​THE HAIRY VIOLINIST
This one has a special air.
He looks familiar, I have seen him somewhere
His movements have an animated sway 
Dresses in tails but the frayed cuffs, give him away

Quite at home, pouring his soul into the gutter
This part genius, this part nutter
The hairy violinist on his wooden box,
This musical dichotomy, this…paradox.

The air fills with Verdi, Ravel, clanging and toots
Even on this chilly morning, his notes penetrate the suits.
For they stop and stare throwing coins into his case.
Why is he not in the Hall?
This maestro with his pavement base/.

But he continues to play without a care
He does look familiar, I have seen him somewhere

TUESDAY
Ommmmmm...
Peace ….calm
It must be Tuesday.

My head unfolds into yoga mode
Limbs twist and contort in weird positions
Momentary calm.
Then they come
Thoughts and objects hurl through my brain
Like the stuff in a hurricane
Let them go
Let them go/
Eyebrow centre…candle flame
More objects, more thoughts.
Rust in the car, finish the painting, kids, plant shrubs.

Ommmmmmmmmm…

The head empties
Eyebrow centre …candle flame
Another thought stumbles past
Tonight’s meal, don’t drink too much.
De-clutter life.

Eyebrow centre
Ommmmmm….
Candle flame
Eyebrow centre
De-clutter
Peace, calm

Ahh Tuesday
Ommmmmmm…

THE SEVERING OF THE CORD
I have been thinking again, 
Won't it ever cease?
I’ll be on the slab 
Before I find peace/

I am wondering about the severing of the cord,
If it was all an illusion?
A sleight of hand by the Lord,
Just to add to the confusion.

It hasn’t been through the lack of trying,
but I just get into strife.
They will have to be dead or dying,
 before I get a life.



LEGO BLOCK DREAMS
I search deep into the black hole with scrutiny
What reasons for this…. Mutiny?

My things …….being torn apart at the seams/

For there goes the Car, the babes and
the Lego Block Dreams.



KILL ALL THE ANIMALS IN THE ZOO
Why is it so hard to find the solution?
We defecate in our own back yard 
adding to the pollution.

God made it perfect 
with his own hand
yet we now ruin 
the air, the sea and the land.

Where do you draw the line against the kill?
When you say, ‘save the whale’
Well, what about the krill?

To you what brings on the emotion?
Aren’t they all the same?
those things in the ocean

All creatures great and small
in Gods eyes, they’re all tame 
the short and the tall.

We now eat crocodiles, emus and kangaroo/
Why not just get on with it and 
Kill all the animals in the Zoo/



THAT IS THE LAST FISH YOU WILL GET OUT OF ME/
I refuse to pander to their vanities any more.
Not a fish, nor a lemon, a mountain or a shore.
I cant prostitute my brain or brush any longer.
As I whip the body the urge gets stronger.
forget everything, risk the fate
and finally then and only then can I truly create?

Poetry 8 .


MY SON MY SON
‘How do I look Dad’?
I look up from the paper.
Oh my God he is wearing a frock again/
What do I tell him?

He should have grown out of it by now
after all, he is twenty.
Where is that Maurice Balsam book
on child rearing?
Probably at his mothers
Yeah, it’s all her fault,
pampering him too much
and those bloody ballet lessons
Having two older sisters didn’t help,
perhaps I should have had him first.
Was he like this before 
we split up?
I mean I am a good role model,
I’ve got to be 
I am his Father after all.
Should I have kicked the footy with him
more often?
Hmmm I hate footy/

I look up again
He does look gorgeous
“son I think the little red
off the shoulder number
 would look far better with those
 heels’./
Poetry 6

ANGELS BREATH

Oh love, oh love of Angels breath
You have come to me again in the middle 
of this terrible night.
Just when I thought I would never need you again.

Oh love, nibble on my lobes
lap my nape.
tongue my toes

I feel the blood rush
my knees go weak
but ahh/
Wasted again/ 
Wasted again/

Love oh love of Angels breath
this time
 you were nearly real

When will you be real 
When will you be real/


APHRODITE ...THE TENDER TRAP.
I call on you Aphrodite
Goddess of love and beauty
Come tend my needs 
Fulfil your duty.

