Tag Archives: poetry

putting on the ritz

Posted on by
1

on the red centre way
most crossings are regular
kanga cattle schoolkids
wombats

20 klicks from alice
fashion doesn’t just sit
dandy dessert dressage
prances

A yellow, diamond-shaped road sign on a dirt road in the Australian Outback. The sign features a black silhouette of a horse in a prancing pose, with a distinct top hat on its head. The image is a direct visual representation of the poem's theme of a "dandy" horse "putting on the ritz" and performing a "desert dressage prance.

the kiss?

Posted on by
Reply
A vertical photograph of two large, pale-barked ghost gum trees whose trunks grow closely together against a dark rock face. The way the trees intertwine, almost "clasping" one another, directly alludes to the post's title, "the kiss?", and to a famous work of art. The unique form of the trees, a significant feature of the Central Australian landscape, is highlighted against the deep shadows and sun-drenched foliage.

at standley chasm
ghost gums clasp
their jutting lust
rock sprung

ormiston gorge

Posted on by
A slightly weathered park sign titled "Great survivors" from the West MacDonnell National Park. The sign features text describing the resilient native flora of the region, including "tough, fire-tolerant mallee and spiky spinifex" found on the limestone. It highlights the area as home to an endangered native mouse. Illustrations of two small, grey native mice are prominent on the sign, one on the left and one on the right, set against a stylized background depicting the local environment. The sign also includes a logo of a bird in flight and the words "West MacDonnell National Park" at the bottom.

in the red centre
hardy survivors
stinting spinifex
miserly mallee
thrifty rockrats
and frugal euro

 

saw the spinifex, mallee and one scampering rockrat
on that ghost gum walk
but no euro
signomi, parakalo

greybeard

Posted on by
Reply

on boxing day
early snow
dusts lake biwa
frosts domes
trims sideburns
with wisdom

A photograph of a forested hill near Lake Biwa in Japan, lightly covered with an early snowfall. The dusting of snow frosts the branches of the bare trees on the lower slopes and covers the evergreens higher up. The overcast sky and the snow give the hill a frosted, "greybeard" appearance, which is visually referenced by the post's title.

Ski Stop

Posted on by
Reply

IMG 1249

 

in summer
to come upon attelas
from fontanet to la tzoumaz
is very walking dead

could that be the whisper
of souls unsettled
or just the complaint and creak
of resting pylons

 

IMG 1245

5 km on deepdene sand

Posted on by
Reply
A mid-distance photograph of a small wave breaking on a wide, sandy beach. The tranquil water and sand contrast with the post's title, '5 km on deepdene sand,' which describes a difficult trek. The image also serves as a visual backdrop to the poem, which makes a cinematic reference to the classic movie 'From Here to Eternity,' starring Burt Lancaster.

If they tell you
(them that’s done it)
     before a job or a challenge
     or contemplating an unsuitable lover
it’s a walk on the beach
     turn around and take
     the uphill trek
     the stony path
     the vale of tears
     instead

The only one what’s told the truth
that old Lancaster guy
     had it’s clear
     actually done it
(Kerr, the beach, the movie) 
    immured by silken powder
    reason he knew to call it
    From Here to Eternity

Cape to Cape Walk; Day 7

spelunk

Posted on by
Reply 
the white out mandates 
a dark house 
(as theatre types say)
a lazy no-walk day

later 
rains abated
we go caving

on the cool
cavern floor
calcite clads
conundrums

stalactites seem
to angle the air
sharp and incisive
or dangle with care
ancient Nervous Housewives

flowstones might
attain the calm
of stupa
or rather the trek 
on sabbatical
gather cellulite
A close-up photograph of a large, textured white cave formation, likely a flowstone or stalactite, with layered, dripping patterns. 

Cape to Cape Walk; Day 5 (housebound at Prevelly)

eco fail

Posted on by
Reply
A close-up photograph of a dark, gnarled tree trunk with a twisted, curved shape, standing amidst a lush, green wooded area. The image's focus on the raw, natural form of the tree serves as a backdrop to the poem, which humorously explores a moment of ecological guilt and anxiety.

i threw out my crust at lunch
flung it in the bush
only to have nightmares
of headlines years on
native australian species blighted by
strange ailment 
thought to have been 
introduced by 
half-eaten ham and cheese 
sandwich
Cape to Cape Walk; Day 4

Surfing

Posted on by
1
A mid-distance photograph of a powerful wave breaking on a beach, creating a line of frothy white foam. It is perfect surf weather.

I don’t buy it

received etymology
ver 0.95b
tech dudes
claiming inspiration from
Southern California
beach culture

key boards
presuming
in every os
cmd ctrl
space fn optn
caps lock

 

skin close
for real
caps crest
ctrl-breaks

 

Day 3 Cape to Cape

Pointing to Gracetown

Posted on by
Reply
A close-up photograph of a spiky green plant, taken with a shallow depth of field, blurring the background. The plant's angular leaves and branching form create a distinct shape, which the poem describes as 'diamond lines' and 'dinosaur spires.' The image and its title together poetically point the way toward Gracetown on the Cape to Cape Track.

diamond lines
dinosaur spines
shark teeth
anything but leaves

 

 

Cape to Cape Walk; Day 2