POEM IN MAY

colleen General 28/05/201904/06/2019autumn, Dylan Thomas, Jane Austen, John Keats, little Miss E, Ode to Autumn, Poem in May, Poem in October, Pride and Prejudice

Michael and I taking a “turn in the shrubbery” as Jane Austen recommends many times in her writings. For us it meant a walk around the block . . . but what beauty to behold

POEM IN MAY

“Season of mist and mellow fruitfulness /close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; from John Keats Ode to Autumn

Autumn 2019 has been the most beautiful autumn ever. For me that is because the summer warmth has lingered. And so the colour has given us its rich glory in somewhat balmy days.

Sometimes I wonder how many more autumns will my eyes behold and can they get any more crisp and brisk and sweet in harmony of tone and memory.

If the colours of autumn were music notes

the sound would be a mellow humming tune

with a back ground of bird song crickets and frogs

and our wonderful powerful owl

that comes to perch each evening

on the cedar tree

that brushes against our kitchen window.

We have been vegging (defined as to relax in a mindless way) on Jane Austen this past week

and enjoying Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. (Hugh Grant)

We have two copies of Pride and Prejudice one with Colin Firth as Darcy It was a BBC series and went for hours and one with Matthew Macfadyen and Keira Knightley.

For Jane Austen, back then, “taking a turn in the shrubbery” is a way of moving both literally and metaphorically “in the proper circles.” In making this daily circuit, women observe the boundaries of taste and convention; reconcile past, present, and future; and redraw the lines of social connection.

For Austen and for her characters, walking is a habitual part of daily life. In letters written in 1805 and in 1806, Austen says, “we do nothing but walk about” and “we walk a good deal”

Hence in accordance with our Jane Austen motive, Michael and I have ‘taken a turn in the shrubbery’ . . . . that is a constitutional walk around the block and heaven was in the oak trees at the end of the street. The crunch of leaves under foot and the sprinkle of leaves that fell silently around us like confetti with their aura of colour, They fell silently and obediently at the slight whim of the air and the still quiet press of the branches.

In Dylan Thomas’ wonderful Autumn poem it was his thirtieth year to heaven hence he can speak of being in his summer at noon watching the autumn colour around him.

I would like to say I stand here in summer noon though all below me lay leaved in Autumn blood but I would have to say to be truthful, I stand in autumn time with it leaved all around me still singing my name in the sky , still falling like tears and leaved with autumn blood under my feet. But his next sentiment I sing with all my heart, he marvelled his birthday away up on the hill looking down on his town bathed in October blood (October of course because it is Wales that is his autumn: here it is May I am standing in right now, writing this)

O may my heart’s truth

Still be sung

On this high hill in a year’s turning. from Dylan Thomas Poem in October

The coloured leaves I carried with me . All the music of an octave.

Out the windows

Music in the colour. Little Miss E and my heart ringing for joy . . . Beauty is all around

Our Local Bush Walk

colleen General 06/05/2019Australian Bush, Bush Walk, Cedars, Forest bathing, Pocket of air, Red Gums

Our Local Bush

We are very blessed by walking 10 minutes from our home we enter this wonderful pocket of bush a remnant of Eucalypts, especially the wonder of Red Gum and cedars , The second layer makes a pocket of rainforest environment with its Tree Ferns, Palms and Bird Nests . There is the relaxing sound of the tinkling of water, examples of sandstone and a bridge to walk across the creek.

Here is an opportunity for Forest Bathing . The quiet restfulness and many shades of green is special. I once called it my air pocket for survival . Today 5 years since we moved here and first discovered this bush it is just as wonderful

new bush track

moving house means searching
for new wilderness
like a miner after an elusive air pocket

following a green area on a map
hidden by development
encroached to the edge
behind an old scout hall
a brambly track
winds me down
through a sandstone escarpment

the dawn-sun plays into the hands
of eucalypts stretched
to seek the light
yet their search for meaning
being found more in their roots
symbiotically curled around sturdy rock

here dew tipped casuarinas sparkle
here grass trees verdantly splurge
as if their whole purpose is to shine

self important the palms push upwards
like screaming rock stars

honey birds swing on rusty gold banksia
magpies warble
in the whip cracked air

this is the australian bush
how it pulls me in

through the trees i glimpse a waterfall
and marvel to think it has always been here
carving musically into the heart of the earth
it has sung its song for eons

it is the human in me that delights
nature just is in its own world
whole unto itself

it doesn’t even know I’m here
and there is a loneliness in this
yet lost from the world
i am found
and to the cadence of nature
i dance

