DEVOTION
Single daughter
past her prime
shepherding
shielding
protecting,
guiding
by the soft hand on the bony elbow
the Mother
stooped low,
Pigeon-toed in sensible shoes
once crystal sharp mind
now fading at the edges
but still
still out and about
together
lightly touching the world
their inseparable lives
lived behind lace curtains
comforting rituals
tea at 8
chops at 6
telly till 10
Each born for the other
One born for the other
One invariably left
Sandra Lanteri (c)2007
Sandra can read our blog but at present cannot find a way to post a blog. So this is Cecilia's attempt to post Sandra's poem on the blog. Tricia you have finally hopefully, trusting, sincerely, etc got the poem.
Cecilia
Monday 25 June 2007
Friday 22 June 2007
Just checking I still can
Am blogging today just to prove to myself that I still can. Read this wonderful quote from Woody Allen and it resonated with me, in my battle with my first blog.
"I have not idea what I am doing, but incompetence has never prevented me from plunging in with enthusiasm."
I have just returned from two weeks in sunny Brisbane. While there and in holiday mode I treated myself to the new book of poetry by David Malouf, Typewriter Music; worth every cent of the $29.95 price tag.
Tricia
"I have not idea what I am doing, but incompetence has never prevented me from plunging in with enthusiasm."
I have just returned from two weeks in sunny Brisbane. While there and in holiday mode I treated myself to the new book of poetry by David Malouf, Typewriter Music; worth every cent of the $29.95 price tag.
Tricia
Sunday 17 June 2007
THE BLOODY BRIDE DISCARDS HER VEIL!!!
That's how I feel after trying to get this blog up three times and somehow losing it. Hopefully this time. Thanks Karen for your support. And for doing the Vic Writers thing.
Geoffrey, I absolutely love your poem ; it has come up superbly.
Herewith 'The Bride....'
A poet friend had this to say about it recently - which you might find helpful.
'Don't be dispirited about your poem. I find it amazingly rich and I certainly think it has reach beyond yourself. The crunch lines seem to be about living in your husband's shadow and finding your own sweet air. I often put these decisive questions in my own poems and find people don't like them but I do think there is a place for the definitive as distinct from the evocative. The essentail dilemma is one I have often pondered - we need "the other" to really know ourselves but the other also inhibits and restricts us. How to live positively within and beyond these restrictions.'
Her comment helped me see that I am trying to write about retaining my creativity, ie, true self, within the restrictions of a relationship eg. my well has dried up/words drowned in cracked mud/how to shine, etc.
I've reworked it some more since our last workshop but this is the original. All suggestions appreciated.
ORIGINAL: A BRIDE DISCARDS HER VEIL MID-FLIGHT
The drought drags on. The country burns. Heat eats the colour from Arkley gardens, ivy strangles the banksia in the park and frangipanis flower too soon, confused.
My well has dried up. Words drowned in cracked mud.
Nothing except thoughts cut with razors, bloodied with love.
Late in the day a shabby sky threatens and wind whips a warning: hot rain sizzles on asphalt and teases parched earth. A pomegranate moon labours over the bay, heavy with ash from fires far away. The night sea shivers the skin of the deep: all this underneath.
I dream of a house with internal glass walls, a Louis chair, tasselled drapes, a hand-painted chest full of Manolo shoes: Marie Antoinette, celluloid queen. In the morning secret words forming, the poetry of dawn, voices calling: Let go. Let go. Let the little girl dance.
The empty beach.
A boat with one sail.
A lone pelican.
To the cliff where pink clouds wait with welcoming arms. To the cliff where my parachute fills with purple air, the pleasure. To the cliff where stairs lead down to soft sand and there is no need to leap.
So much that can’t be said.
So much mute suffering.
So many false beginnings.
.
Virginia said: But when the self speaks to the self, who is speaking? The entombed soul, the spirit driven in, in, in to the catacomb; the self that took the veil and left the world – a coward perhaps, yet somehow beautiful, as it flits with its lantern restlessly up and down the dark corridors.