You were born on the white sea foam
You rode the waves on a shell
can't you see how I am all alone,
deliver me from this Hell
I like you have had many loves 
I know I have tried.
Yet you seem to rekindle the spark 
When mine has died.

But you loved again and again
You spread your wings, 
Show me how…… Aphrodite
Teach me things.

You could cool my heat
 and blow me gently to shore.
You could release me from these wants 
and not need love any more

But it is all too late 
I’m destined to this fate

So Aphrodite ravish me
With your gorgeous white flesh.
Engulf me…
entangle me in your mesh

Come straddle me….cover my face
and let me drink 
from your, special place.
That crack
where Adonis and Ares Fell.
Intoxicated by your juices, 
I too 
Will drown in that well/


WAR, HEAVEN, HELL AND A CUP OF TEA

WAR WAR WAR WARRRRRRR/
War, you Whore /
You Freaking Whore/
You rape and maim/
You mutilate/
And then some more.

God turns his back for a while
and You devour every living thing
The flower, the air, the breath/………the breath///

What Hell for these walking dead.
Surely there must be another Hell
For those…
Warmongering, profiteering
Bomb-making sons of bitches/

Do they have Mothers?
Do they conceive...or are they the devil incarnate?

God remembers again.
And everything is alright for a while……. until the next cycle
There must be something.
Heaven?..... Hmm/
Those poor poor suffering bastards.

Its all a bit much really so
I turn the television off
And make a cup of tea.


THE LONE SAILOR
Just when I think I have reached port,
the wind fills my sails.
Together with the current and tide
they pull at my vessel
in opposing directions.
I wade through this cerebral,
a cornucopia of contradictions.
They come in floods, inundating my brain.

Do I pull down the Sails and go with the current? 
Or tack off into safe water and never, ever know. 



BEYOND THE VILLAGE AND UNDER THE SEA.
I know a better place for me
it's beyond the village 
and under the sea

to get rid of all that stuff 
in my head
all that stuff
I really dread

 rid the Catholic Guilt
and other accumulated silt
I shall go with dreams 
and scoff what sanity deems

so bury me deep
and bury me free
beyond the village 
and under the sea

the answer to 
all my wishes
to swim alone
with the fishes

THE BIG PICTURE
At last the big picture is getting clearer
The bridges of my mind have been crossed
The barricades fall with a breath 
and now
the slab does not look so cold
For death is no longer the enemy
I embrace it

No more procrastination
Forget the destination
and on with the journey.
Now is not the time to reflect
Now is the time to live/
(repeat twice daily until the swelling goes away)

 ALONE IN HER ROOM AND THE MAN IN THE MOON

SNIP SNAP…YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BACK
SNIP SNAP…YOU GAVE IT ALL AWAY AND YOU CAN’T HAVE IT BACK/
Now you are alone in your room with the man in the moon/

The cat nervously eyes the nearly empty bottle. 
Conditioned to the ritual about to take place and knowing full well the warmth of his mistress’s Doona will soon be over.

In due course, the profanities begin.

She targets objects in the room. Anything from the eclectic decoupage of memories bluetacked or pinned to the wall, furniture, paintings anything…anything to vex or venom on.

She staggers to the end of the bed, knocking some of the accumulated flotsam to the floor. She takes a swipe, with her forearm at the mirror… some filth clears, enough to see just part of her image. She stares awhile at the battered woman in the glass, then to the girl in the photo on the wall…..then back again.

The cat’s head moves back and forth with hers.
 Her arms move up and down as if to fly.
 Her head weaves from side to side.
 Her sobs come in great gulps.
 She resembles something like “the dying Swan” only way more pathetic.
Then the Voices begin.

Snip-snap
“Shut up” she screams.
Snip Snap…you can't have it back
“Stop it” she spits.
She holds both hands to her ears but the voices continue.

Snip Snap...you can’t have it back.
Snip Snap…you gave it all away and you can't have it back
Now you are alone in your room with the man in the moon.

She senses the cat is laughing at her. She hurls the now empty bottle. Marmaduke, whose eyes have not left her, does not have to leave the chair, her shot is wide and the window breaks.
He decides to seek refuge under the bed anyway, happy in the clutter.

The clouds clear and the room, now moonlit, takes on a very surreal mood…each object highlighted by the moon glow.

She lies back in her bed and pulls the doona high up around her neck.

