A painting in a shop spoke to me the other day, it was enigmatic, the tenseness of the characters made me come back to it several times. A couple in a cafe. I wanted to try the reverse of the saying 'A picture paints 1000 words' so here's a sonnet -
A POEM PAINTING A PICTURE:
Still Life
Low watts in cornered light bulbs hide her clenched
left hand and unseen bruises form where knees
appear demurely placed to please entrenched
conventions. There, glare reaches in to tease.
Her shadowed back triangulates the contrasts,
colours draw the eye past clothes, to lips
that shimmer, partly open as light shone casts
focus on the way her smile slips.
He leans away as one bright finger points
out worry on his brow and strokes a line
diagonally down. A spark anoints
his wedding ring - that slashed round warning sign.
They met for drinks but guilt keeps them apart.
The painting hangs unframed inside her heart.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Thursday, April 28, 2005
sold
I went to town today and signed our place away.
Potential buyers fought and upped the price I thought
we'd get, by quite a lot. So now I'm on the trot
and checking houses every day. I'll limit what WE'll pay.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Potential buyers fought and upped the price I thought
we'd get, by quite a lot. So now I'm on the trot
and checking houses every day. I'll limit what WE'll pay.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Monday, April 25, 2005
My father
He's gone and only memories will keep
my father from oblivion - that hell
where, stripped of voice, death-rest is all we reap.
And yet he's here, for I remember well...
Insistence on high standards in all speech,
on logic, understanding 'what' and 'why'.
Yes, I recall his criticisms, each
a wing-clip meaning we soon yearned to fly.
He showed he cared with knowledge shared; it seemed
as though his mind was packed with filed facts.
A clever man, not hinting that he dreamed
for us or for himself - but that was Max.
He lay there lifeless in that coffin bed
but I can hear him still, inside my head.
my father from oblivion - that hell
where, stripped of voice, death-rest is all we reap.
And yet he's here, for I remember well...
Insistence on high standards in all speech,
on logic, understanding 'what' and 'why'.
Yes, I recall his criticisms, each
a wing-clip meaning we soon yearned to fly.
He showed he cared with knowledge shared; it seemed
as though his mind was packed with filed facts.
A clever man, not hinting that he dreamed
for us or for himself - but that was Max.
He lay there lifeless in that coffin bed
but I can hear him still, inside my head.
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Michael Barrymore, Gary McCormick, Tim Shadbolt
One week to go and then we have, two weeks of holidays.
I seem to wish my life away by counting down; it says
a lot about my attitude to work and time away
particu'ly the weariness that's settled in to stay.
But lately I have socialised a lot (for me) and been
to watch a famous travelling show, I dressed up, really keen
to see "Chicago" live and thought that Barrymore would mean
a top performance from a cast to match his brilliant scenes.
Yes, he was charismatic and the other leads were good
but all in all it wasn't great and "My Fair Lady" would
outclass it any day in my opinion. Could
the Napier Operatics go professional? They should.
Then Thursday night I sat upon a barstool laughing hard
at jokes that poured like spirulina, thick and fruity. Bard
and entertainer, Gary McCormick played his every card,
then Invercargill's mayor came on and both of them then sparred.
But now I'm on a downer, silly. That's what happens when
you spoil yourself and gad about and see a lot of friends.
The real estate 'for sale' sign is up; it's helped to send
5 buyers through on tours, so each night I clean till 10.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
I seem to wish my life away by counting down; it says
a lot about my attitude to work and time away
particu'ly the weariness that's settled in to stay.
But lately I have socialised a lot (for me) and been
to watch a famous travelling show, I dressed up, really keen
to see "Chicago" live and thought that Barrymore would mean
a top performance from a cast to match his brilliant scenes.
Yes, he was charismatic and the other leads were good
but all in all it wasn't great and "My Fair Lady" would
outclass it any day in my opinion. Could
the Napier Operatics go professional? They should.
Then Thursday night I sat upon a barstool laughing hard
at jokes that poured like spirulina, thick and fruity. Bard
and entertainer, Gary McCormick played his every card,
then Invercargill's mayor came on and both of them then sparred.
But now I'm on a downer, silly. That's what happens when
you spoil yourself and gad about and see a lot of friends.
The real estate 'for sale' sign is up; it's helped to send
5 buyers through on tours, so each night I clean till 10.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Easter
Easter was a time to tidy up around the place,
we cleaned and cleared and trimmed and dumped and sprayed. A hectic race
with time that made me stress a bit but now at last it's done.
The signs go up this week and now each weekend I shall run
the frantic race again for open days until the tenders
roll on in. My inlaws come- a hip replacement renders
men a little worse for wear, so they will stay with us
until the hippy trauma site recovers from the fuss.
Aside from heavy labour we had tea one night with friends
and planned to watch 'Chicago' live next Sunday and that sends
me into pleasant fantasies of jazz and Deco gear
so I feel well rewarded for my broken nails here.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
we cleaned and cleared and trimmed and dumped and sprayed. A hectic race
with time that made me stress a bit but now at last it's done.
