Mike and Adriana BAUER
In the Corridors of POWER
There to visit Uncle JIM
(Back row, middle boy – that’s HIM!)

Then Ar-bor-e-tum shared its VIEW
With 50,000 trees they GREW
And even more there was to SEE
Up on the peak of Mount AINSLIE*

(*Author’s Note: Yes I admit that last rhyme is a bit forced but if you put the emphasis on the second syllable of Ains-lie and don’t think about it too much and you close one eye and squint through the other one, it kind of works, doesn’t it? In any case, it really pales in comparison to the terrible rhymes that are about to come up, so for goodness sakes, stop you’re complaining!)

Then we hit the NGA
Where Vincent’s works were on DISPLAY
Paintings bright and strong and BOLD
Important stories to be TOLD

But there is one who seems to FEAR A
Portrait made by NAMATJIRA
Yet for me I’ve never SEEN A
Finer painting of our GINA*

(*You were warned!)

A final stroll round Walter’s LAKE
Stopped for coffee, had some CAKE
Said G’day to P.M. BOB
Although I’m one of Albo’s MOB

Then back to Brissie we must FLY
Time had come to bid GOODBYE
To trees and birds and open SPACES
To all the high and mighty PLACES
To the city Griffins PLANNED –
A ‘Meeting Place’ on Ngunnawal LAND.

Cheers
Michael

PS: A.I.’s helpful advice to me on this blog included the following: Lastly, ensuring a consistent rhyme scheme throughout the piece can enhance the poetic elements.

Now that’s just CRUEL!