Agitato

Tank, Longwood, Victoria.

Poetry days #17. I wrote this during covid and can’t remember if it ever went onto the blog. Apologies if you have read it before and were looking forward to something new.

The Balconies

The Balconies in The Grampians, Victoria.
This ancient place
of an ancient race
is nature's gallery
viewed from a balcony

Photography days #16

A shocking story

A shocking story, Central Park, Malvern.
Oh my God!
I never knew!
who would have thought,
they could do that to you?

Photography days #13.

Dew

Strathbogie sunrise
I accept the dew of early morn as through golden hour I walk
the brittle sun of dawn is come
to break on every dewy stem and stalk
an ascending wave it pushes away nights waning mantle of grey
seeking out each shaded hollow where the sprites of night still play

as my feet dampen and my spirits rise with every step I take
i feel the joy inside of me stir peacefully to fully awake
the first touch of warmth upon my skin bodes well for another day
i turn my face to far horizon where sun breaks cover with glorious rays

vivid pinks and yellows dress the sky in resplendent heavenly garb
the first full shafts of light to pierce the dew delight with rainbowed prisms and shards
they brush the earth with tantalising grace promise of the day to come
I consider that prospect as I return to the place where I came from

my home upon the hill does beckon lit in tones of gold
breakfast awaits and children’s smiles call me back to the fold
as I return in new light I reflect on mornings journey through rising mist
toward embracing tasks ahead, now worry off my list
as mornings clarity prepares me for the next path
I am to tread
this moment of pure atmosphere also readies me
I am dewly led

Poetry days #12.

Wombolano

Wombolano walking track
A dreamy filter diffuses the sun
path, walking and sun all become one
the foliage the light the green and the gold
wombolano morning a sight to behold

Photography days #12.

Mausoleum

Untouched by day by moon unlit
cold resting place for those deemed fit
high rank and majesty interned in stone
where we wander wondering how alone
these lives and deaths were really spent
kings and queens of this cold tent
dust to dust settles in this lifeless place
humanity lost from each rigid face
symbols of life symbols of death
no spark of life each lonely wraith
just like others humble, pauper or brave
their lives came to nought but another grave

Poetry days #10.

Snowline

Above the snowlike looking toward the Paps, Timbertop, Victoria.
for the clearest view
here's what to do
climb the highest mountain
to just above the snowline
where the trees fade away
on a clear blue day

Photography days #10.

Green shed Wood shed

The green shed / wood shed
evening light
green shed machine shed
for grass and pruning nicely cropped
wood shed drying shed
wood split and chopped

Photography days #09

Time

Boroondara General Cemetery clock tower
Time forgive me
I have not used you well
I lived without a thought
given to your passing
your never ending
support of which I ought
have appreciated
gratefully respected
sincerely thanked upon my soul
because now I know
you will let me go
you are not mine to control
infinite time
you will pay me no mind
and at your pleasure
you will swallow me whole

Poetry days #08.

Mountain man

Cathedral Range, Victoria
Of the mountains 
of the peaks
of the hills and valleys steep

I the mountain
man of woodland
keep my forest keep

in the rivers
in the lakes
in the waters deep

I bathe and water
fish for supper
pull my oars asweep

i am a hunter
and life preserver
at loss in grief I weep

at end of day
abed I lay
to drop to restful sleep

Poetry days #07.

Wetlands watching

Birding at Winton Wetlands
we look this way
we look that
we raise our binoculars
we have a chat
we love the birds
everywhere we see
delightful birds
we watch with glee

Merimbula

In Merimbula the birds
don't need too many words
to describe their grace and beauty
let's just say they are all mighty

Photography days #06. For the walking map and description I have published on Victoria Walks see: https://walkingmaps.com.au/walk/5767

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

Apartment

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

Mr Unknowable Self

Finding your unknowable self, Lysterfield Lake walk

Sunshine v breeze

Incoming summer rain, Boho South

Rainbow

Double rainbow and squall, Gobur

Red back pack

Sandy Beach Creek, Bournda National Park

Goodenia Rainforest, New South Wales

Everything is food and food is everything.

Photography days #05. You can find the Goodenia walking map and description online at Victoria Walks: https://walkingmaps.com.au/walk/5756

All work is my own and copyright applies. I do not use AI. I do not wish for AI to use my work.

A nice thing

Cerebral Palsy walk, Mt Kosciusko

Poetry days #01. Find the path here: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/mount-kosciuszko-summit-walk

Mirror mirror

White-faced heron, Edwardes Lake
Just confirming I'm the right bird in the right place
Lakeside - check
Reed beds - check
Tasty aquatic life - check
Big grey bird, yellow legs, long neck, spear like beak, white face.

This photo was taken while creating a lakeside accessible walking map for people who use mobility aids. You can view it here: Edwardes Lake Accessible Walk.

Photography days #03. All work is my own. I do not use AI.

Art off Lonsdale

Secreted behind Lonsdale St in the City of Melbourne, another amazing work of CBD public art.

A photo a day #02.

The Muttaburrasaurus at McNish

A photo a day revisited #01: The Muttaburrasaurus at McNish playground in Yarraville loves to have children in his belly.

There is also a great walking path along Stoney Creek here. You can view the Victoria Walks’ walking map I have published here: https://walkingmaps.com.au/walk/5731

River #03

Where the river meets the sea
I’ll wait patiently
until your ship comes in
carrying you to my smiles
we’ll walk the miles and miles
to a place to begin again

upriver to where small streams
become the water of river dreams
where meadows grow green under
skies of sun and thunder
there we’ll settle on high ground
ever fertile and sound

we’ll labour to work the earth
and give a family birth
a family that will grow
to work together and sow
under that mantle of blue and grey
after years and many a day
we will turn to each other and say

the life we chose has been a good one
as good as the river is long
to its banks we will continue to go
hand in hand
watching the river flow

Thoughts

Like paper to the wind
my thoughts I scatter here
unable to rescind
I let them travel where
I know not what they’ll achieve
succeed with or accomplish
I fear they’ll find readers
with care only to admonish
then there is the question
why bother anyway?

so many smarter and stupider minds
have so much more to say
and louder voices
because they so often agree
to speak their thoughts
only to celebrity

a different purpose is theirs
to be heard no matter what
without the necessity
of thinking intelligently
of sharing something
of value they have got

I speak simply
of observations
of thoughts I mull over
instead
I speak of imagery
of the wonders of earth
that crowd
inside my head

Fragile

Fragile like a bubble floating gentle on a breeze
uncertain airy eddies dropping it and raising it with ease
a dip toward a branch and a child waits for it to pop
breath held eyes wide standing still mid hop
then it spirals up just before the moment
a random push to nowhere special
rescued by chance
bound only by circumstance
the brittle coloured shiny shell wafer thin and precious
we await another chance buffeting the waiting is delicious
to influence things the child waves hands and blows with her small mouth
she hopes to help it survive the ground disaster beckons from the south
her little puffs send fragile bubble in unintended directions
she watches amazed the effect she has on the subject of her affection
her will her thought her decision to act on the outcome she desires
embolden her to further acts beyond bubbles she aspires
eventually the bubble pops its streaky rainbow skin
we both sigh in satisfaction at its inevitable oily end
as it bursts in prism lit spray asunder
the fragile bubble also releases wonder
the child and I are compelled to create more of these globular gems
to see what control we can exercise what we can contrive with them

such is human life