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Another one from my 1968 notebook and one of my sketches done in 2021.

The Constant Birth

In times of toil and days like these
with summers sun and summers breeze
with clear blue skies and pale brown earth
my thoughts often wonder at the constant birth.

Of flowers and trees and the tiny babe
(all this happened in a wooded glade)
held peacefully in loving mothers arms
protecting and keeping it from all harm

fear not, young child on Mother’s knee
the hate and the wars you will not see
you’ll see life through a rosy glow
not knowing true fear until you grow

for when you become a woman or man 
and travel to a far distant land
to seek fame and fortune’s hand,,,
with adult eyes on foreign sands

in times of toil and days like these
with summers sun and summers breeze
with clear blue skies and pale brown earth
your thoughts will often wonder at the constant birth. 

Frances Macaulay Forde © 1968 

#Nature #poems #ConstantBirth #1968Notebook #owls #Fauna 

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When my returned-love found my name on the net after so long, the computer was both my friend and my enemy, forming a safe barrier to hide behind until I found the courage to step into love again.

Computer Messenger…

Banter that backfired because
literal interpretations got lost
in considered connotations,
(re-read a thousand times)
of what went way-back-when…

Juxtaposition of judgements.
Hastily harnessed how-comes?
Stopping me still, seriously!
Making me question us both.
My passionate banshee tears

initiated by tactile responses
to words type-tapped carefully.
Sometimes in casual jest 
to test my reactions?
Is it natural to anticipate

disaster - dismissal and defend?
Not normally for me – I search
for more of your positive essence,
confirmation of my impressions.
I want you – all of you – now! 

Every nuance of normality
shared secretly, sensually…
But other stuff too – thoughts,
reasons, why you do what you do…
I can’t ‘see’ the whole of you

touch your skin - breath you in.
Sense your hands on my breasts
holding me, stroking me softly.
I want – I need – I crave to.

Insecurity inserts itself
firmly forcing doubt-feelings
to well and grow without witness,
until you answer; you calm; you claim,

cover my heart and soul with caring.
Linger in my love, lay there 
until we’re both sweetly exhausted
by this power, this perpetual passion 

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2002

1st published in ‘Hidden Capacity ~ A Poet’s Journey’, Ireland, 2003

#poetry #1stPublication #HiddenCapacity #APoetsJourney #Romance #Rediscovery #rekindled #LoveReturns

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Looking back through my poetry written in 2000:  'The Return of Rainbows’ was conceived at University as a mature-age student bloodied by life’s battles and as always, finding succor in words.  My seemingly audacious presence provided lots of  fodder to explore the constant challenges and effects of that experience on my life.

The Return of Rainbows

Driving down Alexander,
(early morning rush hour)
lecture on documentary film.
Eager for knowledge, I noted
low, broad bands of colour
spanning the sky above Uni.
Ignoring the grey clouds,
I welcomed the return
of rainbows to my life.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2000

#University  #Poetry  #Returning  #Rainbows  #Life  #Experiences  #MatureAgeStudent  #student

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This one's from my 1968 Notebook - actually written in 1970. I was 20 and into Astrology. 🙂

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that Cancer
was compatible with Virgo?
No?
Well, it is.
So now, you
should take notice of me.

You’re so tall
you have to bend
to come through the door.

I’m so small
I have to jump
to reach the top shelf.

Funny, hey, that I
should fancy you
for myself?

And me,
so near the floor...

How’s the weather up there?
Do you know I care?

Well, I do.

I like an awful lot of things about you;
your blond hair, blue eyes and glasses.

Your big nose!

Even your massive
size ten feet
and huge toes.

Like thick fingers,
they’ve got character.

I tried on your shoes the other day
and shook with laughter.

They made me feel all feminine
because mine were so small,
compared...

I don’t even reach your shoulder
in platforms!

And yet...

When you hold me
or kiss me
or anything,
I feel nice.

