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Posts Tagged ‘poetry’

Begorrathon2015: Rush Hour Waltz

Posted in Begorrathon, Ireland, Poetry, Sketching In Ireland, tagged Beggorathon2015, Ireland, poetry, TheMagicRoundabout on March 31, 2015| Leave a Comment »

“The Magic Roundabout”

Rush Hour Waltz

Blackbirds wheel

In evening skies

above Kindale’s

signalized

roundabout,

mimicking

warmed metal

motors idling

in similar circles

below.

Are they

as confused

about how

to get home

as we are?

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #Beggorathon2015 #Ireland #TheMagicRoundabout

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Somnolent

Posted in 1968 Notebook, Love, Poetry, Writing, tagged 1968Notebook, aging, family, FrancesMacaulayForde, Loss, POEM:Solmnolent, poetry on March 2, 2015| 2 Comments »

Mum 1960’s

My sister-in-law has inspired me by following the theme of ‘Ageing’ today.

Like her, I love old photos and treasure the few I have of my parents and family.

So I’m sharing this one of my mum with our dog “Quenten Quinebell Quickstep III” taken in Northern Rhodesia in the 60’s – who I naturally, miss every day I’ve been without her.

If I could, I’d plant a kiss on her soft cheek and tell her I love her again; then I’d call her great-grand children, who’d come running in to say ‘Hi Nanna’ with their infectious excitement, just like they do with me.

I know she’d love her sweet daughter-in-law Saowanee and be so proud of her tall, handsome grandson James and his gorgeous family.

She’d immediately see both of us in my beautiful daughter Jess and love to hear all about her artistry and dreams now she’s old enough to chat.

Somnolent

Last night I was with you, sitting on the settee.

You were reading with your glasses on, drinking tea.

Dad had grown tired of the TV play and was asleep,

snoring loudly with a cushion tucked under his feet.

The scene was so dear and clear as I’ve seen,

But this morning, I work up, so it was a dream…

@FrancesMF4orde #FrancesMacForde #1968Notebook #POEM:Somnolent #poetry #family #loss #aging

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A day for roses…

Posted in Love, Poetry, Romance, Writing, tagged FrancesMacaulayForde, LoveFlowers, POEM:LikeDust, poetry, RedRoses, romance, Valentine'sDay on February 14, 2015| Leave a Comment »

For me, it doesn’t have to be the traditional red roses – or roses at all!

If I receive flowers today, I will be thrilled because I love them all but Valentine’s Day is not as hyped as it could be in Oz… and I’m lucky to have a man in my life who just enjoys buying flowers to surprise me.

But, the reason my husband and I will make a point of getting each other a card today, is because he blind-sided me by declaring his intentions on Valentine’s Day in 2002.

At the time I was just pleased to make contact with an old boyfriend from 28 years before, never suspecting or looking or even wanting that relationship again. We’d both well and truly moved on in our lives – there were continents between us.

Boy, did that all change – and I couldn’t be happier!

When I wrote this poem for a friend’s wedding, I was obviously talking about my beautiful man…

I hope you’ve got someone in your life who you love as deeply.

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #POEM:LikeDust #Valentine’sDay #Romance #Poetry #RedRoses #LoveFlowers

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Dial up.

Posted in 1968 Notebook, Poetry, Writing, tagged 1968Notebook, @FrancesMForde, FrancesMacaulayForde, FrancesMacForde, POEM:Phonecall, poetry on February 11, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Phonecall

I don’t believe

in forever

anymore.

I know

you don’t have

room in your life

for love

or me.

But friendship

is a two-way street.

I needed

to know

that somebody

cared…

that you cared.

I guess I dialled

the wrong number.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 1968

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #Poetry #1968Notebook #POEM:Phonecall

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So easy…

Posted in Books, Hidden Capacity, Love, Poetry, Romance, Writing, tagged BOOK:HiddenCapacity, FavouriteRecipies, FrancesMacaulayForde, LovePoems, POEM:ADeliciousDance, poetry, romance on February 9, 2015| Leave a Comment »

When I was younger with two little ones, I was right into cooking and housekeeping.

Now – not so much.

If what needs to be gets done, gets done – great.

Otherwise, I know it will still be there later.

Cooking these days, is more about convenience.

So although I don’t usually do this, hey, it’s a great idea: breakfast, lunch or dinner – in a mug!

A Delicious Dance

In my kitchen

I contemplate a new mix,

a special combination

with heightened flavors.

The perfected recipe.

At last, a chance

to bite into real love!

The thrill of discovery

I’ve tried unsuccessfully

to master, for years.

Many times before,

I tried blending,

picking ingredients

so carefully…

impatiently

stirring the pot.

But I wrongly used

wooden utensils –

failed to find

the perfect dish,

until you added

that extra dash.

That Mysterious tang

which previously

eluded my search –

that ultimate formula.

Tempting my taste buds,

leaving them bereft

of that special essence,

everlasting love.

You are the recipe

and lust the icing

on my now perfected

carrot cake of life.

(from “Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey”.)

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #BOOK:HiddenCapacity #POEM:ADeliciousDance

#poetry #FavoriteRecipies #LovePoems

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Making Up

Posted in Art as the Spark, Love, Poetry, Writing, tagged ArtAsTheSpark, Clowns, FrancesMacaulayForde, HiddenFears, POEM:MakingUp, poetry on January 30, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Making Up

Are we all clowns, underneath?

With faces painted, emotions

cleverly masked, windows

of the soul… concealed?

When make-up is removed

Will it wash away fears,

finally reveal thoughts,

make us naked?

