Rememberances Of Things Past...POW PROMPT 18

I parked in the shaded
laneway to Double Bay Beach
and thought of you
Here is where I met you all those years ago
a tall tanned beautiful blonde
eating huge slices of watermelon
juice running down your polished manicured nails
As it turned out, we were neighbours

I remember
being shocked at your multiple marriages
and then immediately decided to be your friend

I remember
you tipsy on New Years Eve
slow dancing with an American on stage in a cowboy hat

I remember
you in the early hours
wading in the harbour in your silver mini dress
an Anita Eckberg impersonation in La Doce Vita
much to the mirth of the local council workers

I remember
giggling and chortling holding on to the broken handle
of your Alfa Romeo to stop the door flying open
(which you never got around to fixing)

I remember
going to countless art exhibitions and openings
you, weighed down with diamonds and your expensive pedigree
stuffing smoked salmon sandwiches into your bag
Dancing at Arthurs

I remember
you,marching into the Police Station
insisting the Coppers drive us home
because your car was towed away with the dogs in the back seat

I remember
you, giving away the hotel towels to impoverished natives
on Vanuatu
you,almost being arrested at Denpasar airport for
wearing a temple scarf as a tank top
a young Italian waiter waving goodbye in tears
as you left Rome

I remember
you always being so welcoming to me
arriving on your doorstep uninvited
offering that delicious capuccino
and a sympathetic ear

I remember
your house that looked like the aftermath of Hiroshima
strewn with freshly ironed pillow slips, linen handerchiefs
and an ecritoire to write your morning letters on
courtesy of your mother who would only visit
if her cleaning lady had prepared for her arrival
the day before

I should have written

I never did tell you what fun you were
how inspirational your free spirit was
and what a good friend you were to me
You introduced me to fearless and reckless
I'm still wearing all the crinkled laughter lines
a legacy of all the hilarity
from those very exhausting but exciting years

I should have written

I have always been a failure
in expressing my feelings
in soundbites of spoken speech
And now it's too late
Too late
to tell you all of this
To thank you

I should have written

My life should be an exchange of hand written notes
Speaking is ephemeral
Spoken words are will o' the wisp
nowt but fleeting puffs of breath

I should have written

For The Weekend

Anyone remember "Steely Dan" ?

POW PROMPT 18

Sorry folks for disappearing. Computer repaired so hopefully all should be fine.

A PHOTOGRAPHER by Lily Brett

A photographer
asked me
to sway

while she photographed me
she though the movement
might be interesting

I stood
and twitched
from side to side

I pitched myself
to the left
to the right

a sad
spectacle
a sorry sight

loosen up
she said
I tried to be fluid

to bend
my knees
and move my head

until
she said
you stand still

and
I'll sway
and I knew

I was
a failure
at swaying

Lily was a failure at swaying. What are you a goose at?

QUEENSLAND....DOWN BUT NOT OUT

Sophie Monk is a bonny Queensland lass who likes to sing. This is a fairly typical Brisbane party she is performing at.Uninhibited lot they are. It would take more than a flood to dampen their (how should I say) spirit.

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What better music to hose out mud and clean up the mess to than Queensland's own Ricki Lee Coulter.They're a raunchy lot up there.A diet of bananas and Bundaberg rum gives you a lot of energy, I believe.

For The Weekend

ON SATURDAY AFTERNOONS IN 1963 ...RICKI LEE JONES

The most as you'll ever go
is back where you used to know
If grown-ups could laugh this slow
Where as you watch the hour snow
Years may go by

So hold on to your special friend
Here you'll need something to keep her in
Now you stay inside this foolish grin
Though any day your secrets end
Then again
Years may go by

You saved your own special friend
Cuz here you need something to hide her in
And you stay inside that foolish grin
When everyday now secrets end
Oh and then again
Years may go by

POW PROMPT 17

POWPROMPT:from "Clean Straw for Nothing" by George Johnston.
Incorporate the passage from the above novel into your poem if you like or just use the prompt as inspiration.

"...we had been given our own small version of Paradise...everything had been held in a long pause within the sea and the sand and the winds and the high sky,held in the sweet heat of clovered coastal fields, the lantana, the cool-shaded fig trees,the sorghum sweeps. Should we ask for more than this?"

