Message to the writers

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Do not become a writer
because there is so much to say
there are so many people saying it
tongues never in the way

do not become a writer
everything has been said
by children in their mother's arms
by lords and ladies lying dead

do not become a writer
calm the words falling from your head
distribute them elsewhere
into conversation instead

do not become a writer 
the research will drive you crazy
and when you aren't doing it
you'll be calling yourself lazy

do not become a writer
the work that is written down
may well be your epitaph
when the regime comes to town

do not become a writer
tortured by your words
never enough to say the things 
you always wanted read

do not become a writer 
your partner will claim rights 
to the lost hours of writing 
to the sitting up at nights

do not become a writer
your opinion will be your end
mouth of ashes words and clashes
an addiction to pressing send

do not become a writer
no one will ever publish you
they'll only say to your face
just to yourself be true

Poetry days #36

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

blue-tongued

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Highlands blotched blue-tongued lizard, Strathbogie Tableland, Victoria.
this shedding Blue-tongued lizard
discards its skin
to reveal anew
the true colours within

Photography days #29.

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

Black swan, Earlston

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Swamp, Earlston, Victoria.
black swan glides smoothly by
ancient red gums standing high
take a breath let out a sigh
enjoy the moment no asking why

Photography days #28.

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

On Poetry

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Hold those words as one beloved 
hold them close to your chest and let time slip
step outside time as one embraced 
in the arms of poems that hold you in their grip
be taken to that strange dimension 
where all is compressed and distilled
into new forms of truth turned this way and that 
by the bent of the poet’s will
reminded of who we truly are 
by words that by being will never lie
weep laugh and gasp in that suspension of time 
being far from everywhere yet ever closer by

with thanks to Marcella Polain (Ed) Australian Poetry Anthology Volume 11, Foreword II, Australian Poetry Ltd. 2024

Poetry days #

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

Young Lovers

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Secretly 
we meet as separate, boy and girl
but take each other’s hand for company
and together in our own world 
forget
their world which has split us, violently 
we tarry a while, for our regret
is felt both deeply and silently

to give up our child before our prime
when all we wanted was decency
all we needed was more time 
to be a family and only
to be with each other as three together
instead of separate and lonely

Poetry days #34.

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

Autumn haiku 2 for #01 (variations)

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Japanese maple leaf on Sulphur crested cockatoo feather, Strathbogie Tableland, Victoria.
Fallen maple leaf
Colour faded to dull brown
Winter is coming

Fallen maple leaf
Together we fall to ground
Winter is coming

Poetry days #33.

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

Nobody

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Everybody is nobody
did you know?
nobody is everybody
in the end
with nothing to show

Poetry days #32.

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

Spotted pardalote

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A Spotted pardalote, Hughes Creek, Ruffy Tableland, Victoria.
This pardalote resides near the ground
a nest, burrow or embankment
"sleep dee dee" is its call
a sighting generates excitement

Photography days #27.

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

East

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Lake Hume, Tallangatta, Victoria.
A vivid sun rose from the east
it offered me a good day
my withered body sought solace
in what was promised in that way
I rose to greet and meet the sun
looking forward to its promise
my creaking bones and stiffened joints arose
with only a little grimace 
I followed the sun throughout the day
from sunroom to verandah
seeking light absorbing heat
with more vigour and more candour
no pain relief was necessary as the day progressed
I calmly bathed in soaking sun 
therapy at its best
I gave thanks for another day 
of appreciating the sun
its warmth and illumination of the world 
was delightful to this one
as sick as I may be 
every coming day
I return to partial health 
as the sun rays 
wash themselves over me 
with their golden wealth
and so the night too 
looks a little less grim
as the suns light fades and the evening chill 
slowly settles in
I wrap myself in a blanket 
I sip hot tea and sit
by a warming fire never the sun 
but I take what I can get
as the aches return the cramps begin 
I look forward to tomorrow
and to the east I’ll turn my gaze 
hoping for a little more sun to borrow

Poetry Days #31.

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work

Witness

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Fewer Koalas visit us these days, Strathbogie Tableland, Victoria.
We witness their leaving like smoke in the wind
the wildlife departure impossible to rescind
following First Nations people out of the bush
into memory alone at an increasing rush
when we came here there were many koalas just 16 years ago
now their sighting is uncommon as they falter and go
and the freshwater crays I haven’t seen for five years
the metal blue of their backs absent - extinction fears
there once was a blackfish but it also is gone
from the spring creek below us it once called home
and the robins are fewer where they once dominated
the platypus just hanging on from being eradicated
I’m sure the list is much longer but what more can one do 
than try to protect what is left sheltered in a zoo
more people and cars, disease, cats, foxes, more stock
more land cleared, less native food, climate change, ticking clock
we should know better but our efforts are weak
we talk local but the world must now deliver what we seek

Poetry days #30.

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

14 Yarra views

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Melbourne’s Yarra River and embankment can be busy places. I have published some of these photos before, but thought this group made a nice new set. 

It's the river that binds
Melbourne's spreading towers 
to the city
and when the weather is good
it looks oh so pretty!

Photography days #26.

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

Lost

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Searching for what has been lost, Princes Park, Prahran, Victoria.
I put a penny in my pocket
and on the way I lost it
I lost it, I lost it,
and on the way I lost it.

Ref: traditional nursery rhyme 'A Tisket a Tasket'

Photography days #25.

The photo is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my workload.

Spring beaks

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Grey Shrike Thrush chicks, Strathbogie Tableland, Victoria.
chirping for attention
mouths always open
feeding is a frenzy
chicks ever hoping

Photography days #24.

