I gave up a good job working in accounting for this.
I loved the idea of serving people food. Three years
at College and I tried so hard. I think I’ll give up now.
Mrs Jane Wiseacre,
Are you Mrs  Watson my daughter’s Teacher. This report says
my little Felicity is an underachiever. What on God’s green Earth
does that mean?  I help her with her homework.
She wanted to go to ballet. No No No Not on my watch.
She works harder than any of these loser kids why isn’t
she doing well at school. Are you even a real teacher you look like
a waitress.
Janine Watson:
I tried my best with Felicity. I gave her extra attention
but sometimes you just can’t reach some kids. 
They have shut off from the world. I can’t imagined why.
 I have to go for a long walk now.

Details | Lachlen Smith Poem

The Lady Who Liked Mangos

Down by Hope Street where the frangipanis bask,
And the Goddess of Love has put up her tent,
Lives a lady with fire in her eyes and cats in her kitchen.
Oh of course I will tell you she's an angel if you ask,
And her magic lies in the making of enchantment,
Why then do dark clouds cover my silent sun?

We will sing together and dance in a fury of touch,
Like the wind does when a storm comes passed,
We will laugh and joke and taste wine in gentle sips,
And that won't matter much,
Because as you might have guessed,
Love has taken me and kissed me on the lips.

Time has curled up on her couch like a Siamese cat,
Yet she still loves mangos and a foot massage at night,
Perhaps God finally got it right,
When he touched her finger and tipped his hat,
And she walked out into the light,
Why then do dark cobwebs trap me in fright?

By the sea of blue and the grass so green,
She will lay her head on my shoulder and hum,
And all the dark clouds will drift away,
The cobwebs will vanish forever,
In the dark I will find my way,
And finally..finally...finally,
The bells repeating in my brain will cease,
And I will be able to breathe again.

Oh lady of Hope Street dance for me once more,
Before the candles in my lonely church are lit,
Come with me and sway upon the dance floor,
And I will read a poem and gently massage your soul,
And the red fire of enchantment will burn forever more.

Details | Lachlen Smith Poem

Ugly Sue

Ugly Sue or Smelly Sue as the kids used to call her,
Lived in a cardboard box under the bridge at Fairfield.
Some said she was 100 years old and she had Leprosy.
When I was a kid the others used to dare each other.
You had to run up to Ugly Sue and pull her hair.
Any kid who wanted to make a name for himself would 
run up to her and kiss her on the lips.
I remember watching how they treated Ugly Sue,
At the time I just wondered what she was really like.
As a teenager I started to see things differently.
I was in town to see a movie and I had to walk passed
Ugly Sueon the way.
She called out to me asking for money. I gave her
a few dollars and I don’t know why but I decided
to sit down next to her and talk.
 “So Miss Suecan I talk to you ?” I said shyly.
She didn’t answer at first . She just light a cigarette
and smiled.
“ You gunna pull my hair. You little rascal?”  
“No never.” I answered quickly.
She laughed and spoke again.
“You know kid. I’ve seen you before. Ya see I used
to be a School Teacher oh a while back.
I saw you when you was in Primary School.
Then later I noticed You were different.
You never teased me like them other kids did.
I got the ‘Frenia’. I lost my house and my husband left me.
Still the Sun shines on me like it always did.
That shiny old moon don’t tease me none. No sir.
We’ve had some long conversations over the years.
You know what I learned.
I learned that you got to be like a butterfly.
You got to keep movin’ an see beautiful flowers everywhere.
Don’t waste your time with teasing cause it ain’t good.
Just treat people with kindness and kindness will come back to you.”
She went back into her cardboard box and rested.
I didn’t go to the movies that day but 
I think I learned something worthwhile for the first time in my life.

Details | Lachlen Smith Poem

Emily Goes For a Walk

Emily goes for a walk.

Emily was at the beginning of her sixty-fifth year,
She lived alone since her husband,Colin died in 2008.
Her life involved cleaning and maintaining the family home.
Not that there was any family really.
Her only friend was a stray cat called Elenore.
She lived in Sydney so the January weather was fine and hot.
Just the kind of weather for a walk.

