Putrid pounding panic percolates,
Producing pent up pressure,
Presenting powerlessness permeates.
Deducing dreadfully dark downfall
Desperate denuded drowning
Dubious duplicitous denouncement
Avid alarm avoidance;
Amber anchored aggregates arterially
Articulating ‘AARGH!’, alleviating an aneurism
Fallen foolish faun finds feet frozen fjord;
Frenzied fumbling for frosty firmness,
Feigning fabulous feeling.
From Tuesday’s
Work weary wending walk
Carriage, shuffle tap to pay.
Glimpse Belisha beacon flash;
Fluorescent amber hoodie on a bike
My chariot awaits.
To
A handheld rainbow at Petrie station.
It is appropriate for the earth element to be represented by something that is visually heavy, solid, grounded, and has strength.
This abstract watercolour references rock, soil, and chalk in yellow, oranges, red, brown, and white. Metals of gold and silver. Amethyst, emerald, and plants are shown in purple and green.
The poem reflects on changes to my body living life on Earth, the planet.
Sweaty Betty body blues
‘I can’t live if living is without you’* ear worm………
Why is it dry, oily, and moist?
Are they sunspots, freckles, liver spots or moles?
When and why did the lines, wrinkles, crows feet, and crêpe texture first appear?
Surely not from rare UK sunny days or coconut oil frazzled lobster red to peeling brown trips abroad?
Or from living in antipidean glare?
Journeyed from Johnson’s lotion slathered babe
Through acne ravaged, Clearasil cleansed teen,
Twenties, thirties, forties; Clarins, Lancaster, Clinique treated T zone, factor 10 to 30 suncream
To fifties, sixties; Simple, Nivea, Olay, spf 50+ sunscreen, and shade.
Joie de vivre patina of itches scratches, burns, grazes, cuts, bites, blackheads, blisters, blemishes, bruises, fungal rashes, warts, tags, scars, ingrowing hairs and whiskers, and blocked pores.
And,
Yo-yoing weight stretches, sagging wobbling rolls and folds loosening; losing battle against gravitational pull and aging.
Sweaty Betty body blues; love the skin you’re in!
*Harry Nilsson 1971
atop inanimate entity
lithe life lazily lurks
a striped Saint Andrew’s Cross
spider silently sits in stealth
secure subterfuge awaiting
lunch to land
linger
and never leave
When travelling to and from work, I have backpacked: laptop, headset, headphones, compact umbrella, face masks, cotton bags, hand sanitisers, tissues, wallet, keys, key card, pens, pencils, eraser, sketchbook, propelling pencil. When possible, capture moments. The following and sketch above filled fifty minutes.
when one is really quite weary
how dreary dearie
surreptitiously seeking inspiration
questions
no right asking even if strong featured person opposite is known
consciously combined cosmetics for commuting?
muted tones without shading to avoid notice?
only one or one of many masks?
i feel different
perhaps it is losing weight
being comfortable
in thirty eight inch waist chinos
from a different pre-covid state
surviving the sacrificed shirts
faded frayed familiar
from Brooks Brothers
operations in North America
sadly no more stores in Australia
there is a lightening of mind
of spirit of outlook of something
maybe it is the pink blushed clouds
against a brightening sky
rather than nowhere in sight
there is a modicum of hope
glimmering
against backdrop of self doubt
easier to rest on my laurels
thoughts vacillate between
can can’t worth worthless
i will finish the application(s)
submit ahead of the deadline
i will win the new role(s)
i will make the pertinent decision
it will be interesting fulfilling
enjoyable motivating work
after all Spring has sprung
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.
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
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.
These sketches of tubes of watercolour were a step towards the current period of painting.
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.
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.
theINFP 