In The Land of Oz

Darling wrote this reminiscing poem a few months before finding and making contact with Sir again. Writing is her way of healing and expressing her innermost feelings. Darling had forgotten, blocked, and disassociated many of her memories and emotions concerning Sir and their time together. With Sir’s help, many have returned.

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We met in beautiful Sydney
And you showed me around
We rented a car and drove for miles
Through villages and towns

We hiked and stayed in Jenolan
Strolled through Taronga Zoo
Held hands around the Opera House
Ate at Sydney Tower for the view

We met the Major of Cessnock
Tasted the Hunter Valley wines
Visited your parents in Newcastle
Stopped in Blackheath and dined

We bought trinkets at The Rocks
Ordered oysters at Watson’s Bay
Had drinks at the Marble Bar
Then danced the night away

Saw Barry Humphries at the theatre
Went to The Bourbon and Beefsteak too
Laughed and cried in Darling Harbour
Where I fell harder for you

You tried to teach me Snooker
Played the piano and sang for me
I had a go at rhyming slang
And fed a Koala bear eucalyptus leaves

Snapped my picture with The Three Sisters
Enjoyed the Blue Mountains air
Was startled by a Kookaburra
We shared a love that was quite rare

The memories are many
Branded in my heart
This was a new beginning
A new life – a fresh start

I was your first proposal
But life has no guarantees
Sadly the goodbye was final
And we were never meant to be

By Darling ©2014 TSL

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The Wallaby Whisperer

My Mesmerising Darling

Your encounters with our wildlife at the zoo were not just confined to our freaky spider webs. You saw some of our other native animals as well.

We went to the koala feeding and got there right at the very end. I remember the keeper being incredibly short with us and me having trouble controlling my caustic tongue. The koalas were a bit of a disappointment (as they often are). They were just sitting in the tree munching on their eucalyptus leaves, essentially just being a far prettier version of a three toed sloth.  

We saw the kangaroos. They weren’t looking in the least bit majestic. They were just laying around instead of being in full stride bounding across the open plains, and they were dozing under the shade of some far off trees. We went to the wombat enclosure, but as they are nocturnal creatures I think we saw a furry butt and that was about it.

You did have some luck with a wallaby though. Obviously the wallaby in question was pretty tame. He was just hoping around. Many of the sightseers were really excited to see him. They tried to pet him. They tried to feed him and then they tried to take photographs of him. He ignored them all. Who did he head to? Well you know the answer. He became your best friend. You picked up some fallen leaves and quite literally you had him eating out of the palm of your hand.

So there you are in all your American glory wearing my baseball cap, tormenting the tourists, and feeding our wildlife.

The wallaby is not the only creature you have eating out of the palm of your hand. You know I do also.

You Will Always Be My Darling

From Sir With Love

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My Dear Native Sir,

The best part of the zoo, my beloved, was spending the day with you. I just want that clear.

The koalas were cute, and they acted like they knew it as they looked at us from their lofty perch. Isn’t that the Australian way? (I’m smirking here.) I had forgotten how the zoo employee wasn’t very pleasant. That understandably doesn’t sit well with you.

I remember many tourists and zoo goers couldn’t get the wallabies to come near them for a picture. We watched the confusion for a few moments, and then I reached down and logically grabbed some of the same leaves that the wallabies were eating. The others weren’t using the correct leaves. I thought it was funny.

One brave wallaby decided he liked what I was presenting him as a peace offering. Just behind me and out of the picture were many camera wielding people snapping photographs to their heart’s content.

When the wallaby and I were done making each other’s acquaintances, I glanced up at you. You were standing there smiling at me. You had such a look of serenity on your features; that look is ingrained in my memory.

Calmly yours,

Darling

©2014 Darling and Sir