Whimsy: 2020

Full of modesty

Full of modesty
memories polished with time
once more by my hands

Inspiring vision

Inspiring vision
undulating as mountains
if this is my fate

It gives me comfort

It gives me comfort
holding the bridge of my nose
my third eye pinched closed

When a thought escapes

When a thought escapes
eroded by forgetting
a candle is lit

Finding lost value

Finding lost value
reacting to compulsion
post-rationalised

I went to bed drunk

I went to bed drunk
attracted a kangaroo
snorting as I snored

Don’t defile your gods

Don’t defile your gods
keep the sacred personal
set your spirit free

Peak societies

Peak societies
recognise variety
completes human life

Together we rise

Together we rise
supporting each step taken
love is all you need

Express memory

Express memory
be a link to ancestors
live another life

Curate your story

Curate your story
erase useless histories
rewrite provenance

Configure moments

Configure moments
elements of conjuring
weird premonitions

Sifting through my thoughts

Sifting through my thoughts
hypersensitivity
I live in futures

Self-centred thinking

Self-centred thinking
extracting material
writing poetry

I’m not ambitious

I’m not ambitious
I’m not goal-oriented
I let things happen

I feel desire

I feel desire
feel borderline desperate
that motivates me

All those rambling thoughts

All those rambling thoughts
I’ll dispose of them like compost
they’ll grow into verse

Taking sensations

Taking sensations
transmuting them into words
fumbling in the dark

It seems addictive

It seems addictive
harvesting the sentence blooms
pickling reflections

Unhelpful statements

Unhelpful statements
the world incites reactions
hold onto your thoughts

Nighttime comes to life

Nighttime comes to life
radio stations emerge
as I turn the dial

It’s the hardest part

It’s the hardest part
putting on your running shoes
to start exercise

Curious spirit

Curious spirit
nothing worthwhile is easy
cultivate your joy

Don't doubt this message

Don't doubt this message
you're perfectly imperfect
just the way you are

Detectives of texts

Detectives of texts
literary critics know
words will shape our thoughts

Turning over soil

Turning over soil
the farmer begins to cry
earthworms once lived here

Eyes open again

Eyes open again
visions of days that were not
dreaming leaves me tired

Fadeouts will happen

Fadeouts will happen
everything is a sunset
light will rise elsewhere

While sunlight heals wounds

While sunlight heals wounds
deeper scratches need to close
raw meat scares new friends

It’s hard to let go

It’s hard to let go
some memories of people
they’re not who they were

My brother at home

Mixing his music
his personal discotheque
my brother at home

Sharp exhalation

Sharp exhalation
sliding into a hot bath
worries wash away

In my dreams a home

In my dreams a home
dandelions grow from concrete
nature finds a way

Between dark rain clouds

Between dark rain clouds
streaking across sunlit trees
shadows are flying

Surplus bone in bed

Surplus bone in bed
elbows can spoil a moment
yet they're soft inside

Damp gardens oozing

Damp gardens oozing
night blossoms perfume cool air
as dusk throws shadows

Neighbourhood noises

Neighbourhood noises
so many unhappy dogs
owned by mean people

The old cat and I

The old cat and I
we understand each other
he runs from my yard

NASA research shows

NASA research shows
mysterious light sources
equal all known light

Fossicking for gold

Fossicking for gold
forcing nuggets together
creating value

My conversation

My conversation
a litany of madness
talking with myself

Hot and windy day

Hot and windy day
summer is starting early
hayfever persists

My home is a mess

My home is a mess
life is no tidy affair
homes are for living

Not saying I'm god

"Not saying I'm god
but has anyone seen god
and me together?"

