Winter has settled in to place in the southern hemisphere. Damp and cold days predominate.Winter doesn;t have a large circle of friends, but it does draw lots of attention. If pluviophile is a new words to you, then I hope you are curious enough to check it out. It's a word just perfect for winter.  As the rain fell down into the street, it baptised me in the process and a winter poem rose from the puddles forming on the footpath.  Umbrellas Are Pluviophiles It rained most of today A signature winter day Consistent, soaking rain Made everything sodden, damp and dank The neighbourhood dogs refused to go for a walk The cats, displeased Chose to sit by the window and sulk My old mate, Roger Was seen dodging puddles large and small Because there’s a hole In the sole of his favourite boots By contrast the umbrellas Were most pleased for the outing Rising to the occasion While popping their eye-catching tops. Alan j Wright It is Poetry Friday once more and our host this time ...

  Southern Australia is now deep into autumnal days. We are experiencing what John Keats eloquently described as the 'Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.'  Our mornings are slightly cooler, the air crisp and clear. Afternoons, warm with gentle sunlight and the absence of wind. Flocks of white cockatoos have returned to feast on parkland grasses and the ever fitful twittering of rainbow lorikeets resounds from surrounding treetops, while lemons and olives ripen slowly in the garden. The ocean's surface at nearby Fisherman's Beach is smooth like freshly ironed sheets.  Over the next week, as we close in on Easter, April will deliver five consecutive days of above average temperatures. More to savour. Autumn is my favourite season as you might well notice.  So here are my autumn offerings. I'll leaf it there... Notes From Inside Autumn   We are sitting inside Autumn's edges The light,less harsh. The sun, Warm for the season, Delivers a block of mellow days. Au...

It seems strange to be writing a poem about a summer time phenomenon during the Australian winter, but poetry sparks have no comprehension of time, They just arrive and the writer must be ready to  respond.  The poem I am sharing has taken time to marinate having landed some weeks back, launched on the wings of a cross cultural word that refused to be denied. I have it heard it land in my conscious mind and it would not go away. And so I thought, I read, I listed my findings and then thought some more before the words presented on the page. My poem has since it initial composition,  undergone further refinement and polishing on my computer. My message for young poets is this...  When an idea lands, hold back a little on the  urge to write. Allow your words to gather slowly. Explore your ideas and gather your very best words around you first. Read, research, think, talk, then think some more, before you take up the pen. It is with a strong sense of satisfaction t...

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 ...

In my home state of Victoria, Australia, we have just emerged from a prolonged Covid 19 lockdown surrounding the greater Melbourne area. We are cautiously stepping back into a world of slightly relaxed settings. After experiencing times where there were in excess of 22,000 active cases, we are now registering days of zero infections. After being in lockdown for months (for me since March 17th) we Melbournians are out in the world again, be it nervously. It feels strange to encounter so many people walking about on the street (mask wearing is mandatory) and to see so many cars on the road.  There is a fog of unfamiliarity about certain routines. It is good to experience these increased freedoms, but I find myself watchful and trepidacious.   This morning I had a sit down coffee for the first time in many months!  The sun was shining. The air around me was warm. Summer is nigh in the big south land.    Beyond my pandemic ponderings, it is summer that fills my...