100 years of ANZACS

April 25, 2015 by Frances Macaulay Forde

“Last Post” Dawn Service, Perth.

A hundred years ago, they walked away.

They smiled goodbye, we smiled and waved.

How could we know where their fate lay.

So proud to serve, they followed orders,

macho back-slapping excited shoulders,

thousands of potential lambs to slaughter.

Still we send our bravest to answer the call,

counting the cost on Anzac Day with poppy walls.

A hundred years later have we learned at all?

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #100YearsANZACS #AnzacDay #Poem

Posted in COMMUNITY, Perth City, Poetry, War Years 1939-45 | Tagged ANZAC Day, POEM: 100YearsANZACS, poems | Leave a Comment »

POEM: Umbrella Sea

April 24, 2015 by Frances Macaulay Forde

Concept drawing from ‘Raincheck’ Exhibition © Jessica McCallum 2010.

Umbrella Sea

I look down

umbrella sea

snaking between

shiny metal towers

separate

still me

a strong wind

searching for red

among the grey

pushing risk

frisking

steering

toward decision

do I leap

air-dance Nike-like

raindrop steps

merge the blue

sky-reach

take a chance

with you

I am Luke

sky walker

sweet talker

calculated

risk taker

love maker

potential heart beaker

#FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #POEM:UmbrellaSea #ARTIST:JessicaMcCallum #EXHIB:Raincheck #Poem #Umbrella #Love #Heartbreak

Posted in Art as the Spark, Love, Perth City, Poetry, Raincheck, Writing | Tagged ARTISTJessicaMcCallum, EXHIB:Raincheck, Heartbreak, Love, Poem, POEM:UmbrellaSea, Umbrella | Leave a Comment »

Couldn’t have done it without you…

April 23, 2015 by Frances Macaulay Forde

Remembering my fun times at university and it’s true – I truly couldn’t have done it without all the encouragement.

Perth Words... exploring possibilities.

For my 50th birthday I wanted a university degree in creative writing, something I’d done all my life but never formally acknowledged. A new course was launched at Edith Cowan University which seemed tailor-made for me.

When I applied I didn’t really expect to be accepted because I had left school early in the mid-sixties and sat an entrance exam which I was sure I’d fluffed by going off at a tangent (as usual).

But no, to my continued amazement I was accepted and made my trepidatious way to class surrounded by clever youngsters, fully expecting to be left far behind.

The Return of Rainbows

Driving down Alexander,

(early morning rush hour)

lecture on documentary film.

Eager for knowledge, I noted

low, broad bands of color

spanning the sky above Uni.

Ignoring the grey clouds,

I welcomed the return

of rainbows to my life

Friend Leonie and…

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Advanced

April 21, 2015 by Frances Macaulay Forde

Being introduced at the Avon Valley Writers Festival, 2012.

Talk about booking well in advance: the West Australian branch of the Society of Women Writers asked me at the beginning of the year, to run a workshop ‘Writing for the Screen’ in October.

I’m told they expect around 60 people to attend the General Meeting and stay for my presentation – so I’m looking forward to the challenge. 🙂

Well used to presenting to an audience either in person, on a stage or on screen, I’m not really worried about showing a short film made from my script then talking about my experience.

Some of the audience for my Avon Valley Writers Festival workshop having a go at a one pager, 2012.

The intention is to also get them to have a go at a one pager, then pick a couple to read out and critique. A similar workshop during the inaugural Avon Valley Writers Festival in 2012 was very successful.

So if you’re around on the 20th October – a Wednesday lunchtime and are interested getting an IDEA – because it’s a HUGE subject, of writing for the screen… why not book your place now by contacting the WA branch of the Society of Women’s Writers.

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #AvonValleyWritersFest #SocWomensWritersWA #WritingForScreen #WritingWorkshop #Workshops #Writing #Screenwriting #WomenWriters

Posted in COMMUNITY, MOVIES, Perth City, Screenwriting, WA Writers, Workshops, Writers, Writing | Tagged Avon Valley Writers Festival, screenwriting, Society of Women Writers, Women Writers, Workshops, writing, Writing for the Screen, Writing Workshop | 1 Comment »

POEM: Circles

April 20, 2015 by Frances Macaulay Forde

Circles

In this match of life
others call a game
my hands flutter to
find the finger holes.

I fix my gaze on pins
measuring the lane
grip hard and swing
bowling ball aimed.

Been knocked down
but stubborn as a pin
I stand again, ready
for the next bowler.

Written to art by the disabled for ‘Creative Connections’ exhibition in 2007.

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #POEM:Circles #CreativeConnections #Poetry #ArtIsTheSpark

Posted in Art as the Spark, COMMUNITY, Creative Connections, Poetry | Tagged Art is The Spark, Creative Connections, POEM:Circles, poetry | 1 Comment »

POEMS: Chinese Influence

April 18, 2015 by Frances Macaulay Forde

Raffles Hotel, Singapore, 2002

In honor of today’s re-blog from Damyanti in Singapore (a place I love to visit), I thought I’d share a couple of poems written during a workshop on Chinese Poetry at the Peter Cowan Writers Centre run by a fellow poet and old friend Helen Hagemann, in 2001.

Spiked fir branches moving.

Dance together as one. When

intruder breezes

stirring the pot of Heaven

renew Earth’s green mountain skin.

Fire clings to plastic

devouring coloured hues.

Melts all pretence down,

slides it away from view

to reveal bones bare of truth.

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #POEMS:Chinese #HelenHagemann #PeterCowanWritersCentre #BLOG:Daily(W)rite