Poetry

Dew bejewelled leaf

/ Robert / 4 Comments

Emerge from Central gloom into a brash world.
Persevering down pain filled steps,
Hunched against chilly drizzle,
I am engulfed by swishing traffic
And beep beep crossing noises
To traverse Creek Street.

Epiphanic; time and raindrops slow
Gaze catches a leaf of coffee shade
Resolutely reclining in the gutter.
Dew bejewelled before dusky rose kerb
Gold, ruby, sapphire, amethyst
Shimmering in the spartan morning rays.

In minds eye, the moment lingers
While crossing over Ann Street,
During descent of Creek Street,
And left into Adelaide Street,
Ad infinitum
The image remains to this day.

Organic pieces

/ Robert / 5 Comments

Inspired by the 21st century couturier, Iris van Herpen at Queensland’s GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art), Brisbane, I present a modest collection of organic poems and images from the exhibition.

sinuous
serene
cerulean
silken
symbiotic
sirens
sway

languid lascivious
layered lame
Luddites languish

opulent
oceanic
organza
orifices
open

couture conjures
cantankerous
carnivorous
crêpe crustacea

entranced
elfin effigies
encased
entombed
encrusted

Seasons shift

/ Robert / 8 Comments
Abstract watercolour and ink painting from a few weeks ago

On Thursday, I was thrilled to receive lovely feedback about my paintings and poetry. I was inspired to wax lyrical, below is the result.

Seasons shift

The southern freeze hasn’t arrived, yet,
Stepping out into a chilly ten degrees
Elicits a soft billowy cloud.
Echoes abound in the pre-dawn inky silence,
Like deep squeak footsteps in snow.
A trail of taillights illuminate the
Trip from home to train.
Others whoosh past us on their daily paths.
Clearing the trees, the ice white edifice stands resolute.
It’s cold magnetism lures commuters into it’s depths.
Thankful for a black, long sleeved layer,
My thoughts link back to the dark decades,
Of deliberate anonymity and self discovery;
Uniformed in raglan and denim.
Compromise tempered the giving into temptation.
Onboard, the sleek serpentine capsule streaks,
Illuminating the slumbering surrounds.
The warmth of sms’ from home and online messages
Soften and brighten the journey as the seasons shift.

Musings (poem at post’s end)

/ Robert / 8 Comments
2022 sketch

These sketches of tubes of watercolour were a step towards the current period of painting.

2022 twisted tube sketch

Today is a a public holiday in Australia. Anzac Day is a day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that honors the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. It’s observed on April 25th each year to commemorate the landing of ANZAC troops at Gallipoli during World War I. It’s a solemn day marked by ceremonies, marches, and paying respects to those who sacrificed for their countries.

2022 folded tube sketch

My moody morning maudlin madness malady moments:
Meandering maleficent moans move menacingly
‘Mongst magnificent muscled mussels.
Mischievous memories make marvellous maverick minced mauve mouse morsels;
Merely mighty marsupial monsters’ meditation medication!

Mingling marshmallow mounds may melt,
Meeting marching musical motor machinery.
Merry Movember marketing mates mission; mint more money!
Melancholic meek maidens miss mute maelstrom’
Manic milky maggots mocking marrow merchandise.

Mansion mountain; media mogul meeting magnet.
More moor-bound muck mired mournful monolith,
Meticulously melding moribund mange mites, muddy mort.
Monday’s malevolent maze mind musings
Make multiple minute manipulations, mutating morphemic meanings.

Holding a window

/ Robert / 3 Comments
Digital picture of aliens

Holding a window
My right hand takes the lead.
Left index, middle, and ring fingers hold it up,
Pinkie stops it slipping,
Thumb is free: to scroll, to type, to tap, and to swipe.
Supplied as safe for use
Yet in the wrong hands, untold havoc can be wreaked.
Window to World’s wonders,
To humankind’s horrors, to heaven, and to hell.
Reeled in by digital
Words, numbers, pictures, sounds, games, networking, selling.
Steals you from the moment;
A portal to the past, future, and the unreal.
Sleek stylish case contains
Rare earth elements; poor harvesters’ lives snuffed out.
A battery fuelled time bomb
To become an environmental pollutant.
Without technology
Would we be ….. more or ….. less?

What could these be named?

/ Robert / 17 Comments

Yesterday, I was having more trouble than usual in making a decision. I decided not to paint as I did not believe the result would be any good.

Snatching a few moments after lunch and before going in the spa, I used green ink to sketch bubble chains with knife or claw like weapons plus eight and ten pronged star shapes ending with more prongs or spikes.

I imagine microscopic strings of metal snaking and undulating as they meander through the cosmos. The armament is used to defend, attack, and infiltrate asteroids, comets, and anything else that can assist its survival and reproduction.

The serpentine forms protect the dandelion clock like heads as they disperse and germinates more seeds of destruction.

What do you think they could be named?

Flow freely

/ Robert / 4 Comments
subtropic autumn

This week’s watercolour and ink painting is inspired by the autumnal colours of nature in the garden.

The following poem recounts the words that flooded my mind this morning as I made coffee; before starting to paint.

Flow freely

Refreshingly delicious fragrance

of freshly cut green blades springing back

after an autumnal shower

flow freely upon the softly caressing eastern breeze

wafting from bay to shore

drenched with less intense intermittent rays

between fast floating fluffy whites

illuminating tropical greens pinks purples reds oranges

and curling fronds swish as they wave

turning towards swaying saplings

with tantalising glimpses of ancient gargantuan branches

frantically rustling in their dance further inland

Gossamer consonance

/ Robert / 2 Comments
My ‘80s sister, Wimbledon day party, very heavy false lashes

This year my sister would have been sixty. As Mardi Gras is in the air, I authored the following poem in their memory, Gossamer consonance.

There is a photo of me from the same event at the end of this post.

Well my friends the time has come
All night long fond memories
Of us boogieing on down
In Blackpool of ‘84
My wistful sister dreams as
Lionel Ritchie serenades
Confident dragon hearted
A helping hand and support
With impish sense of humour
The eighties is our time to
Raise the roof and have some fun
Throw away the work to be done
Curious invert spirits joined
Relishing life’s offerings
And let the music play on
Play on play on
Everybody sing everybody dance
Lose yourself in wild romance
Australia with my soul mate
French lorry driver for Sis
Our gossamer consonance stretched
Ten thousand miles forty years
I imagine them beyond the veil
Forever young partying under
Perpetual mirrorballs
Yeah once you get started
You can’t sit down
Come join the fun
It’s a merry-go-round
Everyone’s dancing
Their troubles away
Come join our party
See how we play

‘80s me, Wimbledon day party

Abstract quest

/ Robert / 5 Comments

A wet day in South East Queensland, prefer for a whimsical verse and watercolour.

One of seven, my purpose is clear
Learn from each other, trust them my dear
Hunt, discover clues, stop for a beer
Fog may descend, path no longer clear
Senses enough to look, smell, touch, hear
If we get stuck, can visit a seer
Time to get moving, pack up the gear