Barren patch of earth

Barren patch of earth
frequented by the sparrows
enjoying dust baths

As the reeds each move

As the reeds each move
one by one while a bird shifts
camera ready

Solstice approaches

Solstice approaches
sunlight like warm harmonics
strange blooms beckon me

I plan what to cook

I plan what to cook
consulting weather forecasts
as summer begins

Let me put it here

Let me put it here
message to single parents
you do what you can

Watching doctors work

Watching doctors work
seeing my child's discomfort
feeling conflicted

Try to remember

Try to remember
my most important thinking
doesn’t need a screen

Defying the wind

Defying the wind
butterflies circling around
dancing dervishes

Navigate details

Navigate details
complications mark our lives
no threads to follow

Recognise limits

Recognise limits
nothing is going to last
yet we fall in love

Look all around you

Look all around you
behold those little insects
know they run the Earth

First a cockatoo

First a cockatoo
then I hear a magpie's song
suspect a mimic

A lesson to learn

A lesson to learn
when I think to hold my tongue
it's always too late

Some disturbances

Some disturbances
work like weeding the compost
they aerate the heap

On Wagga's lagoons

On Wagga's lagoons
lonely frogs call their lover
Gobbagombalin

Sparrow at window

Sparrow at window
clutching onto the fly screen
watching me watching

Trucks in the distance

Trucks in the distance
I woke to the sound of bees
the hum of traffic

Collected habits

Collected habits
one thing triggers another
routines mark my days

They say "I love you"

They say "I love you"
yet all I can think about
please go brush your teeth

Blue clouds approaching

Blue clouds approaching
warm gusts blowing from the north
rumble of thunder

Musicians will know

Musicians will know
gear acquisition syndrome
it plagues me lately

Want to know something?

Want to know something?
Cheeseburger-flavoured spring rolls
it's weird that they're real

Observe and reflect

Observe and reflect
acknowledging my response
remaining detached

If you can’t be free

If you can’t be free
withdraw back into shadow
be a mystery

Comfort surrounds me

Comfort surrounds me
a life filled with abundance
domesticated

On these thoughtless days

On these thoughtless days
can I please excuse myself
while prose lies elsewhere

I cooked hamburgers

I cooked hamburgers
that path has least resistance
my kids are happy

Now he's found a mate

Now he's found a mate
after weeks of melodies
this blackbird sings less

Morish savoury

Morish savoury
when salt and cocoa combine
delicious tingle

Showers washed the roads

Showers washed the roads
streetlights dance on them again
fresh air intoxicates

Nesting now begins

Nesting now begins
birds pecking apart my chair
taking away threads

Out riding last night

Out riding last night
clouds of bugs assaulted me
birds could have feasted

I identify

I identify
"neutral gender expression"
I don't play that game

Watching canaries

Watching canaries
seemingly pause in mid-flight
catching their dinner

Earthy tones taunt me

Earthy tones taunt me
lacking aniseed or nut
decaf coffee sucks

A cold universe

A cold universe
dark, vast and indifferent
without containment

Vulnerable flesh

Vulnerable flesh
not coming out of my shell
impenetrable

Gathering dried weeds

Gathering dried weeds
carrying them in strong winds
sparrows build their nests

Boundaries aren't walls

Boundaries aren't walls
boundaries are acts of love
the self transcends skin

Twice as much rainfall

Twice as much rainfall
sees iris flowers budding
awaiting spring's bloom

Melancholy clouds

Melancholy clouds
romance of a rainy day
droplets tease senses

Deep dive into dark

Deep dive into dark
make life inside your body
human submarine

However painful
I’m a sadist in that way
love the pain away

Singing through the night

Singing through the night
with 'Nine in the afternoon'
three in the morning

Zooming through details

Zooming through details
revisiting history
hearing an old friend

This town I call home

This town I call home
punctuated by small steps
laps around the block

Songs from the backyard

Songs from the backyard
all through the day and the night
blackbird melodies

Reheated again

Reheated again
filled with leftovers
never-ending days

I'm attuned to growth

I'm attuned to growth
my garden looks radiant
woke to rain falling

With joy in my heart

With joy in my heart
all across the universe
my fingers will reach

The grass is growing

The grass is growing
this wet spring will be hectic
bought a lawnmower

Trust your beating heart

Trust your beating heart
know you are more than enough
winter winds will pass

Dreams of blue heron

Dreams of blue heron
hiding in Patterson's Curse
beside a full dam

Is stealth mode engaged?

