December 1967 School Magazine

Brisbane Girls' Crrammar School Magazine

December, 1967

Brisbane Girls' Granrmar School Magazine

December, L967

Now I am in Sixth Form and for sometime we have been able to wear watches as a privilege. It all seems someu/hat significant now as I think about leaving Grammar with regret for things not done, with nostalgia, and with some expectancy. Yes, I'm sure there is some significance in this small memory, The only problem is that I haven't time to sit down and work it out lrow. Perhaps I never will. It all seems rather sad ' ' w.c.B., vIB, ENGLAND HousE TFIAT NEW YEAR'S EVE The rusty lantern, placed on the red-painted floor amongst an assortment of sheet music, emitted an orange, unwavering light which penetrated only one corner of the small room, A cool breeze billowed the yellow curtains and the rings clacked as they moved around the metal rods. The unremitting rumble of the night-sky and the flashes of lightning I could see through chinks in the heavy linen drapes, 'w'ere remnants of the summer storm which had blackened that area of the city on New Year's Eve. But I wasn't afuaid of the domin ant darkness, nor did the ferocity of the thunder and lightning frighten nre. Never before had God seemed so close "Someone's singing, Lord, Kumbaya . . ." I cling, lover-like, to my guitar, and shut my eyes against the glowing light which played on the yellow wood. Ontry bv the feel of her smooth, bare 1.g against mine, was I convinced of my companion's presence. Her rich voice was unearthly, as the sig- nificant words of a gospel song were accompanied by the qontrolled rhythm of her guitar. The night washed her face as black as the negroes who pleaded to be led through "them Pearly Gates" and the reflections in het eyes of the lantern were like the stars that rvould begin to fall on that. morning when they would all be free. I trembled in the weird atmosphere, not from fear, but from nervous excitement. and when I tried to sing with my cousin the notes quivered with ernotion. I felt cold from shivering and cold oerspiration stictr

their eyes , and the girl's long dark hair glowed a deep, chestnut brown in the orange light. They were beautiful then I was beautiful too, not physic aIIy, but emotionally, for God was within me but the songs they were singing were even more so. The notes were deep, lingering, and mellow, and they sang in perfect harmony, each voice supporting the other. They accompanied themselves on a guitar, a banjo, a double bass and a tambourine, singing "Kumbaya". "Someone's crying, Lord, Kumb aya . . ." Normally, I would have hated myself, but tears of both joy and somow seemed so appropriate chen, that silently, I cried with face uplifted. Through watery eyes, I could sdll see the vision that I was so afuaid would vanish - I could not rcalize that it would never die, that it would always be before my eyes and that, though sornetimes invisible, its presence would always be palpable. The magic of the dream would never be lost. "Someone's praying, Lord, Kumb aya . . ." My lips weren't moving but I was talking because I could hear the words, feel the words, coming from my very soul , I was no longer in that small dark room, but I wes enveloped in a beam of white light and I was flying with white wings white dove and the four, scarlet-clad singers were rising up beside nre. I could hear the stormy sea below ffie, the chanting voices beside me and the words, still supernaturally audible, which flowed from within me. There sounded a prayer a prayer for the broken dreams of men, for the dying love of men and a prayet for the hastening of that duy which must come when humanity is united under one eternal bond of fellowship. "Kumb &ya, My Lord , . ." Then my hands were grasped they were buried deep in the fierce but gentle hands of my God. The blinding strearn of white light died and was replaced bv a mellow gold misr, through which the sweet harmony of the singers could still be heard. My prayer was answered, and I had eternal peace. MARGARET PHILLIPS, VD HUNTED She stood at the corner and waited impatiently. The lights changed from green to amber to red; she stepped off the kerb just as the sign said "walk", alone.

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