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Archive for the ‘Poetry’ Category

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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Roadside Rubbish

Posted in Perth City, Poetry, WA Writers, Writers, Writing, tagged Frances Macaulay Forde, poems, rubbish pick-ups, rubbish roadside, WA Writers on April 17, 2014| 2 Comments »

It’s that time of year again (photo taken today). Wish I’d taken photos last year, when I wrote this though…

Two Fans

Two fans enthusiastically spin amongst

a pile of rubbish waiting for pick up,

roadside.

Through wind and rain, even thunder

“Look at me!” but nothing moved.

Clever stack.

Unlike No 2’s plant pots. Scattered

colorful rattles voicing the gusts.

Messy!

Drive-bys; inspection opportunists.

Recycling on a budget or business,

who knows?

Roadside shopping has rules. Don’t

muddle. Re-stack after inspection.

Carefully.

It’s bad manners to sort, scrounge,

accept or reject – pull apart, untidy,

then go.

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Wordless Wednesday: Time Out

Posted in Other blogs, Poetry, Wordless Wednesday, Writing, tagged Frances Macaulay Forde, P>Coughlan, Retirement & Beyond, Time Out, visual poem, Wordless Wednesday on April 16, 2014| 5 Comments »

Inspired by Retirement & Beyond.

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Grand-ies…

Posted in Children's stories, Love, Poetry, tagged Birth, Frances Macaulay Forde, grand kids, granddaughter, poetry, Western Australia on April 10, 2014| 3 Comments »

Sonja’s artwork. (4 1/2 years old)

My brother is meeting his 1st grandchild in Sydney today, but isn’t allowed to go too close because he sneezed before getting on the flight!

Birth

I held you to my

breast – now calm

and gently, with my

forefinger, caress

-ed your tiny arm.

And today, I got a call from my son to say that his littlest is in the Children’s Hospital with a lung infection! I wanted so much to go straight to her bedside and give lots of cuddles, to make sure she gets better. But that’s my son and her mum’s job – not mine!

Sometimes it’s really hard to stand back. They are wonderfully capable, hands-on parents to their two beautiful little girls, so as requested I will go and spend tomorrow with my older granddaughter until they come home. After Sonja’s Swimming Lesson, we’ll do some painting – always the first question after “Hello, Nanna!”

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Dieback

Posted in nature, Poetry, tagged dieback, Frances Macaulay Forde, jarrahs, pinjarra, poetry, poetry in Western Australia, tuarts, waroona, Western Australia, writing on April 8, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Here’s an experiment: I’ve been playing around with You Tube and have made a short video of my poem ‘Dieback’.

Every time we travel down South of Perth, I’m reminded of the poem I wrote in 2006 and was published in the Poets Union Anthology.

This terrible disease affects our native Jarrah and Tuart trees, spread by spores which infect the tree, eventually leaving it stripped and exposed.

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March madness!

Posted in Animals, nature, Poetry, WA Writers, Writing, tagged birds, cinquain, Festivals, Frances Macaulay Forde, Hooded Robins, Mindarie Keys, Northern Suburns, Perth, poetry, Western Australia, writing on April 7, 2014| 5 Comments »

First there were two…

Then there was one..

And finally none.

Well, am I glad that’s over! March is MAD for us and our ‘day’ job.

So many festivals and working 7 days a week for the last 6 weeks has done me in – we both needed to just veg totally today, and I did!

So I apologize for not posting much lately but thank you so much for reading.

This week, I’ll catch up on your blogs and find something (hopefully) of interest to share with you.

Yesterday we were at a Food & Wine Festival in Mindarie Keys, 10 minutes up the coast from us.

Turning around to face the sea breeze, I spied two little birds sitting on a wire, behind. A bit like us this month, barely hanging on but doing what we must.

(I wrongly presumed they were winging their way back to Northern Climes but have now identified them as native Hooded Robins, who also live in Australia.)

two

little

birds paused

full-fronting the sea breeze

two wanderers grip fine wire

then gone

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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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Diary entry ~ April 2002.