She put on a white dress and a straw hat with a rose on it.
“Come on Collie lets get going” she said softly
She often spoke to Colin even though he wasn’t there.
Her walk took her passed the Wilson house. She stopped for a moment.
In the front garden were  bushes of Lavender. It was glorious.
“ Oh look Colin its Lavendar.It  always reminds me of our first date.
Remember you gave me some Lavender perfume as a present.
Oh it must have been 1988.I still love the fragrance.”
Her mind often drifted to the place where good hearts go.
And in that place Colin was always tall,dark and handsome.

Emily kept walking  down passed the river and the park.
There was a garden filled with red and yellow  roses.
She sat on a park bench and smiled at the beautiful flowers.
“Oh Colin I was never really a big fan of roses until you brought me some.
Do you remember  when I was in hospital and  I had to have electric shocks.
You brought me bunches an bunches of roses.
It was divine.The whole ward smelled of rose perfume.”
“Oh Dear the sun seems to be going down.I’m not sure where I am.
Is that you Colin.Are you there.I should like to go back now.
I can’t see my way back.Please someone help me.
Ahh I am so lost.”
“Don’t fret sweetheart. I will lead you home.
And when we get there I have a surprise for you I have placed Lilies in your room
So lets go back.Hold my hand dear heart and I will lead you home.”

Details | Lachlen Smith Poem

The Price of Being a Woman

In da Cameroon by da light of da moon,
The mothers iron their daughter breasts,
They put hot rocks to stop the shocks,
Of unwanted pregnancy.

In Bangaladesh when the sky is fresh,
The men throw acid in a womans face,
They burn the eyes and all the flesh,
She will never say no again.

In holy Yemen where the men are men,
With a razor blade or cutting knife,
They practice female circumcision,
The men must be so proud.

I’ve been around this crazy world,
And been disgusted by what I’ve seen,
The human “dog” that calls itself a man,
Should never be and should never have been.

Details | Lachlen Smith Poem

Dubravka Danced In the Kitchen All Alone

Dubravka lived alone in a lonely part of town.
She left Croatia when the trouble all went down. 
In the morning she would dance the waltz in a bright red hat.
The only company she had was little Macka her tawny cat.
At lunch she would dance the “kolo” a traditional Croatian dance,
Although her aching joints made it difficult to prance.
Macka would smile at her every day and sip cream from a ballet shoe.
Her memories of dancing ballet had moved from her mind to her heart.
At night she would try to perform the “pas de bouree” and fail,
Falling gently into her bed and cry herself to sleep.
But asleep she would dance ”Swan Lake” to clapping as loud as hail.
And drown in flowers that made her weep.
Her fingers were wrinkled and found it difficult to hold a plate.
But her heart sometimes woke her early it couldn’t wait,
To dance in the kitchen on a sunny afternoon.
And push away the darkness that had come far too soon.

Details | Lachlen Smith Poem

The Black Cat That Crossed My Path

You are nothing but a cliché,
You used the L word every day.
Then you went and danced the slow dance,
 With that sad girl filled with romance.
Oh You are my unlucky charm.
You are my misery and harm.

I saw a black cat cross my path,
So I destroyed your photograph,
Hey I hope you had lots of fun,
I went and  bought myself a gun.

I went to the river  today,
That was where you happened to say,
That I was your beautiful star.
And you played our song on guitar.
We made love under the moon,
Sadly The morning came  too soon.

I saw a black cat cross my path,
So I destroyed your photograph,
Hey I hope you had lots of fun,
I went and  bought myself a gun.

Tonight I will hold my gun high,
And fire shots into the sky.
I’ll save a bullet for my heart.
And fall on the grass like a dart.
The people will never erase,
The  wide smile left on my face.

I saw a black cat cross my path,
So I destroyed your photograph,
Hey I hope you had lots of fun,
I went and  bought myself a gun.

Details | Lachlen Smith Poem

Fallujah Iraq April 2007

Dear Mom,
Hey Mom, I hope you are well. Not feeling much pain. 
I guess, when  you get this letter I’ll be long gone.
It’s my goddamn birthday what a coincidence.
See I took a direct hit an hour ago.
You won’t believe this, They call it a Death Blossom,
It was just a routine part of a shake and bake.
It hit me in the chest. It was goodnight Irene.
I think it came from a little Iraqi kid.
Talk about coincidence. Duke got hit as well.
You don’t know Duke. He went to the same school as me.  
He used to copy my answers  on the exams.
He even stole my first girlfriend. You know Donna.
He is bleeding and is having trouble breathing,  
Maybe you could tell his Mom and Dad I hope so.

