A villanelle for my niece

I have been experimenting a little lately with writing villanelles. I have a copy of Stephen Fry's book The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within in which he outlines the requirements for a villanelle and gives some very helpful tips. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to know a bit more of the how-to of poetry. 

This one I wrote for my niece, Selena, who is 3 and loves playing with Lego. I haven't thought of a title yet - suggestions welcome! 

Here it is - 

'Play with me, play Lego', she said 
The bricks tipped on to the floor 
A crocodile snapped at Peter Pan's head 

'Snow White, please rescue me', he begged 
But Peter Pan, Snow White ignored 
'Play with me, play Lego', she said 

Tending to flowers in a garden bed 
Was Snow White, busy with teeny pitchfork
A crocodile snapped at Peter Pan's head 

Meanwhile with the treasure a thief had fled 
Took off in a boat through a storm 
'Play with me, play Lego', she said 

She gathered the green, rejected the red 
Coloured bricks all over the lounge-room floor 
A crocodile snapped at Peter Pan's head 

I suggested we play something else instead 
Then came a knock at the door 
'Play with me, play Lego', she said 
A crocodile snapped at Peter Pan's head 

Maybe it wasn't exactly his head!

Poetry and a couple of bugs

Last Sunday I went down to Goolwa to the Signal Point Gallery for the launch of the Friendly Street Poets reader for 2014.

There was only a small crowd, particularly in comparison with last year's event, but it was a pleasant afternoon of poetry in a great setting.

Friendly Street Poets is Australia’s longest running open-mic poetry reading community. Each year editors choose poems from the open-mic readings to form an anthology. I've seen quite a few of them and they are full of good quality poems (the latest included).

As well as enjoying the poetry there was a great art exhibition on (as there usually is). I took a couple of photos of some rather large bugs.

The Praying Mantis

 

The Wasp

These amazing sculptures are by Benjamin Young who has used his skills as an Artistic Blacksmith in his recovery from a serious brain injury (suffered in previous employment).


There's a little bit of a double meaning with my six words for Six Word Saturday this week.

Poetry and a couple of bugs.



Brianna and I have both been quite sick this week with some sort of bug. It's been a few days of lots of rest.

This coming week will have poetry in it for me as well. My poetry group is hosting a Friendly Street meeting on Thursday evening. I'm looking forward to it and the opportunity to share some of my words and listen to others.

 

5 poems in 5 days - Day 5

It's the final day of the poetry challenge I have been participating in on Facebook as well as here. Today's poem was written a couple of years ago about events more than 19 years ago. It was published last year in Ochre, an anthology by the Ochre Coast Poets. 

I love you already 

Pregnancy test in the post 
spots of blood in the night 
talk of the flying doctor 

A bumpy road 
and a car full of strangers 
hours without words 

Voices outside 
the window 
of a motel room 

Alone 
with an air conditioner
and the hope of you 

Repetitive reading 
of signs and symptoms
fear so loud 

Another day 
stark, gray walls 
a bladder too full 

Blip blip blip 
on a screen 
reassurance 

In this moment 
all is well 
future unknown 


I chose to start the challenge on the 14th of July so the fifth day would be today, my daughter's birthday. 

This post is doubling as my post for Six Word Saturday - 

Happy Birthday to my fabulous daughter!!!

Today is also my Grandma's birthday. My day 1 poem in this challenge was about her. She was born on this day in 1918 which is also the day that Nelson Mandela was born!

My grandma holding Alysha

5 poems in 5 days - Day 4

I was excited and honoured to win first prize in the poetry section of the Positive Words Short Story and Poetry competition 2014 for my poem, Mosaic opportunity. 

Mosaic opportunity 

I chose 

from dusty shelves saucers without cups 

a lone salt shaker 

teapots missing lids 

wobbly stacks of plates 

each piece unique 

leftovers 

My heart, my mind 

I search through the rubble 

Smooth and shiny 

or dull and dappled 

beetroot reds and sunshine yellows 

the sparkle of a golden rim 

I imagine 

the breaking of the old 

to form something new 

The chosen will soon hold 

just a trace of its former purpose 

I watch as she wraps 

newspaper around my purchase 

layer after layer 

I almost tell her not to do her job 

that the breakage she aims to prevent 

is no concern 

I am not buying a plate 

or a saucer 

or a teapot missing a lid 

but the possibility of what could be

5 poems in 5 days - Day 3

Today's poem began with a mis-write in my journal. Cope instead of hope.