Posted in Animals, Love, nature, Other blogs, Poetry, Romance, WA Writers, tagged coots, ECU Joondalup Campus, Fauna, Frances Macaulay Forde, kanagaroos, Love, Peter Cowan Writer's Centre, poems, poetry in Western Australia, Returned Love, romance, writing on April 1, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Passport Photo: 15 years old

1990 Bali Holiday – an amazing surprise 40th birthday gift from my Brother Paddy and sister in law, Grace.

I’m sitting here next to the lake listening to the Magpie’s talk, the Wood Ducks peep, the fountains filter their water. This is the first entry into my new notebook the red (for passion) one with a teddy bear (you, of course) playing guitar on the front! I’ve also got my two passports with me and I thought I’d scan the pictures for you just for a laugh. One was taken before you, when I was 15 (British passport) and the other way after, when I was 40 for the Bali trip.

Three tourists walked by obviously looking for something. So I said, ‘The kangaroos are over there’ (pointing) behind Cowan House, ‘lying around in the shade.’ Well, this lovely lady replied, ‘Oh thEnk you!’ in a broad South African accent. Small world hey? She and her husband Gordon have ‘…jEst arrIIEEyeved thus morning at 5am from Jo’burg for 5 dayZZ. He and Pete ‘aff bin frEEnds since grade 5. We’re goin’ out to dEEnar tonight.’ She can’t believe how clean it all is… Anyway, they’re having a good look at our lawn mowers, who aren’t actually doing much. Just lying back, torsos-twisted, scratching their bellies. Totally unconcerned wild, Grey Kangaroos – and these tourists, just a couple of yards from them.

I’m obviously early for the poetry workshop. My watch has stopped again – it needs a service (another thing on my long list!). Wonder what we’ll tackle this afternoon. I have no idea of today’s subject – haven’t been for while, far too distracted by you! Hope you’re having a lovely day. I’m being good and giving you ‘space’ (in the nicest possible way). I hope it’s helping with the study. Hmmmmm – poetry – erotic poetry for you. I wonder if I can do it? First drafts only My Love:

1. Coots

Lakeside, I watch

the Coots bouncing

on top of the water.

They throw their heads

with intention and abandon.

Plunging – immersing themselves.

I want to bounce,

immerse myself.

Plunge into you…

2. Soixante-Neuf

Normally,

I wouldn’t want you

to look at my bum

at that angle…

But then,

you’re not doing

much looking,

N’est pa?

3. Your reward…

… is access.

Complete access.

Although the years

have worn – you can see!

I will allow you ~

only you, this viewing,

this exposure

to my most secret self.

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Cockatoo Chorus

Posted in Animals, Children's stories, Hidden Capacity, nature, Poetry, WA Writers, tagged birds, Carnaby's Black Cockatoo, Fauna, Frances Macaulay Forde, Hidden Capacity ~ a poet's journey, nature, Peace & Freedom Magaine, Poem, poetry in Western Australia, Western Asutralia, words, writing on March 30, 2014| 5 Comments »

Although actually written at university and included in my chapbook ‘Return of Rainbows’, this poem was first published in ‘Peace & Freedom’ Magazine, in London, 2001 with my daughter’s artwork.

Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos are a highly endangered species of native birds only found in Western Australia. Because of us, these noisy birds who possibly mate for life and can live 40 – 50 years, are in great danger.

Later the poem was included in my first book ‘Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey’ published in Cork, Ireland in 2003.

COCKATOO CHORUS

“We’ll meet in the eucalypts down by the lake.

Discussion is needed – you have to partake!”

Black clouds flew from the oval, park and golf club

to raucously weigh down trees out in the scrub.

“Juicy larvae and insects prove harder to find

all the spraying and logging – ground being mined

has taken our homes, our gathering sites.

Together, in numbers we’ll fly up for our rights.”

From once sacred ground now suburbs, they flew.

From gum-tree nesting hollows, so precious and few