Plough Prize

I was very proud to find my name, next to my poem ‘Left Field’ on the long list for The Plough Prize in 2007, discovered quite by accident years later.

So I can imagine how pleased Afric McGlinchey was, I’m sure just as thrilled, when her poem ‘A River of Familiars’ appeared in this year’s longlist.

I proudly own a copy of the E-book  “The Star of Hidden Things” published by Ireland’s foremost publisher of poetry; Salmon Poetry – a literal feast of magnificent word-obsession.

Like Afric McGlinchey, I was raised in a kinder Africa where, I felt loved and accepted and totally enfolded in the arms of my melting-pot community.

Her poems brought my African childhood back to me so clearly, I’m about to order her latest publication through Salmon Poetry; “Ghost of the Fisher Cat” which includes the Plough Prize longlisted poem, “A River of Familiars”.

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #PloughPoetryPrize  #POEM:LeftField   #AfricMcGlinchey  #SalmonPoetry  #ARiverOfFamiliars  #TheStarOfHiddenThings  #GhostOfTheFisherCat  #Africa  #Poems  #No1IrishPoetryPublisher #Begorrathon16 #IrishPoets

 

 

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

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

 

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

Bookshops

 

For lovers of books, bookshops will always entice.

I’ve mentioned my favorite bookshop, nestled in Ennistymon, County Clare, Ireland is also a Literary Centre, run by Jessie Lendennie, publisher of Salmon Press.  A meeting place for those in the poetry scene in Ireland where Jessie is both necessary and influential.

Across the oceans, here on the Cafe Strip in Fremantle, Elizabeth’s Bookshop has long been a place to fall into soft couches with a favorite tome and lose yourself for a while.

MillPointCaffeBookshop in South Perth serves coffee and is a favorite haunt for a writer friend who literally immerses himself in words, while he creates.

While Boffins Bookshop in Williams Street in Perth City specialize…

The Boffin

Bookshops are like lovers,

they numb in black & white

then seduce you with colour,

 

titillate and tempt your soul

until you finally let go,

find the courage to close

 

the book ~ pages which leave

you gasping  The breath of air

on your face feels like a slap.

 

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2004

Finalist “Inner City Life” Literary Competition 2004.

 

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #Bookshops  #POEM:TheBoffin    #SalmonBookshop #SalmonPoetry  #Elizabeth’sBookshop  #MillStBookshopCaffe   #BoffinsBookShop   #Writers   #Poetry  #Poems   #Books

 

 

Read Full Post »

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

‘Trucker’s Moll’

In Rosemary Canavan’s book of poems ‘Trucker’s Moll’, her dedication is “for my mother who started me off”.  I can relate.

 

My mum also encouraged my youthful angst in my 1968 handwritten notebook, long before keyboards ruined my ability to wield a pen and ink, by putting a little (accountant’s) tick of approval next to poems she liked.  Done in pencil – I hope it never fades… I treasure those little marks.

Rosemary’s poem on page 61 ‘Flowers in March’ was written on St Patrick’s Day in March 2003.

 

I too sat newly arrived in Ireland, watching that same parade on the television,  in March, 2003 and wrote on the same theme.

Baghdad Ballet       

                                                              

A young boy sits, on his mother’s shoulders,

smile-excited in the sunshine, taking part 

in a parade. He proudly thrusts the finger

-sign of peace. Nice to see in an Iraqi child

 

– family bombardered by ‘Shock and Awe’

the night before, apparently forgiving.

But the visual is blitzed as it flashes onscreen,

by the plastic Sten-gun held aloft, back-

 

ground brandished in the child’s other hand.

Do you think the young lad plays in secret tunnels,

knows where to hide, where doubles walk

to keep the myth alive, the magic tricks

 

to keep awake illusions of a still-controlled-city.

Streetlights burn in defiance of invaders largess.

Traffic moves through the night while

bright glows explode in distant thunder

 

shower shrapnel. We sit on green comfy

sofas, presumed warm and safe inside,

miles away watching the performance

on TV young Liam wears red and white,

 

holds his defiant hurely high – a warrior

enjoying the sunshine day parade

– a protest for peace in Shannon…

 

 Frances Macaulay Forde © 2003

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #RosemaryCanavan  #SalmonPoetry  #JessieLendennie   #SalmonBookshop  #CliffsOfMoher  #Poetry  #IrishPoet

Read Full Post »

Reading: “Dogs Singing”

My friend Jessie Lendennie, poet and  Salmon Poetry  publisher extraordinaire loves dogs so much, she called on poetic friends to send their poems about dogs for a tribute anthology;  “Dogs Singing”.

The result is a book I keep on my desk to savor, to delve into, every now an then.

I still miss my own faithful Butchy – often feel him pacing outside the back door and fancy I catch a glimpse of him checking the garden, as I hang the washing.

This poem by Desmond Gough is simply called “Zach” appears on page 61 of 417 pages.

You can order your own copy on-line or pop into the Salmon Bookshop & Literary Centre in Ennistymon, Co. Clare.

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #JessieLendennie  #SalmonPoetry  #SalmonBookshop  #DogsSinging

 

 

 

Read Full Post »