The University of Adelaide. 1961- 1965.
Fraternity meant something then,
Adelaide men;
ingenious intent
fired every temperament,
serious we were, and then
hilarious again;
adventurous paradox
was treasured like mining stocks,
irony went down like wine
friendship had a splendid time,
we had fraternity then,
Adelaide men.
*
We congregated separately then,
women and men.
It was custom
against attraction.
Brunhilde, I remember,
the fair hair on her shoulder.
She turned away,
lest I stay.
That was common then
between women and men.
Desire turned into song,
bittersweet, and long.
*
The ANU 1969-1971
Burton Hall
was congenial,
the girls there
were fair,
how could you not
love the lot?
One I did,
and she I married;
as they should,
the times were good.
Reg Naulty was a Philosophy tutor at John XXIII College in 1969.