To the cliff where stairs lead down, where under the bower of a Kurrajong branch weighed down with pink flowers, a bride discards her veil mid-flight.
Marriage is meant to be more than a moon and circling star.
How to shine in his shadow? How to find my own sweet air?
After the Kurrajong flowers, prickly-haired pods protect the new seed.
After the pelican mates, the myth of a mother’s piety.
After the butterfly dies, goodbye hara kiri (said softly, softly), goodbye.
Said softly, softly: Let go. Let go. Let the little girl dance.
Smoke veils the setting sun, a slash of red, a severed limb.
In the half light, I water the garden. The cat rolls on dead grass, lavishly, lushly. I take secateurs and cut suckers from the flowering peach.
I listen to the whispering night.
Suzanne McCourt, January, 2007
Geoffrey, I absolutely love your poem ; it has come up superbly.
Herewith 'The Bride....'
A poet friend had this to say about it recently - which you might find helpful.
'Don't be dispirited about your poem. I find it amazingly rich and I certainly think it has reach beyond yourself. The crunch lines seem to be about living in your husband's shadow and finding your own sweet air. I often put these decisive questions in my own poems and find people don't like them but I do think there is a place for the definitive as distinct from the evocative. The essentail dilemma is one I have often pondered - we need "the other" to really know ourselves but the other also inhibits and restricts us. How to live positively within and beyond these restrictions.'
Her comment helped me see that I am trying to write about retaining my creativity, ie, true self, within the restrictions of a relationship eg. my well has dried up/words drowned in cracked mud/how to shine, etc.
I've reworked it some more since our last workshop but this is the original. All suggestions appreciated.
ORIGINAL: A BRIDE DISCARDS HER VEIL MID-FLIGHT
The drought drags on. The country burns. Heat eats the colour from Arkley gardens, ivy strangles the banksia in the park and frangipanis flower too soon, confused.
My well has dried up. Words drowned in cracked mud.
Nothing except thoughts cut with razors, bloodied with love.
Late in the day a shabby sky threatens and wind whips a warning: hot rain sizzles on asphalt and teases parched earth. A pomegranate moon labours over the bay, heavy with ash from fires far away. The night sea shivers the skin of the deep: all this underneath.
I dream of a house with internal glass walls, a Louis chair, tasselled drapes, a hand-painted chest full of Manolo shoes: Marie Antoinette, celluloid queen. In the morning secret words forming, the poetry of dawn, voices calling: Let go. Let go. Let the little girl dance.
The empty beach.
A boat with one sail.
A lone pelican.
To the cliff where pink clouds wait with welcoming arms. To the cliff where my parachute fills with purple air, the pleasure. To the cliff where stairs lead down to soft sand and there is no need to leap.
So much that can’t be said.
So much mute suffering.
So many false beginnings.
.
Virginia said: But when the self speaks to the self, who is speaking? The entombed soul, the spirit driven in, in, in to the catacomb; the self that took the veil and left the world – a coward perhaps, yet somehow beautiful, as it flits with its lantern restlessly up and down the dark corridors.
To the cliff where stairs lead down, where under the bower of a Kurrajong branch weighed down with pink flowers, a bride discards her veil mid-flight.
Marriage is meant to be more than a moon and circling star.
How to shine in his shadow? How to find my own sweet air?
After the Kurrajong flowers, prickly-haired pods protect the new seed.
After the pelican mates, the myth of a mother’s piety.
After the butterfly dies, goodbye hara kiri (said softly, softly), goodbye.
Said softly, softly: Let go. Let go. Let the little girl dance.
Smoke veils the setting sun, a slash of red, a severed limb.
In the half light, I water the garden. The cat rolls on dead grass, lavishly, lushly. I take secateurs and cut suckers from the flowering peach.
I listen to the whispering night.
Suzanne McCourt, January, 2007
Tuesday 12 June 2007
proud of that sublime three words 'never giving in'
Well, this is exciting. The poem revised from Geoffrey stunning. Have proudly let my interstate guests, one of which is an English Master at some posh school, look and read the poem. They were impressed as well they should be. Well done, poet.
