Best Dunedin Poems
Here lies Debbie McCullum
The most beautiful girl in the world
Who will never be old
She was an angel
She only changed her abode
What remains here is her smile
It is her gift to loved ones
Of the present and future
Debbie McCullum
Birth: 3rd June, 1853
Died: 4 September 1873
Dunedin, NZ
+fictional
Categories:
dunedin, smile,
Form:
Epitaph
With most of the people we see every day…we’re like ships that pass in the night.
We see there’s someone over there…but we don’t often experience their light.
One of the things I love about working in a bookstore is how our ships slow down as they pass one another in the night…how, for a moment, we get to experience…and share…in one another’s light.
An old man came into the bookstore…every step he took was strained…
His shoulders were stooped forward, his head bent down…and in his left hand he held a cane.
With his posture fixed in that permanent position…his eyes only able to see his shoes…I imagine seeing all the books on our shelves was difficult to do.
Most people who walk into a bookstore like to browse by themselves…in the warmth of the books they love to bask…so we welcome them in as they enter and let them know…if they have any questions…to ask.
This man browsed for a while…up and down the bookshelves he did look…when he finally approached me at the counter he said, “I’m looking for a specific book.”
“You found it!” He said as I handed it to him…his smile made his face seem to shine
“I bet it was on the top shelf.” he said… I nodded…as his eyes shifting up to meet mine…
And with that we began a conversation…he said he once lived in Dunedin…told me how he rode his bike before to his accident…how he was so much more active…how there was so much more he could do…before his body was bent.
He said it’s amazing how fast life can change…how it doesn’t always go the way we design…how his life changed that day in his car…when he was hit by another car from behind.
He’s already had surgery on his back…and more surgeries are planned….
He’s in town to consult with his doctor…about surgery on his right hand.
We talked for a while…and I found myself forgetting about the curvature of his spine
as he told me about more about his life and I told him a little about mine
He paid for his book, put it in his backpack and as he shuffled out the door
I could swear the light from his ship, like mine, glowed a little brighter than before.
I thought about him, again, as I closed the store…after turning out the light….
glad our two ships had a chance to meet and not just pass each other in the night.
Categories:
dunedin, community, inspiration,
Form:
Rhyme
City down south where fresh chill of every morning awakes to consciousness my likely to break into action bones
I have come from a place where the sun shines all year and time long for which it never tires out of giving heat; direct
and ardent, often scorching heat. Here I feel no heat from even the brightest sun for the wind blows cold that always
whiff the face as if saying "awaken the sun in your heart, your inner warmth inside which forever burns and now let it!"
So I smile and embrace the cold air in response saying "Thank you... I have let it from the time that you said Hello."
The everyday greetings of the trees never fail to please my eyes. I have never seen such lush and vibrant colors of
purple, pink, white, yellow, orange, and then from the daring dark of green to a subtle tint of yellow to gold. It all speaks
to me… depicting moods of everyday lives changing by the seasons and every moment of life. My mind raises to the
many seasons I long to see and experience and I feel very much alive.
Categories:
dunedin, places, seasons, sun, time,
Form:
Narrative
When my life turns upside down and the stars no longer align…
I know this may sound crazy but…I search the world for signs.
I look to people, to nature, to animals…to the sky, the sea, the land…
to help me cope with a confusing world I no longer understand.
At Christmas time Dunedin businesses decorate our lamp posts
with garland, ornaments and lights…
They’re meant to bring peace and joy into our days…
and brighten up our nights.
On Main Street…in front of a church…
where many have left a hope,
a dream,
a prayer…
stands a lamp post decorated with an angel…
who looks like she’s hovering in the air..
I stopped in front of this angel…
well before the break of day…
and two owls who’d been perched upon the post…
quickly flew away.
And I thought to myself…an angel and two owls…
were these two symbols sent to help me cope?
to remind me I would be wise…not to abandon hope.?
Yes, it may sound crazy…but I took them as a sign…
and immediately I felt better…and my stars began to realign…
Who would have thought on a day I was felling low…
a day my heart and spirit needed feedin’
I’d find my strength and hope and courage…
from an angel and two owls on a lamp post in Dunedin.
Categories:
dunedin, angel,
Form:
Rhyme
We’re taught that time moves ever forward…in a solid line…with no slack…
that the eyes of time stare straight ahead…never looking back.
But we have found the older we grow…this isn’t always true.
because sometimes, if you’re lucky, time will circle back to you.
Deborah and I spent a lot of time with our children
and our grandchildren when they were young.
That was our intent..
Homework, holidays, birthdays, soccer games…
we considered it time well spent.
We saw them at their best and worst behavior
We felt their joy and sadness too.
They saw us the same and learned how we were human too.
We sang with them, we danced with them
Deborah baked some of their birthday cakes.