Tiny glimmers of cope

At times your mood may feel so dark 
As if there is no hope 
Until you catch the light, some sparks 
Tiny glimmers of cope 

The sparkles settle on your skin 
To seep into your week 
A quiet birth of hope within 
Is it really all so bleak?

5 poems in 5 days - Day 2

Today's poem is a reminiscence on fun had at Moana caravan park where I spent a few school holidays. This poem was published last year in the anthology my poetry group put out, Ochre - an anthology by Ochre Coast Poets. 

Playground, present 

Holiday lessons in physics 
where to sit on the wooden plank
to compensate for variations in weight 
keep it even and fair 
up and down 
to and fro 

The children from neighbouring vans 
met earlier in the day 
become playmates 
our limbs coated with sunscreen goo 
faces with smiles 
sand between toes 
a summer uniform of bathers 
under shorts and t-shirts 
sandals discarded at the gate 
we salt the air with laughter 
nervous giggles and gasps 
as we take turns 
to bounce off half tyres 

With new friends called to caravans 
learning continues 
how to keep the plank 
parallel to the ground 
my body a letter x 
toes curled, tense 
a shifting of weight 
from side to side 

To balance in the now 
was easier then

Six Word Saturday - October 8th, 2011

Poetry, comedy, photography - I'm having fun!

Earlier today I went to a poetry group which meets once a month. I read one of my poems and it was then workshopped and I received lots of great suggestions. Each person has the chance to do the same. It can be very challenging to receive feedback on my poetry but I usually leave feeling very inspired and motivated. Today was no exception. I now have lots to think about and rewriting to do! I am very grateful for this group and feel my poetry has improved a lot since I have joined this group. I am looking forward to next months meeting already. 

Another thing I am looking forward to is a comedy show tonight. My eldest daughter and I are going to see "Lawrence Leung wants a jetpack". I recommend taking a look at his website - very funny! I am sure it's going to be an evening of laughing. Afterwards I think we'll have some late night pancakes at the Pancake Kitchen. Another funny website! I loved that place when I was fifteen. It is great to be able to share some of what I used to do as a fifteen year old with my daughter now. 


Lately I am also enjoying experimenting with images. I am participating in Bindu Wiles' The Photo Essay Project. The internet really has opened up a lot of opportunities for a lot of people! The Photo Essay Project is all about taking photos using an iphone and combining them with words to tell whatever story it is that you wish to well. I'm still working on exactly what that story is but in the meantime am having a lot of fun playing with different applications on my phone. I've set up a tumblr blog for my experimentations. You're very welcome to take a look and follow me. 
The address - www.kylie-joy.tumblr.com. Here's a sneak preview of what you will find there: 

Happy Six Word Saturday everyone! 

Three Word Wednesday - July 20th, 2011

A little late with my Three Word Wednesday submission this week. The words are early, jiggle and quality. Here it is: 


It's school holiday time for us three 
I ponder an escape from technology 


Long nature walks, sleeping under stars 
Somewhere away from the noise of cars 


But facebook remains the preference of the teen 
Her younger sibling also called to the screen 


On breaks from computer they turn to the Wii 
Giggles erupt with buttons pressed early 


To take turns to jiggle a remote is fun 
Get the timing right and your Mii will run 


To laugh together is quality time 
However it happens will be just fine 






...escaping into nature still seems like a good idea to me though! 

Six Word Saturday - July 9th, 2011

Listened to some amazing poetry today. 

I finally made it to a Friendly Street Poets meeting. It is something I have wanted to do for a long time. I seriously contemplated reading some of my own poetry but then this week got really busy and I decided to take the pressure off myself and just go along and enjoy listening to other people read. I'm glad I made that decision today. Yes, it probably would have been great to read and I probably would have felt amazing afterwards but I also know that I would have been very anxious waiting for my turn and that would have impeded my ability to listen and enjoy. Ah, it's always such a balancing act... 

All of those who read today were amazing. There was a great mix of poetry, presented well by seasoned and new readers alike. I am fairly confident now that my turn to read will happen in the not too distant future. 

