The old bridge

Posted on July 28, 2024 by seanatbogie

This crumbling old bridge was once an entrance to the town
but these days another road goes another way around
and the old bridge isn't even a walking bridge today
as its rotten frame collapses in an advanced state of decay
I'd like to see we walkers reclaim this historic bridge and road
reimagined and rebuilt it would easily take that load 
we would walk both sides of the water accessed by its span
travel both embankments knowing we safely can
return by the old bridge to where we began to roam
enjoying nature's reclaimed beauty right here by our town

Tableland Talk August 2024

Posted on July 27, 2024 by seanatbogie

202408_nws_TT Download

Colour frosted

Posted on July 18, 2024 by seanatbogie

Clusters of pink
bundles of green
frosty treat
winter morning

Golden

Posted on June 8, 2024 by seanatbogie

Ah, the light of the golden hour
the yellow wash of dawn’s breaking sun 
such pleasure in the early morn 
omen for a another day of wonder 
beautifully begun

Luxury

Posted on May 27, 2024 by seanatbogie

A Strathbogie Reading (Photo Michael Flatt)

The luxury of poetry
the images created there
the pleasantries of high art
the challenges laid bare
the thoughts on truth and beauty
the ugly brutal truth
the clearly written words
the affected words forsooth

the scibblings of a madman
the writing of a scribe
the wounds of the wounded
the dying and dead imbibed
the love of many lovers
the truth and pain of love
the anxiety of living
the wonder of it hereof
the unitary or divisive delivery 
of hell or heaven above

Autumn

Posted on May 24, 2024 by seanatbogie

Ah, this last of exquisite autumn days
the slant of light of breaking rays
through fractured clouds to which some might say
how disappointing this grey sky day
but the rays of light delighted me
the yellow bands proportionately 
dominate the view, you can’t but see 
the illumination of everything touched by these

and in that light the detail found 
from sun's surface waves inbound
everything on earth reflects colour and pleasure
if you look hard enough for work or leisure 
an architect's masterpiece of blossoming features
or a beautiful flower of imperfect creases

see the light touch your skin
examine the surface you find yourself in
think of yourself as embodied light 
the light within grants power of sight
and if you think deeper you just might 
fully appreciate autumn's dying light

Predator

Posted on April 25, 2024 by seanatbogie

This was my cat “Panther”. I had her from when I was 12 years old until she was 21 years old (and I 33). She used to walk down to the shops with me. She was a delightful domestic cat. However, after working in the bush I now see the terrible toll cats take on our native species. Domestic cats should **never** be allowed to leave a controlled and enclosed space to roam free.

Stealthy predator of malign intent
brought to a new country 
evil sent
with no defences natives fall
like dominoes before claw and paw

colonising new territory by the day
nothing effective stands in the way
a death count of billions by today
an introduced plague that makes death play
indigenous species fall by the way

to arrest this devastation we catch and kill
but the feline mind eludes us still
and hand on heart
heart on sleeve 
we witness endangerment extinction 
and grieve

As the first photo. indicates, I was a cat lover once. No longer. I chose “What Shall we do with the feathers?” by Lois Wain. I think the artist meant it to be a cute picture. The collars suggest domestic cats. They have just had a bit of fun together killing a bird despite the fact that they are fed daily by a human. However, to me it represents catastrophe because domestic cats and their feral offspring in Australia today are responsible for countless uncontrolled deaths. A plague of feral cats is decimating our native wildlife.

The dVerse prompt for we poets this week came from Melissa, to choose a Louis Wain artwork based on cats, and write a poem inspired by the artwork. One catch– we may not use the word cat. Other feline terminology is acceptable.