Is stealth mode engaged?
No one sees the stuff I post
I must be ninja

All those masks we wear

All those masks we wear
the many stances copied
how would I know you

There's always something

There's always something
finding ideas isn't hard
commitment evades

It takes a moment

It takes a moment
then my eyes begin to see
hundreds of small blooms

Seen crossing the road

Seen crossing the road
their dark shells reflecting light
giant cockroaches

They grow out of me

They grow out of me
all these different projects
it doesn't make sense

The truck driver grabbed

The truck driver grabbed
one fist of air from outside
one finger stood out

Birdsong intensifies

Birdsong intensifies
the equinox approaches
hayfever explodes

The sparrows called out

The sparrows called out
on the trampoline they swarmed
a honeyeater

Nettles in my yard

Nettles in my yard
bite my legs as I pass by
I'll bite them in pies

Sun rising early

Sun rising early
blackbirds are singing new songs
as wattle blooms fall

Words make me aware

Words make me aware
how each syllable, each vowel
sketches a person

I wake with headaches

I wake with headaches
I sneeze and wheeze through the day
spring brings allergies

Each day circles round

Each day circles round
the story remains the same
exasperation

“Over here,” he chirped

“Over here,” he chirped
trying to lead me away
as I pass his nest

Nicknamed a ‘hoop’ snake

Nicknamed a ‘hoop’ snake
covered in circular lines
the bandy bandy

Orb weaver maybe?

Orb weaver maybe?
Hard to see the resemblance
Spider Orchid bloom

Surprises await

Surprises await
bushwalkers after spring rains
stars shine from the dirt

Under cypress pines

Under cypress pines
dusty fragrance surprises
chocolate lilies

I whistled at her

I whistled at her
she stopped and gave me a look
little friarbird

Edging on the path

Edging on the path
spiky leaves tingling my legs
stinging nettles grow

Waving from the ground

Waving from the ground
little hands sway with the breeze
pink fingers orchids

Watching the garden

Watching the garden
movement from among the weeds
little lizards crawl

Sitting in the sun

Sitting in the sun
on the warm northerly breeze
floating spiders webs

Among yellow blooms

Among yellow blooms
western donkey orchids wait
for a fly to land

The sun behind me

The sun behind me
watching a bird's shadow fly
on the wattle bloom

That nascent moustache

That nascent moustache
incongruent on his face
taught my son to shave

Golden dots on sticks

Golden dots on sticks
a firework frozen in light
varnish wattle blooms

Birdsong is changing

Birdsong is changing
as I am awake to hear
spring days start early

Dirt under my nails

Dirt under my nails
pile of uprooted clover
tending the good weeds

As the seasons change

As the seasons change
whistling outside my window
a new melody

Eyeing her subject

pencil dancing on the page

I watch Jo draw plants

Yellow explosion

Yellow explosion
heralding spring's arrival
wattles in blossom

Icy August wind

Icy August wind
drills a way through my garments
on clear sunny days

The walls closing in

The walls closing in
toes numb under the covers
another cold night

Both my youngest kids

Both my youngest kids
listening to Hamilton
murmuring lyrics

Feels like younger days

Feels like younger days
shunning sleep to finish work
dreaming while awake

His whole face crinkles

His whole face crinkles
folds in a kind of softness
accommodating me

Caught in the moment

Caught in the moment
words tumbled out from my mouth
their look hides disgust

My bike was stolen

My bike was stolen
I worked through emotions quick
still I lost a day

Some have forgotten

Some have forgotten
our most humanest birthright
creativity

Enjoy that moment

Enjoy that moment
reflecting on reflection
self-love is still love

Motivation slips

Motivation slips
among gaps in to-do lists
it must be Friday

I met on the road

I met on the road
among dumped expectations
the end of the year

For fifty dollars

For fifty dollars
the curls that framed his young face
all dropped to the floor

As winter drags on

As winter drags on
wattle trees begin to bloom
sunlight increases

Vanilla with oak

Vanilla with oak
cherry, plum and tobacco
last from cellar

Through empty branches

Through empty branches
then between my flesh and clothes
winter winds blowing

Something haunting me

Something haunting me
feeling I should be busy
dissatisfaction

Poked through memories

Poked through memories
distortions of importance
strange significance

Small acknowledgment

I found myself in a quote

and felt understood

Rise but mostly fall

as strong winds blow sheets of rain

across sheets of roof

Little interval

possibilities ahead

projects behind me

Confusion a mask

falling as a rubber band

breaks our truce again

Water disappears

lying still in the hot bath

then burns as I shift

Pulling on nose hairs

stirring explosive sneezes

I am a bald ape

Intimate moments

connect across afternoons

hedonistic days

Fingers in the dirt

grasping at a weed tap root

at one with the yard

While walking behind

in a cloud of cumbungi

I captured magic

Remain where they drowned

signs of what Fivebough once held

weathered black box trunks

Steps accompany

the flick of a tail feather

as the swamphen struts

Puddles near and far

a path snakes through cumbungi

reflecting rain clouds

Her school raise concerns

that family trait displayed

in marks down her arms

Default mode is cold

when I turn to old habits

winter slowly turns

I can't help myself

beautiful art within my reach

so I will grab it

(Art by Carol Davidson)

