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Archive for the ‘Poetry’ Category

Raincheck

Posted in Art, Art as the Spark, Poetry, Writing, tagged Art as the Spark, Frances Macaulay Forde, Jessica McCallum, Poem, poetry in Western Australia, poetry postcards, Raincheck Exhibition, Raindrops, words, writer on December 20, 2013| 1 Comment »

Umbrella Series (detail) by Jessica McCallum
‘Raincheck’ Exhibition 2010

Like tears

Rain hits my umbrella

Bouncing bursting

Droplets scattering

Spreading my pain

Shimmering images

Relections of you

–

Love like rain

Showers me

With tears

–

_______________________________________________

‘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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“All The Pretty Ones Are…”

Posted in Art, Art as the Spark, Poetry, Writing, tagged 'All the Pretty Ones Are...", Art as the Spark, Artist, Frances Macaulay Forde, Jessica McCallum, poetry, poetry in Western Australia, Roll Up! Roll Up!, words, writer on December 18, 2013| 3 Comments »

Roll up! Roll up! Crack

the whip! Circle the horses.

Let the monkeys laugh

–

and play with careless

disarray around this heart;

broken, wounded, fallen

–

from the high wire,

grip gone, hands open

in mute surrender.

–

Your forced false smile

Painted in a permanent

Good-vibe leer… I tip

–

my hat to all who stride

into the ring, willingly –

take a chance on love.

–

All the pretty ones

are gathered for love’s

circus performance.

–

Watch out for the Ringmaster!

He can reach a hand inside

your chest and squeeze…

–

Written for “All The Pretty Ones Are…”

Studio Underground Foyer

State Theatre Centre of WA

(Friday 11 to Sunday 20 November 2011)

Funny folk, fear & fascination… complete with feathers…

All The Pretty One’s Are, is an exhibition of mixed media paintings by local Perth artist Jessica McCallum and will be on show for one week only in the Studio Underground Foyer at The State Theatre Centre of WA. Jessica’s style incorporates traditional watercolours & inks with a dark twist, and large-scale pop art, mixed media pieces. Her influences are murals, street art & old-skool comic book culture. Ever wanted to run away to the Circus?

For further information please visit http://jessicamccallum.blogspot.com/

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Bohemia

Posted in Art, Art as the Spark, Poetry, Writing, tagged 'All the Pretty Ones Are...", 'Bohemia", Art as the Spark, Art exhibition, artworks, Frances Macaulay Forde, Jessica McCallum, poetry & art, the State Theatre Centre, writing to art on December 17, 2013| 3 Comments »

My daughter Jessica McCallum is an artist and this painting was from her 2011 ‘All The Pretty One’s Are…” Exhibition held at the State Theatre Centre in Perth City.

It’s been our habit to combine my words inspired by her paintings for exhibitions, so I thought I’d share one with you.

We intend, one day to publish a coffee-table book of the artworks and poems from her three of her very successful exhibitions. Perhaps we’ll crowd-fund…

This work is one of two entitled ‘Bohemia‘ and the poem is written to the artwork.

“Bohemia” by Jessica McCallum from “All The Pretty Ones Are…” exhibition held at the State Theatre Centre, 2011.

BOHEMIA

Like crystal

I am many faceted

not see-through glass

I proudly wear my life colours

individuality scratched into my skin

–

gaze deeply into my painted experiences

shared memories etched in bright reflections

see strength and character in the vines which

grow in defiance – spirited independence in

the starbursts of my femininity – purposeful

illustrations of original soul inhabitants

–

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Footprints in the dust…

Posted in Africa, Poetry, tagged Africa, An Easter Tragedy, Frances Macaulay Forde, Morgan Tsvangirai, Mugabe, Nelson Mandela, poems, Roots & Wings, South Africa, Zimbabwe on December 10, 2013| 3 Comments »

Today, I’m watching The State Memorial for Nelson Mandela. The camera pans across all the international attendees as the representative of the A.N.C. reads out a list of those dignitaries. As she reads ‘President Robert Mugabe’ a huge roar erupts and I am astounded! Don’t they know how many of his own people he has slaughtered, starved, beaten to within an inch of their lives and stolen from – and continues to do so?

