Poem
Katherine Gallagher
GETTING THE ELECTRICITY ON
GETTING THE ELECTRICITY ON
GETTING THE ELECTRICITY ON
The farm has changed, face-liftedsince we put away the lamps
or hung them up with lanterns, as antiques.
The house is new-veined, lush.
Getting the current switched through — such
fever, a district-do to celebrate:
“We’ll be like the townsfolk now,” we sang.
My mother saw the world transformed
by a washing-machine and fridge.
My father, caught by progress in a skein
that swept about his ears,
tracked voyages round the farm
reassured by the sameness of the stars
and lanterns lighting his mind.
© 1985, Katherine Gallagher
From: Passengers to the City
Publisher: Hale & Iremonger, Sydney
From: Passengers to the City
Publisher: Hale & Iremonger, Sydney
Poems
Poems of Katherine Gallagher
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GETTING THE ELECTRICITY ON
The farm has changed, face-liftedsince we put away the lamps
or hung them up with lanterns, as antiques.
The house is new-veined, lush.
Getting the current switched through — such
fever, a district-do to celebrate:
“We’ll be like the townsfolk now,” we sang.
My mother saw the world transformed
by a washing-machine and fridge.
My father, caught by progress in a skein
that swept about his ears,
tracked voyages round the farm
reassured by the sameness of the stars
and lanterns lighting his mind.
From: Passengers to the City
GETTING THE ELECTRICITY ON
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