Colleen

Earth Day. A Celebration – Saving the Jacaranda- copy

colleen General, Poetry 23/04/201923/04/2019Earth Day, Elizabeth Keating-Jones, jacaranda, Mary Reynolds Thompson, Neil Gaiman, Rachael Carson, saving the jacaranda, Silent Spring

To celebrate Earth Day I choose to reprint a poem I love from my first poetry collection, A Call to Listen. It is a true story of a group of workers in our local council. A model to save trees wherever you can for the life they support, for the beauty they give, for the fresh air they make, and for their healing presence in our lives.

Thank you Mary Reynolds Thompson for your inspiring email . . . a reminder for me to act today.

It was on an autumn walk I learnt the old Jacaranda tree that I loved was under threat. It was in the way of new pipes. The pipes about 2 metres in diameter were being dug in and the gorgeous old Jacaranda was in the pathway. The next day there was an arborist directing the men down amongst the roots gently digging out the soil. The pipe was placed in underneath the roots. Then in November, 6 months on there it was, in full glory . . thanks to those who had worked to save it.

jacaranda_tree

saving the jacaranda

the line for the new concrete
drainage pipe
runs under the massive old jacaranda

meticulous to protect its roots
day after day the council men
ratty and mole in fluorescent yellow
dig a man-made warren
wide and deep

exposed roots
stretch and coil like dark bearded monsters
from a tenebrous underworld
smelling earthy airless damp

then overseen by an arborist
a crane lowers the pipe into place
and this private world is reclaimed

a year on
standing before its gnarled trunk
on a lilac path
i am corralled in its aura
of blossom-laden branches
and i rejoice with the breeze
in whispered mantras

And thank you to my daughter Elizabeth Keating-Jones sending me Neil Gaiman’s poem in honour of the Scientist and researcher, Rachel Carson (1907- 1964 ) who is the inspiration for Earth Day after the new enlightment the world was given with her book Silent Spring (1962)

Society of Women Writers April Meeting

colleen General 23/04/201923/04/2019Pattie Miller, Society of Women Writers, Sue Woofe, SWW, Var, Varuna Writers' House

A fresh Autumn morning . I set out by train for the city to attend the monthly gathering of the Society of Women Writers. ( SWW)

Each month it is held at the State Library of NSW over in the Dixson Room in the original Mitchell Library. And being a Friend of the Library I enjoy a coffee and some quiet space in the Friends room before hand

This month Pattie Miller lead the workshop .

and luncheon with the key note spesker as Pattie again on the topic of

and a very interest talk with Libby Hathorn and the first release of her new children’s book Miss Franklin .

It was a very pleasant gathering and Pattie as always very informative

One of the exciting unfolding pieces of information Pattie Miller held up the new Stella Award book An Erratic life by Vickie Laveau-Harvie . Pattie was excited as Vicki had been on e of her students . I was excited firstly for Vicky winning such a prestigious prize but that I had spent the week at Varuna

Society of Women Writers – Workshop with Patti Miller

colleen General 23/04/201923/04/2019memoir-writing, No woman is an island, Patti Miller, Society of Women Writers, Truth-telling

It was a very helpful and informative workshop at the State Library of NSW with Patti Miller. She titled it,

The Difficulty of Truth Telling in Writing a Memoir

No woman is an Island.

We are all part of a family, a circle of friends, work groups, socail groups, – sport, religion, interest, hobbies.

We have a truth – a different truth for each different group.

We become socialised to know what truth to tell to each group.

When we sit down to write a memoir things come to the fore . . .1. We don’ want to hurt the other, family, friends. 2. It might change the way people think of us. 3. There is pressure to be nice, 4. Pressure to keep the peace. . . be the angel in the house.

Yet without feeling free to tell your truth the memoir will luck genuine authenticity.

