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

Shared Footprints Autumn

colleen Poetry 10/03/2019Autumn 2018, Colleen Keating, Michael Keating, Shared Footprints, Two sets of Footprints

Our special Ginko walk a seasonal walk along the beaches The Entrance, Blue bay and Toowoon Bay. Michael and I will make this season walk the first week of each season for the following year and note the changes.

AUTUMN March 11th 2018

TWO SETS OF FOOTPRINTS

MK two sets of footprints
crisp on the washed sand
autumn beach walk

CK on the horizon
shelf of thick cloud
dawn lingers

MK edge of the ocean
elements in balance
cone of awareness

CK autumnal sun
catches the wet sand
our mirrored world

MK gulls saunter
pattern the sand
we ease past

CK olive-green seagrass
buzzes with insects
fresh from the ocean

MK warm touch of sun
gossamer seaweed
dart of swallows

CK the blue-grey heron
forages alone
we curve around

MK photographers in position
board riders at play
wait for the moment

CK near the headland
hang gliders colour the sky
autumnal breeze

MK step through this autumn morning
extras on stage
accept our transience

CK with incoming tide
two sets of footprints
are gone

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)

My New Cousin by Jacinta Van Eyk

colleen Poetry 17/01/201918/01/2019Ethan Michael, grandchild, Grandchild's poem, Jacinta Van Eyk, My New Cousin, New baby, Writing a Poem

My New Cousin

by Jacinta Van Eyk

Ethan Michael

is my baby cousin.

He is brand new

with the cutest eyes

and a wriggly body,

wrapped up in a blanket

light blue.

When I arrive,

he is sound asleep.

We all have a little peep,

and then I get to hold

and cuddle him.

The best is when he lies on me,

opens his eyes for me to see

their deep blue colour.

He stretches

and gives little sighs.

When he gets hiccups

it makes me laugh.

I wish I could be there

to see him have a bath

Writing a poem

for Ethan Michael

by Colleen Keating

in the wee hours of the morning
you stir. . . you are on your way
like a bird from a long migration
you are arriving

as dawn sprinkles its first lights
across the sky i am awake alert
to morning bird song and wait
you are arriving

before noon on a bright summer day
you begin with a first breath
your heart a fluttering bird
you have arrived

i look into your eyes
that carry other worlds
not forgotten yet by this world
and grasp the beauty and terror
of the journey

you are the living sign of our joy
a part of us of this world
nested with calm acceptance
of loving arms and familiar voices

for the artist your hair shines dark
crystallised ebony
your skin the touch of a bird’s soft down
your eyes the deep of ocean-sapphire

for the poet there are no words
just wonder and awe
but like the soar of a lark ascending
writing a poem is my flight of love

(Ethan Michael is our 11th Grandchild born 11/01/19)

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

My New Cousin

Book Review