As poets we must endeavour to practice being keen observers of our world as well as our personal relationship with things within that world.  We learn much from reading the words of fellow poets and the way they rise to meet these expectations. This poem is for Billy Collins who possesses a masterful ability for keen observation of these critical considerations and has taught me much.  'Good poetry can penetrate your writing like smoke gets into your clothes.' John Poch Adoration of Things In My World - For Billy Collins   Late in the afternoon As I strolled along the beach I found myself infatuated With piece of sun-bleached driftwood. Later on While walking home along the reserve I fell in love with a butterfly Resting on a bougainvillea And the frenzied flight of rainbow lorikeets.   Back home in the kitchen I felt a yearning for a cup of Earl Grey tea And a growing passion for the last Tim-Tam In the pack. I have previousl...

Ideas are all around us... They often reveal themselves when we sit or stand still in any given place and take time to indulge in a little close and considered observation. Look and learn moments.  A walk of some 300 metres from my back gate along the reserve to the beach delivered this poetry moment on a winter's walk back in July. It reflected a small, yet notable part of that day's events. As poets, capturing small moments others pass by, forms a significant part of our existence.  I have been waiting to share it with you... Morning Mist  Over Fisherman’s  Beach On this grey, winter’s morning Mist spreads across the bay wispy like cigar smoke  It settles just above the water’s surface Hanging like a stage curtain  Over Fisherman’s Beach Cloaking the horizon with an air Of mystery and intrigue. This perfect backdrop for pirates, smugglers Or secretive sailors, -A haunting morning Complete with shivers. I stand at the shrouded shoreline Peering at the sea ...

I have for many years encouraged teachers to not only share their writing, but also the process they undertook in safely landing those special words on the page.  It is vitally important for inexperienced student writers and poets to be shown the tricks up the magician's sleeve, thus answering that enduring question- How did you do that? The poem, 'Poembrew' hopefully shines a little light on my own particular process when writing poetry. You may see yourself doing a number of these things as well, as you prepare to go about your writing. Our personal writing process is a unique undertaking. At the same time it may also involve some universal actions and thoughts that hold the potential to assist young poets to better navigate the writing terrain.  So, let me take you to one of my worlds where I am reading aloud 'Poembrew'  -a poem from my most recent anthology, What The Poemster Found.' It is once again Poetry Friday and our host, the talented  Bridget Magee  b...

Clogyrnach Poems Besides being another intriguing word to say 'clogyrnach ' is also a poetic form, both challenging and engaging to write. A  form of poetry, Welsh in origin, typically a six-line, syllable driven stanza with an ab rhyme scheme:   Line 1: 8 syllables with an a rhyme Line 2: 8 syllables with an a rhyme Line 3: 5 syllables with a b rhyme Line 4: 5 syllables with a b rhyme Line 5: 3 syllables with a b rhyme Line 6: 3 syllables with an a rhyme So when I stumbled upon it recently, I thought I must try this. My desire to meet this new poetry challenge was compelling. Here is my Clogyrnach Poem.   The Wind On A Winter's Night A winter's night, without the moon The wind directs the fall leaves -swoon It rattles the doors Shaking trees, it soars The night roars Wild tunes. ©Alan j Wright It is once again Poetry Friday and our host this week is Irene Latham . Irene is exulting all things autumnal in her post.Please call by to find out...