Poem about New Zealand trip

ODE TO NEW ZEALAND ---- ONE DAY BEAUTIFUL, NEXT DAY PERFECT

Part I
We are Rotary, my sisters and my brothers and me,
Away from the drizzle and the humdrum, we flee to sit under the Kauri Tree.
The Ford is loaded and it’s 5 to nine, we are breakfast’d, well slept and looking fine.
The sky in the morning has a look of moody detachment, but we now know the clouds will be sent
And soon .......the sultry tropical blue.....where did yesterday go? It flew....
We started with initially guarded good manners and have now been enjoying each other’s company
With abandon and are quite astonished sometimes at our own gaiety.
We talk, we chat, as we travel along
We connect as friends, we are brave and strong.
Each corner brings a different point of view,
From the Pacific Ocean to the Tasman Sea.......the miles are long but always a stop for a cup of tea.
From the valley deep to the mountain higher...the bird on the wing, the hawk on the wire.
Each turn in the road, each twist in the land, brings bamboo, sheep, but no sugar cane!
Then!! There it was on the side of the road, “Welcome, Historic Waipu (yes ..pronounced why poo),
“We Welcome You”.....So Kevin braked and we let loose.....the Shopping Nurse. But did she stop to shop? Did the shilling drop? Alas........., back to the van.
Eleven numb bums, in a white Ford Van.

Part II
Soon the drive back to Auckland, and all through the Ford Van house
All are as quite as a mouse....the Rotarians sleeping, including the spouse.
Dreams of sugar plums and the Fairy Village dance in our heads,
We have been wined, dined, feted; we need to say by President Chris and President Ray.
No longer “club members”, no longer just “friends”,
We are now family....forever to the end.
Now we all know, before had not a clue –
Was it true or just a dream? Could Jon and Margaret possibly eat so much ice cream?
We now know Guillermo is in for a new wagon.....and somehow between him and Paulette.....is a dragon!!
In Piehea we heard in the night...a loud sigh
Of the Lush Widow with the mattress heater on way too high.
We have sat on a brown lawn, and happily sang Delta Dawn.
Our clothes we could no longer fasten, after a BBQ feast at the home of Edwina Klassen.
Mount Maunganui.....from the club to the Mayor
You have opened your homes; you have opened your city
This will not be forgot.....As you have opened your heart.