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

Sleep time / story time

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Father and son walking sleeping daughter, Tarralla Creek, Croydon, Victoria.
Baby sister is deep asleep
It is time for father and son
"Tell me a new story dad,"
"make it a really good one!"

Photography days #23.

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

Red oxygen

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Gaia is wounded, Mars beckons
blue is blue, red still angry
Gaia stains carbon black
Mars stained bloody red long ago

Gaia weeps for her children
potent lively lush and green
Mars impotent red rocks and dust
longs for his own offspring

Mars pleads save them Gaia
build great machines
oxygenate the red planet
with a new rusty sheen

Mars pleads save me Gaia
red oxygen
in your time of failing
save me from oblivion

Gaia harnesses depleted resources
Gaia cuts herself and tears
mother sacrifices for her children 
Gaia strips herself bare

Her children develop red oxygen
designers discover scale
miners plunder her depths
engineers build to sail 

Todays dVerse prompt from Sanna suggested sci fi poetry. I didn’t know it was a thing and now I am pleased to know it is a thing.

The environmentalist

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Tree planting, Bacchus Marsh, Victoria.
At the close of day
He looks around and says
Today was a very good day
Because on another day to come
This bare hill will be a forest of trees

Photography days #22.

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

Towers

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Cnr Exhibition & La Trobe streets, Melbourne, Victoria.
I try to build the high towers
you quickly tear them down
I try to exercise my powers 
you remove my crown
all my efforts at good
you come for them with spades
determined that you should
send me back to the shade
you undermine my efforts
at being something better
you cripple my best endeavours
with termination letters
I was once the coach
but you do the money managing
I am now an impotent ghost
you’re the one real and damaging
whatever I did to you
I cannot work it out
when I ask the question
all you do is scream and shout
so I’ll leave you here
head for new towers on some far horizon
I can’t wait any longer
you and I are done

Poetry days #29.

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

The rocks

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Shark Bay, Western Australia. Photo: Michael Taylor.
The rocks called the brave fishermen to their very edge
"come hither, fish from here"
they said
"the fish are biting
the catch is better 
the fun is greater
the platform flatter
the water deeper
the violent waves
are more extreme"
challenging warnings
of danger
with a fisherman’s dream

the men they came 
day in day out
urging each other
mucking about
telling fish tales
over waves in shouts
clad for spray
from towering spouts
casting long into the deep
swells without doubt 

standing or sitting 
amongst squawking gulls
from cold cans or hot thermos
taking deep pulls
reeling in their lines
casting again
taking on the elements
as true fishermen 

when the king wave hit
most scrambled to safety
some saved by their fellows
dragged to the shore
others dragged down
were followed by bellows
where are you our friends
are you on oceans floor
or riding the waves
in hope of rescue
we will scour the surface 
we will hope to find you
we’ll watch from the rocks
for any sign of life 
or we’ll slowly trudge home 
to inform family and wife

Poetry days #28.

The writing is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

Stars

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The first two, Strathbogie Tableland, Victoria.
The star that fell as a bright flaring slash across the sky was really a meteor
the dull star that brightens then fades over weeks in the night above is really a comet
the star that arcs in a consistent orbit lit in the heavens is really an artificial satellite 
if ever a star was to really fall toward earth the solar system would simply ignite 
There is no Father Christmas

Poetry days #26

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

Accessible walks are for everyone

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Accessible walk, Lake Pertobe, Warrnambool, Victoria.
Accessible walks are such a wonderful thing
getting all people out to enjoy nature and sun
for me, it is a matter of strategic dreaming
that I will publish each accessible walk for everyone

the pleasure I see in enjoyed natural spaces
and landscaped gardens designed for all
the smiles on all young and adult faces
as they embark on a walk at nature's call

feeling healthier and fitter for being outside
as they see the sights on a walk or a roll
and so much mentally better inside
breaking the chains of confinement is a worthy goal

If you are looking for an accessible walk in Victoria, this not for profit site is where we publish: https://walkingmaps.com.au/accessible-walks

Poetry days #25

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

Spooky table with a view

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Picnic table amongst coastal Ti-tree, Lorne, Victoria.
This picnic table had a great view of the sea
but it was what was behind that distracted me
when I turned these twisted elongated branches
were reaching at me with strong twiggy pincers
their prehensile limbs moving into my space
their sinister demeanour put a frown on my face
I was sure as I sat that these ti-trees did creep
I was sure as I sat that my body they did seek
before being encased in the arms of these woods
I got up and ran while I felt I still could

Poetry days #24.

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

Three Yellow-tailed black cockatoos

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Yellow-tailed black cockatoos, Strathbogie Forest.
The one on the left said, "What will we do?
I think share all our seed, what about you two?"
The one on the right said, "I've earned more than you."
"I'll be taking full earnings, as is my due!"
The one in the middle said, "Be reasonable." On cue.
"There's no need to bicker, dissent or argue.
Let's eat what we need and let some accrue."
The way forward was set by this Yellow-tailed black guru.

Poetry days #22.

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

readwhat

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what we choose to read shapes our lives
who's the author
what's it mean
has it purpose
is it a screen

what's the story
why's it there
who will read
who cares

is it good
is it bad
is it happy 
is it sad

what's important
truth or lie
live or die

This dVerse Quadrille prompt was “What the what?” from De Jackson – for a poem of 44 words including the word “what”.

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.

A springtime view from Boundary Hill

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View from Boundary Hill, Strathbogie Tableland, Victoria.
Bucolic scenes
the stuff of dreams
where farmland meets
bushland seats

Photography days #21.

All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.