Year of the Dragon

Firstly, may I say G’day from Western Australia! I haven’t been on here because life and family have been my focus so I do apologise… Hope this finds you all well – Happy New Year too! Thought I’d make up by posting a late Valentine’s Day greeting to you all which contains a new poem…

2024: Happy Valentine’s Day, may you be surrounded by love… just like I am. We spent the afternoon at Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital getting the results of Paudie’s current MRI. As is my want, while waiting for an appointment, I wrote a poem. To celebrate the ALL CLEAR result and because it’s Valentine’s Day, we had a lovely Indian buffet at Koh I Noor Restaurant in Padbury.

Year of the Dragon.

Found a Red Envelope next to my morning tea…
It’s Chinese New Year but also Valentine’s Day.
Traditionally, one contains money, the other love
far more valuable…

My routine cup of sugerless tea brewed by hubby,
is in a ‘Nan’s Biggest Fan’ mug given by my grandies,
and matches gold on the card adorned with Red roses
from my Valentine…

My grandchildren will open their Chinese envelopes
with equal anticipation. One would save – the other
splurge. I do both; savour the beautiful words and try
to reply in kind…

Our hug is full of 22 years of caring – sharing our lives
together. The beige liquid swirles in circles recently
stirred, echoing our everyday routines like a cup to
gently wake me up…

His hug at the airport all those years before, after
28 years apart told me everything I needed to know
then. Trust the love, surrender to his arms, believe
Cupid hit his mark…

No matter what the future holds, we will step forward
still exploring the possibilies of each Valentine’s Day .
After all, it’s the Chinese Year of the Dragon and
I am a dragon…

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2024

#FrancesMacaulayForde #POEM:YearOfTheDragon #ChineseNewYear #Valentine’sDay #LovePoem #Romance #Poetry #RedEnvelope

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Eclectic Encore for Grace Knight!

Eclectic Encore for Grace Knight!  

(Valentine’s Day, Western Australia, 2006)

It was hot – bloody hot for Valentine’s Day.  The kind of heat that oppresses, suggests multiple showers and hard-working deodorants.  Not how one wishes to appear on the day most touted for romance, especially when treated to a restaurant dinner with a Grace Knight concert to follow.

One wants to be cool, elegant, calm of face and dry of appearance ~ didn’t happen.  That would be sexy and romantic ~ the heat should come later… There was plenty of the other stuff ~ gorgeous food, wine, loads of women dressed for the occasion…

Sitting on the Joondalup Hotel restaurant terrace would normally have been the optimum place for our table. But not when there isn’t a breath of fresh air – just dampness descending.  Gazing over the cutlery into pools of passion and longing, we’d occasionally steal a wanton glance at the circular, ice-cool pool frequented by ducks. But in the still, hot night, trips into the air-conditioning for buffet treats, delicious sweets and succulent seafood helped make room for the next scrumptious plateful.

Although sexiness in female apparel sometimes means tight, it also means more skin exposed to the non-existent breeze and men wearing long pants, even though they’d rather be in Stubbies with a cold midi in hand, not drinking champagne or wine instead.

Our guided trek across green valleys past ancient, many branched grass trees ~ a magnificent statement of origin, helped digestion before spreading our blankets, in a patrons area, close to the stage and next to the lake, to receive a traditional Noongar welcome.

The flocks of ducks rising from the still water disturbed by the ‘five thousand, nine hundred and ninety-six’ others (some parked as far away as the shopping center), circling and settling back down to become part of the enchanting landscape again.

We were seduced by a medley of Show Tunes; then Mantovani, Rogers and Hart and more, performed by stars of the Youth Jazz Orchestra, fresh from their recent New York sojourn.

The Police spotter plane circled in the freeway distance but Gracie held her hair out of her face, away from the strong fans cooling from both sides of her performance space, to electrify us ~ her real fans ~ with so many favorite songs of luuurve.