Temperature falls

and from distant citrus farms

the hum of frost fans

The folding of light

The folding of light
shrinks distances while standing
brings the wary close

Standing very still

Standing very still
a thornbill doesn’t see me
breeding plumage glows

Marrawa St sign

Marrawa St sign
always wanted to add "na"
30 years later

I tease my daughter

I tease my daughter
call her favourite singer
Barry not Harry

In much simpler times

In much simpler times
hugs with enthusiasm
a kiss on the neck

Catch my reflection

Catch my reflection
those dark eyes look back at me
across the decade

Those ducks might be pairs

Those ducks might be pairs
a pelican stands alone
swans swim with cygnets

Noisily take flight

Noisily take flight
disturbed from the cumbungi
Magpie Geese return

Explosions of sound

Explosions of sound
echoing with bright colours
a crowd coos as one

An attentive crowd

An attentive crowd
sharing enthusiasm
indulging passions

In the nicest way

In the nicest way
boosting my immune system
smiling and singing

Chatter announces

Chatter announces
golden-haired cisticola
among cumbungi

No chance to focus

No chance to focus
school holidays never end
ever since lockdown

Anxious for today

Anxious for today
dreaming of performances
I woke too early

Smells throughout the house

Smell throughout the house
lingers like toilet cleaner
her scented candles

Youse is a great word

Youse is a great word
Australians fondly say
but I still like y’all

Earworms multiply

Earworms multiply
each child sings different pop
holiday soundtrack

Pedals grip my feet

Pedals grip my feet
a saddle supports my seat
my bike carries me

Among distant swans

Among distant swans
saw my first Brolga today
we both walked Fivebough

Room full of toddlers

Room full of toddlers
excitement pushed to limits
as meerkats escape

Crafting my reasons

Crafting my reasons
navigating galleries
seeking artful terms

Opening emails

Opening emails
default view is negative
draft replies later

Crying will not help

Crying will not help
looking back on an era
good while it lasted

Artist in my dreams

Artist in my dreams
he's my spirit animal
subconscious at work

Glistening of leaves

Glistening of leaves
the angle of the sunrise
I see winter's depth

Without a razor

Without a razor
shadow bristles on my chin
my face is ragged

Scratch on my knuckles

Scratch on my knuckles
cracks showing in fingernails
my hands show winter

The email says "shipped"

The email says "shipped"
I'm anxious in awaiting
realisation

The sound of pool balls

The sound of pool balls
dropping at the table's end
burst of firecrackers

Misreading emails

Misreading emails
now Mercury retrograde
details fade to fears

He runs home screaming

He runs home screaming
someone threatened to shoot him
the police are called

Maintaining focus

Maintaining focus
crossing items off my list
restless for progress

Warm breeze from the north

Warm breeze from the north
gives me a feeling to run
take flight on the gusts

Went to bed early

Went to bed early
woke to son making school lunch
late on Friday night

Dating when older

Dating when older
reminding them of trauma
rewriting their lives

Regional artists

Regional artists
each relate to their landscape
each create their scope

Smell of tobacco

Smell of tobacco
hangs with secondhand curtains
darkening my days

A sense of purpose

A sense of purpose
committed to a practise
life as an artist

Under a blanket

Under a blanket
winter rain on a tin roof
grateful for a home

For a little more

For a little more
one holds a thing of beauty
a hard cover book

I buy sultanas

I buy sultanas
packs from each supermarket
they taste different

Really can't complain

Really can't complain
my son cooked dinner tonight
green chicken curry

On quiet mornings

On quiet mornings
emotions rise without source
what was I thinking?

