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Archive for August, 2025

Breakfast at Garfunkle’s
(restaurant - Heathrow)


Scene 1
blond body-perfect She
wears corporate black
casually draped label scarf
her highlight-streaked
tresses - hair to flick
and display interest
mobile-phone laugh
every second pause
pouted poised use of
office eyes and mouth
gaze-long sincerity
that familiar dance
with steps well known
moist lips tongue-wetted
backwards and forwards
as she speaks intensely
leaning on elbows
she slides amphibiously
table-hovering forward
(She’s good at this)
focus – focus - focus

Scene 2
His suit speaks volumes
pure wool power black coat draped
hair distinctively mottled silver
cut just right on the neck
wears no-frame glasses
giving an unmistakable
air of knowledge His
quiet voice and intensity
reveals someone very
comfortable reaching goals

He orders
She contributes

Soliloquy

this girl will get what She wants
but what does she want
don’t think it is Him
for the long term
uninformed He
is Step One
around the middle
of the ladder I’d say
(croissant comes
coffee poured
‘My – that’s a big one!’)
I almost burst out laughing
at the obviousness of it all…

Scene 3
Moment of judgement
He reaches over
jacket pocket
pulls out the ubiquitous
square box
covered with simple
but stylish green paper
(politically good colour)
matching green card
attached

fingers fly-feel
size and shape not
immediately accepted
face re-clothed
‘Oh’ blush, blush,
‘…you shouldn’t have…’
decide hungry
hands grasp
rip the paper
‘Hmmmmmmm’
frown wins again
betrays
She sees white
cardboard cover (still)
jeweller’s box – gauche!

She furiously manipulates
hands examining
giving time fractions
disapproving/approving
milking the moment
using all weapons
deep questioning look
tentative smile
opens the offering
breath explains
softly gasps
with cued drama
held high like
an Academy Award
the diamonds sparkle
in the early morning
itinerant restaurant
electrical down-lights

Scene 4
‘Hmmmmm, this is what
they are wearing nowadays…’
She puts it on – ‘it fits’
leave it there a beat
let him drink the vision
perfect arm held
by His perfect jewels
pat twice (enough)
show eyes a caress
take it off - put it back
in the box on the table
dismissed

‘Cut!’ called
lurking waitress
interrupts this act of
Cleaning Agent (Soapy) play…

Scene 5
She insists
on paying for the meal
making her point
pushing her notes
into bored staff hands
(seen the show before)
scrabbling for change

they are alone again
She continues to flirt
now with a brilliant edge
knows She’s got Him
but can She still use Him
He obviously
didn’t give her what
She expected… this time
but She leans over
to give Him a quick
‘Thank You’ non-sexy kiss
desperate He recognizes
makes a gluttonous meal

She leans back
mentally puts her hands
behind her head
He continues to
hold fast her hand
trying rubbing
closed fingers
possessed by His hand

She slides her glance
down and away-side
reaches back
to put her arm

through coat sleeve
body to follow
time to go
another meal
something tastier

He didn’t want this
moment to happen.
He is now no longer
strong corporate giant
but vine plucking
lover wants more
suddenly realizes
whatever was expected
wasn’t delivered
He stuffed up – failed
She walks out of his life
He will re-grow his hard shell
and make a mental note
not to bend again

Music Up
‘Hello Darkness, my old friend…
I’ve come to talk to you again…’


From ‘Sounds of Silence’
by Simon & Garfunkle.


Epilogue

at the next table
our waiter regrets
‘No pancakes today
– no facilities.’
croissants instead?
scones? ‘ No, sorry,
even toast couldn’t
– the renovations…
no coffee machine either
no donut machine…’

Oh tragedy!

I look at black and white
photos of war planes
50’s & 60’s stuff on the shelves
the ‘Unattended Luggage…’ sign
all testament to the vacuum of itinerants.


Frances Macaulay Forde © 2003

Purely an experiment for my book 'Sketching In Ireland'. 🙂


#SketchingInIreland #BreakfastPoem #Heathrow #Restaurant #Travel #Experimental #ProsePoetry #PlayScript #WinterRomance #SummerFling #Fiction

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Roundabout Kinsale

Roundabout Kinsale

A cloud of blackbirds wheel in
evening skies above Kinsale’s
signalized roundabout.

They mimic corporate ravens who
patiently sit in warmed metal,
turning similar circles below.


Frances Macaulay Forde © 2003

#kinsalecork #signalized #roundabout #irishdifferences #ozdifferences #madroadsigns #confusion #irishpoem #sketchinginireland

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My first ‘Frozen’ Costume.

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In 2002 I arrived in Midleton, Cork, Ireland from Australia for a 14 month stay...

First Impressions

Beep the horn for weddings
Hurley matches and rugby
road courtesy, postal queues
rent trolleys at the supermarket
and purchase plastic bags.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2003

#midletoncork #1stimpressions #tourist #musings #thingsilove #aussielove

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A Second Chance


A Second Chance

Hearing a Corella cry as it flies across
grey skies, Anticipating the squall, clear
showers of life. Gutters flow from Heaven
to Earth, giving birth to clean growth.

The sudden green as parched soil erupts
with change. A fresh day, sun rays, lines
of pinks or orange, pale to bright blue, herald
the new; a promise of happiness to come.

Painting walls, making beds, cooking meals
together. Taking note of all the colours
in our lives, remembering that single white
Corella, we still watch the storm, together.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2016

#Poetry #Corella #stormyskies #rainclouds #winter #memories #2ndchances #romance

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POEM: Breakfast


Breakfast

Banana sliced
like a carrot

its peel flayed
spreadeagled
in the rubbish bin

like a pale octopus
desperate to score.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2012

#POEMBreakfast #francesmacaulayforde #bananapoem #poetry #fruitypoem #tongueincheek

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8 years…

There are lots of poets who post on Instagram – @mims.musing is on of my favourites.

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POEM: Red

I often make toys for favourite people - this dolly reminded me of a poem written for a favourite niece, some time ago.


RED

Red is supposed to be
fiery tempered
liable to catch alight
at any time, smouldering

heat just waiting
to ignite – right?
That’s on the outside…
Her surface simmers

but inside she’s easily hurt,
has no confidence and
feels fat when she isn’t.
She just wants to be

loved for who she is.
Wants someone to see
past her red hair and
the stereo typing.


Frances Macaulay Forde © 2011

#POEMRed  #FrancesMacaulayForde #RedHeads  #StereoTyping #Personality #MisJudged #Image

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