Posts Tagged ‘writing’

Thought I’d share another poem from my first book written during my on-line courtship, specifically what a poetry editor in Ireland deemed a ‘quirky’ title, to see what you think.

“Is this the point where you tell me

you’ve been bulls*itting all along?”

This comment, at 12.33pm on messenger,

stopped me in my tracks – I had to

question you…

Why say that? Is this where you are?

Role research? Experimenting on me?

I have opened the door for you once more.

You are the love of my life returned

to my room…

‘cos of who you are, who you’ve been.

And who I’ve been – where I’ve been.

My labels are cheap, used and tattered.

Yours exciting, money new, and ‘out there’.

Can you ignore…

appreciate the journey, walk the same road

remembering why I react from memories.

How did this happen and why now?

The director knows the outcome,

my script done…

Nuances of assistance from higher hands…

mysterious determined effort for lasting love.

If the future wanes – dumping my heart…

When I prove not to be what you want…

If my love…

can’t match your carefully constructed,

mental and emotional picture of me today…

Rejection! A resounding slap in the face.

Eternal damnation of idealism – romance.

Proving …

my impossible dreams have no right

to insert themselves into my reality.

I will still love you – hate you first but

eventually settle back to loving you again,

sub-consciously….

I will treasure always you careful words,

your considered approach – all the ‘bulls*it’!

From my 1st book of poems ‘Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey’ Published in Cork, Ireland, 2003.

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12 x 12

Posted in Books, Children's stories, Poetry, WA Writers, Writing, tagged 12 x 12 Challenge, Children's stories, Frances Macaulay Forde, Julie Hedlund, new writing, picture books, poems, SCWBI, writing, writing in WA on March 5, 2014| 4 Comments »

Official Participant in the Julie Hedlund 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge

Soooo excited – I’ve signed up as a Golden Book Member of Julie Hedlund’s 12 month picture book challenge for 2014.

(I find I need deadlines to actually finish fiddling with manuscripts and let them go.)

There’s lots of support and encouragement from fellow participants – many who’re also members of SCWBI.

Julie offers the amazing chance to send a manuscript to an approved agent each month.

At the very least, I’ll have quite a few new picture book ideas to hawk to local publishers at the end of the year!

SUZETTE THE SNAKE

Suzette the snake was swish.

She slithered with style

and spoke with a lisp.

Her sensitive stomach

seeks special cuisine,

especially cleaned

in rivers and streams.

She swims in salt lakes

with sensuous ease,

sleeps under shade trees,

shivers out in the breeze.

Skin silvery bronze

sun-yellow striped along.

Speeding through leaves

she startles a feed.

Surely her sparkle

and shimmering shape,

proves beauty is found

in a slithering snake!

Frances Macaulay Forde @ 2001

From my 1st book of poems ‘Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey’ Published in Cork, Ireland, 2003.

So the gauntlet has been thrown and I must rise to the challenge.

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Courting On-Line

Posted in Hidden Capacity, Poetry, Romance, Writing, tagged Frances Macaulay Forde, Poem, poetry in Western Australia, Returned Love, romance, words, writer, writing on March 4, 2014| 2 Comments »

A photo taken by my daughter at Hillary’s Boat Harbor to show my returned love what I looked like after 28 years (very, very hard to do).

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

From my 1st book of poems ‘Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey’ Published in Cork, Ireland, 2003.

#FrancesMacaulayForde #HiddenCapacity #Romance #LovePoems #Poems

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Landscape Leanings

Posted in nature, WA Writers, Writing, tagged Frances Macaulay Forde, Glen Phillips, new writing, Poem, poetry in Western Australia, Western Australia, words, writer, writing on March 1, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Following on from Friday’s post about Glen Phillips, I wanted to share a poem which was included in ‘Landscapes’ the journal of the International Centre for Landscape and Language at ECU.

Moondyne Joe, the central character in the re-enactment.

The poem was written after we attended the Moondyne Festival, a re-enactment of the Moondyne Joe legend held every year in Toodyay.

It’s an historic town in WA which had recently been devastated by bush-fires – far too often a feature of our landscape.

I was struck by the horrendous beauty as we drove through the area, illustrated by the aftermath of death and the brilliant resilience of nature.

