Written in Australia

More recent poems written since returning to Australia from Ireland.

MOBILES (poem)

...turning us all into business buskers barking at buildings...

Smack Talk

Inspired by a Wiki entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smack_talk
Cherry

Invention

Written to a theme of 'Invention' for the WA Spring Poetry Festival 2008.

Desertification (published poem)

Inspired emerging writer Marlia Douglas to responde with her own peom. John Kinsella asked me to read this poem at launch of "Shades of the Sublime and the Beautiful".
Cherry

My Life As A Sari ( poem published in 'indigo Journal')

Securely tuck your fears under elastic at the centre of your waist with your left hand, and with your right, hold the remaining metres of spun silk - your future, facing inside.

Flood (poem)

Like the Fitzroy River threatening to change lives love breaks heart banks. (Inspired by thefloods in Queensland.)

Tall Tree Tanka

Unfortunately too many enjoy trying to fell tall trees when they should be hugged. We need to learn to look up. Frances Macaulay Forde © 2014

Unconditional

That moment when I realized you weren’t asleep, I couldn’t cry. I wanted to, thought I should, but I couldn’t shed tears for all those years when I...
Cherry

Wardrobe Mistress

I stood in front of the wardrobe we shared and stared and stared. I had just seen her with overalls down below her knees, your familiar bare bum...

Moment of Birth

My Darling One you are so new helpless - yet so strong! You didn't really need the Doctor quiding you along... Now I know how every mother feels at...

Yellow Days

Driving through Toodyay in late August before Spring arrives officially yellow makes me smile Broome just opening dotted with hives flavouring the...

Two Fans

Two fans enthusiasically spin amongst a pile of rubbish waiting for pick up, roadside. Through wind and rain, even thunder “Look at me!” but nothing...

Brolga Dance

Newly hitched we hit pop-hot spots in Sydney. Occasion marked: Us. Tickets to ‘The Lion King’ in old Capitol Theatre took us back to Africa. Sticky...

Without Wheels

Old-fashioned suitcases, the ones without wheels... Such treasures themselves for the memories they held. Skippered with no regard to a life-time of...

A Natural Mum

A Natural Mum a farmers daughter knew about living what was important filtered accordingly allowed her children freedom to explore worlds in books...

Quiet!

I hear my world better when there are no words closed library eyes see eddying images churn before being controlled writing a new narrative it’s kind...

Convoy to Canberra

Convoy To Canberra Thousands gather in Canberra With signs; “Where is the PM”. No maskers target policemen, asking for hugs to spread the bugs. ‘...
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Coral Bay

W hen the moon is just right, thousands of coral reefs spawn, turning the sea into a snowstorm of new beginnings, drifting on the tides to start new...
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Cherry

Write to Romance (short story pub. in 2000 'Urban Scrawl')

It was no good. Jessica couldn't stop herself. Her eyes scoured the room again - where was he? A gentle cough from somewhere high behind her, made her turn and bam! Their eyes locked.

Valentine's Day Massacre

I got married on Valentine’s Day. That massacred the commercial celebration for me forever! But I’m not bitter. Perhaps I should explain… It’s...

Sixty

Sixty Just like the car rusted up half-way down a hill in the middle of a pasture, I turn. Frances Macaulay Forde © 2010
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Splendid Blue

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...
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Sculptures by the Sea

Inspired by the Photograph by Norm Jorgensen of a sculpture on Cottesloe beach in Western Australia.
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Gold cherry

Recycled

Recycled Sociable weaver birds gather Kalahari sticks, grass, cotton, to construct home trees for hundreds. Out-dated rest points built to carry...
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'Epitaph for Gregory O'Donoghue'

When I posted this poem on another site, I was asked for some background. My answers to their questions provided a somewhat lengthy introduction -...
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