Perth Words… exploring possibilities.

In 2005 I published a selection of poetry read by many poets at Poets Corner@Pages Cafe .   It was to thank and celebrate those who participated in our events (listed below) many performing their words for the first nervous time.

I compiled, printed and produced 104 copies at home, in a limited edition, giving a copy  to each poet whose poetry appeared, as my gift with grateful thanks for their generous support.  It was also sent to libraries and selected poetry groups around Australia. 

Thanks also to Maureen Sexton, who invited me to join her and alan boyd on committee as one of three organizers for the 1st official poetry festival in Perth, WA. 

Incorporating my Poets Corner @ Pages Cafe events in the State Library Cafe into the 2005 WA Spring Poetry Festival  made for a hectic but very poetic week in September.  

Taking it to the streets with many performances and readings at locations around the City, we proved Perth had a vibrant poetry scene filled with many talented poets bursting to share their words with the general public. 

Without the generous participation of these poets over and over again, the festival events at Poets Corner @ Pages Cafe and elsewhere, would not have been the huge success they were.  

Saturday 13th Aug 05 – 2-5 pm Philosopher’s Café
Hosted by: Frances Macaulay Forde
Liana Christensen, Glen Phillips, Andrew Taylor, Lucy Dougan,
Kate Smith, Anne Morgan, Danny Gunzburg, Zan Ross, Andrew Burke,
For Open Mic: Zan Ross & Jenny de Garis.

National Poetry Week begins:

Friday 9th Sept – 11am Official Launch of National Poetry Week
MC’ed by Alyson de Souza, launched by Professor Andrew Taylor,
Supported by Assoc. Prof. Glen Phillips & Miriam Wei Wei Lo, with
a performance by John McBain with Lois and Dave Starr.

Saturday 10^th Sept ’05 – 2-5 pm Philosopher’s Café
Hosted by: Frances Macaulay Forde
Liana Christensen, Lucy Dougan, Andrew Burke, Andrew Taylor,
Helen Hagemann, Lucas North, Anne Morgan, Kate Smith, allan boyd
(assist. MC), Danny Gunzburg, Zan Ross, Amelia Walker, Jenny de Garis,
Glen Phillips, Ross Bolleter with John Turner & Viv Glance,
For Open Mic: Deanne Leber, John McBain and Heath Miller

Monday 12th Sept ’05 – 2-4 pm POETS CORNER @ PAGES CAFE
Hosted by: Frances Macaulay Forde
Lucy Dougan, Anne Morgan, Danny Gunzburg, Amelia Walker, Dovros Spinks,
Gabby Everall, Klyth Tan, Alex Falconer, Ray Grenfell, Zan Ross.
For Open Mic: Terry Farrell, Dovros & Amelia teamed up for a duet,
Frances Macaulay Forde & Helen Child.

Tuesday 13th Sept ’05 – 2-4 pm POETS CORNER @ PAGES CAFE
Hosted by: Frances Macaulay Forde
Glen Phillips, Karibu Writers Group: Jill McIntyre, Barbara Bourne &
Glad McGough, Walter Vivian, Barry Parsons and Ron Okely.
For Open Mic: Barbara Bourne, Ron Oakley and Barry Parsons.

Wednesday 14^th Sept’05 – 2-4 pm  POETS CORNER @ PAGES CAFE
Hosted by: Frances Macaulay Forde
Nandi Chinna, Zan Ross, Emma Crook, Vivienne Glance with Mags Webster,
Coral Carter, Deanne Leber, Lily Chan, Steve Smart,
Callum Sunners, & Janet Jackson, Frances Macaulay Forde

Thursday 15th Sept ’05 – 2-4 pm  POETS CORNER @ PAGES CAFE
Hosted by: Frances Macaulay Forde
Vivienne Glance, Afeif  Ismail Abdelrazig, Jen de Ness, Lily Chan,
Gabby Everall, Kate Smith, Maureen Sexton, Bryan Langley, Donovan
Blundell-Wignall, Steve Smart, allan boyd, Jenny de Garis with Suzy
Prijt & Julianne Miller from ArtEquate

Friday 16th Sept ’05 – 2-4 pm  POETS CORNER @ PAGES CAFE
Hosted by: Frances Macaulay Forde
Liana Christensen, Zan Ross, Jenny de Garis, Danny Gunzburg, Kevin Gillam
& cello, Meg Dunn, Kriston Terbutt with Steve Smart – all from interstate
Lily Chan, Kevin (again) & Ron Greenwood.

