Archive for the ‘Poetry’ Category

No 3 of 7 Poems for Valentie’s Day

Posted in Love, Poetry, Romance, Writing, tagged Frances Macaulay Forde, Poem, poems, poetry, poetry in Western Australia, Valentine's Day, words, writer, writing on February 8, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Water bird

Lakeside, I watch

the Coots bouncing

on top of the water.

They throw their heads with

intention and abandon, plunging

– totally immersing themselves.

I want to bounce…

Immerse myself…

Plunge into you….

1^st pub: ‘Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey’ by Frances Macaulay Forde, Ireland, 2003.

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No 2 of 7 Poems for Valentine’s Day

Posted in Love, Poetry, Romance, Writing, tagged Frances Macaulay Forde, Poem, poems, poetry, poetry in Western Australia, Valentine's Day, words, writer, writing on February 7, 2014| 1 Comment »

Vacuuming

With every pull

toward your body

you expect obedience.

Expect each micron of dirt

to be sucked up and away.

Look at the attention

you give stairs.

How do I become like stairs?

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No 1 of 7 Poems for Valentine’s Day

Posted in Poetry, Romance, Writing, tagged Frances Macaulay Forde, Love, Poem, poetry, romance, Valentine's Day, writing on February 6, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Sleep

–

I can

only consider

soft eyes

repose

calm, sweet face

small breaths

–

’til I realize

they’re mine.

–

I breathe

and contemplate

the alternative

only when

someone asks…

–

Published in ‘The Word Is Out’ Issue 2 ~ Sept ‘06

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Tonight Something Different- Alan Cooke

Posted in Ireland, Other blogs, Poetry on February 4, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Tonight Something Different- Alan Cooke.

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Ladies of the Laundry

Posted in Animals, Books, Ireland, MOVIES, Poetry, Writing, tagged Cliffs of Moher, Co Clare, Doolin, Frances Macaulay Forde, Jessie Lendennie, poetry, publishing, Salmon Poetry, Stonecutter's Kitchen, writing on February 3, 2014| 2 Comments »

Two things; ‘Philomena’ is a truly wonderful film offering insight into the ‘Ladies of the Laundry’ also known as the ‘Magdalene Sisters’ presented with humor underlined with the awful truth and William Wall well-known writer and member of the Munster Literature Centre who recently wrote of the McAleese Report, have stirred a memory.

The girls/women have fascinated me since my 14 months in Ireland when I actually met a ‘Lady of the Laundry’ during a lunch break from an inspiring workshop weekend meeting with Jessie Lendennie of Salmon Poetry fame.

Cliffs of Moher with Jessie Lendennie and her beautiful dogs.

Jessie took me to a favorite haunt, a little coffee shop called ‘Stonecutter’s Kitchen’, up near the Cliffs of Moher in Co. Clare, just down the road from her place.

On a beautiful sunny day, with a brisk breeze blowing off the cliffs, we chose to sit outside in the small sheltered garden, crammed with tables and others who wanted to soak up the sunshine. Jessie and I are ‘pet’ people and when a sweet little dog came over to say hello we both made a fuss before her 40+ owner (we’ll call Mary) came to apologize for the delightful intrusion. Naturally, we started chatting.

When ‘Mary’ found out we were writer and publisher, she told us she loved poetry having recently learnt to read and write. My curiosity and writer-ly instincts kicked in and I probed wanting to know why this woman had only recently acquired this skill, but Mary didn’t mind and willingly told us she was a ex Laundry girl with a dream to one day have something published.

Gobsmacked, I fell silent suppressing the lump in my throat which threatened tears. Although Jessie kept talking a bit longer, I could find no more to ‘chat’ about. The sun seemed to go behind a cloud and I was consumed with what I’d heard and seen on film and busy mentally equating those impressions with the reality, standing so seemingly innocent in front of me.

‘Mary’ must have thought me so rude… I remember wishing her luck with her dream but wish I’d asked her name so I could look out for the book.

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“The Grass is Singing…”

Posted in Africa, Books, Poetry, Writing, tagged Africa, Doris Lessing, Frances Macaulay Forde, Nobel Peace Prize, Northern Rhodesia, poems, Southern Rhodesia, The Grass is Singing', writer, Zambia, Zimbabwe on January 29, 2014| 3 Comments »

Recently Doris Lessing died at the ripe old age of 94 with more than 50 books to her name and 3 children, 2 of whom she abandoned to achieve her career dreams. So I find it interesting that she was later known for her humanitarian efforts – is it just me or is there something wrong with that picture?

Oh – she also won a Nobel Prize for Literature at the age of 88 (oldest recipient) for her life’s work.

“The Grass Is Singing” was her first publication in the 1950’s, at the time a shocking story of life in Southern Rhodesia – now Zimbabwe. That country banned her for 25 years but recently welcomed her with open arms.

I remember reading the story in the 60’s when I lived over the border, in Northern Rhodesia and being impressed with the characterizations and ‘reality’ she managed to capture and share.

