The recent snow storms in New York evoked memories of my six years living and working out of the city that nevers sleeps. Until moving to New York snow had been something of a rarity. The nearest snow fields being a three hour drive from my coastal home near Melbourne. To experience snowfall measured in feet was beyond my experience.  The blizzard of 2006 delivered in excess of two feet of snow and my wonder and awe was off the scale. I felt compelled to write about the experience at that time and also took multiple photographs. Poets respond to the world around them. This incredible natural event was not to be denied. My response at that time employed a classic rhyming structure (AABB) with four line stanzas. I only occasionally write in that style these days. I feel compelled to recover the poem and share it before it melts... Snowstorm Scenes in New York The city, wrapped in twilight's quiet glow, Became a blur beneath the falling snow. New York, so loud and restless just ...

  This week I am travelling back to the prose poetry form. I delved into my ever expanding collection of prose poems and booked these four travel themed poems to share.  The benefit of travel is that each time you strike out into the wider world, you are rewarded with stories. Such rich pickings for those of us who poet... Prose Poetry From The Travel Zone Brief Pelican Encounter A woman holidaying in Florida endured a frightening collision with a pelican which flew into the side of her face while she was swimming. The woman’s cheek required 25 stitches. The pelican died. Fox News in their usual sensational reporting style ran a headline declaring 'Pelican Attacks Woman In Florida.' The woman from Ohio thought the pelican may have mistaken her for a fish.Fin. Alan j Wright The Ubiquitous Bob Marley In London they say you are never further than eight feet from a rat at any one time. In the Caribbean you are never more than eight feet from the sound of a Bob Marley song! Bob may...

I readily indulge in wordplay whenever the opportunity presents. I have no shame when it comes to puns, idioms and other word gymnastics. It's all about having fun and I find poetry as a most willing host. On this occasion I'm playing loose with anatomical attributes while indulging in a few monstrous manoeuvres. You could say I'm performing a version of the monster mash! Making Frankenstein’s Monster  Model Number 25 Let’s begin with A head in the clouds And the hair of the dog A few brainwaves Add the eye of the storm  A ton of cheek One sticky nose Ears of corn A stiff upper lip A sharp tongue And a cold shoulder A pat on the back The long arms of the law A little elbow grease The hand of fate A slap on the wrist Fish fingers Butterflies in the stomach The bee’s knees A leg of lamb A leg of ham The foot of the bed Two left feet Turned up toes And finish with a heart of gold.  Alan j Wright It is Poetry Friday and our host this time is  Robyn Hood Black. Robyn pre...

 The new school year is underway across Australia. It returns each year while summer still rages across the breadth of our island continent. That first month is both exciting and challenging for all. In keeping with the topic, here are 3 poems encapsulating the various moods of the school playground. They are part of an extensive collection of school themed poems in search of a publisher...  Whispers From the Playground There was a buzz in the playground at lunchtime today Everyone was huddled in groups Talking in whispers and mumbles Mischa said that Michael and Lynda told her That Siraj and Tony Heard Annabel and Charlene Telling Tiana and Sienna That the story everyone is talking about Involving Arlo and Tyrone and a packet of biscuits Just isn’t true… Someone, They’re not sure who Made it up Just to stir up trouble And make mischief.   Listening to all this I found myself totally confused What’s the story? …and, who the heck is Tony? Alan j Wright ...