Kelvin Of The Outback

• Ethan Lenahan, Grade 9
• Poetry
• 2010

Kelvin of the Outback
(With apologies to A.B (Banjo) Paterson)

I had written him a letter him a letter, which I had, for want of better
Knowledge, sent to where I met him in Long Reach down the track
He was working in the hall of Fame when I know him so I sent it to him
Addressed to long Reach Hall of Fame, “Kelvin of the Outback”

And an answer came to me in writing unexpected
(And I think it was written with a stick and wet clay)
Written by a work mate names Kyle, that I will put it in my file
“Kelvin with his band to play and they’ve gone away”

In my wild erratic fancy visions come to me of Kelvin
Gone a-playing in the outback where the other musicians go
As the stalker follow him, and the hundred of fans he barricades
Himself in his motel room and cower down

Herds of people meet him, and screaming drovers greet him
Caravans come by the dozen, and yapping little dogs
And he sees in his mind big boxes of pain killer to ease the pain of his
Headaches and sleeps like a log

I’m sitting in my rusty caravan; the air is musty from the oxygen
So I sleep outside
And get splinters from the deck, and it gives me hell
I think of Kelvin in his motel room, so I move inside

And the hurrying fans daunt me, and their happy faces hunt me
As Kelvin comes to town, some people jump out of their cars
With their eager eyes, Kelvin trows an inflatable of him
And the band and rush to the bar.
For the fans it was a war, they wast no time thinking that they were dummies.

And I went into the bar, and talked to Kelvin and the band
That I’ll like to change with them, and play for a year
Then change back
While they have a break, doing nothing and with the fans
Or stalkers around
But I doubt they’ll say no, “Kelvin of the Outback”

Written by: Ethan Lenahan
Year: 9