The sweet little vessel

under crimson sail

wafts towards

the golden strand,

curving around

the sheltering bay,

with all mod cons

and café comforts,

while retro in

the river of yore

Black Swans graze

auto-upended,

civilisation emerging

from yesteryear’s geology

and geography, to furnish

thrice blessed simple

popular delights,

convivial in lido. Here,

time pauses to proceed.

Dr David Faber is an Australian labour historian and published poet who majored at Somerset Primary School in pirates, wild colonial boys, British monarchy and imperialism. He began writing poetry at Burnie High School. He emigrated to Adelaide in 1977, fell under the spell of a Milanese admirer of Machiavelli, and moved with her to Italy in 1985, where he was a local official of the Partito Comunista Italiano. He now lives in Adelaide again, and visits Tasmanian family, friends, colleagues, libraries and archives annually. His next project is a co-authored life of Depression era Premier Albert Ogilvie.