Some hints to Tell the Truth and Survive

The tone of your voice. Not what you say . . . it is how you say it. Not bitter, not accusing , not a rort for revenge, not a statement for a statement’s sake . It must be like a velvet glove slipped into context.
Put it all down in Draft one not to show but it gets a lot of angst out of you and it doesn’t have to be published.
Remember it is your truth, your opinion, your perspective.

We then workshopped our own writing beginning

My . . . . . . . would not want me to write about . . . .

We did not have to share it, but the brave souls who shared . . .showed us the power of truth – telling.

Earth Day. A Celebration – Saving the Jacaranda

colleen General, Poetry 23/04/201923/04/2019Earth Day, Elizabeth Keating-Jones, jacaranda, Mary Reynolds Thompson, Neil Gaiman, Rachael Carson, saving the jacaranda, Silent Spring

Thank you Mary Reynolds Thompson for your inspiring email . . . a reminder for me to act today.

jacaranda_tree

saving the jacaranda

the line for the new concrete
drainage pipe
runs under the massive old jacaranda

meticulous to protect its roots
day after day the council men
ratty and mole in fluorescent yellow
dig a man-made warren
wide and deep

exposed roots
stretch and coil like dark bearded monsters
from a tenebrous underworld
smelling earthy airless damp

then overseen by an arborist
a crane lowers the pipe into place
and this private world is reclaimed

a year on
standing before its gnarled trunk
on a lilac path
i am corralled in its aura
of blossom-laden branches
and i rejoice with the breeze
in whispered mantras

White Pebbles, Autumn Meeting 2019

colleen General 13/03/201919/03/2019Autumn walk, Beverley George, Edogawa Japanese gardens, Gosford, Haikuists

White Pebbles, Autumn Meeting 2019

The poet of ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’, John Keats, would be proud of our group of Haikuists taking an autumnal walk around the Gosford /Edogawa Gardens on the Central Coast this past Saturday 9th March 2019. We were aware of the concept of ichi-go ichi-e, the Japanese idiom ‘treasuring the unrepeatable nature of the moment.’

Our happy band meets four times a year for our ginko; with Beverley George our leader and present were Kent Robinson, Verna Rieschild, Marilyn Humbert, Maire Glacken. Samantha Hyde, Colleen Keating with an apology from Gail Hennessy

Beverley commented how lovely to see our group growing and developing over the past year.

white pebbles march 2019 — L to R: Marilyn Humbert, Kent Robinson, Maire Glacken, Beverley George, Verna Rieschild, Colleen Keating, Samantha Hyde

We began our morning with a welcome coffee and catch-up on the café patio sharing some newly published work and thoughts from our ‘homework,’ – a handout that Beverley emailed earlier to help us prepare.

We spent about forty minutes contemplatively moving around the garden, walking, sitting, pondering, jotting down thoughts and ideas for haiku writing; some of us lucky enough to have a haiku readily unfold to us.

beverley in park

A quiet moment, Beverley George

Lovely to sit in the open tea room overlooking the white pebble beach, the koi and ducks performing in the pond as usual. Cheeky peewees and plovers and a solitary whip bird added to the delight of our morning.

We are privileged each visit to enjoy a quiet working space in the Art Gallery precinct and we gathered at a great round table to share our writing. We marvelled at the rich and varied takings from our observations. I feel sure we all feel encouraged and affirmed from our sharings.

We left inspired in our haiku writing and look forward to our next winter meeting.

Some stayed to enjoy the choices from the delicious lunch menu in the café.

Report by Colleen Keating

Stop Press; Hildegard is journeying well.

colleen General 10/03/2019Ginninderra Press, hildegard of bingen, Poetic Journey, Stephen Matthews

tulip bud in Liz garden

The birth of my new book Hildegard of Bingen: A Poetic Journey like this fresh bud moist with morning dew is being birthed.

It was exciting to receive the manuscript from Ginninderra Press for my first read and edit.

Stephen and Brenda Matthews, from Ginninderra Press have worked very sensitively with my manuscript, that was accepted by them last year for publication.

Every step has its mix of excitement and challenge.

Now for the decisions about cover and blurb.

hildegard

Hildegard receiving one of her visions .

