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 ...

In this post I present another recently invented poetry form! I'm looking closely at the Viator poetic form, first created by author,  Robin Skelton. The rules are fairly simple: The poem has four stanzas, each of four lines The first line is a refrain and that refrain appears as the second line of the second stanza, third line of the third stanza, and so on for however many stanzas the poem has... The final line of the final stanza being the refrain. My poem deals with matters so  clearly connected to current times and the concerning rise of autocrats.  Sometimes as poets we feel moved to adopt a stance as either resistor, observer or commentator on world events. These became words refusing to be trapped inside, sheltered in silence. Thank you, Viator for loaning me your structure! The Uncivil Acts Of Autocrats Thin skinned egotists Prevail in these times With endless outrage and fragile self-importance. Bizarre statements from Thin skinned egotists Seeking vengeance Upo...

It was BOOK Week in Australia last week and while Covid tried its hardest, it couldn't dampen our collective spirits for books and all things literate.  So, while I couldn't visit schools in person,  I was able to contribute and be part of the celebrations with on line sessions reading poetry and presenting a range of poetry forms for young poets to try for themselves. I read some poems from my books and also presented some more recent poems- freshly made, still warm!  The idea was to share the good news that ideas for poetry are all around us. Anything can become the focus of our poetic attention. We must try to become observers and curious explorers! Here are three of my latest poems about a range of matters.  Poems that have bubbled up while trying to remain creative in these Covid times.  Hope you enjoy them... It is once again Poetry Friday and our host this week is Heidi Mordhorst   at ' My Juicy Little Universe .' Heidi's post focuses on a number of ...

  Inspiration comes in many forms and from many places. Often it comes from merely going about our daily lives and making close observations. What did I see today that I want to respond to with words?  Inspiration can also come from what we read. It is said, you cannot be a writer/poet unless you are a reader. I strongly believe this is true. My reading life is rich and varied, quite consciously When I read 'Forever Words -The Unknown Poems' by Johnny Cash, I discovered his poetry and the poetry in his lyrics. The poems within reveal the depth of his understanding of the physical world and the emotional world.  He shares both the frailty and strength of the  human condition. As I read, I heard his unique voice and intonation. Cash's verse demonstrates for the reader his ability to reflect upon universal themes such as love, pain, freedom, and mortality. Most  people know him for his music. With these poems I got to know him for his broader talent as a poet....