Here Mugabe sits in a now free and democratic South Africa where everyone has a vote. I wonder how the people around him feel? Surely the UK and USA PM and President will not shake his hand… I find his presence insulting and wonder if Mandela would have felt the same way.

There must be more of Africa in me than I thought, because I seem to have the memory of an elephant. How can that despot be feted when he has hated and been responsible for so much misery perpetuated onto his own people – not his enemies, but his fellow citizens of what was once a beautiful country. A country I visited often, before he raped and pillaged, to swell his Swiss Coffers and build a Chinese Palace.

Quite a few years ago now, I wrote a poem inspired by letters smuggled out of Zimbabwe when the killing was at it’s worst when the world was finally taking some notice and new hope was on the horizon in the form of Morgan Tsvangirai. Unfortunately, Mugabe didn’t go quietly and still pulls the purse strings, making it more than difficult for Morgan to help his people.

‘Roots & Wings’ was published in newspapers and on the net by others. A second poem was written at Easter, when I could no longer ignore the obvious metaphor; Mugabe often likens himself to Our Lord : An Easter Tragedy

#RobertMugabe #Zimbabwe #AnEasterTragedy #Roots&Wings #Despot #Terrorist #Poem

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Underground Poems

Posted in Africa, Poetry, Writing, tagged Alexander McCall Smith, Bulawayo, Frances Macaulay Forde, London Underground, Ndola, No 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, Transport of London, WH Auden on December 9, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Isn’t it wonderful that London Underground have poems available for all to read?

One of my favorite authors, Alexander McCall Smith has just released a book on W.H. Auden and the article about the book, mentions a poem I particularly like. So I clicked the link and it took me to the Transport for London website and a whole list of wonderful poems.

I believe it should be mandatory for all rail networks around the world to enrich the lives of their thousands of passengers with beautifully crafted, home-grown words.

Imagine what that would do for poetry book sales!

Alexander McCall Smith’s ‘Tears of a Giraffe’

Alexander McCall Smith’s No 1 Ladies Detective Agency books have the voice of my Africa – my childhood home, although set in nearby Botswana. Alexander was also born in 1948 in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia, the same year my brother Paddy (also a professor) was born in Ndola, Northern Rhodesia. I giggled with the characters through most of this one and others in the series or else wiped away tears – they’re written with such humanity…

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Animals Are Beautiful People

Posted in Africa, Poetry, tagged Africa, African Sky, Animals are Beautiful People, David Howell, Edinburgh Hotel, Frances Macaulay Forde, Jamie Uys, Kitwe, Lusaka, Poem, The Copperbelt, The Gods Must Be Crazy, Zambia on November 30, 2013| Leave a Comment »

1960’s Coronation Square, Kitwe. (Photo: David Howell)

Someone posted a clip on Facebook and it took me straight back to my youth in Central Africa: We flew from UK to Lusaka (Capital) in 1955 but moved up to the thriving metropolis of Kitwe on the Copperbelt in 1961, when I was eleven.

1960’s – We had many a delish dinner at the swish Edinburgh Hotel! (Photo: David Howell)

Early 1960’s – I remember buying my mum a broach for 2/6 pence at OK Bazaars – loved all the tacky glitter. (Photo: David Howell)

1960sKitwePostOfficeMumInStripedDressDadinVW

1960’S – My Mum in a striped dress crossing the street to the VW and my Dad waiting for her, in the driver’s seat. They always held hands, too… (Photo: David Howell)

The clip: Look what happens to those who gorge on the Marula Fruit.

Jamie Uys made many heart-warming and clever films about his beloved home and nature.

My favorite of all time was “The Gods Must Be Crazy” a gentle story about a coke bottle left in the desert. A local man decides it must have fallen out of the sky and decides the Gods need their bottle back. He tries his very best to return it. The film illustrates the Africa I grew up in, so beautifully.