As a big cheesy moon rose among the trees we thanked the sponsors, the resort and our fabulous community up here on the Sunset Coast for an unforgettable Valentine venue, promising to make a date for next year too.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2006

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #ValentinesDay  #GraceKnight  #JoondalupResort

 

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Valentine’s Day

 

Eros strikes again!                   (Hear the poem)

.

Valentine’s Day.  You

pierced me with the past,

.

forced me to recall

feelings suppressed…

.

and reminded me

of my ability to love…

.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2003

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Valentine Sounds

Well, I’ve done it!  I’ve learnt how to record my 7 Poems for Valentine’s Day and humbly offer them for your (hopeful) enjoyment:

No 1 of 7 Poems for Valentine’s Day:  ‘Sleep’

No 2 of 7 Poems for Valentine’s Day:  ‘Vacuuming’ 

No 3 of 7 Poems for Valentine’s Day:  ‘Water Bird’

No 4 of 7 Poems for Valentine’s Day:  ‘Committed Skin’

No 5 of 7 Poems for Valentine’s Day:  ‘Before You’

No 6 of 7 Poems for Valentine’s Day:  ‘Turning the Page’

No 7 of 7 Poems for Valentine’s Day:  ‘Loose Lettuce Leaf Factory Tour’

(Illustration: Frances Macaulay Forde © 2003)

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No 7 of 7 Poems for Valentine’s Day

Loose Lettuce Leaf Factory Tour

.

The busload waited for another to park,

not Gingin locals

but a global arc

.

of foreign accents, ages and looks,

my concentration torn

from my favorite book.

.

I grabbed my novel – another boring tour,

the sign caught my eye

promised so much more.

.

Avenues of squashed, boxed green,

piled high like trees

wait to be cleaned.

.

Whilst gentle fingered plastic hands

maneuvered each leaf

to remove the sand,

.

bits of mulch, a sleepy slug or two

its entrails smudged

was stuck like glue.

.

Full mouth askew with unbidden distaste,

my eyes clashed with

a gently smiling face.

.

Heart skipped to a stranger’s look

as he read the title

of my romance book.

.

Like turning loose leaves under

ice cool water sprays,

my heart was plundered

.

in a thousand ways…

.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2009

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No 6 of 7 Poems for Valentine’s Day

Turning the Page

.

You were focused

on study so I

waited,  peeking

through the crack,

watched you turn

a page, rushed

to kiss you quick.

.

I twirled to leave,

let you get back to

reading but you held

my gaze, turned

the page again and

again, and again

.

until I kissed

you again and

again, and again…

.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2003

 

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No 5 of 7 Poems for Valentine’s Day

Before you…

.

I slept in a bed without creases

only pulled up sheets to straighten

smooth – no effort at all

ready for the next Dreamtime.

.

Now I love my wrinkles…

.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2006

 

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No 4 of 7 Poems for Valentine’s Day

Committed Skin

 

I crave committed

skin.  Pale, pink tones

of a fragile heart.

Silky strands tantalize.

.

Forest of words

– thoughts, forcing

forward movement

careful continuation of

.

soft, subtle actions.

Reassurances

given, refusing

to provide any more until…

.

absolutely sure,

when our surfaces

eventually meet

– rub together in love-making,

. 

no other skin will suit.

.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2003

1^st pub: ‘Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey’ MMB Publishing, Ireland, 2003.

 

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No 3 of 7 Poems for Valentie’s Day

Water bird

.

Lakeside, I watch

the Coots bouncing

on top of the water.

.

They throw their heads with

intention and abandon, plunging

– totally immersing themselves.

.

I want to bounce…

.

Immerse myself…

.

Plunge into you….

.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2003

1^st pub: ‘Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey’  by Frances Macaulay Forde, Ireland, 2003.

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No 2 of 7 Poems for Valentine’s Day

Vacuuming

.             

With every pull

toward your body

you expect obedience. 

Expect each micron of dirt

to be sucked up and away. 

Look at the attention

you give stairs. 

.

How do I become like stairs? 

.

 Frances Macaulay Forde © 2014

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