National Poetry Week ends
but the fun continued… at POETS CORNER @ PAGES CAFE

Wednesday 18^th Sept ’05 – 2-5 pm  An Afternoon With Tom
Hosted by: Frances Macaulay Forde
Special guest TAG Hungerford, Kevin Gillam played cello, Assoc. Prof.
Glen Phillips formally introduced Tom and Bruce Russell spoke about
the TAG Hungerford Awards.  
Frances Macaulay Forde interviewed Tom for Kel Laurent & Community
Television for a program shown on Channel 31 – BooksWA.

Saturday 15^th Oct ’05 – 2-5 pm  Philosopher’s Café
Hosted by: Frances Macaulay Forde
Janet Jackson, Maureen Sexton,  Lily Chan, Frances Macaulay Forde,
Gabby Everall, Klyth Tan, Zan Ross, Sue Clennell, Helen Child
Open Mic:  Maureen Sexton & Janet Jackson

The work deserves to be read so I will endeavour to obtain permission to publish poems from the book at a later date.

#BOOK:PagesCafe’05 #FrancesMacaulayForde #PoetsCornerWA  #PoetryInPerth

Refugee

Like a butterfly

I am caught

between the fly-screen

and glass door

through a veil of tears

I see freedom

but cling to the bars

and want more…

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2005

#POEM:Refugee  #FrancesMacaulayForde  #Poetry  #ExploringPossibilities

A Creative Writing Exercise for Uni.

(Write about something beautiful: Take a bunch of flowers
and walk down a street full of massage parlors.)

“…Because I don’t want to go on my own.”  I asked my stylish sister-in-law – no, I shamelessly begged my sister-in-law to come with me.

“Even if you’re supposed to – I’m definitely NOT going in – O K?”

“All right – just come with me Gracie, you can carry my flowers, hide behind them if you need to, hey.  We’ll walk down the street… make a few observations… then we’ll go – I promise!”

“Unless we get propositioned!”

Giggling, we both felt more relaxed about the whole adventure.

“This new job of yours could get us into a lot of trouble!”

“Turn right here – William Street.   530-something.  415…  There’s parking.  Quick!  Mind the police car.”

“You sure you want to do this?”

“Where’s 395?”

Anyway, I needed lots of background for my first paid surveillance job so we wandered up and down the street.  Noted the scruffy and garish buildings, the smells, and the people rushing about and wondered what they were up to.

Especially the police car, which was still parked outside a place, called ‘The Site – Girls – Girls – Girls’.

One building stood out amongst the colourful, boxy, chaos.  Cream walls, dark brown trim and roof.  Very neat gardens with two stately palms waving gently in the breeze, breathed ‘class’;  Aphrodite’s.

A brass nameplate and large numbers on the wall ‘395’ for those ‘in the know’, and the door discreetly open, inviting custom.

Of course, curiosity got the better of us – we couldn’t resist and after passing the entry twice, walked in.

The little old lady behind the counter gave a non-committal nod and pressed a button.  A door to our left opened and another (very elegant) little old lady also smiled a greeting.

My companion’s mouth had dropped three inches so I smiled “Is this a restaurant?”

With a pitying look Madam replied. “No – it’s a brothel!”

Well, I shot out of there, leaving my compatriot chatting about how lovely the room was.

And that was just BEAUTIFUL!
Frances Macaulay Forde © 1999

#ShortStory  #FlashFiction:Beautiful!  #FrancesMacaulayForde  #UniExercise  #WritingPrompt