Music and sound effects

Much of the music and sound effects for my poems in this blog came from:

Royalty Free Music.com offers a comprehensive music library of production music for your various royalty free music needs including full albums, tracks and free music clips, loops, and beats available for download.
and 
SoundBible.com
And was mixed by Nick Hopkins ...... thank you Nick.

Innocence Stolen

If you have been following this blog please don't give up on it because of this one poem.  I have put it up in the sincere hope that it will help someone else who has been through a similar ordeal.



        I am well aware that this is way off my usual beaten track, however it is perhaps the most important poem (especially from my own point of view) that I have ever written.  It is believed that 10% of Australians have been abused as a child in one form or another, this is over 2 million people a staggering number I think you will agree.  Most like myself are silent for years, some never speak up.  It has taken me the best part of 50 years to be open and admit that I was sexually abused as a boy and on through my teenage years by various men.
You may well ask why I did not speak out earlier.  The answer is simple, shame and guilt.  Both misplaced feelings I have finally learned but they have eaten away at me for years and I believe affected the person I became.
Depression has dogged me for years but I truly believe I have beaten it, I have survived and I am proud of that fact.
The perpetrators of abuse when caught and if convicted get what is relatively a slap on the wrist and very little jail time compared to the life sentence which their victims such as myself receive from them.


Audio and pictures via YouTube is at the end of the poem please have a listen.

INNOCENCE STOLEN

I’m told that I’m a survivor, if so I survived in my own way,

You know I’ve been to Hell, but I hope to arrive back any day,

I had my naiveté torn away when I was less than ten,

By someone less than human not fit to walk with men.

He warned me to be silent or else I would die,

Was that the day a young child, lost the ability to cry?

The threat was real; my child’s mind imagined death,

As in silence I cowered, trying to catch my breath.

But my innocence was stolen, by more than one man,

Now nearly half a century later I think it’s time I took a stand,

Because for all that time I’ve lived with shame and disgust,

Built a wall around me because I felt there was no one I could trust.

Raised by my mother I looked for a father figure in my world,

Never realizing the degradation that was about to be unfurled,

I thought these men were leaders as my childhood was trampled in the dirt,

I came to believe their behavior normal, but in my heart of heart’s I hurt.

My dreams at night were haunted I knew not what they meant,

I would wake in fear and sweating, my body tired and spent,

As an adult I have often thought the future was very bleak,

I often doubted I had the strength to survive another week.

Now I’m told I am a victim; I struggle to believe that this is true,

But if I am a victim then my wife became a victim too,

Withstanding temper and mood swings, she tried to break down my wall,

A thankless task, she suffered rejection as I headed for a fall.

If people got too close to me I’d turn away and close a door,

Wanting too be near to me always bought my anger to the fore,

Despair was eating me like a cancer, from the inside out,

Even my own skills and abilities I began to doubt.

I have struggled through my days trying not to show my pain,

I would refuse to reveal my thoughts as I put up the wall again,

But now I’m beginning to learn that I don’t need to feel any shame,

There’s no reason for me to hang my head; I was not the one to blame.

So it seems the time has come for me to exorcise the demon,

Yes, now has come the time to give my life a new meanin’,

For to give in now would mean that the scumbags had won,

It’s time to push away the thunder clouds, time to see the sun.

To ride out like Saint George when he went to face the Dragon,

Tear down my wall and place the bricks upon a wagon,

For sake of wife and family I must face the world anew,

Although I won’t forget lost innocence and a child that never grew.

I must beat the demons that haunt me; I know the past is gone,

Spew out all the sordid thoughts, that I had buried for so long,

Let the woman who loves me near, let her breach my wall,

So we can stand together, and muffle the Devil’s call.

And yes the battle will be ongoing; the war is far from won,

But there is light at the end of the tunnel, I think I can see the sun,

And the ones who stole my innocence will be defeated in the end,

And I thank God for the people who I can truly call my friends.

