Poetry | Perth Words... exploring possibilities.

Archive for the ‘Poetry’ Category

Swimming with Salmon

Posted in Poetry, tagged Frances Macaulay Forde, Jo Slade, Knute Skinner, new writing, Rita Kelly, Salmon Bookshop, Salmon Poetry, Salmon Publishing, The Salmon Bookshop and Literary Centre on November 9, 2013| 6 Comments »

My favorite bookshop in the whole world is in Ennistymon, Co. Clare, Ireland but I’ve never actually been there: The Salmon Bookshop & Literary Centre.

If I could, I’d attend every book launch, every workshop and every reading of the many, many talented poets Jessie Lendennie has taken under her wing and nurtured then published over the last 30 years.

It’s my dream to give Jessie a hug, browse the shelves and share a cup of team with the Salmon team who produce beautiful poetry books year after year. Now she has the space to offer much-loved second-hand poetry to browse, as well.

Jessie has always been a fierce fan of Irish writing and if there was one available, should get a medal for her consistent and continuous efforts through tough times and good.

Jessie and Siobhan Hutson have made Salmon Publishing one of Ireland’s main literary publishers so it’s only right they should have a new home, large enough to accommodate many poetry-promotion extras.

I regret not being able to attend last Wednesday’s event when three more Salmon published books were officially launched, in Dublin:

This first book is one I recently sent away for and after the first page knew I was a fan of Jo Slade so I would love to have heard her read ‘Time Piece’, particularly.

It’s the sort of writing I completely loose myself in and opens with this line ‘In the wardrobe of my belonging/is a bearskin coat.’ Her words hit me right in the heart.

“The Painter’s House” by Jo Slade

furtherthoughtsinagarden

It seems Rita Kelly may also become a new favorite as a “… a love-poet of great lyric power and beauty, but her range is much wider than that. Her startling capacity to transmute brutal experience into universal significance could hardly be better exemplified.” Máire Mhac an tSaoi.

“Further Thoughts in a Garden” by Rita Kelly

Knute’s ‘Fifty Years: Poems 1957-2007’ has been on my shelf for a while now… so I’m sure I’d enjoy his latest as well.

“Concerned Attentions” by Knute Skinner

For years I’ve been happily gifting Salmon books to family, friends and colleagues – perhaps now I’ve persuaded you to do so, too!

Read Full Post »

Like dust…

Posted in Poetry, Writing, tagged Adrien Abbott, Australian Love poems, Australian Poetry, Frances Macaulay Forde, inkerman & blunt, LIke Dust, Love, love poem, poems, poetry in Western Australia, words, writer on November 8, 2013| 3 Comments »

Facebook is such a trigger for this blog: Today a beautiful anthology of ‘Australian Love Poems’ was reviewed and linked by Adrien Abbott Prize page with the quote from Anne Walsh Miller: ‘You’re written in me in the before antiquity language of snowflakes. / Landing everywhere on me so thickly that you’re on me and in me and on my tongue / (you on my tongue is why I talk beautifully like snow under a streetlamp).’

In the light of recent plagiarism issues with Australian Poetry, the quote reminded me strongly of a poem of my own published in 2005 when I was asked to write a love poem to be read at a good friend’s wedding. As I had very recently found myself deeply and unexpectedly in love, Barry asked me to express feelings which overwhelmed me, at precisely the right time.

In 2003 I returned from 14 glorious months immersed in poetry and short story where I learnt the ‘I’ was usually taken out of poetry, so this would be a new public direction – I usually kept my ‘love’ poems very private.

The style of writing had to suit the audience – Barry’s mum was deaf and many of her deaf friends would be there with an interpreter to share our words.

Read my poem ‘Like Dust’

Those who ‘watched’ my words, apparently loved the poem although I didn’t find out until later there is no ‘sign’ for ‘dust’, so the interpreter had to improvise… but she managed beautifully.

And I was left wondering, what a shame I couldn’t submit my poem to the anthology ‘Australian Love Poems’ because it was already in the public domain and those I did submit obviously didn’t appeal because they weren’t included. Not that I’m too disappointed, they let me down easily by saying many excellent poems were not included.

I actually bought two copies, one for me and a gift for a friend but was so pleased with the book in my hand, I’ll be buying more as gifts for Christmas.

Inkerman & Blunt’s next project is an anthology of Love stories. No doubt it will also grace my bookshelves and be wrapped in Christmas paper.

Read Full Post »

Nessie sighting…

Posted in Poetry, tagged Frances Macaulay Forde, Nessie, new writing, Perth Daily Photo, poetry postcards, popular travel blog, words, writer on October 29, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Today’s news stories about a ‘Nessie’ sighting this side of the globe has reminded me of something I wrote a while ago for my sister-in-law’s very popular travel blog about Perth; http://perthdailyphoto.blogspot.com.au

Every day she uploads photos she’s taken in and around Perth, Western Australia (she particularly loves our pretty city) discovering new and interesting places all the time.

On May 30th last year, she’d taken a fabulous photo at Mullalloo beach and wanted me to write something to go with the photo. Naturally, I was happy to oblige and sent a short poem back within half an hour. She was totally amazed with what I ‘saw’ in the frame…

The Surgeon’s Photo

Like a summer’s day Nessie in her deepest loch

with itinerant Hugh Gray’s camera watching on shore,

she bows her head to honour the sparkling blue

and dances in the sunlight between the stars.

She is a he whose strong arms plunge out to sea

powering over and above possible danger beneath,

relentlessly pulling liquid waves to his chest –

a celebration of strength, youth and fearlessness.

Read Full Post »

Poetry Postcards

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Postcards, tagged Australian Poetry, Burn Beach Cafe, Frances Macaulay Forde, new writing, poems, poetry in Western Australia, poetry postcards, words, writer on October 23, 2013| Leave a Comment »

So I thought I’d share some poetry postcards I’ve printed up. I use my own photos or artworks with my poems and give them away when I’m doing talks or workshops.

Recently I was in Residence at Burn Beach Cafe as part of the Cafe Poets Project with Australian Poetry, our national organisation and my postcards were quite popular.

The first three are from my time at Burns Beach on the Sunset Coast of Western Australia and the next couple are others chosen at random… I have published many…

More information here: http://francesmacaulayforde.com/writing_poetry/postcards

Read Full Post »

Poets Corner @ Pages Cafe

Posted in Perth City, Poetry, WA Writers, tagged Pages Cafe, poems, poetry in Western Australia, poets, Poets Corner, words on August 9, 2011| 1 Comment »

What fun I had fasciliating Poets Corner, a monthly poetry reading held in Pages Cafe on the ground floor of our State Library in the Perth Cultural Centre across from the main City train station.

The readings happened on the 3rd Saturday of every month between June 2005 and October 2008 and incorporated serving as one of three organisers for the inaugural, very successful WA Spring Poetry Festival where more than 80 poems participated at Poets Corner.

To celebrate those poets and their words, I published a chapbook of my favourite poems from over 60 poets in 2006.

Eventually I’d like to include clips of readings into this blog, so watch this space.