The Old Place

Te Ao Hou, September 1964, Page 5

The Old Place No one comes by way of the doughy track through straggly tea tree bush and gorse, past the hidden spring and bitter cress. Under the chill moon's light no one cares to look upon the drunken fence-posts and the gate white with moss. No one except the wind saw the old place make her final curtsy to the sky and earth: and in no protesting sense did iron and barbed wire ease to the rust's invasion nor twang more tautly to the wind's slap and scream. On the cream lorry or morning paper van no one comes, for no one will ever leave the golden city on the fussy train; and there will be no more waiting on the hill beside the quiet tree where the old place falters because no one comes anymore no one.