And, then gladly read of all those events that as Karen wrote, do sometimes clash with our own workshop, but we have such a lot going on in Melbourne. Thanks Karen for bringing all this to the attention of Coast Line members.
And, of course so happy to know that Tricia is now locked into the blog and is posting. It is so difficult when the whole mind map of this technology is so 'foreign' but once you master it, a good feeling comes about.
What is happening to Annetine, will ring her and see if she is still unable which it looks like to get into our blog.
Have emailed Myron and told him we have 11 enrolments and more to come. So if you want to invite someone please do, but remember they need to go to the library enrol and pay there. Although they may also do this by phone and credit card. Great time of the year to have a workshop. Would you all like me to bring some red wine?
Enjoy the delights of winter, cosiness, reading, writing and hot casseroles. See you all next meeting. Happy poetry writing.
Cecilia
And, then gladly read of all those events that as Karen wrote, do sometimes clash with our own workshop, but we have such a lot going on in Melbourne. Thanks Karen for bringing all this to the attention of Coast Line members.
And, of course so happy to know that Tricia is now locked into the blog and is posting. It is so difficult when the whole mind map of this technology is so 'foreign' but once you master it, a good feeling comes about.
What is happening to Annetine, will ring her and see if she is still unable which it looks like to get into our blog.
Have emailed Myron and told him we have 11 enrolments and more to come. So if you want to invite someone please do, but remember they need to go to the library enrol and pay there. Although they may also do this by phone and credit card. Great time of the year to have a workshop. Would you all like me to bring some red wine?
Enjoy the delights of winter, cosiness, reading, writing and hot casseroles. See you all next meeting. Happy poetry writing.
Cecilia
Monday 11 June 2007
Victorian Writers' Centre
If you are not a member, consider joining! Suzanne brought the latest issue of their magazine to our group's most recent meeting and highlighted all the Calls for Submissions that are listed at the back. In addition, there's lots of information on writers' events, craft tips, etc. The Centre also offers various courses and workshops. Go to www.writers-centre.org for more information.
I just received several flyers from them on upcoming events:
June 30: "The Long and the Short of it" Regional Victorian Writers Festival, cost $20, panel discussions emphasize the publishing aspect. www.robbineal.com (Go to the right of the screen & click on Writers Festival)
July 20-22: The Screenwriter's Journey. www.thescreenwritersjourney.com
July 19-22: Mildura Writers' Festival. www.mwaf.com.au
Don't forget though that these last two conflict with our Lysenko workshop on July 21.
I just received several flyers from them on upcoming events:
June 30: "The Long and the Short of it" Regional Victorian Writers Festival, cost $20, panel discussions emphasize the publishing aspect. www.robbineal.com (Go to the right of the screen & click on Writers Festival)
July 20-22: The Screenwriter's Journey. www.thescreenwritersjourney.com
July 19-22: Mildura Writers' Festival. www.mwaf.com.au
Don't forget though that these last two conflict with our Lysenko workshop on July 21.
Friday 8 June 2007
Eureka
Computer said "you're not a member"
Each time I tried to access Coastlines blog
"Oh yes I am" said I with feeling
Refusing to give into technology fog
Help and dummy spits got me through
Thought the occasion deserved a rhyme
The help - Cecilia and Karen
The dummy spits - sadly mine
Tricia 6/07
Each time I tried to access Coastlines blog
"Oh yes I am" said I with feeling
Refusing to give into technology fog
Help and dummy spits got me through
Thought the occasion deserved a rhyme
The help - Cecilia and Karen
The dummy spits - sadly mine
Tricia 6/07
Thursday 7 June 2007
technology and frustration - a great wedding
Now all those of you who have tried to enter a post, I have invited you again to be able to write in here and if this does not bring success do ring Karen who is happy to guide you there whilst you sit at home with the keyboard in front of you. Karen
is going away Monday week for a couple of months so do it now before she leaves.
As I said she is a willing helper.
Geoffrey loved the revised edition of the 'Crow'. It is a stunning poem and one worthy of publishing. So submit once you join Victorian Writers Centre you will have a list of where you can send this gem to.
