Surveying sculpture at McClelland
Outdoor Gallery, eyes down,
appreciating Smalls, a line
of tiny metal personages
arranged in sand, when
a slight kerfuffle behind
announced the presence
of a trolley, golf cart really,
ferrying three snowy-haired
types around the exhibits.
Frostiest-haired front passenger
hunched and half-listening
to his ferryman and guide
while his eyes fished about
was Robert James Lee Hawke,
whose golden Nugget leather mug
tricked my recognition receptors.
I don't know this man at all.
Perhaps the surprise was seeing
that fleshy puppet in open air.
Emerging from behind celluloid,
there in sun, all unscreened by tv.
Before anyone, even if they
had felt inclined, so much
as Hail Bobbed, the cart
rolled off behind a bush
and Bob, stepdad apparently,
of an exhibitor, was gone.
bw
26.11.14
* Australia's 23rd Prime Minister, 1983-91
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