One Face of Australia

John S McCallum is a surfer that dropped out of the city of Perth to Margaret River about 22 years ago. He finished his science degree about 35 years ago and then hitchhiked around the United States, Canada, and Mexico trying to find himself (that discovery occurred on a Mayan pyramid in the middle of the Yucatan Peninsula). He didn't like studying English is school, but after the pyramid experience he began to write short stories and prose and he hasn't stopped. His poem here takes us on a bit of a finding oneself trek into John's homeland, mapped in the life of one man.  

One Face of Australia
By John S McCallum

This sunburnt country inscribed on his forehead
Brown leathery skin stretched over his prominent features
Wrinkles like growth rings on an ancient tree

Squint lines radiate ...
From the corners of searching, watery, blue eyes
As if scanning distant places for lost and expectant traces

Facial muscles strain ... 
Accommodating that broad-rimmed smile
Not over the top, conservative, humble yet strong

A taciturn life ... 
His mouth again reverts back to become another line ... 
Jaw again set like an anvil

His face reflecting ... 
This tempered life, stiff upper lip, minimal emotion
Memories of war, depression, hard times

His conversation ... 
A pencil sketch of a rustic outback house
With all the colour, melancholy and romance

A voice ... 
As hollow as the vastness he used to embrace
Spliced with that sinuous resilience of a desert plant

This portrait, this face ... 
Is as dynamic as the cactus is succulent and sweet
Beneath its waxy facade of thorns.


Posted by Annmarie at 10/25/2010 3:45 PM
Categories: words to linger on
Tags: Australia history landscape face John S McCallum
 

What did you think of this article?




Trackbacks
Trackback specific URL for this post
  • No trackbacks exist for this post.
Comments
Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

  • 10/25/2010 10:01 PM Kay Middleton wrote:
    Brilliant. A tacturn life... jaw like an anvil... spliced with that sinuous resilence... waxy facade of thorns. It was easy to see my own father in this discription. The juxtapostion and the love were tactile. I could carry them in a bowl and serve them to others. Thanks.
    Reply to this
    1. 10/29/2010 3:41 AM John wrote:
      Kay you are too kind
      Reply to this
  • 10/26/2010 7:09 AM Sharon Poch wrote:
    An evocative portrait of 'Everyman' and the search for life meaning told with a stark beauty. Look forward to more work from "down under." Thank you, John.
    Reply to this
    1. 10/29/2010 3:44 AM John McCallum wrote:
      Thankyou Sharon encouraging comments....got lots more prose where that came from
      Reply to this
  • 10/26/2010 8:03 AM Jeanette Cheezum wrote:
    This is heartfelt. It took me back to a time I need not forget. Thank you.
    Reply to this
    1. 10/29/2010 3:46 AM John McCallum wrote:
      Hi Jeanette, yes I wish I had said a lot more to my father when he was alive - he had a hard life in the NW of Aussie (harsh & hot)....cheers
      Reply to this
  • 10/26/2010 4:38 PM Jean wrote:
    "A pencil sketch of a rustic outback house"

    "A voice ...
    As hollow as the vastness he used to embrace"

    "...this face...dynamic as the cactus is succulent ...

    my favorte phrases among many great ones.

    Thank you for sharing this wonderful work.
    Reply to this
    1. 10/29/2010 3:54 AM John McCallum wrote:
      Hi Jean, your comments are very appreciated....
      Reply to this
  • 10/26/2010 8:41 PM Rita wrote:
    you paint a vivid picture
    I think I'd like this Australian if I met him in the outback.
    I like the poem very much
    Reply to this
    1. 10/29/2010 3:56 AM John McCallum wrote:
      Hi Rita, you would have liked my father but you would have had to do all the talking ... getting words from Dad was sometimes like extracting teeth.. John
      Reply to this
  • 10/28/2010 10:47 AM CM Speed wrote:
    Mr. McCallum, a beautiful account of one face, yet many faces. The "jaw set like an anvil" is an incredible image. Thank you for sharing this poem.
    Reply to this
  • 10/28/2010 6:07 PM bobbie troy wrote:
    Wonderful imagery.
    Reply to this
Leave a comment

Submitted comments are subject to moderation before being displayed.

 Name

 Email (will not be published)

 Website

Your comment is 0 characters limited to 3000 characters.