*
Let's walk
through the inner city
of Christchurch
A city of trees
all flowering, budding, leafing
on a cold spring day
One afternoon
in Christchurch
whilst part of our family
went to the Art Gallery
the other part,
that is
those not taking their Nana nap,
walked though the inner city
along the Avon River banks
Christchurch's charm
lies in its leafy river side parks
weeping willows
and English deciduous trees
punting along the Avon River
on a showery afternoon
is still beguiling
for ducks
and onlookers
old colonial administration buildings
hug the river bank
and give the city
that 'old country' feel
and by that I mean
the homeland
The United Kingdom
from whence
most of the city forbears came
spring flowers
lined the pathways
leafy new season green
washed the skies
and the ducks
pose statuesque
on the bridge parapets
and true to form
it rains
But
while it is cold
and showery
the remnants of
my deep and forgotten
English and Scottish heritage
are stirred
in response to these
idyllic green settings
worthy
of poetry
The early city planners
and settlers
would be very proud
of the way that their vision
has matured
*
