In Australia… 1974

 

 

I can hear the sea outside my window

and the beat of the waves against the sand.

 

The glimpse of your face in the shadows,

tears down my cheek, splashing on my hand.

 

My paper’s all covered with lines that I write

trying to express what countless poets have said..

 

To put into different words how I fight the emptiness

of my room and the loneliness ahead.

 

I’m making my own unhappiness as punishment

for leaving you because I was proud

 

Waiting for a letter you may have sent,

trying to be happy with what surrounds.

 

There’s nothing that means very much to me. 

What I want I can’t have – I did it to myself.

 

You’re not to blame because you couldn’t see

how serious all the little things were, that I felt, to me.

 

Frances Macaulay Forde © 1974

(1st pub; “Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey” Ireland, 2003.)

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #HiddenCapacity  #Poems  #Romance

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Walking Here

Since the net has been playing up, I’ve had time to do all sorts of things, pick up a pencil to draw or read books – such a luxury.

One of the first I’ve chosen is  ‘Walking Here’ by my friend Jessie Lendennie, of Salmon Poetry and THE best bookshop in Ireland, fame.  I’m enjoying it so much and couldn’t resist sharing one of her poems with you.

Jessie and her family are mourning the recent loss of two of her beloved ‘pack’ but I know they still run to that rock pool, whenever she goes walking around the amazing Cliffs of Moher.

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #JessieLendennie  #SalmonPoetry  #WalkingHere  #Poetry  #Ireland

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Net troubles

So sorry I’ve been absent again… my internet access is intermittent (at best) but they’ve promised to fix it by 6th November!

(This is a very quick post to apologize. ) I’m using the time to practice my sketching so I can better illustrate my children’s books.

‘Santa’s Swim’ was my first attempt.  Busy putting a few new stories together now, inspired by the 12 x 12 sessions which I highly recommend.

Although I studied CPB’s thoroughly at University, I’ve learned a lot about current practices, putting pictures to words for children though discussions with other Children’s Picture Book writers through the Vanilla Forums of 12 x 12.

Hopefully normal ‘transmission’ will resume as soon as possible…

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #Santa’sSwim  #Children’sBooks    #PictureBooks  #ChristmasStories

 

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Seascape

 

Saw this painting on Facebook by Linda Ibbotson and was inspired.

Ebb and Flow

Emotion clash

Blood pumps

Heart bursts

 

Power jars

Merging still

Pulled apart

 

Ebb and flow

Jealousy bite

Clash churns

 

Fusion of fear

Feeling cold

Losing faith

 

Sunset heat

Passions pale

Discard love

 

Piercing pain

Clutch and stab

Empty hands

 

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2014 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #LindaIbbotson  #ArtAsTheSpark  #SeaPoem

 

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POEM:Tiyende Pamodzi…

“Buy experience, not things.”

Today, Zambia is celebrating 50 years of independence – 24th October 2014 and I can’t help singing to myself – her 1st President Kenneth Kaunda’s signature song: Tiyende Pamodzi :   “Let’s go together in harmony.”

I’m still torn between my idyllic childhood in the center of Africa, Northern Rhodesia now Zambia and Perth, Western Australia where I’ve been ever since leaving ‘home’.

Mana Pools, Zambezi River.

They say, once you’ve crossed the mighty Zambezi River  you’ll always return. I haven’t yet. I keep in ‘touch’ though, with many friends who have or who also miss ‘home’ and enjoy sharing wonderful memories.

2014 © Heather Chalcraft

Lowdown Magazine is written by Heather Chalcraft who takes amazing photos of Zambia now.  This is the Flamboyant or Flame Tree, the sight of which takes me back to Kitwe and Lusaka as quickly as Jacarandas do.

In fact, my man and I reunited on the Great North Road website after 28 years and have been married for 10, so I owe Zambia a great debt for a wonderful childhood, fantastic memories and now, my happiness.

Tiyende Pamodzi…

Your 50 Zambian years means I am 50 years older.

I was at school when you became independent

but your Independence triggered my own at 14.

