Rona

I met her at a gallery in Collingwood
Where they serve champagne and some rather good Cambonzola
Z-O-L-A zola
She limped up to me with a
cheeky grin
Had her leg in a cast from kickboxing
In Altona
Unless I heard wrong?
Maybe it was Werribee?
 
She asked “Do you wanna do a folio
With an animal theme and a travelling show
in October?
Said I’d think it over
But I know that the moment she hands me a badge
Of a nautical seagull puffing on a fag
I’m a goner,
I can’t deny Rona,
Ro ro ro ro  Rona
 
With her tattooed pets and sharpie hair
I’m seeing Rona everywhere
Tell me, what is it about this girl from Geelong
And her fringe-dwelling misfits that just wanna belong?
 
It’s insane to edition to sixty-four
But when she asks me the question I say “Of course!’ to my Rona
R-O-N-A Rona Ro ro ro ro Rona
Rona R-O-N-A Rona, Ro ro ro ro Rona
 
I slaved every day, From dusk until dawn, I slept on the floor, I can’t feel my knees!
Rona can I have an extension please?
 
A fortnight to go and the nightmares begin
Seeing visions of amputees in animal skins made by Rona
Wont leave me alone 
Reprobate cats with Soviet tatts
Head hunting Dalmations
What’s up with that?
Tell me Rona,
A dodgy persona?

At the point where I start to loose my hair
I remember the flippin’ questionnaire
As I’m tearing the tissue paper to the same size
I’m haunted by lagamorphs with Aaron’s eyes

Finally handing my folio in
It’s another print prize she’s beaten me again! Bloody Rona,
R-O-N-A Rona, Ro ro ro ro Rona
Rona, R-O-N-A Rona, ro ro ro ro Rona…

Ray Davies (The Kinks), Lola, 1970