From us they learned no-one is perfect and it’s okay to make mistakes.
We like to think, when each and every one of our family members
look back on our life together…it’s those times they will remember.
Yesterday Ava, our youngest grandchild…who’s about to turn 18
proved, without a doubt, exactly what I mean.
She texted us that she and two friends were in Dunedin…and thus
wanted to know if she could come by and spend a little time with us.
As we visited with Ava and her friends I thought…
how time does have some slack…
how every now and then she allows us to circle back.
Yes, time does move ever forward…we know this to be true…
But if you spend time with your children and grandchildren
when they are young…
when you are all a little older they will circle back
and spend some time with you.
Categories:
dunedin, inspiration,
Form:
Rhyme
Lovely weather for Dunners' ducks (tongue in cheek peek at Dunedin's historic deluge)
"Stares upstairs..
Angels’ weeing above..
Be a good chap..
Show some love bruv..
Turn off the tap..
*****
No refuge from the subterfuge of the deluge..
Parched sandbag phalanxes..
Ranks marching in flanks..
Arching across busted banks..
Quaffing..scoffing..downpour spanks..
**********
Disbelief at the leisurely river Leith..
Despairing at it baring...glaring..teeth
Hurling....haring to unsheaf grief..
Mischief rashly unfurling…
Brashly whirling beneath.
Bawdry..tawdry thief...
******
Baffled..can't they see...squiffy South D in a jiffy downed..
Snaffled..drowned and raffled to the sea..
Don't they care...iffy white caps slaps..won't perhaps spare even sniffy..
Snooty..spiffy St Clair..
****
This rain ruckus.. pluvial palaver...
Whichever not whatever...
It totally sucks..
Planet forever in..
Fluvial flummoxed flux..
Tis rather lovely weather..
Though for Dunedin's ducks.."
Categories:
dunedin, environment, nature, rain,
Form:
Rhyme
Nature has provided us a unique perspective this summer…
three unique perspectives I must say…
from our home in Dunedin, Florida, to our cabin in N. C.
to visiting our friend Bonnie…way up in Pittsburgh, PA.
Dunedin has its ocean, it has its birds…its trees
sunrises and sunsets… and whenever they appear
and we see them we announce…
My god…it’s so beautiful here.
North Carolina has its mountains, it has its birds…its trees
sunrises and sunsets… and whenever they appearr
and we see them we announce…
My god…it’s so beautiful here
Pittsburgh’s has its rivers, it has its birds…its trees
sunrises and sunsets… and whenever they appear
and we see them we announce…
My god…it’s so beautiful here
Each of these three have animals the others don’t.
as well as animals they share……
for instance we cardinals wherever we go
they seem to follow us everywhere.
Although it doesn’t snow in Florida
It snows a lot in Pittsburgh and NC
But it does get hot and humid…and it rains across all three.
And though we notice distinct differences there are many similarities
whether Florida, North Carolina or Pennsylvania are their names
we enjoy the differences while relishing the similarities
and we love all three just the same.
Which makes me wonder…
If we can love every state…despite their differences…
and the diverse way they were designed…
why, do we focus so much on our differences instead of our similarities
when it comes to humankind.
Why can’t we love our differences as well as our similarities
Love the unique way everyone of us is designed…
Why can’t we see everyone as a beautiful creation of nature
and love everyone and every aspect of humankind?
.
Categories:
dunedin, perspective,
Form:
Rhyme
(this is a little ode to Rian ..a lovely lad whose sparkle has given our Farmer's market in Dunedin a boyish fizz)
Oh dear…what’s that in my eye?
I fear a tear is near
Ah the curiosity of lachrymosity
Why am I starting to cry?
(cos I'm an emotional guy)
Rian.. not a dyslexic downpour
Spelt in a svelte refrain
Celt strain for sure
On your final day
Wanted to say farewell
Wish you all the best
In a pure heartfelt way
Puff out your chest
Quick to jest ..got the zest
For the fest that's life's quest
After 18 years..plenty of tears..many are bereft
The lad has left home.. off to roam
Poor old Grandad Geoff
Cheers mate.. of course beers
Down your gullet…with your peers
Not being a dull fuddy-duddy
But won't ruddy cull it
Annul it…or cut it
Just says shut it
Even as we tut tut it
That bloody mullet!
Too cool or a fool at school…not being cruel..BMW’s rule
Joke not a poke… a bespoke top bloke
Now you’re not broke..have a toke.. but no coke
Vim & vigour..the trigger..a bigger digger ace
Don’t snigg** .. be a detractor
Your baby face…maybe could be an actor..
You are a shining light
Clearly got that X factor
Not a slight..not really that bright
Can't read or write
But not being trite
Rian will strive…jive & thrive
And boy...can he drive a tractor alright
Categories:
dunedin, friendship,
Form:
Rhyme