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CRANNOG Spring

Posted in Books, Ireland, Poetry, Short Stories, Writers, Writing, tagged Breda Wall Ryan, Crannog Spring 2014, Frances Macaulay Forde, Ireland, Poem, poems, Rush Quinlan, short stories, writer, writing on June 9, 2014| Leave a Comment »

CRANNOG Spring 2014 Journal

A free subscription was included with entry into their competition, so I’ve just received my copy of ‘CRANNOG Spring 2014’.

Wish I’d read it before entering… The book feels slim but the 88 page volume is packed with clever writing.

The Galway editorial board did a superb job of choosing short stories and poems which affect the reader – and they did.

Like “Worship” by Ruth Quinlan: Your white shoes aren’t white at all. They’re just cream pretending to be white and when you hold them against the Communion dress they look old and discoloured even though you know they’re new.

The words put put me right into the moment of my own Holy Communion (which I haven’t thought about since) remembering the crisp feel of new material and the smell of polished shoes. Wonderful writing.

Or Breda Wall Ryan’s “Crushie” poem: The rain has stopped. Sunlight/veneers a table set between windows. /The year turns.

The journal CRANNOG Spring 2014 is available for Kindle fans or surprisingly cheaper as a printed version.

Certainly well worth the few dollars to enjoy such gifted authors.

#FrancesMacaulayForde #CrannogSpring2014 #RuthQuinlan #BredaWallRyan

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Inspiration

Posted in Africa, Books, Hidden Capacity, Writing, tagged Africa, Frances Macaulay Forde, Hidden Capacity, Inspiration, writing on June 5, 2014| 6 Comments »

So I’m speaking here, directly from my heart, remembering my childhood in Africa and the struggles of my dearest Mum and Dad who died many years ago, who would have been so proud to see my words in print.

I’ve arrived at a time in my life where I’ve finally allowed myself to be utterly selfish.

My children had grown after my divorce into balanced, well-educated adults living their own lives, so I took myself to university.

It was my time to put myself first, my needs first, my dreams, soul and heart first, to follow my bliss.

I finally published the book in Ireland for them and for my brothers, children and extended family, just as much as for myself.

Inspiration

Why do I now prefer writing in my bedroom when I have a perfectly good study – a space cleared for thought?

I feel inspired to dream while I’m awake in here – not there.

Is it because I’ve just coated the room and everything in it a lilac pink?

Is that the colour of my inspiration?

Or does it illicit forgotten memories from my childhood?

The baby-pink bedroom of my spoiled youth, the dear faces of my parents still missed after so many years.

I’ve been through so many colours since then.

But perhaps I need to visit them once again, in my imagination.

Maybe this shade is my mood-connection to the past.

I’m alone now, responsible for the world I live in and my painted walls.

Or could it be something to do with the womb – a protective colour – a safe haven for my dreams.

Help that I need in a harsh world, often too over-whelming for someone totally unprepared or never expecting to be the ‘Bottom Line’.

This softness, which evokes feelings and comfort, allows my mind to wander and explore, knowing I’m enclosed and private, separated from others who see too much.

Or is it the large mirror with its elaborate edge reflecting my thoughts surrounded by soft, gentle, allowing colour?

I look at myself in the frame and from the ‘truth’ of distance – an inner truth?

Is that what empowers my exposure?

Is distance enabling me to write such secret, forgotten feelings in my journal?

My teenage bedroom was a similar pink – total colour – enshrining girlishness and innocence… protection, before adulthood and reality hit me.

#francesmacaulayforde #HiddenCapacity #Inspiration

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‘Call Waiting’

Posted in Books, Hidden Capacity, Poetry, Writing, tagged Frances Macaulay Forde, Hidden Capacity, Jessica McCallum, Poem, POEM: Call Waiting, poems, poetry, poetry in Western Australia, words, writer, writing on June 3, 2014| 2 Comments »

‘Pauline’: Jessica McCallum 2002 #jessicamccallum #francesmacaulayforde

Call Waiting

I killed you!

I took away your power to insult.

Never again will your strident, insistent beeping
intrude on intimacies between friends.

No. I struck you off.

I pressed the buttons that devoured you.

I ended your reign of terror.

Then Pauline rang
‘A new baby? Wond….’

Beep – Beep! Beep – Beep!

You didn’t die!

From happy jubilation
brain switches,
buttons pressed,
retreating “Call me back.”

I lost the war.

I don’t blame Pauline.

Rudeness is forgiven under pressure
from the mighty “I wonder who it is?”

Someday I’ll explain
and continue my campaign
for courtesy.

I died a little.

Aren’t I important too?

(Another from my book “Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey”. )

#HiddenCapacity #francesmacaulayforde

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“My Car”

Posted in Books, Hidden Capacity, Poetry, Writing, tagged Frances Macaulay Forde, Hidden Capacity, Poem: My Car, poems, poetry, words, writer, writing on June 2, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Cover ‘Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey’ #francesmacaulayforde #HiddenCapacity

One from my book: ‘Hidden Capacity ~ a poets journey’, Pub. 2003, Ireland.