Not wanting to repeat a year I had just finished,

I refused and found myself a job, instead. My

idyllic childhood safe in Mother Africa’s arms

meant we learnt young to be strong, resilient

finding our own way through the jungle.  Confident,

courageous and convinced of our immortality.

I blossomed in your sunshine and freedoms.

As pioneers we knew we could turn our hands

to whatever was required to get the job done.

And we did.  During the struggles, shortages

were a given but ever resourceful we shared,

surviving together.  The best lesson for life.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2014

#FrancesMacaulayForde   #Zambia50th    #POEM:Tiyende Pamodzi  #Africa  #Zambia  #NorthernRhodesia  #Poems  #Independence  #Freedom

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Kept

For those who didn’t go to Jessica McCallum’s linked pages in yesterday’s post, I thought I would share the other poem written to her second painting in the set.

 

KEPT

Here I am, waiting for your touch,

pulling down the sun – shouting

screaming to be heard above

white noise; direct lines dedicated,

servers on your world wide web.

I feel the electric zings tingling

finger tips to toes, turn my cheek

expecting the slap as you run away…

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2009

#FrancesMacaulayForde    #ARTISTJessicaMcCallum   #POEM:Kept  #ArtAsTheSpark  #JessicaMcCallum  #Love  #HoldingLove  #Poems  #LovePoem

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Finally…

Here I am – back, bigger (larger C drive) and hopefully better!

Still testing, but I’m sitting at my keyboard, and feeling good!

Thanks to all those who checked in while I was ‘away’ or wished me luck.

I’ve made loads of notes for postings to make up for the last 11 days…

Meantime another poem written to my daughter’s art.

KEEP

It takes all my strength to pull this life to me,

To claw and tear my way from one day to another

Not counting, just tearing one more here in the glow

of the sun suffocated by rays of light and warmth

holding tight to ties that bind. I want to keep

these precious feelings and bask in your love forever

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2009

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde    #ARTISTJessicaMcCallum   #POEM:Keep  #ArtAsTheSpark  #JessicaMcCallum  #Love  #HoldingLove  #Poems  #LovePoem

 

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Still down…

Refugee

Like a butterfly

I am caught

between the fly-screen

and glass door

 

through a veil of tears

I see freedom

but cling to the bars

and want more…

 

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2005

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #POEMRefugee

 

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Waiting to fail…

Bad news, I’m afraid.  On Friday a notice appeared on my screen: my “hard drive C is about to fail” so emergency measures are in place.  I quickly turned off the computer and today (Monday) have dashed out to buy a second external hard drive (the other is full) to do a complete back up before taking my computer into the ‘doctors’.

So, no posts for a while people – but I’ll leave you with this thought:

LOTTO LIFE

 

It unites us.

This dream

to have choices.

Whether to work or laze.

Decide our futures

instead of waiting for opportunity.

 

The universal language of need

• not greed.

 

We’ve lost control.

Caught up in the flow

of magazine lifestyle.

The one we desire and reality.

 

To walk through town

not asking the price.

Carrying the labels

which define our success.

Purchases we don’t need.

 

It’s universal

the conviction that money

will right all our wrongs

and make the world spin

in our direction.,

 

When we buy a ticket

we’ve planted the seed.

 

The seed of our fantasies.

 

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2000

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Knock, Knock…

       

Irish Lourdes
Where it is said ‘Our Lady appeared ‘ to Knock faithful,
enterprising vendors parade their wares on sidewalks.
You’ll find a large range of rosary beads
hanging in silent prayer – necklaces of every hue
to match any outfit you choose – posing for photos.
.

1 hour processing while you worship, Extra film,
Holy Water Bottles in the shape of Mary,
small enough to send home with the postcard
or buy a granite headstone for Father, Son,
ready-carved – off the rack, just in case

.
for those times when you are caught unawares…
Plastic floral wreathes, colour matched, some
have see-through domes to protect or preserve,
all kinds of religious mugs, pens, cups, mouse mats…
the soul wonders as eyes boggle in Knock shops.

.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2003

1st published in the Irish American Post  Spring 2007 Vol 7 Issue 3.

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #KnockIreland   #Worship  #IrishAmericanPost  #Ireland  #IrishPoems

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