Perth Words… exploring possibilities.

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

I love to paint my geraniums, so I decided to marry a picture with a piece from my ‘Exploring Possibilities’ chapbook, for another poetry postcard.

This question was so important when my man came back into my life, looking to win my heart again – 28 years later… during our net courtship.

#POSTCARD:DoIKnowYou?  #FrancesMacaulayForde  #Poetry  #ExploringPossibilities  #ReturnedLove

Before You – 2002 – in my study.

This poem is from another chapbook-in-progress entitled ‘Exploring Possibilities’ full of pieces written when My Man reappeared and offered a different future while I weighed the risk, knowing my recent past with a different man.

Hand Made Notes

black and white
coloured exposures
torn to pieces
carefully measured
moulded
miniature portraits
fruit thrown
into a large ceramic bowl

it was blue then
I found a bucket
without holes
poured hot water
and glue
something to bind
some lemon rind
for freshness
rose oil for fragrance
newly delicate and soft
stirred the pot
a witch’s brew
deliberately changing
my past and future of you

snow flakes of my tears
softened over
three days/years
stewed quietly to mush
crushed
until I no longer
recognized
pieces of wedding,
parties - anything
dresses I wore
to make myself more
beautiful for you

a fleeting betrayal
of a heart filled
with love
with lies
happiness arrows – spies
your other women
who were my friends
thorns on the rose of my myth


Frances Macaulay Forde © 2005

#POEM:HandMadeNotes  #ExploringPossibilities  #FrancesMacaulayForde  #BeforeYou  #Poem