Plumber shakes his head

Plumber shakes his head
"Baby wipes, man. Baby wipes."
Lucky it's tree roots

Under a blanket

Under a blanket
landscape almost black and white
damp clouds hang around

Anger flares again

Anger flares again
words tumble out of order
rage provokes more rage

Heightened beginnings

Heightened beginnings
my senses register aches
cold mornings return

Time-lapse photographs

Time-lapse photographs
make a day in the shadows
from a moonlit night

Counting the seconds

Counting the seconds
from distant flashing fireworks
to explosive start

As though colours drained

As though colours drained
only pale butterflies land
where mint flowers wilt

She knows that chatter

She knows that chatter
Willy Wagtail changing song
full moon approaches

Gentle reminder

Gentle reminder
when voicing disappointment
I am unburdened

Rising flood waters

Rising flood waters
stranding elevated knobs
as panic sets in

One you brush and rake

One you brush and rake
another you rush and brake
both leaves by the road

Sit still and look out

Sit still and look out
deformed clouds pass the window
misshapen by dust

At points in the day

At points in the day
I feel the beam from her eyes
invested with love

Sun slides down the sky

Sun slides down the sky
warm beams blown off course by wind
winter dims my days

I'm scared to enter

I'm scared to enter
now it's so dark in the room
I hung lined curtains

Superficial talk

Superficial talk
toxic femininity
uncontrolled bitching

The fence closing in

The fence closing in
hollow barks without intent
sad neighbourhood dogs

A delightful choke

A delightful choke
steams thickens the bathroom air
holds winter away

Each day has struggles

Each day has struggles
your battles are not your own
speak them for others

Success in being

Success in being
embodying existence
simplify your life

Our path from today

Our path from today
to fight their cynicism
cultivate your joy

Every now and then

Every now and then
she says something cynical
a chill becomes me

Each day my lover

Each day my lover
we're vessels for each other
warm me like cuppas

Cooking risotto

Cooking risotto
always ends up a pot full
whichever pot used

Squeak of my bike cranks

Squeak of my bike cranks
like Corellas chattering
as they fly past me

I awoke early

I awoke early
looked outside for a comet
stars distracted me

Prompted to record

Prompted to record
pianos looping around
one foggy morning

Recording moments

Recording moments
the world we choose to recall
making sense of days

Eczema blights my skin

Eczema blights my skin
"I love you, Jason" I say
self-loathing must end

Well-fed brown eagle

Well-fed brown eagle
intimidated by crows
over a rabbit

Red and orange leaves

contrast on a pale blue sky

cold nights are forecast

I should know better

I should know better
unsolicited advice
mostly never helps

After Carl Sagan

After Carl Sagan
stardust is overrated
praise unknown microbes

Awed by satellites

Awed by satellites
in a meteor shower
the night is changing

Time is circular

Time is circular
experiences loop back
as perspective shifts

Helping kids with school

Helping kids with school
learning how little I know
sciences and math

Bought green tomatoes

Bought green tomatoes
fried, pickled and salsa'd them
all revelations

Believe in past lives

Believe in past lives
recognise the characters
my variations

Our human birthright

Our human birthright
expression through any means
creativity

Fundamental tone

Fundamental tone
a standing wave resonates
in every structure

Isolated since

Isolated since
summer temperatures scorched
I’m an indoor pet

As summer faded

As summer faded
we shared a final moment
old praying mantis

Roof leaks cold droplets

Roof leaks cold droplets
rejection email arrives
puddles of failure form

Coffee withdrawal

Coffee withdrawal
burned my fingers on the stove
grateful for cuddles

We both woke early

We both woke early
restless with new beginnings
sharing future dreams

Who you always were

Who you always were
I’m pleased to see you become
Happy birthday son

Caught in our own webs

Caught in our own webs
sticking to the lines we spin
home becomes a trap

As autumn begins

As autumn begins
the joke that we might forget
Anzac Day means death

Woke to a cricket

Woke to a cricket
oscillating near my fan
seems we’re both lonely

Kids still play at dusk

Kids still play at dusk
as my bare feet find warm earth –
autumn in hiding

I choked that person

I choked that person
stopped thinking their thoughts and grew
die before you die

Like a polished blade

Like a polished blade
reflection can produce change
mirrors cut deeply

Restricted movement

Restricted movement
buying food and staying home
fattened in our pens

Grizzling in our cave

Grizzling in our cave
it may as well be winter
we should hibernate

Running around mint

Running around mint
focusing my camera
hunting butterflies

Old gaming console

Old gaming console
sentimental favourite
past summers return