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....

Even in the middle of an Australian summer, grey days present. In door days. Days perfect for rummaging and exploring. Days made for book looks... And so this poem has arisen from searching through the books contained in my personal library. I found ephemera secreted by various readers, myself included. Such is the randomness of discovery. Go in search of treasure fellow poets. See what it sparks... Things Found Hiding In Books what motivates the hiding of ephemera among the words composed by others? the secreting of flimsy slips of memory laden paper between the pages of books. solemn offerings  in some randomly chosen volume of poetry -a recipe book,  -a mystery story… these pages capable of cocooning a secret. pages,  entrusted to hold selected offerings. these guardians patiently awaiting some future reader to come calling, rummaging perhaps. the book plays custodian across an indefinite timespan, before fortuitously revealing once more to the light a long held treasu...

 Autumnal Offerings Autumn giveaways Golden vestments Shed  Alan j Wright

In his 1954 poem, '13 ways of Looking at a Blackbird,' Wallace Stevens wrote thirteen short verses providing different images of blackbirds.  Michelle McGrane adopted a similar stance in writing her poem 'Thirteen Ways With Figs' where she wrote 13 slightly longer stanzas.  Looking at a particular  object from different perspectives  we learn to trust the images that offer themselves up. I decided to imitate the style of these earlier poets to inform my own poetry writing. I chose as my subject the enduring image of a large oak tree that stood in the yard of our family home, when I was growing up. I have modified the format of the earlier poems slightly, choosing to use seven, three line stanzas. The lines possess a consistent brevity. Oak Tree Perspectives Shade giver,  Backrest For a young reader Autumn giveaways Golden vestments Shed  Time resistor  Gnarled weathered skin Mossy trunk Climbing frame Lookout spot For spying eyes An acorn carpet B...

New VIDEO, Read Aloud of the poem- ' Summer Comes Rushing' taken from my most recent anthology, ' What The Poemster Found.' Enjoy...

 'In our lives we need both the comforts of repetition and the delights of change and they need to be in balance. Too much repetition means a routine of dull habit, of closing out the world. Too much change and we lose our centre. The same principle applies to poems that use repetition.' Kim Addonizo and Deborah Laux, 'The Poet's Companion : A guide to the Pleasure of Writing Poetry, 1997'   Repetition can be used in a variety of ways: A word is repeated at different points. A phrase is repeated. One line is repeated throughout the poem. An entire stanza is repeated. Many times, repeated phrases or lines come at the beginning and end of stanzas or poems. The repetition of words become an echo; a familiar melody running throughout the poem. Here is a poem by English poet John Rice that uses repetition and rhyme to good effect. ON SOME OTHER PLANET On some other planet  near some other star,  there’s a music-loving alien  who has a green estate car  On some o...

This week I'm focusing on food. Well, not just this week, if the truth be known.  Food is a universal theme in our respective lives and a favourite topic for writers and poets.  I love cooking and as a consequence have written extensively about all things culinary. When we know a subject well, it tends to feature strongly in our writing frame.   For me food is a continuing theme for my poetry. Sometimes it features in reflective tones, but at other times I have an inclination to  indulge in a bit of food fun. Here are three poems concerning food related matters. A poetic snack, an appetizer for you to enjoy. I urge you, fellow poets, to serve up some foody, flavoursome words... SOMETHING SIMPLY GRUESOME Something simply gruesome  Is sitting on my plate I can't identify it It's simply far too late Something really gruesome Is pretending it’s my dinner With a shape and smell Straight from hell -It's not a dinner winner Something quite obnoxious Is waftin...

Here is my reading of the poem, 'Summer In The Hills- Monbulk Memories' from my 2016 anthology -'I Bet There's No Broccoli On The Moon' made possible by my recent visit to Monbulk, where I spent my formative years. -my fortunate years. It's Poetry Friday and this week's host is Carol from Carol's Corner, who is highlighting the concept of being 'woke.' Carols sees it as being aware your surroundings and challenging how we strengthen our relationships with the government, with community, and nature.To be woke is to fight for your civil rights, and the rights of your neighbors... To be woke is to understand that equality and justice for some is not equality and justice at all. We must stay alert. We must ask hard questions. We must stand for what is right, even when it is difficult and scary. Carol presents the poetry of three young female poets who have collaborated on a book suitably titled 'Woke.' A laudable pursuit... You can find out ...

  A Rispetto, an Italian form of poetry, is a complete poem of two rhyme quatrains. Rispetto, (Italian for respect) plural rispetti, is a Tuscan folk verse form. The Rispetto has a rhyme scheme of ABAB (first quatrain) CCDD (second quatrain) . In its earliest form the rhyme scheme was usually abab abcc. Later, the scheme abab ccdd became more prominent. However  other variations can also be found. The form reached its pinnacle of both artistic achievement and popularity in the 14th and 15th centuries, particularly in the work of Politian, who is said to have written some 200 rispetti.  Earlier this week I returned to my childhood town of Monbulk. Scouted around my old  haunts for a few hours, quietly reminiscing. Spent some time rewalking the old track through the forest beside the Sassafras Creek. As boys we caught rainbow trout, blackfish and yabbies on our regular visits. The old wooden bridge over the creek has met a sad end. There was a time when we rode our bik...

Alliteration is the repetition of the initial consonants of words.  It involves the use of the same letter or sound at the beginning of a series of closely connected words.  Alliteration does not depend on letters but on sounds, so 'Kerry came' is alliteration, even though  the words start with different letters. The word -alliteration is derived from the Latin word, 'Latira'. It means 'letters of alphabet'.     If you have had experience with tongue twisters, you've met alliteration. ' Show Shawn Sharon's shabby shoes.' is an example of alliteration. Alliteration is used by many writers and poets as it adds style to the sound of the words.  British poet, Michael Rosen believes literary elements like alliteration possess secret strings that sew the selected words together. I really enjoy using alliteration. In fact, I have to guard against over using it at times, such is its appeal to my ears. In the poem below, I have deliberately liberally ...