Many clips can be found on You Tube to enjoy… this one is very funny – perfect comic timing.

(My grateful thanks to the photographer for these un-credited photos found on the net although I suspect they were taken by David Howell, mostly on a now- defunct website “The Great North Road” showing one of my African poems.)

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Irish Midsummer

Posted in Ireland, Poetry, Sketching In Ireland, tagged Co Cork, Frances Macaulay Forde, Ireland, poems, poetry on November 28, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Co. Cork

Midsummer

The young hare

on country roads,

blurred speed,

dance with danger.

–

Ears flat back along,

legs pumping, stretched out

in thumping rhythm.

–

Teenagers ‘vogue’

among foxgloves,

buttercups, daisies…

–

Identify fatal perfumes

inviting the innocent,

unwary sniff-er

to twitch

inquisitive noses

roadside.

–

Sudden glare

of spotlights

freeze-framed,

seconds

star struck

– THWACK!

–

My body

flies up,

stops.

Legs loosely

flap – fold.

–

Here lies…

with body stilled,

knees crossed

like a lady…

Text & Photos are Copyrighted: You are welcome to share what’s written here so long as the appropriate credit (my full name) is applied. Also ( as a courtesy) it would be good to know where and when my content is shared. Thanks. Frances.

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Road Repairs

Posted in Ireland, Poetry, Sketching In Ireland, tagged Ballyhooly, Co Cork, Frances Macaulay Forde, Ireland, Lyre, Mallow, poetry on November 27, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Lyre, Co. Cork

As I mentioned before, my gorgeous man took me to live in Midleton, Co Cork for 14 glorious months.

Every couple of days we’d get in the car and head out somewhere new.

Obsessed with trees and castles there were certainly plenty to keep me interested, meandering along byways bordered by stone walls built centuries ago, I loved tracing the steps of paternal ancestors.

Even got used to suddenly being confronted by huge tractors or hay balers taking up the whole (narrow) road. Luckily small dents in the stone walls just big enough to fit a car are provided for just such surprises!

We’d wandered between Mallow and Ballyhooly in North Co. Cork, to visit a family grave…

Road Repairs

On a hill, Celtic crosses and angels wings
gather. We approve the view, weed and go.
Suddenly, unattended in a quiet Irish lane,

–

temporary traffic lights blink red.
Surrounded by green fields, we’re forced
to queue like country others, and reflect.

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Monday Meme – Darkness

Posted in Other blogs, Poetry, tagged Frances Macaulay Forde, poetry, Shawn L Bird, Vancouver on November 25, 2013| 2 Comments »

Shawn L Bird’s Monday Meme

Shawn L Bird suggested writing a poem to her photo. Here’s mine.

Darkness

To the left, on every 5^th floor an apartment

is in darkness. Perhaps the powerless have been

swallowed by the gaping facade of City Hall.

–

Or consumed in Concert space with brightly

lit wings to help sound sore heavenwards over

twin golden rivers, bordering. Shooting off

–

as they do, streams of lives driven into corporate

havens for workaholics when, like those three dark

floors, they should be blissfully asleep, not empty.

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Munster Literarture Centre

Posted in Ireland, Poetry, Sketching In Ireland, Writing, tagged Co Cork, Co Galway, Cork, Festivals, Frances Macaulay Forde, Gort, Gregory O'Donoghue, Ireland, Munster Literature Centre, Yeats House on November 23, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Yeats House in Gort, Co Galway, Ireland.

For 14 glorious months I wallowed in the ‘Cradle of Storytelling’ Ireland.

Every Wednesday I attended a workshop at the Munster Literature Centre with the literati of the Cork Writing Scene which we’d break with a lunch at the local pub.

MLC Literati

A recent prompt from the Australian Poetry Centre inspired this epitaph for Gregory O’Donoghue whose brain held so much wisdom and knowledge, who generously critiqued and encouraged devoid of discrimination and I thank him.