The voices have now stopped.

She turns to her man….her Man in The Moon.

She murmurs…

“I will get it back/
I will get it back”

 THE FAT CATS GRIN
Pay packets strew the gaudy carpet like confetti /
Lemons, Kings and Crowns,
spin before their mesmerizing eyes.
The Fat cats grin.

What sad, sad silly fools,
that pollute their own beds and poison their Children.

and the Cats get Fatter.

Where is the new Christ 
to throw “ The money lenders from the temple?"
Forgive them for they know not what they do?”
Some do/

And the cats gorge their prey/





 

Annie was down by the river doing some repairs to her raft when her father called out to her. Her father seemed to be in a bit of a hurry and anxious.
Annie left the raft and met her father halfway up the river bank.

‘Annie, I have been called out to the fires on the Black Hill Range. I just received word on the CB Radio; the Country Fire Authority needs every available person to help.


 A big wind is picking up this afternoon and changing direction.The fire will head this way. 
Your mother should be back from town any minute. 
Our essential items are stashed on the veranda. 
You grab anything you feel valuable to you from your bedroom.
You and your mother are to go to the assembly area at the football oval in Bracken Town and wait for me there.’

‘But Dad what about the animals?’

Annie’s Mum and Dad, Marie and Charlie Walsh were vets who had a practice in Bracken. They also cared for any sick or injured native animals on their animal rescue farm. Annie was the main hands-on carer. She fed the animals daily,cleaned their pens and cages, and also changed their dressings.

‘Annie, you have to be a big brave girl and do as Dad says.
 You will not have much time. I know Mum will be here any minute. I have to head off to the Black Range, which is in the other direction. It will all be okay’.

Annie's Dad gave her a big hug, then jumped into his ute and sped off down the Black Hill Range road.
Annie went to her bedroom and chose a few things. Her favourite jeans and a hat that was given to her by the Park Ranger were stuffed into a back pack. Two hours went by and her Mum did not arrive. Annie tried not to worry about her Mum but was worried about the amount of smoke that was in the air. 
The wind had changed suddenly; she could see that the smoke was thick. The caged birds were squawking. Annie was now very concerned.
Annie went straight to the pens and cages at the side of the house. She had named the animal enclosure, ‘Annie’s Hospital’. Annie had painted a sign, so everyone knew all the injured animals and birds were there. She let out the budgerigars and the magpie. The magpie, a mature female nicknamed Maggie, had had a broken wing from some crazy guy with a gun. Understanding the cage door was now open, Maggie jumped around for a while. It was like she did not want to go. She stood at the entrance, then landed on the ground. Shewalked up and down, then started to flap her wings. With just a few flaps she rose a few metres, then perched on the red tractor. In no time she was off, flying low at first then gradually gained height. She did a circuit around the olive grove then a flypast as if to say goodbye. Annie was very relieved that Maggie was well enough to fly.
'Well, that is one less I have to worry about.’
Ned, the draught horse, was her favourite. Ned was very old and way past any use on any farm. Annie had ridden Neddy bareback since she was very little. Hehad been in the paddock for as long as Annie could remember, but this was no time to be sad.
‘Neddy old boy you are going to have to fend for yourself. Go on, I have opened the gate ...off you go’.
Kanga, an Eastern Grey Kangaroo, was a joey when he first came under Annie's care. Kanga's mum had been hit by a car and was found on the side of the road. Fortunately, Annie's Mum knew to check to see if the kangaroo was a female and then if there was a joey in its pouch. There was a joey and it was very much alive. Annie loved caring for that joey, but now was the time to release it. Kanga was a good year old and had to learn how to fend for itself. Annie wanted to cry but toughened up. She did not look back, as Kanga jumped off into the bush.
She released any other animal that she thought might have a chance of surviving. The echidna with the broken leg, the flying fox that had just had cancer removed, the juvenile hawk, the dingo pup were not well enough. The pelican, the black swan, the white cockatoos and the black cockatoos were not fit to fly.
There was only one thing to do.
Annie hitched the trailer to the tractor. Annie had been driving the tractor under her father's watchful eye since she was eight...she was now a big ten. 
‘I hope I don't get into trouble,’ she said to herself.
Cage after cage was lifted onto the trailer. She used a trolley and the wheelbarrow when the cages were too heavy, and tied all the cages and boxes to the raft.
The Bracken River could be a raging river after heavy rains, but at the height of summerit was very shallow. It was just deep enough for the raft packed with all the animals to float. The Bracken River went all the way into Bracken town then eventually emptied into the sea. Bracken town was Annie's destination. 