Glad that you can at least access the blog. But we will all make it. Persistance is the theme word and maybe could be a starting word for a poem
Cecilia
is going away Monday week for a couple of months so do it now before she leaves.
As I said she is a willing helper.
Geoffrey loved the revised edition of the 'Crow'. It is a stunning poem and one worthy of publishing. So submit once you join Victorian Writers Centre you will have a list of where you can send this gem to.
Glad that you can at least access the blog. But we will all make it. Persistance is the theme word and maybe could be a starting word for a poem
Cecilia
Wednesday 6 June 2007
CROW (Revised Version!)
Amongst morning’s yellow fragments, scattered on the leaves,
A whisper of feathers, soft and sharp.
Then a coarse, scraping cry,
From a black skull upraised against the light.
Crow - clutching at our fence with claws of coal, screaming against the wind!
I curse your black presence in our garden:
eviscerater, eye – gouger,
dragger of roadside guts, guzzler of dried vomit,
Death’s glossy dancing partner!
I snatch at a stone – but you are off, launching yourself
in a scruffy clump: feathers, bone, skin and cry
all re - forming in the air, as thrashing wings whack against the wind
and haul you to a safe tree.
Clumsily you flap off, knowing the ways of men.
And I, arm half raised, left foolish.
At night I find you: an abandoned standard,
wings imperiously outstretched;
your claws sunk into a shallow breeze
that stirs each feather mockingly;
in your spent eyes the glitter of stars.
Whoever brought your death,
the guilt is mine.
Geoffrey Dobbs
6/6/07
Tuesday 5 June 2007
How to Become an Author on This Blog
Members of the group will all receive emails today from "Cecilia" inviting you to contribute to the blog. The email will say "To join this blog as an author, accept the invitation by signing in with your Google Account below."
If you have a Google Account, put in your Username and Password.
It is more likely that you don't have a Google Account. In this case click the link that says "Create your account now"
You will be taken to another page called "Create a Google Account." Here you will be asked to input a few items. Follow the instructions listed in the right-hand column of the page. You will need to put in your email address and a password. The password can be the same as the one you use to access your email or it can be different. But this will be the Username and Password that will allow you to access CoastLines as an author in the future.
Display name is what you want listed under a post that you have created. It can be your first name (as Cecilia and I have done) or anything else. Just something so that the rest of the group can know who is writing what.
A word verification box asks for you to type what you see in the box. This is a security thing just so they know a real person and not a computer spammer is inputting the information. Type the word, then click the Acceptance of Terms then Continue.
You will be taken to the Dashboard for CoastLines. Here you can click View Blog at the top to see the current blog, or, if you have something you would like to post, click New Post up in the left hand part of the page. Then you will be provided a box for a title and a copy box. When you are finished with your post, click Publish Post and then your post will be up on the CoastLines site.
I'll be available tomorrow at our meeting to answer questions and hand out some supporting material. Give it a try!
If you have a Google Account, put in your Username and Password.
It is more likely that you don't have a Google Account. In this case click the link that says "Create your account now"
You will be taken to another page called "Create a Google Account." Here you will be asked to input a few items. Follow the instructions listed in the right-hand column of the page. You will need to put in your email address and a password. The password can be the same as the one you use to access your email or it can be different. But this will be the Username and Password that will allow you to access CoastLines as an author in the future.
Display name is what you want listed under a post that you have created. It can be your first name (as Cecilia and I have done) or anything else. Just something so that the rest of the group can know who is writing what.
A word verification box asks for you to type what you see in the box. This is a security thing just so they know a real person and not a computer spammer is inputting the information. Type the word, then click the Acceptance of Terms then Continue.
You will be taken to the Dashboard for CoastLines. Here you can click View Blog at the top to see the current blog, or, if you have something you would like to post, click New Post up in the left hand part of the page. Then you will be provided a box for a title and a copy box. When you are finished with your post, click Publish Post and then your post will be up on the CoastLines site.
I'll be available tomorrow at our meeting to answer questions and hand out some supporting material. Give it a try!
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