See you here Wednesday.
Drunk For a Penny
Dead Drunk for Tuppence
Clean Straw For Nothing
( A London sign in Gin Lane
in Hogath's time )

The Fall

Is it enough
to walk through
clovered coastal fields
shaded by fig trees
to ride the white foam crest of waves
to watch lightning split the dark sky
to suck the pulp from ripe passion fruit
to watch a myriad of butterflies
raid the lantana bush
to revel in the peach smell
of the solander flower
to bury one's face in the dark pink crepe myrtle
to smell the first plops of rain
on a hot tin roof
Should we ask for more?
We all wear the mark of Cain
so we will anyway
except for the saints
Saint Rallentanda
the patron saint of contrariness
will ask for more on principle

FAREWELL DERRICK

Derrick has brightened up our lives on a weekly basis with his humour, generous comments,kindness, charm, good taste,musical knowledge,travel photos and delightful poetry. As I am first and foremost a musician I find it easier to express my feelings in music rather than in words at his decision to leave the poetry blogosphere.You will be very much missed Derrick.

POW PROMPT 16...ENDURANCE

WELCOME to POW 16. Link your poem in the comments section HERE.

My poem " Endurance " is based on a series of quotes and platitudes. Enjoy.



ENDURANCE

Sometimes
you can't worry about hurt
Sometimes you only worry
about where you have to go
says Barack

Do whatever it takes
Where's there's a will
There's a way
Ride the wave
Bite the bullet
Grit your teeth
Wear it and bear it

Courageous souls
are seared with scars
Suffering produces endurance
Endurance produces character
Character produces hope
says the Bible

Onward Christian soldiers
One of the things you do as a Bishop
is disappoint people
(true, you need a haircut, Rowan )
We were looking for the good shepherd
and instead we found the German shepherd
( Your words, not mine Ratzinger )

Stand and never yield
say the Men of Harlech
Cowards die many times
before their deaths
The valiant never taste
their deaths but once
says Will

Never
never
never
give up
says Winston

What does not kill you
makes you stronger
says Nietzsche
Perhaps
Perhaps
Perhaps
croons Doris

Perhaps rethink Nietzsche
says moi
Too late
Gasp
Morto
Amen

And The Rains Came To Queensland

Queensland is an area larger than France and Germany (combined)
80% of the state has been declared a natural disaster zone.

Flood in Toowoomba today
and moving south
Hang in there guys
Ride out the storm
A whole nation is thinking of you
Best start building the ark
The animals went in two by two
The elephant and the kangaroo
Gotta have a laugh
She'll be right mate!
Are you with me?

Next Day

Just watched the news
Guess it's not alright
Prayers flying in
from all over are trying
to dry out the moisture in the rain clouds

You've made a mistake la Nina
You're pissing on the wrong continent
You will never break our will
or make us yelp
Our larrikin humour
Our rugged strength
you will learn is not
harmless

Our fierce determination
will soak you up
like a giant sponge
Fuck off
God Save Queensland

A Piece of Cake

A piece of cake
is better than
a walk in the park
You don't have to move
anything except your mouth

For The Weekend

" Strictly Ballroom "

POW IS BACK

After being knocked out
in the third round
crushed to a squishy pulp
on life support for six months
POW has recovered somewhat
and is back almost fighting fit
If only on crutches:)
with a new logo

PROMPT:16

"What are those?"

"Leech marks," he said " From when I was in New Guinea. They crawl inside your army boots while you're hiking throught the swamps.At night, when you take your socks off they're stuck there, fat, with blood. You sprinkle salt on them and then they die, but you still have to dig them out with a hot knife."...

"Did it hurt?"

" Of course it hurt," he said taking a sip from the jug." Sometimes you can't worry about hurt. Sometimes you worry only about getting where you have to go."

Barack Obama.Dreams From My Father.

Leave the link to your poem in the comment section next Wednesday. ( Australian Time ). Looking forward to reading your poems.
Cheers and watch out for the postman!
Rall (who lives in your tomorrow.)

For The Weekend Perhaps!

Karaoke

I have discovered Karaoke. What fun!
" Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps "
I have also become a Doris Day fan!