DESERT VISION

DREAM DELIVERY

2009-05-31T13:26:33+02:00

Last night I had the strangest dream
clear as day I gave birth
to a baby girl
I held her in my arms
and tried to form a name for her
how can a dream be so real?
and what does it mean?

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I'M BACK

2009-05-17T13:31:48+02:00

been a while since I've blogged
not much to say
haven't felt like it
just plain busy I guess
maybe facebook, twitter and wikispaces have taken over

and relationships, family and work crowd out the quiet

poetry takes effort
time to pause and reflect
energy to listen to an inner voice
and love to assemble its message

an art form
a dance with the unknown
both within and without

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WHAT NOW

2009-03-11T13:38:59+01:00

alone
home
the phone
sits silent
while
TV flashes and blares
its
violence
across the room

outside
the darkness
hides
as headlights flash
through windows
and race
across the gloom

muscles ache
I scrape
against the chair
lying, tossing
rasping
shallow breath
stare

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CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS 1

2008-12-07T13:49:06+01:00

in attempting to create a local
interpretation of a Christmas tradition
I drove out of town
and searched the dry scrub for
a nicely shaped mulga tree

when the foliage dies all the branches
curve to a point at the top
giving it a very satisfying shape
with a
stark rustic spiritual quality
but that's the bush
here in central Australia

and I think as I strip back all its
little twigs
that this one I'll paint white
and put in a bright pink pot

it looks nice
I'm pleased with the little aussie
bush chrissy tree

now I've covered it in lights
orange balls and purple tinsel

a vague acknowlegement to the ochre soil
and mauve mountain hues

of my little town
here in the desert

merry christmas

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ohmygosh

2008-12-05T13:52:06+01:00

crap
meaningless twaddle
self-important ponderings
of someone with nothing to say

that's how I feel
about writing in this blog
today

maybe tomorrow
inspiration will shine
through the murky
brine

i pray my soul
hasn't slipped quietly
away

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OK I'm back

2008-11-20T16:13:30+01:00

new job
too busy
to write my little poetic pieces
every thought so concentrated
no free ones have got away
or had a chance to play

maybe soon
I'll get a break
and get away

but hey
it's all good
as they say

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HELL

2008-09-28T13:29:01+02:00

is one of those words
that make you shiver
another world
where you're delivered
if you're bad? or
is it here on earth
a consequence of every choice
chaos we bring on ourselves
like a sub prime mortgage burst

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BEAUTY

2008-09-10T15:23:48+02:00

in the airs crispy sparkle
of life surging slow mo through springs first shoots
appearing greenly flaired from pruned dead wood

in the airs sweetly waftings
of breeze bearing orange blossomy buds

while spading out weeds wandering sneaky creeps
the sleezy opportunitists of
spring!

(Spring in Central Australia)

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SURFACE

2008-08-19T13:44:17+02:00

you're looking good
on the face of it
but all the stress
rests in tense knots under the
surface

just let it out
express the doubt
those honest needs and
fears

share
in candid prayer
from open heart
and let those others
you are so strong for
be also there for you

be free and real
and truly feel
let all that is old
become new

(for my Mum)

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TELL

2008-07-30T10:08:54+02:00

a time to speak
to risk comfort, safety
fight off fear
self-preservation
and shame
enter the game
cause opportunity is
here!

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DOUBT

2008-07-22T13:28:28+02:00

where is he
it's late
the dinner plate
sits full
waits

the door
shut against the night
its quiet, alone

the phone
rings

its him
on his way

face blackened
from dusty
track

back
home

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EARTH

2008-07-03T15:17:01+02:00

winter air crisp
the sun
shares its crystal rays
play
lovingly on
earths wounded
arms
leafy palms
upward to the sky

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LIFE ON THE RUN

2008-06-26T11:08:42+02:00

where's the fun
here in the desert sun
when you talk with one
who can't see
the beauty...
shimmering air glinting off
red rocky rises, gaps and escarpments
leaves lolling lazily
across sandy river beds
the lands black feet walking still
remembering
a time when roads were nil
and whitefellas hadn't spilled
across their sacred land
when life wasn't planned
scanned and graded
into channels of control
now police patrol
tared streets
and black feet
keep
the rules
while we break theirs
it seems there's no breaking
through and
cultural walls
stall relationships new

yet in the suns shimmering heat
the country's still alive
with languages that understand
its rhythms, lands

as the sands of time run out

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CUT IT OUT

2008-06-12T13:25:45+02:00

that ugly bit
that's hanging over
hanging out

draw a line and
redefine
my life
remove the strife

and let this heavy
burden
hit the bin

and let my life
begin
again

(dedicated to Leys - may the pain be short and pleasure forever)

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LIGHT

2008-06-09T14:12:39+02:00

has come
purchased at LIGHTS'R'US
and finally with overshoulder illumination
I can READ instead of watching TV
a world has re-openned
time expanded into unfettered
opportunities for growth and discovery
during nightly couch sitting episodes

today it's 'wisdom of the elders'
a monumental book by
David Suzuki et al about the alternative world views
of Indigenous peoples
how these perceptions are not the naive tales
of dying races but relevant and potent wisdom
for today

and guess what 'Earth7'
is nearing its end!
nearly time for nature to clear the table
and start again

