This is the most recent in our series of Park Poetry -“Veale Gardens” by Venesha Winter.
Venesha visited Veale Gardens, in Veale Park/Walyu Yarta (Park 21 of your Park Lands) on a winter Sunday afternoon.
“Veale Gardens”
The sky was blue; the breeze was cold
The view was new; the gardens old
I saw the Adelaide Pavilion
and statues that still live on
The garden has so much history
including secret sex and a murder mystery
There was a sundial; no, you can’t dial the Sun
There was compost that you could smell in London
The rose bushes were pruned in time for spring
when it’s the perfect place for proposing and weddings
My favourite piece of art in the park by far
is the sculpture of the woman holding the harp
The paddock had hungry sulphur-crested cockatoos
but in the 1950s had cows saying, “Moo”
Venesha Winter - her story
I am from a small country town but moved to Adelaide to study criminology and psychology at Flinders University. In my spare time, I enjoy walking in nature because it is good for my spiritual wellbeing.
Furthermore, I care deeply about the environment, which is why I enjoy op shopping and volunteering by, for example, planting trees. Extending from this, I help others to make a living.
Lastly, I love travelling to different places and trying new experiences, which is why I attended a guided walk in Veale Park/Walyu Yarta. It inspired me to write my poem, ‘Veale Gardens’.
Venesha Winter
I have also been to other places in the Adelaide Park Lands, such as Elder Park in Tarntanya Wama.
I went there during the Walk for Respect, which is an event that advocates for no domestic violence against women.
However, my favourite spot in the Adelaide Park Lands is by the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari. I love it because birds are my favourite animal, especially the Australian white ibis, and they are often seen near or in the River Torrens.
White ibis near the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari in Red Gum Park / Karrawirra (Park 12)
Overall though, nature is mysterious and can contain many buildings, artistic pieces, and hidden stories, especially in the Adelaide Park Lands. They can inspire you to write poems in creative ways with the use of many poetic devices.
As a result, the Adelaide Park Lands is an important feature for all South Australians because it can help people connect with nature and pursue creative endeavours. This can help people better their emotional and spiritual wellbeing, which are crucial for a well-balanced life.
For this reason, I have written poems previously. However, ‘Veale Gardens’ is the first poem of mine that is published.
Another big reason why I wrote, ‘Veale Gardens’ is because I took photos of the gardens and wanted to put those pictures into words.
So if anyone reading this wants to write a poem about the Adelaide Park Lands, I encourage you to pay attention to the important details of the park and take pictures of them. After, you should try to think of how to express them in creative, original ways.
See other “Park Poems” in our series
Make a submission for our “Park Poetry” series. Contact Deb Stewart: poetryintheparklands@gmail.com
Banner image (at top): Venesha Winter
Other images: Venesha Winter and Shane Sody