Or tattoo a memory

of past love in pain

punishing or celebrating

that which shapes us.

Perhaps still clothe ourselves

In past experiences

keeping them close

to our hearts?

…and what colour should love be

on the face we show the world?

Is fear the white make-up base?

Do Blue Brows give early warnings

above our windows of the soul,

predict a cautious tale of woe?

The vehicle of words which wound

wears lipstick red – do they reveal

blood spilt in misunderstanding?

Are we all clowns, underneath?

With faces painted, emotions

cleverly masked, windows

of the soul… concealed?

#POEM:MakingUp #poetry #clowns #HiddenFears #ArtAsTheSpark

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WA Writers Links:

Posted in Books, Children's stories, COMMUNITY, Favorite Writers, Illustrators, Poetry, WA Writers, Writers, Writing, tagged DianneWolfer, FraneLessac, GabrielEvenas, Illustrators, JamesFoley, MarkGreenwood, MegMcKinley, NormJorgensen, poetry, SCWBI-WA, ShaunTan, WAwriters, WendyBinks, WritingForChildren on January 22, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Read (only) some of my favorite WA Children’s Writers:

SHAUN TAN: Author, Illustrator, Animator etc…

DIANNE WOLFER: Author

NORM JORGENSEN: Author JAMES FOLEY: Illustrator

MEG McKINLAY: Author

WENDY BINKS: Author & Illustrator

MARK GREENWOOD: Author

Frané LESSAC: Author & Illustrator

GABRIEL EVANS: Author & Illustrator

to name just a few, so many more on SCWBI WA.

Speak Up

It takes more than placement to tell a story.

More than illustration or clever juxtaposition

to speak to our children. The voice of our words

connects while young eyes search for meaning,

only then are hearts able to hear our stories.

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #SCWBI-WA #ShaunTan #DianneWolfer #NormJorgensen #JamesFoley #MegMcKinley #WendyBinks #MarkGreenwood #FraneLessac #GabrielEvans #WritingForChildren #Illustrators #Poetry #WAWriters

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28 years…

Posted in Exploring Possibilities, Love, Poetry, Romance, Writing, tagged ExploringPossibilities, FrancesMacaulayForde, Love, POEM:MyKnight, poems, poetry, Reunion, romance on January 21, 2015| 1 Comment »

Mum, Amazon Crescent, Kitwe, Zambia, 1972.

Today would have been my dear old Mum’s 84th birthday. I wish I could give her a hug, like I do in my dreams. It’s also the anniversary of my husband first finding my name on the net in 2002 (after 28 years apart) then that hug and a promise to explore the possibilities of love, again.

I think it was Mum’s way of hugging me… bringing my love back to me.

Taken in 2002, the day after he flew to Perth from Ireland via South Africa, to hug me.

My Knight

In the afternoon of my life,

settled,

content and comfortable

in my alone-ness

you question me!

You destroy

my strong defenses,

obliterate

my sense and reason

to let you in!

For my heart,

bow wave of confusion,

tense terror times

of doubt and fear

~ unknown ~

risk everything,

my ordered now!

The colours of my life

changing to a

different hue…

You terrify me!

Wanting – needing

arms that enclose

a broken heart…

Make it whole again!

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #POEM:MyKnight #ExploringPossibilities #Love

#Romance #Poems #Poetry #Reunion

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The White Gate

Posted in COMMUNITY, nature, Poetry, Writers, Writing, tagged FrancesMacaulayForde, LynneLeonhardt, nature, PerthWriters, POEM:TheWhiteGate, poetry on January 19, 2015| 5 Comments »

The White Gate

The path is Agapanthus strewn

freedom for women colours;

green and purple heads bob

in the Freo Doctor, interrupted

by blossoms which match the gate.

Hung upon squat solid upright stone,

it swings inwards, inviting entry

to this secret garden, lusted with

love, Christmas feasts, familial

fecundity, rapturously shared.

Reluctantly closed until next year…

#LynneLeonhardt #POEM:TheWhiteGate #Poetry #Nature #PerthWriters

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Bookshops

Posted in Books, COMMUNITY, Ireland, McAlpine Bell Publishing, Perth City, Poetry, WA Writers, Writers, tagged BoffinsBookShop, books, Bookshops, Elizabeth'sBookshop, FrancesMacaulayForde, MillStBookshopCaffe, POEM:TheBoffin, poems, poetry, SalmonBookshop, SalmonPoetry, writers on January 17, 2015| 3 Comments »

For lovers of books, bookshops will always entice.

I’ve mentioned my favorite bookshop, nestled in Ennistymon, County Clare, Ireland is also a Literary Centre, run by Jessie Lendennie, publisher of Salmon Press. A meeting place for those in the poetry scene in Ireland where Jessie is both necessary and influential.

Across the oceans, here on the Cafe Strip in Fremantle, Elizabeth’s Bookshop has long been a place to fall into soft couches with a favorite tome and lose yourself for a while.

MillPointCaffeBookshop in South Perth serves coffee and is a favorite haunt for a writer friend who literally immerses himself in words, while he creates.

While Boffins Bookshop in Williams Street in Perth City specialize…

The Boffin

Bookshops are like lovers,

they numb in black & white

then seduce you with colour,

titillate and tempt your soul

until you finally let go,

find the courage to close

the book ~ pages which leave

you gasping The breath of air

on your face feels like a slap.

Finalist “Inner City Life” Literary Competition 2004.

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #Bookshops #POEM:TheBoffin #SalmonBookshop #SalmonPoetry #Elizabeth’sBookshop #MillStBookshopCaffe #BoffinsBookShop #Writers #Poetry #Poems #Books