Friday 21 January 2011

Sydney Scherzo

Oxford Street, Paddington looking east outside the Verona Cinema
We, an unabashed people,
Yarning, gibing, protesting about what's right or wrong with us,
All the long, crowded day, in the windy gold and the blue;
Hurrying or sauntering workwards at all sorts of times in the morning,
With rattle of myriad heels like the noise of a creek;
Leaning from windowed eyries hundreds of feet above water,
Or far away down in a garden, collapsed on a spongy lawn;
Trapped in a shoppers' jostle of bags and intolerant elbows,
Or hemmed by irrascible ears where bullocks were wont to plod;
Making and buying and selling, handing out tickets and dockets -
We rebel against the great city, we cavil and chafe at the clamour,
The crush, the heat, the struggle, but still say 'Yes' with our hearts.
John Thompson

Oxford Street looking back towards Taylor Square

14 comments:

brattcat said...

Provocative blend of text and image, Julie.

Anonymous said...

A question for both man and woman kind. Why do people drive along Oxford Street?

Luis Gomez said...

Thank you Julie, love seeing these images. I used to live on Burton St. right across from Green Park. I would go to the movies at Verona or walk along Oxford for hours.

Mary Ann said...

The second shot inspires awe and envy. Thanks for sharing the poem. It was new to me.

Kay L. Davies said...

I think I'd like that street, but only for walking. I do not drive in Oz or in England. Scares the wits out of me, being on the 'wrong' side of the road.
-- K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Joan Elizabeth said...

The poem says it so well ... the absolute delight and positive annoyance of being the heart of the city. And the images transport me there. Good one.

Jim said...

Marvellous words and pictures.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

Vicki said...

The images and poem complement each other beautifully. Great title, too.

Ann said...

The light in the 2nd one is beautiful. Was it hand held? What settings?

Windsmoke. said...

Fantastic poem very vivid in imagery :-).

diane b said...

That's your bustling city, vibrant with life, laughs and love. Neat poem too.

Julie said...

Ann

F1.8
50mm
1/60
ISO=100

Taken at 8:34pm
I had myself wedged against a 'No Parking' sign.

Around Alice with Mike said...

That's a beautiful night shot. The sharpness is brilliant considering the f/1.8.

Julie said...

And considering how much, in general, I shake! Yes, F1.8 is pretty wide open but my daughter now has an F1.4 which I would love to take for an evening spin.