Written in Australia
More recent poems written since returning to Australia from Ireland.
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- 2117 reads
MOBILES (poem)
...turning us all into business buskers barking at buildings...
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- 1741 reads
Smack Talk
Inspired by a Wiki entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smack_talk
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- 1039 reads
Invention
Written to a theme of 'Invention' for the WA Spring Poetry Festival 2008.
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- 1398 reads
Desertification (published poem)
Inspired emerging writer Marlia Douglas to respond with her own peom. John Kinsella asked me to read this poem at launch of his book "Shades of the Sublime and the Beautiful".
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- 1776 reads
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.
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- 2064 reads
Flood (poem)
Like the Fitzroy River threatening to change lives love breaks heart banks. (Inspired by thefloods in Queensland.)
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- 1721 reads
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
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- 1965 reads
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...
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- 1822 reads
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...
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- 1761 reads
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...
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- 1148 reads
Yellow Days

Driving through Toodyay in late August before Spring arrives officially yellow makes me smile Broome just opening dotted with hives flavouring the...
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- 1582 reads
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...
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- 1581 reads
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...
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- 2365 reads
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...
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- 1931 reads
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...
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- 1386 reads
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...
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- 1106 reads
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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- 986 reads
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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- 945 reads
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.
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- 2413 reads
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...
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- 328 reads
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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- 1418 reads
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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- 2837 reads
Sculptures by the Sea
Inspired by the Photograph by Norm Jorgensen of a sculpture on Cottesloe beach in Western Australia.
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- 1689 reads
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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- 1930 reads
'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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- 1069 reads
Unsung Hero
Unsung Hero Pink is so stereo typical - generic but also strong, judgement will be passed. But when the sun nuances shades of purple and blues...
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- 280 reads
Without Wheels

Without Wheels Old-fashioned suitcases, the ones without wheels... Such treasures themselves for the memories they held. Skippered with no regard to...
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- 493 reads
Counting Sleep

I have so many Pinterest boards, they overwhelm me... but it’s necessary I check them every night before sleep. Gazing at the beautiful photos calms...
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- 455 reads
Loose Lettuce Leaf Factory Tour
Brake squeal announced busload disembark - not locals but a chattering multi-cultural arc. Concentration torn from my romance book I grabbed my bag...
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- 305 reads
Write to Romance
Jessica drove furiously through familiar back streets - happy that she'd didn't have to travel to Cottesloe; being late for meetings at Tom Collins...
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- 520 reads
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...
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- 111 reads
Have I told you lately...

Our morning ritual to say thank you for my cup of tea lovingly prepared, just strong enough, just milky enough no sugar. So much attention carefully...
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- 87 reads