Tag Archives: Australian poets

Flight of Fancy by Jenny Erlanger

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Flight of fancy

 

I feel that my arms have been turned into wings

that I’m suddenly able to fly,

to glide through the air looking down on the things

that can only be viewed from the sky.

 

I’m up on that branch and I’m ready to go.

I can launch from my perch in a blink,

creating a distance from all that’s below

and without even having to think.

 

Of course I will never take off from a tree

but, although it may seem quite absurd,

I’m instantly weightless and totally free

when I chance to look up at a bird.

 

Jenny Erlanger

Jenny said: This poem developed as I walked the length of Hadrian’s Wall through the beautiful English countryside.

 

The Caterpillar’s Song by June Perkins

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caterpillarsongimustwaitfortransformation

June said: I liked that the photograph prompt had creatures on it and it inspired me to think of what it must be like for a caterpillar to change its mode of transport when it transforms. I placed this poem over a photograph of a butterfly. I wanted something about the right length so the photograph and words could balance.  It is fun making poem/photograph creations. For playfulness I spelt the word travel out at the end of each line.

I took this photograph at the Botanical Gardens.

As for the last line, my teenage son recently was studying a Dylan Thomas poem so I thought it would be fun to echo some of the lines.

‘Do not go gently into that good night.’

An Orange Egg by Stephen Whiteside

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An Orange Egg

 

I’m sure that I can eat an orange egg.

You do not have to plead. You needn’t beg.

I do not think that I have ever tried

An orange that’s been boiled, poached or fried.

Nor have I yet consumed an egg that’s raw,

Been neatly peeled, and sliced up into four.

 

An orange placed on toasted sourdough

Is not a taste sensation that I know.

I haven’t eaten egg as marmalade.

I’m not convinced that it would make the grade.

I know! I’ll mix the two into a goop,

And eat them as an eggy, orange soup!

 

© Stephen Whiteside

Party Preparation by Monty Edwards

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Party Preparation

 

I say to my mirror: “Well, how do I look?”

The mirror replies: “You use your two eyes.”

“No, you don’t understand! Tell me how I appear.”

“You come through the door and then you are here.”

“But mirror of mine, tell me what you reflect.”

“Whatever’s in front of me, as you’d expect.”

“So, mirror of mine, have you no more to say?”

“Only: ‘Why stand and stare? There’s a party today!'”

 

Monty Edwards

Monty says: The desire to look  good for a special occasion is common to children and adults alike. In this, the mirror is an indispensable tool, but we still have to make the judgments ourselves.

Lunchboxing by Sioban Timmer

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Lunchboxing

The kids said..

 

We don’t want sandwiches

We don’t want cheesy rolls

We’ve had enough of wraps and crackers

We’ve had enough of scrolls

 

Well,  then Mum said..

 

Would you like some liverwurst?

Maybe deep fried brains?

Perhaps some spinach that I boiled,

Would make a lovely change?

 

The kids said..

 

A sandwich is fine mum..

Thanks

 

Sioban Timmer

Buccaneer Banquet by Kate O’Neil

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Buccaneer Banquet

 

The buccaneer bragged to the butcher,

“My Kitchen Rules, for sure,

so gimme those guts for me banquet tonight

and a coupla bears and that boar.

 

I’m goin’ all out on the barbie,

with bacon and bangers to boot,

served up with a broccoli garnish,

and for afters, a basin of fruit.

 

A good balanced bash for me hearties,

from Yours Truly, the Buccaneer Host,

and if they wake up in the morning,

they can get their own coffee and toast.

Kate O’Neil

Squirrel Sightings by Monty Edwards

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 Squirrel Sightings

 

Have you ever seen a squirrel? You may think them rather cute,

But they’re certainly not stupid, for they’re really quite astute.

They take notice of the weather when the winter’s on its way

And store all the food that’s needed for each coming frosty day.

For that is when they snuggle in the hollow of a tree,

Or they hide among the bushes where they’re difficult to see.

 

Every squirrel’s quite a builder when it wants to make a nest

So that as things get much colder there’s a place for warmth and rest.

If you should see a squirrel when you’re at the park to play,

Don’t be too disappointed if the squirrel darts away.

Watch him hurry, scamper, scurry, for you’ll seldom see him walk.

Perhaps he’s just too busy to take time to stop and talk.

 

Monty Edwards

Monty says: I enjoy writing poetry for the opportunity it gives to inspire, challenge or entertain people I may never meet personally. I also enjoy attempting to conquer such constraints as form, meter and rhyme by my choice and arrangement of words in order to produce my own unique response to a theme or prompt. For me it is like tackling a complex puzzle for which there may be many possible solutions, but few that are completely satisfying as an offering to potential readers.

 

Wattle Blooming by Sophie Masson

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Wattle Blooming

Sudden bursts of gold,

Sweeping colour bold,

By rivers, by roads, in country and town,

In farms and gardens, the wattle’s the crown.

 

Of the end of the winter, beginning of spring,

The blooming of wattle will sing and sing

Of birds in their nests and the warm days to hand,

For the wattle is blooming across the land.

Sophie Masson

Death on the High Seas by Nadine Craneburgh

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Death on the High Seas

Dastardly –

that’s me. Buccaneer

from my head

to peg leg

Cutlass poised, victim green with

fear of what will come

Time balanced

on a honed knife edge

descending

like rain to

a basin. Your end is nigh

broccoli, hold still

Nadine Cranenburgh

Direction Overload by Dianne Bates

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Direction Overload

 

I’m always being given directions.

 

At home:

How to behave properly

How to speak politely to my stupid sisters

Clean my room, take out the rubbish

Feed the dog

Dry the dishes

Obey the rules!

 

At school:

How to improve my grades

How to set out my work neatly

How to get on with girls

Obey the rules!

 

There are also directions

On what not to do —

Not to wear my cap indoors

Not to use cuss words

Not to talk in class or call out

Not to break or even bend

The rules!

 

Often I feel like getting other directions:

The way to another home

Where there are

No jobs

No stupid sisters

No rules!

 

And I’d like directions to a school

Where there is

No homework

No bossy teachers

No girls

And guess what?

NO RULES!

Dianne Bates