Showcase
SELECTION FROM THE NOVEMBER 2011 AND JANUARY 2011 CHALLENGES
Summer (January 2012)
if I could halt time
this glorious summer
would crown my autumn
this glorious summer
would crown my autumn
from the hakea
the huge slow wingbeats
of a black cockatoo
the huge slow wingbeats
of a black cockatoo
Cats and Dogs (November Challenge 2, 2011)
morning sunshine
the black dog's shadow
dogs my shadow
the black dog's shadow
dogs my shadow
two birds caught today
my dog is a murderess
but she has great style
my dog is a murderess
but she has great style
upside down
Barbie clothes in his feet
the foundling magpie
Barbie clothes in his feet
the foundling magpie
On the Road (November Challenge 2, 2011)
autumn breeze
leaves scurry
across the highway
leaves scurry
across the highway
Belinda
as if shadowing us
across the endless plain
far-away trees
the long straight road
under the massive sky
our tiny hurtling car
teaching her kid
road savvy
the nanny goat
through the windscreen
broken onto our laps
the wedgetail eagle
as if shadowing us
across the endless plain
far-away trees
the long straight road
under the massive sky
our tiny hurtling car
teaching her kid
road savvy
the nanny goat
through the windscreen
broken onto our laps
the wedgetail eagle
Confectionery (November Challenge 1, 2011)
melting down the cone
'why is my ice-cream dying?'
says the two year old
'why is my ice-cream dying?'
says the two year old
at the corner shop
buying Mum's cigarettes
above my head
colourful longing
in the lolly jars
buying Mum's cigarettes
above my head
colourful longing
in the lolly jars
SELECTION FROM THE OCTOBER CHALLENGES
1. Gardens
forget me nots
in his garden
I should have guessed
the outcome
you wore in your hair
now add to my pain
Alex Ask said...
the next day
ten more white lilies
in the bed
amongst the green
of yesterday's lust
Belinda said...
secreting cuttings
into her handbag
my mother
Margaret Rawlinson said...
rose bloom
ignores the symmetry
of the garden
inviting me to smile
at its disobedience
2. Work
Belinda said...
'say thank you'
says her mother
but thank you
was in the child's eyes
for the toy-maker
athena said...
sitting by the window
she is humming softly
the baby smiles in her sleep
Belinda said...
lying back
gazing at the sky's
drifting clouds
this very difficult
poet's work
3. Love
athena said...
your livered hand
grasps mine
as night shadows us
no need for utterances
the evening star is winking
athena said...
in the kitchen
in her frilly apron
my mother
veiled in herb aromas
stirring love in a pot
Belinda said...
a rush
of heart and regret
the scent of his scarf
Diamond said...
at the bottom
of the ripped letter
love
4. Rain
Black Dog Gallery said...
in between storms
the rainbow in the river
shakes hands with the sky
Belinda said...
puffs of red
rise from the bull dust
first raindrops
Diamond said...
a willow stirs
raindrop circles
old pond
SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTEMBER CHALLENGES
1. Birds
Maeve Archibald said...
bell birds
I hear the music
of early matins
green feather
rolling over and over
the growl of traffic
at the birdbath
her leg black and blue
(Australian Little Falcon)
At the bottom of its slice of flight, was the chook yard fence.
in corners
the hens flap
their birdbrains
The chicken hawk lies like a crumpled rag but, apart from the minor inconvenience of being dead, looks absolutely perfect, every feather in place, the spread of the wing, the tail, the overlapping geometry of charcoal and ochre. Its feet, its talons, such wiry power in them, such strength, the weapons of a hunting machine. Its head lolls in my hand, broken necked, the blades of its beak slightly ajar.
through the wire
the hens’ curiosity
sharp eyes
But looking into the falcon’s eyes, for the world, they look alive, so bright and alert. Gazing into them: a whirlpool of intelligence, of awareness. Deep, deep space down there and on the surface, my reflected fear.
among bones and stones
one hen
pecks another
the long bare legs
in a miniskirt
'nice sunglasses'
says my father
the shell from the chick
a child's hands
around your knees
I bring you
breakfast in the garden
never mind about mine
silvering
all the bluebells
the high sweet note
of rosellas
brief conversation
two lorikeets
making out on the batts
grevillea tentacles
reaching out
red sand
kangaroo prints
weave desert peas
4. Banquet
Belinda said...
on the earth
beneath the weed pile
a banquet
of lizards, beetles, grubs
the thrush sings about it
August Challenges
Challenge 4: Fire
in the afternoon air
of late winter
hanging on your reply
each day the postman calls
a tendril of smoke
divorce papers
waking to moonlight
flickering red
summer's day
reading the northerly
with my nose
my feet in the sand
under the campfire
Challenge 3: Poverty
fishing for bottles
the old man
his back-lit hair
like a halo, glowing
in the queue
yesterday's bread
bellows from
the shabby bungalow
drowning out the ring
of my iphone 4
a wretched shanty rests
in its shadow