I was up in western Queensland
Just the other day
Stopped awhile for coffee
In an outback town Cafe
I was sitting contemplating
On the things that one does see
When a Codger introduced himself
Said his name was Mattie B.

I sat there for a moment
At him I quietly stared
I didn't see him come in
He just suddenly appeared
When he spoke it seemed I knew him
Like we'd been friends for many years
Then he asked if he could join me
So I pushed him out a chair

He was jovial this old Codger
With eyes that twinkled blue
A smile that seemed so permanent
When he spoke with you
His face showed signs of knowledge
Many things he'd learnt in life
I asked if he was married
Shook his head and said "no wife"

Said he worked not far away
Some miles up the track
Said he drove a big machine
He said it was a CAT.
So I ventured out to see it
I followed where he went
The road was black and dusty
So I closed the open vent

Then at last we stopped there
Beside the big Machine
'Bloody big' I told myself
Well you know what I mean
He helped me climb up on the track
Then upstairs to the door
I opened it and stepped inside
And this is what I saw

The cab was clean and tidy
A neat and comfy space
Every thing in order
Nothing out of place
Then it was I saw it
In the corner of the screen
A picture of a lady
The fairest that I've seen

Her hair was blond....looked silky
Soft brown eyes that stared
Straight into these orbs of mine
Her lips looked soft and red
Her gaze it held a question
Or so it seemed to me
Funny I should think like that
Cos' so did Mattie B.

He said he liked to have it there
T'was someone...he didn't say
He stared into the distance
Like his thoughts were far away
Then slowly we climbed down again
I stood and looked around
I saw where he'd been working
The seeded new ploughed ground

Then it was time to move along
Me to the road ahead
Mattie climbed into the cab
He smiled and shook his head
I climbed into my 4WD
Amid a mighty roar
Mattie waved a cheery wave
And shut the D9 door
So now I'm on the blacktop
My mind seems in the past
The sojourn in the coffee shop
My thoughts forever last
Things that I remember
The picture that I'd seen
Of a blond haired brown eyed lady
In the yellow CAT Machine,

M.B.Poems...2012...