Burning bridges

25 Jun 2016

Before Probus member Anna Hamers moved to Australia, she lived in the Netherlands. Here, she shares the story of her childhood and the changing landscape of her homeland. Anna is a member of the Hallidays Point Probus Club.

I’m a child of a flat, green country, Surrounded by water and crowned with low skies, Where in autumn, the leaves are the colours

of Rembrandt, Where in wintry fog every single sound dies. I still see myself as a child picking daisies, I still see myself go to school on my bike In the strong winds that seem to be always against me. And in summer I walked with my love on the dike. I will always remember my sweet little country As it was in the days when I was still young. My country that gave me a feeling of comfort, A feeling that said: here is where you belong. The meadows have gone, and so have the daisies. There’s houses and highways, it’s progress, you know. And the fog is now caused by boxes on wheels; They have come a long way and got nowhere to go. The street where I lived and that once was

my playground Is now the domain of McDonalds and co, Crowded with people from faraway places. There’s no quiet dikes now for lovers to go. I will always remember my sweet little country, But it’s different now from when I was young. So I burnt all my bridges in crossing the ocean To this wonderful country that says, ‘you belong’.

Anna is now in the running to win the annual Paul Henningham Award for Literary Excellence. Want to enter? EMAIL: [email protected]. POST: Smile, Active Retirees, 369a Darling Street, Balmain, NSW, 2041.