Toodyay

black ash still lay
where fire had licked
with devil tongues
across roadside gravel

a careless cigarette
city-slicker thrown
community fun day
re-enacting Moondyne Joe

quick fire prowled up
summer-dry gullies
stand of trees ridge
wind break – not fire-breaker

no escape allowed
as bright yellow jackets
smother white foam
contain the bush fire danger

gum tree pale striped
old bark peeled back
green growth beauty
black trees juxtaposed

fresh life canopies
halt dieback* spores
spiked hair sprouts
thousand years and counting

*Dieback is a fungal disease which decimates our native trees, reducing them to bare branches.

Just another example of Glen supporting and encouraging my involvement in the WA writing community.

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Renovations

Posted in Africa, Love, nature, Poetry, Romance, Sounds, Writing, tagged Frances Macaulay Forde, jacarandas, nature, Poem, poetry, sounds, Wind chimes, writing on February 26, 2014| 4 Comments »

Reading Vinny’s blog and his wonderful ‘Wind Chimes’ poem reminded me of a poem I wrote in 2002 when I found my life was suddenly turned upside down, down-under.

I had to pack up the house I’d lived in by myself for 28 years after divorce, while I explored the possibilities of returned love at the age of 52 and learnt to share my sacred space again.

It was not always easy but my reward was a love I didn’t know was possible.

Wiki Photo of Jacarandas. I had planted one to remind me of my Zambian home.

Renovations

house loud

full of colored voices

frequently gathered

while fancy-dressers

danced in yellow

purple walled

creative spaces

where words poured

like leaking taps

Bali knick-knacks

replaced by exercise

machines marching

across gym-lounge

to a new beat

sparse spare look

quiet everyman

wants resale

erasing all memories

of trees – too many

for the block

each shading the other

fighting for sun-space

whispering familiar songs

on the wind-chimed

Asian tinkling

mellow sunsets

through leaves

attractive natives

dragon flies

hand-long

banjo frogs

moaning

children at night

now disturbed

environment dusty

denuded earth rubble

on a bared land

eight pots

represent my effort

to scramble bits

hold onto my old home

garden spikes

colored leaves

rainbows fast

disappearing

like me

palms wave

goodbye fronds

like giant hands

Lillipilli twitters

dancing on bough

Jacaranda carpet

my regal path

to happiness

contained fields

of unruly daisies

white and purple

self-seeding

not needing input

this house face

lifted to halt age

contemporized

sold out

beige-d

like every other

me-erased

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2 plus 1

Posted in Sounds, Uncategorized, Writing, tagged Frances Macaulay Forde, poems, recordings, sounds, words, writer, writing on February 25, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Two quick apologies…

1. Sorry for not posting for a couple of days – busy (obviously) with other stuff but must make a better effort to spend a few minutes posting something!

2. Sorry the sound on my recordings is very soft (apparently) so as soon as I’ve got time, I’ll re-record them with the volume up and see what you think.

One promise: I will do better for you.

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Need inspiration?

Posted in Books, Poetry, Scripts, WA Writers, Writing, tagged Andrew Burke, Australian Poetry, Frances Macaulay Forde, Pages Cafe, Perth, Poem, poems, poetry, poetry in Western Australia, Poets Cafe, Poets Corner, WA Writers, words, writer, writing on February 24, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Andrew Burke hosting Poet’s Corner, May 2008.

I’m shocked! Andrew Burke has always seemed particularly inspired but wrote on a FB message to me that his writing “has stalled and needs a push start downhill, in gear – like in them good old days” ending with a smiley face.

It shocked and saddened me; I honestly can’t imagine that quick, witty, incisive brain NOT being inspired. He’s always been such a prolific poet dabbling in many genres (even documentary) inspiring and supporting others with his blog.

But first I got to wondering why… As John Lennon once said “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” A totally appropriate quote to use for Andrew because he’s an accomplished writer, but very much a musician in his soul.

He even has a Wiki page! (How do you get a Wiki page?)

I also discovered an e-book ‘Blue Rose’ on Smashwords which I have just purchased for a measly $4.99 (!) and because Andrew has inspired me (once again) I’ve joined the site to explore the possibilities for my own words. (Thanks, Andrew.)

Often as writers needing the head-space to write, life overwhelms us with what we HAVE to do.

Be selfish sometimes and take a moment to do what you NEED to do, too… we’ll all be better for it.