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.

Friendship

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Central Park, Malvern, Victoria.

Friendship in black and white.

Photography days #19.

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

The right way to go

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Old Mill, Nagambie, Victoria.
I was searching for a sign
the right way to go
I found it in an unexpected spot
and the sign did clearly show
in which direction to embark
it was the sign - I know

Photography days #17.

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

Memory

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My capacious memory
encompasses all my life
an unenduring legacy
to be cut sometime 
by death’s knife

Poetry days #20.

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

Spin

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Desertification in the Mallee, Victoria.
I never stopped the world
the world it never stopped me
until the day I forgot to pay
homage to nature’s way

the time I wrecked the world
was the time the world wrecked me
my influence and consequence
heated it by degrees

oh it kept spinning assuredly
you might claim there was no problem
but on the surface I
directed its death and then some

I am man, 
I said I can.
What am I bid? 
So, I did

Poetry days #18.

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

Bessie

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Bessie the knitted bear.
bessie is a bear
loved by our son
tucked under his chin
when he was young
now bessie is a bear
loved by his daughter
the love in bessie bear 
has well and truly caught her

Photography days #17.

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

Tableland Talk November 2024

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202411_nws_TTDownload

Birdsong

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New Holland Honeyeater
The bird that spoke that first perfect note
was a revelation to its kin
because she could sing so beautifully
the other birds decided to join in

some of the birds variations heard
they felt they could do better
so they sang with melodies that made 
the landscape ring
and to each note
gave a letter

a chorus formed of singing birds 
who organised their songs
into works of art 
many species took part 
and for the choir
others came along

a feud broke out all about 
which birds sang best of the rest
unresolved each species kept 
their songs close to their chest
and so today when you hear each 
sing their special tweet 
be mindful that this is why
only one song can each species 
ever repeat

Poetry days #16.

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

In death

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Every soldier, once a child (family archive).
The lips are thin their colour grey
the hair is dull and lank
the skin is pallid
tugor at bay
the smell is fetid, rank
the wound is swollen
putrid, reddened
exposed are tissue and bone
what man lies here
dead and neglected?
what inspired him to roam?

the war that left him lying here
alone on hardened ground
did abandon him
as all wars will
to his silence amongst  
the furious sound

what home did he leave?
what cause was his?
that left him so cold and pale
so far from where he began
so distant from a family’s wail
with no one to grieve his lost soul
with none to respectfully lay him deep

we will take him to yet another hole
we will bury him amongst the others
in yet another heap

Poetry days #15.

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

Alone

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I never loved another
no other ever loved me 
then how is it that I know love
and what it is that love should be
love is always on my mind
a want of love so kind
yet when I see others in love 
it only serves to remind
me of my days alone
such a feeling of unease

should I ever bring love home
I’ll ever strive to please

Poetry days #14.

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

Doing #02

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Eildon Pondage, Victoria.

If he, she or they can choose to do something pleasing or satisfying, it is quite likely that you can choose to do something pleasing or satisfying too.

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

Doing #01

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Why watch virtual stuff when you could be out in the real world enjoying a real activity or applying your own creativity – and probably having more fun while you do?

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

Barber

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Barber of Seville, South Melbourne, Victoria.
The Barber of Seville
has loops of hair
fit to kill
a mo to rival any other 
and an affinity for 
his longhaired brothers.

Photography days #20.

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

Oxygen

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Victoria Lake, Maryborough, Victoria.

Friendship is like oxygen.

Photography days #18.

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

hero-maker

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above the field the hero-maker
exercises leadership inspired
massing forces across the vale
with support in plenty provided

the gunsmiths make the guns
the gun-handlers pass weapons along
the gun-runners deliver them
to gunners firing on song

on the field the trap-maker
casts nets and snares wide
able-bodies and deft-hands ready
to relieve the fallen and retired

the charging-mob is subdued
by strategy and power
out-flanked and out-thought
they charge prop then cower

injector-darts hit each target
unconscious they drop and fall
collected quickly from the field
be-gathered one and all

each beast is agentle-laid
weighed and length measured 
teeth and health are checked
body-secured then tethered

bio-tags are clipped to ears
before the waking beasts astir
safe-release is carefully planned
returned unharmed to where they were

across the remnant-wilderness
against disease and deceit
conservation-heroes monitor life 
resisting extinction and defeat

Today’s dVerse prompt is from Bjorn to use “kennings” or new compound words to create meaning in a poem as a way to continue the evolution of language. 

Poetry days #37

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

Dreams

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Alleyway dream “Imagine 2030, a Melbourne where no one sleeps on the streets.” Mural artist Adnate.
There is no defence
dreams will come
dreams will come
where there seems no reference
there will be some
there is some

think deep and wonder what
is a dream 
a separate reality split at the seam
or a theme
streamed on moonbeams

telling a story
you might not have heard
guiding and reminding you
without literal word 
you might get it wrong
you might get it right 
paying attention to the night

because in dreams come the stories
whether happy or fraught 
of the life we are living
significant or short

Poetry days #37.

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