My Car

Red used to be my favourite colour.

I’d just get Tinkerbell (my 1983 Mitsubishi Colt)

cruising nicely at sixty kilometres an hour

then red.

I’d have to slow down.

Pump the brakes.

Change gears gingerly in case her clutch drops out….

An old girl now, she needs TLC…

takes her time to build up speed,

then I see red. (Or orange.)

Bugger!

But, once she’s there (sixty K.’s) she sings like a bird.

I think it reminds her of her youth.

I’ve tried dressing her up (covering the rust).

The silvers don’t match and I know she feels the shame.

The petrol pump makes her feel better.

Once I insert that nozzle,

she almost smiles.

Her seat greets me tenderly

and we smoothly swing away,

high on fumes.

Yesterday,

a young man washed her windows.

She sparkled and purred.

Yes. Red used to be my favourite colour.

Now mottled shades of silver have loyal appeal!

#HiddenCapacity #francesmacaulayforde

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Library Laurels

Posted in Books, Perth City, Poetry, WA Writers, Writers, Writing, tagged Andrew Burke, Andrew Taylor, Annamaria Weldon, Deanne Leber, Dennis Haskell, Film & TV Institute, Frances Macaulay Forde, Glen Phillips, Kevin Gillam, Nandi Chinna, Pages Cafe, Poets Corner, Poets Corner @ Pages Cafe, Sarah French, State Library of WA, T.A.G. Hungerford, Tracy Ryan, Vivienne Glance on May 19, 2014| 2 Comments »

I’m very proud of our State Library situated in the beautiful Perth Cultural Centre:

State Library Western Australia. (Photo: Frances Macaulay Forde @ 2005)

Years ago the staff supported me when I ran Poets Corner @ Pages Cafe for 3 years between 2005 and 2008. The Library provided a microphone and speaker, displays and advertising in the Library Book shop on the 1st floor and generally encouraged and supported our endeavors.

Poets reading at Poets Corner @ Pages Cafe

More than 80 poets from emerging to firmly established, to first time readers and writers participated for the love of words, sharing them with a new audience; other writers and importantly, the general public.

The audience included luminaries such as (L to R) Andrew Burke, Andrew Taylor and Glen Phillips. 2005

Pages Cafe allowed us to meet there on the 3rd Saturday of each month and welcomed the influx of word-smiths, considering the noise levels and while reading, helped by quietly proving excellent service to patrons.

The library and cafe continued to support myself and many others when launching many, many books (where else would you do it – seriously) over the years:

Interviewing a West Australian Living Treasure, T.A.G. Hungerford for BooksAustralia CTV during ‘An Afternoon with Tom’ at Poets Corner in 2005.

Annemaria Weldon with her book ‘The Roof Milkers’ July 2008

Sarah French was one of many writers included in the ‘Lines in the Sand’ anthology published by FAWWA in 2008. (My poem ‘desertification’ appears on page 28.)

Tracy Ryan and her book ‘Scar Revision’ from Fremantle Press. 2008

An anthology I published to thank the more than 60+ poets who participated at Poets Corner during the WA Spring Poetry Festival in 2005.

Today you’ve accepted the Film & Television Institute into your midst on the 2nd floor!

I LOVE and THANK my State Library of Western Australia.

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Wordless Wednesday: Yeats

Posted in Art, Books, Ireland, Poetry, Wordless Wednesday, Writers, tagged Co. Sligo., Frances Macaulay Forde, Ireland, Sligo, W.B. Yeats, writers on May 7, 2014| 3 Comments »

W.B. Yeats Statue in Sligo, town center, Ireland.

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Rhinos

Posted in Africa, Animals, Books, nature, Poetry, Writing, tagged animals, extinction, Frances Macaulay Forde, Harry Owen, nature, poems, Rhinos, South Africa on April 27, 2014| 3 Comments »

Busy doing my tax return and came across an unsaved (!) poem I wrote and submitted (some time ago) to be included in an anthology to raise funds for the preservation of Rhinos.

Harry Owen the inaugural Poet Laureate for Cheshire (UK) in 2003, moved to South Africa’s Eastern Cape in January 2008, was the editor and now the book is published I shall put my order in.

Even though they didn’t use my poem I certainly want to support their very worthy cause.

Thandi

Imagine slow, deep heart beats

echoing inside a massive hide.

Slumberous half-blind grazing.

Open veld rare rhino protected.

Unaware evil stalks with intent.

Crack! Stinging rifle shot thrums.

Laboring body lumbers to escape.

Laid low, as deadly saw crudely

works on pointed bone bleeding

on Africa’s Skin. Enough death,

illegal trade. This is no noble

harvest to feed the starving poor…

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‘The Heart’s Journey’

Posted in Books, Perth City, Writers, Writing, tagged Alexander McCall Smith, Frances Macaulay Forde, John Grey McKendrick, Notes from the Currumbine Line, Perth, Rail Tales, Trains and Lovers, Western Australia on April 13, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Do you believe in Karma?

Standing in front of all those Alexander McCall Smith books, I was overawed – found it difficult to settle on just one (or two) to get signed, but “Trains and Lovers” called to me.