The signs go up this week and now each weekend I shall run
the frantic race again for open days until the tenders
roll on in. My inlaws come- a hip replacement renders
men a little worse for wear, so they will stay with us
until the hippy trauma site recovers from the fuss.
Aside from heavy labour we had tea one night with friends
and planned to watch 'Chicago' live next Sunday and that sends
me into pleasant fantasies of jazz and Deco gear
so I feel well rewarded for my broken nails here.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Friday, March 25, 2005
Real Estate
We signed up with an agent (real estate).
Amazing that it took this long
to get around to it. I spent the rest of Easter
Friday cleaning, finding I was wrong
to think I'd hate the chores.
Virtuous is how I feel... but stuffed.
Tomorrow there is more to do but
my kitchen hasn't been so buffed
for years. Our place will be put up
for tender, there'll be open homes -4 weeks.
With luck we'll be all shifted into town
by mid July. And I'll have hollow cheeks.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Amazing that it took this long
to get around to it. I spent the rest of Easter
Friday cleaning, finding I was wrong
to think I'd hate the chores.
Virtuous is how I feel... but stuffed.
Tomorrow there is more to do but
my kitchen hasn't been so buffed
for years. Our place will be put up
for tender, there'll be open homes -4 weeks.
With luck we'll be all shifted into town
by mid July. And I'll have hollow cheeks.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Sunday, March 20, 2005
My Fair Lady
I've had a headache every day but gone to work and ...coped.
Every night I've thought "Tomorrow I'll be fine" and doped
myself with pills again. But Friday was OK. Exception to the rule.
I wandered town and occupied myself for hours after school
because I had a treat in store. A show to go to with a bunch
of other staff. "My Fair Lady" was the show and worth the munch
on half a Subway roll I had while driving there.
A teacher was a dresser and she took me backstage where
I photographed another of our teachers, dressed to dance.
He looked like any cockney boy (and loves to pose and prance).
I rushed to find my seat aware of costumes, dancers and
knowing, later, I'd see more in a tour we had planned.
I love that show, the words can almost roll right off my tongue,
I learned them while I listened to a record when quite young.
Even then I recognised the irony and laughed.
On Friday, laughed so much, my visibility was halved.
Eliza and Professor Higgens watched the film a lot,
they had the voices pat... and their humour hit the spot.
The premise of the story is an awfully clever thought:
that you can be whatever others want but never ought
to think that you will find your happiness that way.
You need to find companions who see underneath the play.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Every night I've thought "Tomorrow I'll be fine" and doped
myself with pills again. But Friday was OK. Exception to the rule.
I wandered town and occupied myself for hours after school
because I had a treat in store. A show to go to with a bunch
of other staff. "My Fair Lady" was the show and worth the munch
on half a Subway roll I had while driving there.
A teacher was a dresser and she took me backstage where
I photographed another of our teachers, dressed to dance.
He looked like any cockney boy (and loves to pose and prance).
I rushed to find my seat aware of costumes, dancers and
knowing, later, I'd see more in a tour we had planned.
I love that show, the words can almost roll right off my tongue,
I learned them while I listened to a record when quite young.
Even then I recognised the irony and laughed.
On Friday, laughed so much, my visibility was halved.
Eliza and Professor Higgens watched the film a lot,
they had the voices pat... and their humour hit the spot.
The premise of the story is an awfully clever thought:
that you can be whatever others want but never ought
to think that you will find your happiness that way.
You need to find companions who see underneath the play.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Friday, March 11, 2005
cars and carry ons
Today my daughter has my faithful black
Toyota FX 1.6 Corolla,
(she's paying for it with a loan quite soon).
And I have got a speedy little roller,
a Cynos coupe that makes me feel so cool.
My life is full of lovely little treats
and that is what helps balance out the crap
when I'm exposed to tempermental feats.
Today I had a teacher crying, saying
she felt as though she'd been under attack,
she took on board the message but the way
it was delivered left her reeling like a whack.
A week ago another pair insulted
each other and they needed mediation.
It's all a sign of pressure letting up
and health that lets them down... to confrontation.
Today a lady rang to about our place,
she took a tour last weekend and seems keen.
She asked a lot of questions then explained
she'd have to sell their house in town. I've been
tempted to go see her place...a swap
would be an easy option... who can tell?
I'll go and look although I must admit
two other places stack up very well.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Toyota FX 1.6 Corolla,
(she's paying for it with a loan quite soon).
And I have got a speedy little roller,
a Cynos coupe that makes me feel so cool.
My life is full of lovely little treats
and that is what helps balance out the crap
when I'm exposed to tempermental feats.
Today I had a teacher crying, saying
she felt as though she'd been under attack,
she took on board the message but the way
it was delivered left her reeling like a whack.
A week ago another pair insulted
each other and they needed mediation.
It's all a sign of pressure letting up
and health that lets them down... to confrontation.
Today a lady rang to about our place,
she took a tour last weekend and seems keen.
She asked a lot of questions then explained
she'd have to sell their house in town. I've been
tempted to go see her place...a swap
would be an easy option... who can tell?