Anyway I need to say a few things to you.
I haven’t made you proud. I Kinda let you down.
You must be a little disappointed in me.
Hey Mom do you remember years ago at school,
In athletics I won the 100 yards foot race
I remember I was over the goddam moon.
You were there and put your arms around me and cried.
I don’t know why you cried but it seemed really right.
It’s a shame that good old Dad wasn’t there for that.
I guess some coincidences just don’t happen.
Oh yeah who was that skinny girl that lived next door?
Tina, no it was Louise. God she hated me.
She used to throw peaches at me. I don’t know why.
She hit me in the head once. Gee she was funny.
She sure used to make me laugh, she had a good heart.
I think about her. She was a firey one. 
I think she might of, kinda liked me but who knows.
It’s no coincidence she married a fireman.
Well Mom the light is fading, the Sun’s going down,
I Guess I better sign off now and say goodbye.
Gee the stars look pretty over the Iraqi sky.
At least you don’t have to wish me happy birthday Mom
Love ya Mom.
Your son Elroy.

Details | Lachlen Smith Poem

The Seagulls Over Rose Bay Dont Like Wine

It was late afternoon in September,
Stephen laid a blanket on the grass and opened a bottle of Pinot Noir,
He did this every year on the 9th because that was when Eliza disappeared.
He carefully opened the basket he had brought and prepared two plates of food.
He cut some brie cheese, Eliza’s favourite and placed some Atlantic salmon on crackers.
He shed a tear as he poured the wine.
The seagulls circled above enticed by the salmon.
The Sun in Sydney can be quiet in September and this afternoon was no different.
It just turned it’s head and sank behind a giant cumulous cloud.

Stephen fell back gently to the ground and closed his eyes.
The seagulls took this opportunity to steal some salmon.
They tried the cheese but throw it back.
Some even sipped the wine but it made them cough and they flew away.  
In his daydream Eliza came out of the sea like an angel.
She went up to Stephen and spoke as dreamers do.
“You silly boy, you should know seagulls don’t like wine.”
She touched his cheek and said “Au revoir mon amour”
Stephen opened his eyes and the lazy sun was bright again.
His heart was filled with a black joy that could fill the Earth.
And He wandered off leaving the picnic to the birds.
He whispered to the wind: à l'année prochaine mon ami.

Details | Lachlen Smith Poem

Katherine Remembers

Oh it was so long ago, now, in the time before television.
It was a more genteel time.
Women used to do the housework and read to the children.
Their husbands went off to save the world,
and their wives stayed home pushing the merry-go-rounds.
I remember we had a flower garden in the front yard.
There were roses, lavender and lilacs of course.
My favourite was the Violets. The blue reminded me
Little Joey’s eyes when he was born. Blue as the heavens above.
 It was so sad when the Doctor told me he was blind.
I prayed so hard that his sight might return.
It never did of course. He had a tough go of it really.
When he took his own life I didn’t cry not at first.
I knew he was going to our saviour 
And he would have eyes that could see forever.
Later on I cried myself to sleep every night.
I dreamed of him in heaven watching out for us.

Oh its funny what sticks in your memory.
It was sunny day in November your father Jack Walter 
Came through the front gate as bold as brass with a dozen lilacs in his hands.
He marched up to me and said ”Katherine would you like to go to the pictures?”
Well of course I said maybe I would have to think about it,
You shouldn’t say yes that quick he might get the wrong idea.
I told him to come back later I would have my decision then.
Of course I was going to say yes. In fact I danced around
my bedroom as happy as a butterfly in the garden.
We saw that movie with Greta Garbot in it.
Although I hasten to add that Jack had his hands all over me.
He didn’t care about the picture much at all.
Oh time just sailed by like a yacht on the high seas.
A couple of months later he asked me to marry him
9 months after that little Joey was born.
About that time Jack enlisted and went off to war.
Well didn’t he look handsome in his army uniform.
I remember waving goodbye at the wharf.
I could help crying my eyes out.
We wrote to each other every other week.
After two years I got a letter from him.
He was not well .He caught some tropical disease
and was being shipped home.
He wasn’t the same after that. He started drinking.
he said he let his mates down by getting sick.
He would drink himself stupid all hours of day and night.
In the spring the lilacs would bloom and the garden was
Awash with purples and blues. It was heavenly.
Its funny how the garden stays warm beautiful even if 
the world grows ugly and cold.