Alter

Posted on April 15, 2024 by seanatbogie

Does it alter every morning when the light strikes the land
when sunlight ever bright or through grey skies hits the strand
do the shapes and forms move
under photon pressure waver
only photographer or artist heeds every little quaver
when dark crevices are lit 
by yellow shimmer or dull purple patches
when mountains high or plains below 
are patched with coloured swatches
when treed slopes or waving fields 
bask in brilliant splendour
it is time to remember nothing is static 
take time to appreciate and consider

Tableland Talk April 2024

Posted on March 31, 2024 by seanatbogie

The local community newsletter I publish each month is back once again.

202404_nws_TT Download

Tales of calm and beauty #1

Posted on February 21, 2024 by seanatbogie

 
 Beauty is in the moment
 Sitting by a window
 Sun streaming in
 From directly across the way
 Low in the pale blue winter sky
 But strong enough to warm the room
 Through tall floor to ceiling glass
 Strong black lines
 The shadows of the woodwork
 Stretch long, deep and straight
 Across shiny slate
 Framing the scene
 Defining the space
 Giving shape to enveloping comfort 
 Warming the calm
 Enclosing peacefulness
 As I now heavy lidded 
 Look out on gold rimmed trees
 Vivid green grass
 Foraging birds
 And hear the cascading water of the creek
 Beauty is in this moment

Watkins walk

Posted on December 12, 2023 by seanatbogie

Watkins walk is a Strathbogie Tableland roadside walk through grazing farmland and native forest. One of its other attractive features is the high conservation value roadside vegetation including various towering species of eucalypt.

Such roadsides are critical local biolinks for flora and fauna. There is plenty to see and wildlife sightings are common.

This is a little trafficked smooth gravel road and Strathbogie Tableland is quiet. You can hear cars approaching from some way off. It is pretty safe walking. However, it still makes sense to stick to the right of the road so you are facing any oncoming vehicles that do appear.

Click this link Watkins walk to the map I have created on http://www.walkingmaps.com.au

Tableland Talk December 2023

Posted on December 2, 2023 by seanatbogie

Here is the last issue of TT for 2023. TT returns in February 2024.

202312_nws_tt.pdf Download

Walking in the evening

Posted on September 7, 2023 by seanatbogie

I'm walking in the evening
smelling all the sounds
I'm strolling through the gloaming
Doing my enchantment rounds
I'm catching all the moonbeams
and putting them in my pocket
Remembering fondly daydreams
Preparing days last docket

The path is lit so brightly
in silver and dappled grey
The water sprites dance lightly
on moonlit water spray
 
And where the cascading creek
pools calmly at my feet
it reflects the Milky Way
 
I'm walking in the evening
Hearing all that I can see
I sense the bobuck in the tree
before the bobuck senses me
A tawny frogmouth silhouettes
against a star bright sky
With silent flight of no regret
his dive is only heard by eye
White shades of cockatoos 
perch ghostly in pairs aloft
Crests rising to the "Who? Who?"
of the barn owl in near croft 
A mother koala briefly joins me
on her own purposeful  path
Her joey clinging grimly
to her shoulders makes me laugh
 
And then a cool spring breeze
tousles my hair as if to please
and praise my meandering task
 
I'm walking in the evening
touching scents borne on air
I'm feeling all I'm feeling
I'm shedding care by care

Honeysuckle's sweet subtle breath
permeates  all around
Bullrushes whisper secrets kept
Chocolate lilies abound

The swamp gum rustles above me
The peppermint towers high
The snow gum looks so lovely
as I tread quietly by
Flowering gums are tipped with fairy tutus
The manna creaks as it sways
All sprinkle the night with eucalyptus scent
whispering to the wind, “Australian bush” they say
 
And then on the horizon I see my home
It calls me from my roaming
To sit in darkness without a sound
I savour all the night has shown me
while walking in the evening

This week the d’verse prompt is from Lillian. She asks we poets to, “Take a walk with me.” You can view the full prompt here https://dversepoets.com/2023/09/05/take-a-walk-with-me/ I have chosen to rework a poem from a while ago that reflects on walks in the evening near my home. I hope you enjoyed walking with me.