The
Home Songs
2. Billy the Goat in Ashfield
I asked my Mum what happened to Billy she
said the Police shot that goat.
Dad and I looked at each other eyes rolling
she sets down her counted crosstitch to explain that Billy ran amuck – Nan and
Pop had to move, one more in the perpetual rent-fleeing that was her wedding
gift and Billy went to aunt who had a housing place, that outside the back
fence, ran down to a creek.
So it seemed the spot for Billy, for a
while.
He was tied, up and over the fence with
rope to browse down on the common and that’s the error there - for Billy,
fretting - ate the rope like jerky, and trotted up to Ashfield shops looking
for Mum and the kids .
On that main street he window-shopped a
while. He was a big goat - shooed here and there, then in the mirrored deco embrasures of the
old-style shops Billy saw himself. A formidable opponent – he went
further into mirror land to find him – kicking and butting the glass to a deafening
glittering death. Billy was on the rampage against an enemy - Ashfield goats.
Police were
called as Nanna tried to get there - he was running mad up and down the road until a copper
drew his pistol and shot him dead out in the street.
Dad refills the
teapot -I try to think of other pets they had when we were kids.
I love Billy. A poem for the times.
ReplyDeletewhat a great story/memory. Thanks Kerri
ReplyDeleteOh, poor Billy. But I love the memories of animals. I grew up in the south of Spain and as a little kid (sorry!) I remember walking through the countryside with my gang of boys to see what mischief we could find. We'd visit the neighboring farms -- where they were always happy to see us and would always give us something to eat. The goats they had were always my favourite animal. A very wide range of expression...I think I even recall reading that NASA once did some behavourial research into which animal would be the best companion for astronauts in space, and sure enough the goat topped the list.
ReplyDelete...then some bright fellow figured out that a goat will eat the hat off of your head, and so probably not such a great idea!
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