Hooting to acknowledge
others hunting there
camouflaging plumage
prey beware
soundless flight
beak and claws to tear
night vision adept
anywhere
hooting acknowledges
others hunting there
dancing with abandon
a nightclub lair
drinking jugs of alcohol
teeth are bared
faux charm awooing
without care
De Jackson from dVerse asked we poets to post a Quadrille (44 word poem) using any form of the word “hoot”.
RL 21.500 is a line in the sand
between two opposing camps
which one will make the first move?
it is going to happen AAM
(At Any Moment)
don't look away
or you might miss it
Budding native Daphne
very quickly had me
on my knees
if you please
with camera focussing
happily
What is this this thing called art
this thing I feel smell touch hear see
before me
this mode for the senses to draw upon
this code for the mind to interpret
what is this connection
this very personal yet cultural experience
where is traditional what is contemporary
what is permanent what is temporary
which aspect is simply material
which is internally enhanced
in response to which parts do you remain static
to which do you dance
testament contribution idea retribution
dora’s idea is redistribution
so
let’s make anything into something called art
let’s see if I can do my part
I take an image
something plain as a floor
but it’s where I take it from
that makes it more
I climb stairs I scope and review
until I find just the place that will do
and the floor is no longer just a floor anymore
but a creative rendering of space comes to the fore
this is art
This week Dora challenged we dVerse poets to take something familiar and reimagine it in some way.
My canoe
nothing else to do
just paddle away
enjoy the day
my canoe
Photography days #35.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Curse of our ever accelerating time
leach of the time once yours and mine
funnelling us to places we don’t want to be
presenting us with things we don’t want to see
corporate instructions with manipulative intent
designed to create outrage reinforcement and vent
secretive grabs pull our clicks and attention
urging us to resist when facts are mentioned
I loath the discomfort the rush to agree
the social fragmentation from this wedge
being driven between you and me
Follow the simple non digital instructions depicted here to put out the fire!
Poetry days #42.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
can you see the griffin dance
across the garage door
the sun made griffin just by chance
of course I wanted more
more the sun would not give me
and the griffin faded fast
this was my very first griffin
alas I expect my last
Photography 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.
Mine robe is rust
it’s purpose refuge
oxidised shell around me
protector of my heart
a flutter
barrier to the world
a clutter
betwixt my rusty robe and me
lies a sea
of tranquility
where mind and soul
are at rest
where love beats strong
in swelling breast
I dwell in rust
on rusty bed
my pillow brown
for rusty head
there find me
with pledge to you
amongst helter skelter
rust piles askew
through water deep
I will walk with you
with you beside
your rusty guide
to rusty haven
secure engraven
come stay with me
we're safe inside
in rusty fortress
under rusty sky
this place to be
abide with me
a rusty mantle
tough rust retreat
that malign forces
will not defeat
my trusty eye
my rusty robe
deflects the fierce
threats of the globe
the purveyors of hate
the snide deprived
the walking hopeless
the full divide
to whom protective rust
has been denied
I trust in rust
as I trust in you
together we’ll forge
our rusty due
the crust of rust
our rusty glue
Poetry days #41.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
sometimes an image strikes you
before you even take it
still life in the bush
make it!
Photography 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.
"Look Pa!" and I look
a hand an eye
a playground nook
and I smile
that's all it took
another image
for my photo book
Photography 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.
Walking Boundary Hill Road in dappled sun
from the Mannas and Blue Gums lining the run
the trees are magnificent and so is the landscape
when you are walking here the feeling is great
Photography 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
poetography.ink 