New Years Resolution.

  

I’m very proud of this interview with Fremantle Press in August, 2009.  It was done after my poem ‘My Life As A Sari’ was published in INDIGO Journal, Volume III, January 2009.

The Managing Editor of Indigo Journal, Donna Ward was a tremendous supporter of West Australian poetry and in doing so, illustrated the breadth of local poetic talent.  

Personally, the past couple of years have been difficult for various reasons and although I was still being creative making toys and knitting clothes, I wasn’t writing. 

So this year I am determined to get back into creating words like this… 

 

My Life as a Sari

 

Securely tuck your fears under elastic

at the centre of your waist with your left hand,

and with your right, hold the remaining

metres of spun silk – your future, facing inside.

 

Measure the drop of the fall

and it’s finely stitched edge

for correct positioning against heels.

 

Wrap yourself in the gossamer fold,

swirling the diaphanous film behind

but stay level and wedge the top border

into your petticoat.

 

Like a bride preparing herself,

you are now ready to pleat.

 

At a distance from the last fixing,

hand-measure the delicate veil,

embroidered with details

important to who you are

toward the middle of your body.

 

Some may need five pleats, some six.

Less is more. Another judgement held on show

– a statement of size, however graciously it moves.

 

Securely fix the perfumed fanning

and grasp what is left, bring it back around

to wrap warmly and return to the front.

 

These days, you can choose to gather all loose

ends onto your left shoulder, secured with a jewel.

But many prefer to throw the remainder

over, remembering to hold an arm half bent,

letting the end float freely – the beaded

edge skimming the inside of your wrist.

 

Frances Macaulay Forde @ 2008

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #MyLifeAsASari  #IndigoJournal  #FremantlePress  #DonnaWard  #WestAustralianWriters  #WAPoets #Poetry

 

 

 

 

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Behind the Pen with Louise Allan

The e-book was delivered to my computer 5 minutes after midnight on the 2nd… and soon I’ll have a hard copy in my hands. Can’t wait to read every word as knowing Louise – it will be a wonderful story.

Theresa Smith Writes

Today I am absolutely delighted to welcome a favourite of mine to Behind the Pen, Louise Allan, whose name you may recognise from yesterday’s book review of The Sisters’ Song. Over to you Louise…

 

 

What is your favourite…and why…

Character from one of your books?

In The Sisters’ Song, my favourite character is Ida. She’s everything I’d love to be. She knows what’s important in life and doesn’t give a toss about the rest—she’s got her priorities right. She sees the good in people, no matter how horrible they might be acting. She laughs a lot and makes the most of whatever challenges she has to face. She also recognises beauty, and sees it especially in children and music. Although she’s intelligent and talented, she’s blind to her own attibutes. She’s humble and selfless, and is the embodiment of family devotion.

Ida and I share a few…

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