This photo is taken in the ruins of Disibodenberg where Hildegard lived for nearly 40 years, firstly in an anchorage which opened up to become a convent as more girls and women even widows asked to come and live. Michael took this photo of me sitting in the area which is thought to have been Hildegard’s Kapelle.

Some of the items from Bingen that helped to inspire me on my writing journey.

Love is Powerful by Thomas Keating-Jones

colleen General 18/02/2019Love is powerful, Power up your green heart, Thomas and our planet, Thomas Keaating-Jones

There is hope. Just read Thomas’ s latest poem .As a poet myself, I am so proud of my Grandson 7 1/2 year old Thomas. His poem is a healing for our planet. I think you will agree with words like this, there is Hope .

Love is Powerful

When rage is too powerful to overcome

Love is the one who steps forward to take its chance to change.

The universe greets life with the most powerful force –

Friendship and unity

As together they create something that’s alive.

It cannot be replaced

It cannot be destroyed.

It can be forgotten and that is the danger!

So power up what you love most

to bring the Earth to health.

Power up your green heart.

Power up your blue heart.

Power up together to face the rage and destruction.

Our planet is worth it to protect our nature and its wonder .

Thomas Keating-Jones

Image 18-2-19 at 3.20 pm (2)

A New Review of Fire on Water in Tamba: A selection of poetry and prose

colleen General 31/12/201801/01/2019Fire on Water, Goulburn Valley Writers Group, Helene Castles, Review of Fire on Water, Summer 2018, Tamba A Selection of Poetry and Prose, Tamba Journal

Book Review

Fire on Water by Colleen Keating

Published by Ginninderra Press, 2017

Winner of silver award for Poetry 2017 Nautilus Book Awards

Highly commended, Society of Women Writers Society Poetry Award 2018

Keating Cover

The poems of Colleen Keating are divided into seven sections, yet when I read Fire on Water the 84 poems came together, as if each held a link to the other.

Darginyung, a short poem at the beginning drew me into anticipation of a follow up on the indigenous story and the understanding of that story by the poet, as evident with:

the didgeridoo its spirit/ circles the hollowed wood’. In forgotten warriors, in the section titled ‘Lie of the Land’ Colleen asks: is it a dark forgetting’ and the important question ‘dare we disturb our complacency’. Other poems on the subject make it clear that the poet is not complacent.

A meditation – in search of Hildegard of Bingen takes Colleen deep within herself to discover the presence felts so strongly amongst the ruins. Not a cared-for monument but a place for a true pilgrim, rough, so personal to the writer, ending with joy, as: ‘her muddy hand-made sandals make me laugh’. I didn’t read the back cover or the acknowledgements, to stay fresh for the poems, so that I would not be influenced in my responses, but it didn’t surprise me to find that in search of Hildegard of Bingen was a finalist in the Dame Mary Gilmore Award, for the 90th Anniversary of the Society of Women Writers, NSW 2016: Hildegard is here/ I do not flinch I expect her’

I went to the internet to search. I found Hildegard and knew that the poem had already told me her story.

farewell beautiful home is written about a time of life- style change, where down-sizing is the next step. Nostalgia, questioning, thoughts of the sounds of the surrounding bush and the: ‘conversation’ of each room in their family home of forty years .

As with many of the poems the last line is positive : ‘now space for a new story’.

The process of decluttering , the brutal choices of what to throw away, is shadowed by a sudden strange idea that the writer would ask nothing more of her poesy. It wasn’t the first time. In out of a black sea looking through her window into the darkness, Colleen: ‘questions the point of writing anymore’. The sun then slowly rises and reaches out to her ‘with tiny blissful pieces of inspiration’ . Doubts may creep in, but i can see and hope that there will always be new poems waiting to be revealed to Colleen Keating , that she can share with us all.

Reviewed by Helene Castles – Shepparton East Vic.

Summer 2018 Goulburn Valley Writers Group Inc.

Thank you Tamba and thank you Helen Castles for a very affirming Review. Your dedication to poetry and writers is very much appreciated.

Share this:

There is hope. Just read Thomas’ s latest poem .As a poet myself, I am so proud of my Grandson 7 1/2 year old Thomas. His poem is a healing for our planet. I think you will agree with words like this, there is Hope .

Love is Powerful

Book Review