How could I resist when I had also written ‘Rail Tales – notes from the Currumbine line.’ like many who had found the enclosed capsule of a train carriage inspiring.

I’ve been waiting weeks since listening to him talk at UWA , to find the time to read the book. Not wanting to pick it up for a quick look, but time to read the whole thing because I know once I open those magical pages, I won’t be able to put it down.

Within the very first chapters Alexander had mentioned my home town Perth, Western Australia; introduced us to an Australian lady called ‘Kay’ in her 50’s; mid-twenties ‘Andrew’ with eyes the same color as my Mum’s; asked another if he was Canadian (my niece lives there) before letting ‘Andrew’ tell us about himself.

‘Andrew’ comes from the same place as my mother’s family, Oban, Mull, South Uist and Lewis. Mum also spoke Gaelic when she was young and came from a long line of doctors. In fact, my maternal grandfather was named after a famous doctor who helped found the Physiology school in Glasgow University, John Grey McKendrick. ( I’ve tried, but cannot find any other family connection to the famous physiologist except the name.)

And I’d only read to page 17.

So I’ll be ‘gone’ for a while readers… this book is obviously my Karma.

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Koffee Korner Kafé

Posted in Books, Ireland, Other blogs, Poetry, Sketching In Ireland, Writing, tagged Co Waterford, Dungaran, Frances Macaulay Forde, Ireland, poems, poetry, poetry in Western Australia, Sketching In Ireland, Social Bridge, Western Australia, writing, writing in Western Australia on April 3, 2014| 8 Comments »

PROPOSED: Back & front cover of a work in progress.

Reading other blogs often inspires me or reminds me of a poem I’ve written and it’s happened again.

Social Bridge posted about Co. Waterford and reminded me of wonderful times spent in Dungarvan and a tour taken of the Waterford Chrystal Factory.

(Although I couldn’t load the whole video it was nice to hear Jean’s voice.)

The original poem is much longer but here’s a preview from the book “Sketching in Ireland” – all a work in progress.

“Koffee Korner Kafé”

(An exerpt.)

Dungarvan town sleeps in school-time. King

John’s Castle, ancient bridge and four-storey

moderns overlook calm Brickey’s tidal flow.

We trod the cobblestones, leaning forward

in the breeze, audibly aware of intoned

melodies caught in doorways and cars.

The courteous cruise with windows down

in the warmth. Walking Market Square, coats

closed, feeling echoes of town center seventeen

hundred. Butter market, slick with Council men

and spirited characters in United Irishmen Power.

Feeling occupation, execution, all history

held in a narrow staircase, an oft-painted

hidden door to the second floor, leading to

The Koffee Korner Kafé. (Continues…)

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Mma Ramotswe

Posted in Africa, Books, MOVIES, Writing, tagged 44 Scotland Street, Africa, Alexander McCall Smith, Anthony Minghella, books, Frances Macaulay Forde, Mma Ramotswe, No I Ladies Detective Agency, Rail Tales, Trains and Lovers, writing on March 28, 2014| 3 Comments »

Totally star-struck while Alexander McCall Smith signs my books.

Last Thursday at the Octagon Theatre in the University of Western Australia, I spent a most-enjoyable hour giggling as a master storyteller regaled us with quick peeks into his world.

As a HUGE fan who had the affectionate nick-name ‘Susie Matwetwe’ when I lived in Africa, I remain in awe of Alexander McCall Smith; his energy, his easy characterizations and perfect stories…

I love his Botswana stories and find his list of publications absolutely inspiring – he only came to fiction in 1998 and has not stopped producing delightful stories since.

Presented with so many of his wonderful words lined up in boxes in the foyer, it was very difficult to decide what to buy.

He generously signed two books for me. The queue was so long, I was grateful I’d lined up quickly and was in the first 20. (I think every one of us wanted a quiet moment with the master.)

My first purchase that night was “44 Scotland Street” . I’ve heard such lovely things about this series and although I haven’t finished reading all 15 of the “No I Ladies Detective Agency“ series, I’m looking forward to plunging into this one.

The other is “Trains and Lovers ~ The Heart’s journey”. Although my copy’s cover is different from the one shown on his website, how could I resist reading this one when my I had written my own ‘Rail Tales’ from the same ‘platform’.

When it was my turn – actually came face to face; I smiled and said, “How are you?” I know, such an inane thing to say – but I was in awe!

I did recover and ask the question I had wanted to ask in the Q & A after his talk: ‘What about a new TV Series?’

I loved the TV Series Anthony Minghella produced, co-wrote with Alexander and other wonderful writers, and naturally directed with such affection, beautifully.

I’ve always been a fan of Minghella’s ‘big’ films, starting with ‘The English Patient’ – he directed so many. He “used expansive tastes in literature and a deep visual vocabulary to make lush films with complicated themes that found both audiences and accolades. “ His films were so layered, he “used a careful eye for cultural and historical detail” and he brought all that to the TV Series. (Quotes from: New York Times.)

Although it will be difficult to find someone who can ‘read’ the characters and the location so well, I’m hoping one is found, soon.