And if you read or hear this verse spare not a thought for me,

But think of lost innocence and a child that will never be,

Protect and love your children the most valuable asset on this earth,

So they may reach their full potential and realize their true worth,

And if you once were a victim may you grow forever stronger,

Face and beat your demons and you will be a victim no longer,

Look towards the future and see the rainbow in the sky,

And fellas know and remember its okay for a man to cry.

Thank you!

© Corin Linch 13/5/08

The Jackeroos New Whip

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This poem is based on an event that happened at Moola Bulla some years ago.

THE JACKEROOS NEW WHIP

The noise rang around the station and echoed through the creek,

When you were having a yarn you couldn’t hear yourself speak.

There were jackeroos with stock whips, learning all the cracks,

But they never used them when astride their horse’s backs.

All this blooming whip cracking was driving Dick insane,

He’d get minute or two of peace then mongrels started up again.

That’s it he thought I’ve had enough, so to the quarters he did drive,

And a jackeroo perfected the Sydney Flash, just as he did arrive.

The boss pulled up in a cloud of dust, got out and slammed the door,

His anger was obvious, and his look chilled me to the core.

But he just asked "Is that a good whip?" in a quiet friendly tone,

"To right" said the jackeroo clutching it like a dog would a bone.

But the boss just smiled and nodded, then asked if he could take a look,

As he reached out and the kangaroo hide whip, he calmly took.

Now the jackeroo was proud of his brand new seven foot whip,

It had a nice long cane handle, and a fancy plaited grip.

Every night outside the quarters, he'd practise with that thing,

With all manner of different cracks he'd make those ranges ring.

Sixteen Kangaroo hide strands a master craftsman piece of work,

Normally if anyone else touched his whip the young bloke went berserk.

This was different; shortly Dick would say that his whip was the best,

And that to own such a whip, well he must be truly blessed

But Dick now with whip in hand, he quickly turned his back.

Boy oh boy, was he ever sick to death of listening to it crack?

With pocket knife in hand he proceeded to turn seven foot into one,

The kangaroo hide whip was seven pieces, when he'd cut and done.

And the young bloke was dreaming of flicking flies off the back of a cow,

When the boss threw the pieces over his shoulder, and said,

”Crack the Bloody thing now!"

 © Corin Linch (Rewrite) 12/11/07

Black Caviar #21

Well the mighty mare did it under a strangle hold win number 21 and group one number 11 ........ now if all goes well it is off to England to race before Her Majesty the Queen.

                   BLACK CAVIAR #21

They came to Morphettville in their thousands; they’d come to see the star,

Thirty thousand strong packed in to cheer, the champion Black Caviar.

Only eight other horses lined up beside her to test this great mare out,

At a fifty to one on or tighter the bookmakers were in no doubt.

Well she won the race in a canter; Nolen never touched her with the whip,

Although We’re Gonna Rock tried his heart out, he certainly had a dip.

Surely though the best is yet to come, she hasn’t been extended thus far,

One day they’ll scorch the turf beneath the mighty Black Caviar.

Some British scribe was sceptical and stated that she hasn’t beaten much,

Now I presume this man is educated, but wow, he’s certainly out of touch.

Eleven group one’s to her credit, come on, she’s the best you’ve ever seen,

And she is heading your way mate, to parade and race before the Queen.

And you expect her to go to you but I wonder why won’t you come to us?

Okay it’s off to Royal Ascot where she’s bound to cause a fuss.

On the 23^rd of June our Nellie is scheduled step out and take on the world,

In the Diamond Jubilee you’ll see Australia’s excitement machine unfurled.

But it’s sure a hell of a plane trip for her to get from here to over there,

So Australian fans are hoping she is relaxed and calm while in the air.

Because we want her to arrive healthy and fit the English turf then to grace,

And leave the naysayers speechless once they’ve seen her race.

Yeah your prize-money and trophies she will come and plunder,

She’ll definitely leave you breathless this champion from down under.

The salmon and black colours she has made famous on racetracks over here,

And it will be a privilege for you folk to see her in the Northern hemisphere.

                                                            © Corin Linch 13/5/12