As written on their website, Friendly Street Poets  "is Australia’s longest running community open mic., uncensored poetry reading  and publishing group in the southern hemisphere." They also publish an anthology each year containing some of the poems read at meetings throughout the year. I bought the latest one today - "Sorcerers and Soothsayers" edited by John Pfitzner and Tracey Korsten. I look forward to some serious poetry reading sometime soon! 

Three Word Wednesday - July 6th, 2011

A short one from me for Three Word Wednesday this week. This week's words are cease, heat and nasty. 


emotions heat up 
nasty comments fill the screen 
she wants them to cease 

Three Word Wednesday - June 29th, 2011

The words for Three Word Wednesday this week: Bump, Knuckle, Transfix. 


Knucklebones 


My friend's hand flipped over and back 
Up and down 
Sweeping the ground 
Fingers pinched together then apart 
Almost too quick to see 
I watched transfixed 
Thirty years in the past 
I didn't want for the latest gadget 
TV show or You Tube video 
But the tiny packet of coloured plastic pieces 
And the hours of practice 
Knucklebones 
To bounce and bump against each other 
The joy of the perfect turn 

Three Word Wednesday - June 15th, 2011 (2)

I really liked the words for Three Word Wednesday this week: Grip, Prefer, Thread. 
I said in my post on Wednesday that they took me in different directions. Here is a second poem I have written this week. The same prompt words but a very different poem! 


CROSS stitch 


'NO, ME DO IT!' 
her indignant response 
to gentle offers of help 


Tight grip on plastic needle 
and she pulled it through 
too far


Rapidly building emotion 
barely contained 


then the thread slips through the needle eye 


A rapid alternate shift ensues 
arms folded, body stiff
pursed lips, flapping arms 
stomping feet 


screams subside to tears 


and silence 


Again and again 
the scene repeated 


Each time 
She would prefer to try again 
than give up or accept help 


It was her CROSS stitch 

Three Word Wednesday - June 15th, 2011

This week's words for Three Word Wednesday: grip, prefer, thread. These took me in a few different directions. Here's the one I have settled on for now - 


The tapestry of you 


The threads of your life weave together 
you may prefer the grip of some 
while others remain at the edges 
some may tangle, others break 
Let them weave together 
to nurture and protect 
Let each contribute to uniqueness 
the tapestry of you 

Sunday Scribblings - June 12th, 2011

The prompt this week for Sunday Scribblings is 'The next step'. 


The last few years have featured a lot of change for me. There has been a return to University, a return to work, moving house and beginning blogging amongst other things. As a result of these many changes I have spent quite a lot of time thinking about that space just before starting something new. Here is a poem I wrote a couple of years ago about that time just before you take a next step and begin. 


The Start 


Starting right now 
It is time to begin 
Preparation time is over and now 
There is nothing left to do 
But to begin. To start. To go. 
Am I ready? Or not? 
No turning back now 
On your marks 
Get set and 
Go...
Leave safety and move forwards 
Leap and fly, soar towards 
Another safe landing 
Where the climb to the 
Next start begins 

Three Word Wednesday - June 8th, 2011

It's been a few weeks since I participated in Three Word Wednesday. I thought I would give it another go this week. The words this week: fond, tranquil, alter. 


Creative flow 


Opportunities abound 
To alter by colour, cut, paste 
Fond of chances to create 
To transform both paper and self 
Frantic begins to shift 
slowly eases into tranquil 

Trish the fish - a limerick

A limerick for the Monday's Child picture prompt this week. 

Illustration by: Carmen L. Browne - 1917

Trish the fish 

On a warm but very cloudy day 

To the waters edge I went to play 

Out of the water popped a fish 

"Hello," she said, "My name is Trish"

And I just didn't know what to say 

Fairy fun for Three Word Wednesday

The words for Three Word Wednesday this week are Grace, Jitter and Thin. My poem this week is also in response to Monday's Child...fair of face picture prompt: 

Illustration by: Cicely Mary Barker

Fairy shoes 

It was nearly time for the Springtime ball 

In the distance she heard her mother's call 

From leaf to leaf she did flitter 

Inside herself she was all a jitter 

Fairy had looked but could not find her shoes 

She spotted Bee and hoped for good news 

With grace she waited until she could say 

"Mr Bee, have you seen my shoes today?" 

Barefoot and poised on that leaf so thin 

Bumblebee's answer caused her to grin