The Society of Women Writers NSW

Ring the Bells by Colleen Keating launch at State library NSW

colleen Poetry, Ring the Bells , , , ,

 

The Launch of Ring the Bells – a new poetry collection by Colleen Keating 

Cathedral bells chimed as Libby Hathorn held high my new poetry collection Ring the Bells and declared it launched. 
It is a delightful feeling to have your new work officially out in the world.

Thank you to the award-winning author and poet Libby Hathorn for the launch and for our  conversation,
poet to poet, about our passion for poetry, its efficacy and inimitable power. 

 I spoke of the four pathways into which my collection of poetry is divided: 
embracing light, embracing dark, embracing life, embracing love.
Also how poetry writing is my creative energy, my passion and daily sunrise.

 Thank you to all who attended. It was affirming to have a full house at our Society of Women Writers monthly meeting .

Thank-you to Debbie Lee and Ginninderra Press as publishers. Thanks to Rita Shaw for the chiming bells
at late notice and  thanks to my daughter Sarah  Little  for her help in the creative power point presentation . 

Our conversation finished with a word of advocacy for poetry.  Speaking mainly to writers 
I quoted the American poet Mary Oliver, who inspires us with her mantra:

“Pay attention, be amazed and write about it.”

Colleen Keating

“Bells tolling and poetry on the air– a wonderful launch of Colleen Keating unique poetry collection Ring the Bells  (Ginninderra  Press , The Society of of Women Writers NSW Inc at State Library NSW  – a tintintabulation Australian Colleen Keating 2025”  Libby Hathorn

A lovely catch up at the Society of Women Writers NSW  Meeting  at State Library NSW

          

             

 

Tolling Cathedral bells in the background.

 

Women’s Ink; The Society of Women Writers NSW. In memory of a black summer by Colleen Keating

colleen Poetry , , ,

Very honoured to have my poem  Memory of a Black Summer chosen to be published in Women’s Ink Summer 2023., the quarterly Journal of the NSW Society of Women Writers.

The theme was ‘Climate – the heat of the moment’and my summer poem fitted right in.

Thank you to the editor Jo Shevchenko and to the President Maria McDougall for a very affirming year .

CLIMATE -THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT

In memory of a black summer   

 We had the experience but we missed the meaning.  

    – TS Eliot

the cicadas ring earlier 
morning birds call earlier too
and then become silent

the summer ritual of each day –
carrying buckets of water 
to top up the bird baths

is quickly appreciated
there seems an orderly queue 
no boisterous bickering today

as if there is bird protocol
we all need to preserve our energy
for these days are solemn

so much loss   so much to mourn  
so many birds   so many mammals  
insects and living worlds lost

the smoke-laden air 
can hardly be breathed   
the  ashened sun masked

our summer of people fleeing 
livelihoods burn 
metal buckles

people rescued from beaches 
refugees in their own country
we fear 

we dread 
we are in pain

for ourselves and our traumatised earth
even the south pole 
ash-blanketed     melts

our carefree boxing day 
of cricket    tennis   yacht races 
is carefree no more 

I continue my summer ritual
of topping up the bird baths early
the birds fly in 

then sipping at the edge
keep nodding  thank you  thank you
as if they know I’m watching

 

Colleen Keating