The first of a new year of TT and the happenings amongst the small community on the Tableland. I know I said I would resume poetry posts at the end of last year and I have been writing, but somehow posting time seems to have eluded me. 2025 was a tough year in several ways and this year isn’t off to a great start. Still more poetry on https://poetograhy.ink is very much on my mind. I have also treated myself to a new camera which I am looking forward to applying my skills too. So dear reader, don’t give up on me yet!
Another edition of the very local newsletter I edit each month. Apologies for the lack of other material in recent months. Other things going on, but I am hoping to be back for more publishing soon!
It makes pleasurable sense to live in the country but I am apprehensive about what it means when the blistering sun and a searing north wind are set to scorch the earth when they rise again
I am scared of the new summer on days like these marked for worsening catastrophes where shimmering heat on the horizon it seems prefaces the burning of landscapes by fire destined to scour every countryside rise and glen I feel the new summer fear rise again
I am scared of the new summer as you should be when severe climate change dictates choice and activity
10 January 2022. Chocolate lily, Mackerell’s Rd, Strathbogie, Victoria. Every corner, every stretch, every measure, cycling delivers surprise and pleasure.
I wonder if I will ever get back on my bikes free to ride wherever I like living with arthritis is a constant pain I do hope I get to ride again luckily I can write to fill my time put some cycling photography into rhyme
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not permit AI to use my work.
Dusk at the drop off, Mt Wombat, Strathbogie Tableland, Victoria.
I was loitering on the corner after friends had dropped me there I didn’t go nowhere because I was scared I felt it coming a fright and a fear as if it was my last year
and when it finally fell upon me the anticipated dread I wished I had stayed at home in my warm and cosy bed the devil in his black coat to me he came and said I’m gonna frame you
I looked around but I couldn’t see anything of a crime I waited there longer I waited some extra time there was nothing to give me a clue no flashing sign that my whole world was a turning
when she pulled up in her long bright shiny yellow hearse I avoided her stare as if it was a curse but eventually she prevailed with a promise to reimburse me for my trouble
we drove to the mountain right to the very top when we got there she made the hearse come to a stop right at the edge by a long steep drop I exclaimed I was scared of heights
she got out of the car came round and opened my door I didn’t see her coming cos I was looking at the floor she pulled me out with the strength of two or three or four and dumped me on the dirt by the barriers
I struggled as she prepared to throw me into the abyss but then she bent to give me my first Judas kiss I knew what was coming so I ducked and she missed I pushed her in the chest and she swayed backwards
little did I know that she would unbalance then I watched her teetering on the edge until when she fell to her death just as god sent me a message
he said to get out of there because things weren't looking pretty I didn’t need no message I as tore across the city my mind was in turmoil full of self pity I found a little hideaway a little dirty a little gritty and laid low until things blew over
ever since that day I’ve been creeping around the town all nervous and alone again I’ve been going round worried the cops would do me over and when I would be found but my life became fortunate and stable
the lord moves in mysterious ways around my little hangout but in my mind there really is no skerrick of a doubt he saved me twice from death and the devil without my ever understanding anyways how or about I ever got to be in so much trouble
For lovers, North Creek, Strathbogie Forest, Victoria.
In forests we go walking to find the time for talking to take us away from the city hustle ever stalking
I meet you on love’s wings at the perimeter of meadows and I love you all the more as we enter soft green forest shadows
we take the paths less trodden to open new forest doors we find our way to high places to meres and rugged moors
the ferns they point our way with glistening fronds a waving guiding us through the timeless forest we find ourselves a weaving hand in hand we travel each a lovestruck wandering Gypsy this time this place alone together precious magical and carefree
sun rays light the glades with golden shafts of wonder we look aloft, laugh and dance beneath the forest grandeur
we lie down on forest beds and let our fingers do some walking our hands our lips our tongue tips put a silence to the talking
again the language of forest love begins and with it our renewal I’ll always be your forest love you my cherished forest jewel
when the forest loving is done and we must find our way back home we’ll look forward to more forest talking and forest loving yet to come
A shimmering emerald light I saw aloft in afternoon’s glow a flickering on and off with twisting turns it flashed colour at me I transfixed watched closely to see windy flutterings of swamp gum leaves on one branch hung these sunlight thieves eucalyptus greens greys and blues they waved their pretty dance to me they gave
I looked at you you looked at me I looked back again I sensed that you were asking if I was your friend? without Alpaca words to say so, I decided to move on I enjoyed our time together but there were other things to be done
Let’s go for a picnic and a swim at Polly McQuinn’s we’ll pack a basket of food and some cold drinks I’ll get the picnic rug and the Esky we can spread out on this long hot lazy afternoon under the tall peppermints and swamp gums by the cool soothing brown water of the swimming hole we can lounge in the shade all day if we want too maybe you will want to take some sun in your bathers for a spell before a refreshing plunge into that oasis below the weir I’ll watch you, admire and love you the whole while I’ll reflect on where we are going and where we have been I will even venture in for a swim with you because this moment in this water will change everything when I meet you in the slow eddies embrace you forehead to forehead nose to nose shoulder to shoulder chest to chest hip to hip our legs gently treading water together rotating us blissfully so full of each other we could burst I will tell you I want to marry you I will ask you to marry me and I will softly kiss the earthy water from your lips until I hear your reply
Sunrise and the clouds are silver, gold, pink or the brightest of whites they promise new beginnings and I believe them I say goodbye to the night and the day is full of all that might be
sun fringed clouds speak of good fortune and hope when I raise my eyes to see them things start looking up silver linings
dark clouds rising are mysterious and foreboding what danger is imminent? how will it affect me? I become watchful
ah, today black clouds shadow my father's angry face it’s time to make myself scarce there is no doubt about the turbulence ahead for mother and me it’s time to flee the storm to come
I am grateful the clouds have lifted from our little home the windows and doors are open fresh air has once again surged through and purged too
my little window looks to the sky there are omens in the various shapes passing by I watch them, they guide me to more thoughts of what is to come by and by
Here jewell like beads of water hang from grassy stems the crystal clear worlds inside each reflect a world less clear on the outside shiny bright surfaces glisten and sparkle with the captured light of morning
here in perfect symmetry each luminous pearl is delicately balanced suspended flawless and oblivious of the future pulled by gravity against the surface tension of a liquid sphere each represents one of millions or billions across this mist dusted field
here a landscape is bejewelled a scene elemental as the water of which it is composed rich as every jewel that composes it here natural beauty on a tiny scale is the very essence of pleasure en masse
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