Old Ma and Pa Mckenzie

OLD MA AND PA MCKENZIE Old Ma and Pa McKenzie, Ran our local store When they came to stay, Moved in with three kids did they; One a boy and two were girls, And a big black dog called ‘Sheba girl,’ And six black chooks and rooster be. For Old Ma and Pa McKenzie, Our local store ‘twas very much a country store; With a bit of this, And a bit of that, And everything else in between, And mostly done on tick. Old Ma and Pa McKenzie, Were very much like city folks, In the way they spoke And the way they portrayed themselves, Not at all like us country folks, Who knew everybody else? And who was related to who. For Old Ma and Pa McKenzie, This was something else and strange indeed, Forever having to be careful; Of minding their P’s and Q’s, When even in the store When in speaking of someone else, And of the consequences felt. When Old Ma and Pa McKenzie, Had felt settled, In with a new broom they bought, And changes had been made, With a lick of paint, And a new façade, The Old Girl looked impressive. Old Ma and Pa McKenzie, Were an industrious pair In putting their backs to grindstone, And full of new ideas, In helping the town Discover the delights, Of hamburgers from the plate. With Old Ma and Pa McKenzie, Into the fabric of town society became, Their store became the social hub, Of traumas, thoughts and dreams, Many morns of awaiting mail, Good times was had by all In social chit-chat of day. Old Ma and Pa McKenzie felt, Many aspects of country life Especially when the mice ran rife, In epidemic of plague proportions came, Which made for day to day existence be; Of wondering Where the next attack would come to pass. Old Ma and Pa McKenzie prospered, From the many adventures spoke, Of running a country store In times of high inflation by banks, For there were many lessons taught, Of knowing how to make a quid, In keeping their country store afloat. Then there came a time; When Old Ma and Pa McKenzie Said “no more” to endless days, And timeless hours, And very early starts, And then they retreated, To a time of seven days normality. Now that the story’s told; About a time in the life of a couple, Who go by the handle? Of Old Ma and Pa McKenzie, Retired there on Sunshine Coast And living out their dreams, And of days back in yonder. Francis Cooper – Mac © February 2019