I'll go and look although I must admit
two other places stack up very well.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
.jpg)
Monday, March 07, 2005
Mid Life Crisis
It's purple in a lovely blue-ish way,
the car I took a test drive in today.
It's sporty in a low-slung coup-ish style,
I signed a deal to buy it in a while...
(a towbar for our bike stand must be fitted)...
I'll soon be mid-life crisis auto-kitted.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
the car I took a test drive in today.
It's sporty in a low-slung coup-ish style,
I signed a deal to buy it in a while...
(a towbar for our bike stand must be fitted)...
I'll soon be mid-life crisis auto-kitted.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Friday, March 04, 2005
School caretaker's birthday
The Caretaker
Garth is turning sixty but you’d never guess; he walks
a hundred miles a day around the school and hardly baulks
at tasks - although the toilet rolls that block the loos might bring
a jaundiced sigh and grumble as he does the “caretake” thing.
Garth’s the man behind the scenes who saves the day a lot,
He’ll break a cupboard open if your key you clean forgot.
He’ll get his trusty jump-start kit when engines fail to start…
With jaundiced sigh and grumble he will play the “caretake” part.
Garth will always guard his shed with vigilance. Who’d dare
to take a cloth or cleaning fluid? You’d spend your life in fear.
He measures each container, knows the volume left within,
his jaundiced sigh and grumble means your deed’s a “caretake” sin.
Garth is turning sixty and he’s got his jumper leads,
he’s got his shed of secret tools, he’s done enough good deeds;
he’s claimed his seat for cups of tea at our round table so
I now propose we knight him as Sir Garth, Caretaker Pro.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Garth is turning sixty but you’d never guess; he walks
a hundred miles a day around the school and hardly baulks
at tasks - although the toilet rolls that block the loos might bring
a jaundiced sigh and grumble as he does the “caretake” thing.
Garth’s the man behind the scenes who saves the day a lot,
He’ll break a cupboard open if your key you clean forgot.
He’ll get his trusty jump-start kit when engines fail to start…
With jaundiced sigh and grumble he will play the “caretake” part.
Garth will always guard his shed with vigilance. Who’d dare
to take a cloth or cleaning fluid? You’d spend your life in fear.
He measures each container, knows the volume left within,
his jaundiced sigh and grumble means your deed’s a “caretake” sin.
Garth is turning sixty and he’s got his jumper leads,
he’s got his shed of secret tools, he’s done enough good deeds;
he’s claimed his seat for cups of tea at our round table so
I now propose we knight him as Sir Garth, Caretaker Pro.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Sunday, February 27, 2005
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.jpg)
art deco flappers
Last week I went to Napier
to see the annual crowd
who flock to dress as flappers and
adorn the streets. No dowds
would dare to speak against them,
so many in the swing.
I really want to join the throng-
next year I'll do my thing.
I talked it out with girlfriends,
next year will be a week
of Deco madness, flapper fun
so now we'll have to seek
out costume bits and pieces -
the gloves, the head gear, shoes...
The men just wear a white shirt
and braces, who'd refuse?
We also go to rugby
sevens; we can wear
our glamour outfits there as well
and look great, never fear...
the people in the cake tin stands
are dressed in any gear,
so long as we look festive
or crazy, none will stare.
We all wore soccer outfits,
(Madrid's team, white and sharp)
My own had 'Beckham' on the back
and so I made my mark.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
to see the annual crowd
who flock to dress as flappers and
adorn the streets. No dowds
would dare to speak against them,
so many in the swing.
I really want to join the throng-
next year I'll do my thing.
I talked it out with girlfriends,
next year will be a week
of Deco madness, flapper fun
so now we'll have to seek
out costume bits and pieces -
the gloves, the head gear, shoes...
The men just wear a white shirt
and braces, who'd refuse?
We also go to rugby
sevens; we can wear
our glamour outfits there as well
and look great, never fear...
the people in the cake tin stands
are dressed in any gear,
so long as we look festive
or crazy, none will stare.
We all wore soccer outfits,
(Madrid's team, white and sharp)
My own had 'Beckham' on the back
and so I made my mark.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
electric fly swat
Staff meeting was the cream on top
of 'What a day'... I want to chop
the head off every man I meet. But now
I'm laughing and I must allow
I've lost the urge to snap. The lot
are idiots! Mine bought an electronic fly swat! What?
A raquet-shaped fly swatter that
is strung with wires. They go splat
and fry each fly you swing at. Men!
They watch the fly then spark and burn
but will they ever even learn
a swatter only needs to kill?
This version has an extra thrill.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
of 'What a day'... I want to chop
the head off every man I meet. But now
I'm laughing and I must allow
I've lost the urge to snap. The lot
are idiots! Mine bought an electronic fly swat! What?
A raquet-shaped fly swatter that
is strung with wires. They go splat
and fry each fly you swing at. Men!
They watch the fly then spark and burn
but will they ever even learn
a swatter only needs to kill?
This version has an extra thrill.
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS
AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS
SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
Saturday, February 12, 2005
The Mission Estate Winery, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
The venue for the Mission Concert where Rod Stewart is playing tonight. 
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