More than one distraction…

Sorry I’ve been a bit quiet on here lately, I’ve been making things for my gorgeous new-born grandson Bodhi ~ my clever daughter Jessica McCallum‘s latest creation.

  

However, today my muse smiled as I was reading updates on Facebook and 2 photos inspired me.

A friend in Cork, Patrick Cotter posted a colourful picture of  his socks; “These single socks seem to think I have nothing better to do than run a dating agency for them.” and I couldn’t help myself:

 

Dating

A colourful

individual;

a well-heeled

single, looking

for a match,

with similar need.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2015

And another artistic friend on Facebook, Aaron Pocock posted a photo of “2-3 watercolours from the last couple of days” of these beautiful Australian birds :

 

Splendid Blue

 

In breeding plumage

his world knows no guns,

only the garden sprays

killing his insect food.

 

Still, he flits and flirts,

happy in his life work.

Seeking shades of brown

and grey among the twigs.

 

There, a most superb mate

waits, quietly seed-feeding

to proliferate their kind.

A species not in danger – yet.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2015

 

@FrancesMForde  #@FrancesMacForde  #NewGrandie:BODHI  #PatrickCotter  #MunsterLitCentre  #ArtisticFriends  #CleverPeople  #POEM:Dating   #ETSY:JessMcCallum #POEM:SplendidBlue  #Poetry  #Inspiration  #ArtIsTheSpark  #ETSY:Soop’sSofties  #HandmadeClowns

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Size doesn’t matter…

 

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #Audiences  #KeepWriting  #Inspiration

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Inspiration

‘Inspiration’ was written earlier but appears on Page 1 of my book  ‘Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey’  © 2000.

So I’m speaking here, directly from my heart, remembering my childhood in Africa and the struggles of my dearest Mum and Dad who died many years ago, who would have been so proud to see my words in print.

I’ve arrived at a time in my life where I’ve finally allowed myself to be utterly selfish.

My children had grown after my divorce into balanced, well-educated adults living their own lives, so I took myself to university.

It was my time to put myself first, my needs first, my dreams, soul and heart first, to follow my bliss.

I finally published the book in Ireland for them and for my brothers, children and extended family, just as much as for myself.

My bedroom © 2000

Inspiration 

Why do I now prefer writing in my bedroom when I have a perfectly good study – a space cleared for thought?

I feel inspired to dream while I’m awake in here – not there.

Is it because I’ve just coated the room and everything in it a lilac pink?

Is that the colour of my inspiration?

Or does it illicit forgotten memories from my childhood?

The baby-pink bedroom of my spoiled youth, the dear faces of my parents still missed after so many years.

I’ve been through so many colours since then.

But perhaps I need to visit them once again, in my imagination.

Maybe this shade is my mood-connection to the past.

I’m alone now, responsible for the world I live in and my painted walls.

Or could it be something to do with the womb – a protective colour – a safe haven for my dreams.  

Help that I need in a harsh world, often too over-whelming for someone totally unprepared or never expecting to be the ‘Bottom Line’.

This softness, which evokes feelings and comfort, allows my mind to wander and explore, knowing I’m enclosed and private, separated from others who see too much.

Or is it the large mirror with its elaborate edge reflecting my thoughts surrounded by soft, gentle, allowing colour? 

I look at myself in the frame and from the ‘truth’ of distance – an inner truth?

Is that what empowers my exposure?

Is distance enabling me to write such secret, forgotten feelings in my journal?

My teenage bedroom was a similar pink – total colour – enshrining girlishness and innocence… protection, before adulthood and reality hit me.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2000

#francesmacaulayforde  #HiddenCapacity  #Inspiration

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Recycled

I saw this photo by on the net and was immediately inspired:  nature + telephone pole = home.

(http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/02/massive-bird-nests-built-on-telephone-poles-in-southern-africa/ )

 

RECYCLED

Sociable weaver

birds gather Kalahari

sticks, grass, cotton to

construct home-trees for hundreds.

Out-dated rest-points built to

carry distance wires become

capsules recycled for

mobile families.

.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2013

 

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