All protected and loved
and I trust you,
completely
even when you’re driving
and you know how nervous I am
normally...

So you see,
the difference in height
doesn’t mean a thing, really
- does it?

Do you believe in the ‘Stars’?

Well, I do...
but that wasn’t why
I fell in love
with you.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 1970

#Cancer #Virgo #Compatibility #Love #NewLove #Poetry #Astrology #DidYouKnow

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An old one - from Uni days (1999), before my Irish lover sent flowers and changed my life, forever.

DOORS CLOSING

How often has the door closed on opportunity for me?
 And how many times have I shut it?

‘Well, open it again.’ You say. Not so easy 
  when it is wedged with prejudice.
  
Locked with lies about your femininity
  and jammed with judicial errors.

I am an opportunist and I do believe
  as one door closes, another… you know.
  
But sometimes, for my sanity, I take
  the easy way out.  My heart’s the same.

I’m not brave in letting that door stand ajar.
 The solid barrier protecting my comfort zone.

A jack-hammer wouldn’t be heard now!
 I’m deaf to desire and numb to need.

The woollen blanket around my feelings keeps me warm.
 I lock the door, pocket the key, work and love in secret.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 1999

#TakingChances  #Poetry  #BeforeLove  #UniPoetry  

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NEIL SEDAKA 1939 - 2026

He's always been and will continue to be a HERO of mine! Thank you, Neil, for all the love expressed so beautifully, discovered in my teenage years but still the background music of my life! Condolences to all who knew and loved him. ❤️❤️❤️

“Love Will Keep Us Together”

Often dismissed as irrelevant once
your words and songs built a wall
I could safely lean back on, when
my heart soared or fell in a hole.

And how many times, over those
years my teen angst was expressed
better than I could, just exactly
as I would - as if I actually did!

How did you know what I felt
when marriage ended? Betrayal
covered my defeated soul with
guilt – blame, why didn’t I see?

You knew what to say to comfort
me – to pick me up and show me
it wasn’t all my fault – not all…
Accept. Step forward holding hands.

My children needed me whole
not a heart hurt so bad it couldn’t
share the love anymore… fill the
holes, make the road straight again.

It took many years but my 1st
love found my name on the net
living in another country alone
believing I’d had my chance...

Somehow deep down, your words
worked, unconsciously, even when
I rejected the idea of love, you kept
telling me, I could try to love again.

I stepped into your time machine
Neil – eager to walk, feel the rain.
Two of us, no longer playing ‘Solitaire'
But loved like your ‘Calendar Girl’.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2026

#NeilSedaka #neilsedakamusic #LoveWillKeep #CalendarGirl #poetry #romance #2ndChances #Solitaire #francesmacaulayforde

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Speak Softly

I think I'm an 'ambivert' 
because solutions matter
but the spotlight is necessary 
to share my revelations.
Take me back to a Culture 
of Characters, not Personality
and I will fit in again, feel 
like I can take time to myself,
create in silence and only, 
when I'm ready, reveal all.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2014

#francemacaulayforde  #POEMSpeakSoftly  #poetry  #ambivert  #introvert  #extrovert  #athought

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Farewell

Never to see or feel or touch again,
never to walk through fields or hear the rain…
Never to watch the seasons change each year
you have gone forever and just left us here.

But we will remember your smile, your eyes,
lighting up each moment - we’ll memorise
how quiet your gentle support and love
showed you were the best, Best Man to have

at not just one but two wedding days,
translating, explaining your traditional ways.
We all love the laughter and joy you brought
with your heart full of curiosity. You sought

to learn, to experience every country you saw,
your visits were brief on our Australian shores,
but we treasure each moment, left wanting more.
Farewell, Dear Pao, you’ve found your peace at last.


Frances Macaulay Forde © 2026 

#farewellfriend  #sadgoodbye  #ThaiBrother  #remembrance  #tradition #Poetry  #Loss #RIP

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