And now I find out she was a poet, as well!

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The Sounds of New Year.

Posted in Poetry, Sound, Writing, tagged Audacity, Blurb, Frances Macaulay Forde, KSP Writers' Centre, LIke Dust, Sound Cloud on January 2, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Celebrating New Year 31/12/13

Hopefully you celebrated the old year and welcomed the new, in your own way – and enjoyed it! So what’s your New Year resolution?

After I’d done a short course at KSP Writers’ Centre: ‘Sound Recording for the PC using Audacity with Chris Oakeley’, I was inspired to have a go with a poem I’d written for a friend’s wedding. Sound Cloud was handy, already available on my computer (because I hadn’t uploaded the Audacity disk Chris gave me yet) and although one dimensional compared to Chris’ teachings, assuaged my immediate need to try and be ‘clever’.

I hadn’t looked at the workshop information since but discovered it again after clearing my desk today, and I wanted to share a sample of a recording I did with Chris. But I can’t see how to do it on here… so back to Sound Cloud. (It’s a first attempt and not a good recording, I’m afraid you’ll have to turn the sound up to listen.)

When I wanted to put together a one-off printed book of photos and words as a gift for my hubby, I also discovered ‘Blurb’ . Construction was easy and the result professional – I was pleased and so was he.

Blurb now offer the opportunity to do an e-book version, to include sound files and if I want to, I can also sell it through their website. I’m thinking my ‘Santa’s Swim’ would work: I could read the text as the pages are turned…

There are many opportunities these clever days to do all sorts of things with your writing, to present it on many mediums and try to appeal to all tastes.

The thing is; finding time to take advantage of all these opportunities while paying the bills (when I’d rather be writing) while endeavoring to find creative space between the natural demands of family.

That will have to be my New Years Resolution: to do an e-book – then add sound!

What’s yours?

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ReUnion

Posted in Africa, Love, Poetry, Writing, tagged Frances Macaulay Forde, poetry, Rediscovering Love, Returned Love, Zambian Bands on December 27, 2013| 5 Comments »

The love of my life playing keyboards when we first met. (“Paper Lace” 1973 Kitwe, Zambia.)

1974Kitwe Club - PaperLaceMovers Group LS

Saying goodbye before taking my broken heart to Australia. (Kitwe Club, Zambia 1974)

My man found my name on the net, flew from Ireland to Australia and hugged me in Perth, West Australia, 2002.

Our Wedding Day wiped 30 years away. (Hillarys Yacht Club, Perth, Western Australia 27 th Dec 2003)

ReUnion

–

stepping softly

you trod the path

to my front door

–

never rang the bell

played favorite songs

over and over until

–

senses on overload

surrounded by romance

you kissed me quick

–

my heart pumped electric

zinging over barriers

erected years ago

–

breaths of pain

barely contained

welcomed as veins

–

formed highways

joined the chorus

to wash with heat

–

a thrumming melody

echoes of words

rhymed with roses

–

thorns ignored love

posies fresh and blood

red for us young again

–

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Red Umbrella

Posted in Art, Poetry, Writing, tagged Art as the Spark, Frances Macaulay Forde, Jessica McCallum, poetry, poetry in Western Australia, Raincheck Exhibition, words on December 22, 2013| 2 Comments »

“Red Umbrella Series” by Jessica McCallum
from ‘Raincheck’ Exhibition 2010

I see red

when you raise spikes

along the metal shaft,

sharply snap it open,

stretching the bright silk

above your head

–

I see red

a mobile patio –shelter,

protection from storms,

hurling lightning bolts

of tears from women

left wet in your wake.

–

I see red

in a sea of bobbing grey

between skyscrapers

the calm sway – swagger

of hips – loose, lithe strides

confident until another

–

red umbrella takes the stage.

_______________________________________________

‘Raincheck’ an exhibition in case of showers… 2010

Artworks by Mixed Media Artist, Jessica McCallum

Held Aug 23 – Sept 10, Subiaco Arts Centre Gallery, Perth, WA.

(Poetry postcards from exhibitions available from WEBSITE)

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Art as the Spark

Posted in Art, Art as the Spark, Poetry, Theatre, Writing, tagged Art as the Spark, Frances Macaulay Forde, His Majesty's Theatre, Jessica McCallum, JM Exhibition, Paintings, poetry, West Austalian Writing, words on December 20, 2013| 2 Comments »

‘Mute’ by Jessica McCallum 2009

My mouth is a gun with a silencer, stopped

mid-sentence from telling you how I feel –

actions speak louder especially when they hurt!

You see, you say but I can’t speak. You speak,

I hear but no words are offered because I can’t reply.

I see, I hear so please, throw your words my way

so I can at least aim in silence.

–

_____________________________________________

The ‘JM Exhibition’ was the first (very successful) exhibition of art by my daughter Jessica McCallum held at His Majesty’s Theatre in 2009, on which we collaborated. All but one painting sold on the night.