Take note…

Wise words from MLC’s Patrick Cotter – one of the best festival organisers in the writing world: 

How to Put on a Poetry Festival: Patrick Cotter on the Cork International Poetry Festival 2016

 

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Cork Poets…

Munster Literature Centre puts their journal “Southword” on-line – treat yourself to some excellent poetry and short stories…

 

http://www.munsterlit.ie/Southword/Issues/29/contents.html

 

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Swimming with Salmon…

My friend Jessie Lendennie, the founder (31 years ago) and editor of Salmon Poetry – Ireland’s premier poetry press:

 

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #FrancesMacaulayForde  #SalmonPoetry  #SalmonPress  #JessieLendennie  #IrelandsPremierPoetryPress  #PremierPoetryPress  #IrishPoetry  #Poetry

 

 

 

 

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1st day of a new year…

So I thought I’d start with some favourite flowers (everywhere at the moment) and another poem from my old notebook, this time from 1986 when I found myself having to face the end of my marriage with two young children:

LOVE

Love, when you’re young

is so special ~ a promise

for eternity that has no limits.

 

Heart, soul and mind

devoted to just one person,

~ so innocent and pure.

 

The second time around

can be as good but you

must remember youth

~ how you felt so long ago.

 

And it’s possible to be unlucky

but the third and fourth and fifth

time can be learnt all over again.

 

You just have to be resilient!

 

 Frances Macaulay Forde © 1986

Those two young children turned out to be my saviours ~ they taught me so much, kept me going when I wanted to just lay down and give up.  I am so proud of them both; they have given me the ultimate gift ~ beautiful grandchildren.  

And for those of you who suffered, like I did, it IS possible to love again although it took me 17 years of being on my own to believe it.  

Even though I actually predicted a second time for myself, in this poem, I didn’t believe it at the time ~ I think I was trying to give myself hope… in 1986 I swore off romance and love for good!

After 28 years the man I was in love with (and should probably have married) in 1975  and on another continent (Africa) found me ~ we’ve just celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary.

So with my returned love and a family full of love, I look forward to what 2016 will bring.  I know it’s going to be all good!  

 

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #FrancesMacaulayForde  #Happy2016  #Poem:Love  #1968Notebook

 

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Boxing Day…

20th March 2014 ~ AMcCS entertained us at UWA, in Perth.

Alexander McCall Smith posted a note on Facebook to his fans today and I’d like to quote the last bit:

QUOTE:  May I conclude with lines from a poem I wrote some time ago. I have included it in a small pamphlet I published this Christmas, “The Heart of Each of Us”. It talks about love and about Agape, that form of selfless love of others that is so strong and so important. Here are the lines:

“What we lose, we think we lose forever,
But we are wrong about this: think of love –
Love is lost, we think it gone,
But it returns, often when least expected,
Forgives us our lack of attention, our failure of faith,
Our cold indifference; forgives us all this, and more;
Returns and says, “I was always there”.
Love, agape, whispers: “Merely remember me,
Don’t think I’ve gone away forever;
I am still here. With you. My power undimmed,
See, I am here.”

Happy Christmas!

Alexander McCall Smith : UNQUOTE

 

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Introducing Bodhi…

Bodhi ~ born 23rd November 2015

My daughter’s latest artistic creation and my newest grandchild ~ a very welcome distraction.

Sonja & Bella: Beautiful Christmas Fairies.

May you and yours share a wonderful Christmas Time and may 2016 bring you not only what you need, but also, at least one thing you dream of…

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #XmasWishes  #ChristmasTime  #Santa&Bodhi  #ManInARedSuit  #Happy2016  #HappyChristmas  #ARTIST:JessicaMcCallum

 

 

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‘Coral Bay’

Photo of ‘Coral Bay’ from :  http://hubpages.com/art/westernaustraliaphotos#

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #SoundPoems  #POEM:CoralBay  #Poetry  #Nature  #Ocean  #WAWriter  #WAPoet  #ReadingPoems

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Keep

 

 ‘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

Written to the artwork of Jessica McCallum entitled ‘Keep’ and exhibited in 2009 during the ‘JM Exhibition’, His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth, Western Australia.

 

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Numero Uno

 

Numero Uno

 

Do you think

those who

always insist

on entering first,

 

ever open doors

for others,

offer help when

it isn’t needed

 

or look back ~

except to bask

in their own

reflection?

 

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2002

 

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #FrancesMacaulayForde  #POEM:NumeroUno  #Poetry  #SketchingInIreland

 

 

 

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Blogging Around…

The Curious Persistence of Poetry Shops.

Ten Rules for Writing Fiction.

Undelivered letters shed light on 17th century society.

 

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #BloggingAround  #UndeliveredLetters  #EducatedHeart  #PoetryShops  #10TipsWriting

 

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