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CELL-FISH

2008-05-29T13:22:11+02:00

clog arteries
invade the mind
absorb all attention
feed the
I

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ONE MINUTE POEMS

2008-05-18T04:40:29+02:00

...catch your breath
inhaled like your last
thought
a feeling
caught
in words

a stream of living cameos
until your
death

a fallen
rose

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WHY

2008-05-10T12:17:07+02:00

can't you believe in me
and stand by my side
trust my judgement
and show some respect
sure challenge and warn
but don't push me aside
when I hit a wall

cause it seems to be those
times when I need you the most
that you stick in the knife
leave me and boast
of your own prowess

yes,
it'll be hard to trust you again
but another day will no doubt come
when smarting pride heals
and friendship returns
as we come to terms yet again
with our own humanness

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ON TOP

2008-05-02T12:09:43+02:00

now but not
always the case
fallen from grace
basket case more likely

yet after it all
each round, each fall
seems somehow to pan out
and flouting the odds
turn out alright

and what the key?
surely not me
but some kind of desperate
unshakeable faith
that somehow
attracts a higher grace
that respecting the weak
gives leg up to
those the world freaks
out at
disposing of quietly
turning away
with nothing said

its those who stand in good
stead
with some deeper, wider
older wisdom
that doesn't respect schism
between rich and poor

but rather's a power
standing in wait
at each poor heart's door

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'HIGGA MACIAH'

2008-04-25T13:44:24+02:00

...my grandfather cried out
to the old soldiers
passing by

'higga macia' they replied
higga macia g', he shouted back
'higga macia g wa' they replied

the air electrified
with emotions, memories and
mateship raw -
my mother saw!!
clinging to his only leg
spellbound by his battle cry
above Melbourne's ANZAC crowds
lining the streets
as the 23rd battalion passed by

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SHADOWS

2008-04-16T14:37:19+02:00

...behind you
cannot see
dark unforeseen
parts of me
a flicker here
a gesture there
warnings that
something
stares right back
when you turn away
what was that
did I mean to say

or did it just come
out the wrong way

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THE OTHER

2008-04-07T12:15:39+02:00

over there
so different yet he breathes the same air
as me
we
are one

but other
not one thing in common
I wonder?

why the attraction
we stare blankly
in wonder
trying to understand

till he takes my hand

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KANGAROO TALES

2008-04-06T11:33:39+02:00

highly recommend this new blog ...

kangarootales.blog.co.uk

Ali (blogger) is off to present at the National Writer's Festival in Victoria soon
Her witty stories and insights give powerful voice to what it is to be an Indigenous Australian

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ali goes a blogging

2008-04-02T06:24:50+02:00

...look out for a new blogger online
an Australian writer/poet soon off to present at the
National Poetry Festival in Castlemaine (Victoria, Australia

this is a demo blog for Ali!
apologies readers

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SORRY, BUT FRIDAY'S GOOD

2008-03-21T14:51:46+01:00

today
good friday
we spent sleeping in
a lazy dip in the pool
hot cross buns and brewed coffee
in the shady cool...
then we pondered house plans
for the new block of land

this evening - fish - salmon grilled and spiced
a nice day this friday
very good
very nice

I'm tempted to feel guilty
but no, I decline
a prayer for others will have to do
cause it's my turn this time....??

Sigh
nope, it doesn't work
I still feel guilty

HAPPY EASTER

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SHRIVELLING

2008-03-07T09:11:54+01:00

inside
malnourished
dry
I try
in vain
soul spirit wasting
away
mmm
what to do
I'm talking to You
what is needed?
I should know
a quiet moment
alone
reading, hearing, searching,
ploughing, digging, knocking
seeking, asking, crying out
shouting
loudly grabbing back
your attention
by
giving you mine
oh that's right
I remember
why

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oN THe eDGE

2008-02-25T14:09:37+01:00

'tween sea and sky
man and his tools
with hunter's eye
at peace
alone
finding
losing
renewing...himself

(sacred men's business)

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SLEEPLESS

2008-02-12T16:39:21+01:00

it's late
can't sleep
mind restlessly slips
from thought to thought
caught in its own web
like a spider
in bed
stuck on sheets with its sticky feet
fleeting, flying thoughts
tease and sweep
within reach
tense turning
over and over
the covers crease while the overhead fan
scans the suffering scene
like a copters drone
or a huge insect, prone
hovering within reach

too much imagination is bad for your health I reckon!

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DOG'S LIFE

2008-02-05T02:09:42+01:00

here I lie
content
around me people
walk past
step over
talk
paint
the phone rings
voices chat
occasionally
I get a pat

Dedicated to the dog on the Art Centre floor
Warlukurlungu Artists - Yuendumu
www.warlu.com.au

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NO TV PLEASE

2008-02-03T13:00:29+01:00

it's on again, and again
its volume monotonously droning on
stories and people seem more and more
the same
I'm scared for my brain
memory recall seems to be going down the...
age to blame - nope I think it's just the TV

so here I am with the black box on my lap
on the couch with my man
uploading to my podcast, blog and checking my mail
next I plan to grab a little scrabble online
and give the grey matter a jolt
time to holt the backward spirallying
TV lame

(tried to get a game of Simpsons Monopoly going with my nephew but no batteries - shame)

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