Saturday morning Surf Carnival. Maroochydore, Qld. Spent a few days on Queensland's Sunshine Coast recently. I was staying in a quiet corner of Maroochydore- a place called Cotton Tree. It is more than twenty year since I last visited this particular locale. I was pleased to note that it still moves at the same, gentle pace. So relaxing. Swimming, walking, exploring, reading, relaxing and eating all helped to set the mood. Coffee and close observation of my surroundings set me up to write... The entrance to the Maroochy River, Cotton Tree, Maroochydore, Qld. I noticed that once the fog of work cleared, the words began to flow. My notebook pages filled quickly with a swag of poetry pieces, along with other writing. Words have always gained my attention quite easily. To take possession of them and apply them with purpose has imbued me with excitement all my life. The mind clears and the words appear. My wife surveys the sea. Most of the poems were short and co...

I am continually adding to my collection of poetry titles. The books that catch my poet's eye are an eclectic collection of works. That's what is so exciting about conducting these ongoing searches through the poetry zone. Fascinating discoveries await. Writers are collectors, after all. I must continue to feed my need. You cannot be a writer unless you are a reader. Here are some treasures I recently added. I commend them to you as worthy of your consideration: Khaled Hosseini, widely read author of 'The Kite Runner' presents the hauntingly beautiful Sea Prayer, a poem across many pages. It is a poem of longing for a life lost to bombs and conflict and the need to take a perilous sea journey. The best books make us think... Jacqueline Woodson's verse novel was delight to read. It celebrates poetry and rejoices in the power of resilience as witnessed by young Lonnie Collins Motion better known as 'Locomotion' as...

My earliest memory of writing poetry was back in primary school. In Grade 3 I wrote a poem about Springtime. We were probably all told to write a poem about springtime... My classmates seemed to like the words I created way back then and suggested I share it with our teacher. So, I did that too and our teacher liked it too and asked me to share it with the class.  I cannot recall the exact words of that particular springtime poem. The words have long vanished I'm afraid. However, I have never forgotten the feelings that washed over me knowing other writers liked my words. That response lit a spark energizing me to continue, to persist. My self belief was instantly boosted. I had been awakened to the power of words- the power of poetry. I wanted more of that feeling and the only way to obtain it was to write more of the same- poetry. It is true that when we feel something we are doing is valued by those around us, an energy is produced and we are more inclined to contin...

Thanks to the wonderful Michael Rosen, (the poet who gave us the enduring appeal of 'Chocolate Cake') for providing this simple, yet effective poetry prompt! Topic/focus: After Dark 3 Questions to prompt the poet within... What can you see? What can you hear? What are you thinking? And the result is thus! (Whispered) After dark (Whispered) After dark A cat darts across the street Car lights dance and dazzle And bats take flight (Whispered) After dark (Whispered) After dark Crickets sing Owls hoot in the gathering gloom Sirens wail in the city streets (Whispered) After dark (Whispered) After dark Is my door securely locked? Can ghosts squeeze down the chimney? Is the moon shining brightly? (Whispered) After dark (Whispered) After dark I urge you to try it for yourself

The effective use of mentor texts is something worth sharing. Exposing impressionable young writers to exemplars and allowing the words of a trusted author to influence the writing student writers produce, is important in our work as teachers of writing, and teachers of writers. My friend and colleague, Leanne Hunter currently teaches Grade 3 at Toorak College, Mount Eliza in my home state of Victoria. Leanne choose to read a personal favourite of mine,  'Pookie Aleera Is Not My Boyfriend,'   by Steven Herrick  to her eager young learners. In this verse novel, award-winning author Steven Herrick presents a heart-warming tale about friendship, grief and the importance of baked goods. In a country town, in a school just like the schools you know, the kids in Class 6A tell their stories.  – it's honest, quirky, funny and frequently heartfelt. It is written from many characters' points of view - the cool kid, the funny kid, the bullied kid, the teacher,...

I found this wordplay idea in Dave Morice’s book, ‘ The Adventures of Dr. Alphabet- 101 unusual way to write poetry in the classroom and the community. ’ It appealed as a way to make poetry, while playing with language at the same time. Here's what you need to do: Begin by opening a dictionary and choosing a word. Write that word down, then write down the next two, three or four main entry words. Your next step is to take your listed words and combine them (entering them in dictionary order) with your own words to make a poem. Here's what emerged in my notebook: I figured I would try figure-skating Around a figurine While holding a figwort in my favoured hand. I flailed. Some people thought Laurence Somewhat lackadaisical Others claimed his performance, lacklustre. Laurence claimed he was merely laconic. Grinning, he nonchalantly raised his hand to touch his lacquered hair. Glitter ice formed on the tree In Godfrey’s winter garde...

Shadorma is a Spanish 6-line syllabic poem of 3/5/3/3/7/5 syllable lines respectively.    If the mood takes you, you might link multiple 'shadorma.' Here are a couple of Shadormas I made earlier. Winter Winds Waves and wind Wrestle out to sea Tumble, crash Slap and smash A wintery encounter  The shoreline resists Lost in Transit Please help me It appears I'm lost This way first That way next No direction works for me In a circle constantly

As I have stated many times, poetry and wordplay are the best of friends. We should never pass up an opportunity to play with language. The more we practice, the easier it becomes. This poem contains a lot of action words. This is deliberate. Verbs are the muscles of writing- they do the heavy lifting. I have chosen words I frequently  hear used in everyday idiomatic language. I have quite deliberately tried to reposition them to deliver a different kind of message. I had fun creating a picture of Felix focusing on his somewhat questionable behaviour.  Action Without Traction  Felix was a fitness fanatic Who spent his days- Leaping to the wrong conclusion While  jumping the gun Racing against the clock And skipping meals Bending the rules And skirting issues He would throw tantrums And dash all hope Felix was spreading the word While catching his breath Bouncing ideas around And frequently stretching the truth In such questionable ac...

Cherita (pronounced CHAIR-rita) is a linked poetry form. It consists of a one-line stanza, followed by a two-line stanza, and then finishing with a three-line stanza. It can either be written solo or by up to three partners. Cherita is the Malay word for 'story' or 'tale.' The cherita aims to convey a story. It was created by ai li (A UK poet and artist) on June 22, 1997 in memory of her grandparents, who were renowned storytellers.  The cherita arose out of the English-language haiku and tanka tradition, but is more  narrative, in nature than are the 'momentary' haiku and the more lyrical tanka,  It uses images and depends on concise word use and suggestion for its effect. It can be written solo or with up to three partners each be being responsible for a stanza. A Cherita poem does not require a title, something that adds to its unique qualities.  The three separate stanzas are in effect 6 lines: a single line, a couplet, then a tercet. The line lengths a...

Last week I shared the poetry of the mysterious Brian Bilston, who has been called 'The Poet Laureate of Twitter.'  This week I have the pleasure of highlighting another Brian Bilston poem, 'Refugee.' The poem is contained in Brian's first book of poetry, 'You Took The Last Bus Home.' This very powerful poem is a technically brilliant example of a Reverso poem. A Reverso poem is a passage which can be read from top to bottom or bottom to top.  The poem will often express opposite opinions depending on which way you read it so it can really make you think.  A Reverso poem is like a picture turned upside down, a frowning face upended to reveal a smiling one. The poem read in reverse, contradicts itself with an opposing message. In 'Refugee' Brian Bilston focuses on a societal issue that tends to polarize feelings and the opposing views are clearly in evidence when the poem is read in both directions. Firstly, you are invited to read the poem ...