When Annie was tiny, she went by boat into town with her Dad. The river had a lot more water then. She knew which way to go...or she thought she did.
Annie tied the cages together as best as she could. Some of the birds that Annie had released, decided not to leave and perched themselves on top of the cages.
There would be one more addition. She went back to the animal enclosure and unhooked her sign. She tied it to the cages. Annie thought she would just add one more word . The sign read ‘Annie's Hospital Ship’ Annie was quite pleased with herself.

Annie waded into the water and tied the lead rope around her waist and said out loud ‘here goes nothing ‘...and nothing it was.
Annie tried with all her might to pull the raft. The raft did not move. It was way too heavy. Annie tugged and pulled and gritted her teeth, but nothing happened. She was about to cry when she heard a neigh...it was Neddy. Old Neddy had returned. 
'Oh Neddy, are you here to help?'
Neddy gave another neigh.

Neddy, the old draught horse, knew exactly what to do do. After decades of pulling ploughs and carts and hauling trees, Neddy instinctively stood in front of the raft.
Annie tied the rope to Neddy as best as she could. With minimal effort for Neddy, they were off to Bracken Town to find her Mum and Dad.

Although the air was full of smoke, Annie felt safe in the water. She had no idea how long it would take to get into town. Apart from a few fallen branches, the river was reasonably clear, but overhead the wind was raging and very noisy. The animals chatted to each other, calming each other down. 

Annie rode on Neddy's back, patting him and told him what a good boy he was. After what seemed several hours, it started to get dark.
‘Oh well, it’s time to make camp,’ she said to the animals.

She had packed bags of seed for the birds and all sorts of food for the other animals. She had bread and cheese for herself. It did not feel right to light a fire, so she just snuggled up into her sleeping bag. Annie was quite used to the night noises of her animals as they were used to her. Being so tired, she slept very well. (maybe say? - she fell into a deep sleep?)

It was the red rooster that woke first. 'Oh shush Red’ said Annie. It was too late, she was now wide awake and so were the other animals and birds, as they started to make their morning noises.
'Who wants breakfast? ‘  sked Annie.
Annie went about filling their bowls with water and feed.
After breakfast, she said, 'Okay Neddy, here we go again.’ They continued along the river as they had the day before. All was going well until they came to a fork in the river. 
Oh, this is a bit inconvenient,’ said Annie out loud. 
‘which way do we go?’

There was a very audible warble in the air....it was Maggie. 
'Oh Maggie, you beautiful bird, you are here to show us the way.
Maggie lead for several metres before joining the others on the raft, but first making sure Annie had taken the right route.
The wind had died down a bit over night, but there was still a lot of smoke in the air.

BACK N TOWN

 The local farmers and townspeople had assembled at the football oval. Emergency Services had set up a makeshift hospital to treat exhausted firefighters. Farm animals were held in the showgrounds next door. Annie's father Charlie, was surprised to see his wife Marie attending the animals as well. 
'Where is Annie?’ asked Charlie.
Marie said. ‘I thought she was with you.’
Charlie quickly explained what had happened.
'Didn't you come back to the farm Marie?’
'Oh, Charlie, I couldn't. A tree had fallen across the road and I couldn't pass. I assumed Annie was with you. I thought the safest thing was to walk back to twn. Steven Easy gave me a lift for the last ten kilometres.’
.
Charlie and Marie stood motionless, worried about Annie.
Charlie enquired at The CFA headquarters. 
Ken MacKenzie, the head of operations, listened and understood.
'Charlie, we are doing everything we can. As soon as the smoke clears, we will get a helicopter to your property and find Annie. You will have to be patient and very brave’.
Charlie and Marie found it very hard to be brave, as they were so worried about their little girl.
It was Marie that was first to speak.
'Charlie, there is nothing we can do at the moment. Best make ourselves useful and tend to any person or animal that needs help."
Charlie knew Marie was right.
'Let's get back to work then."

BACK ON THE RIVER

The wind was very quiet.
'It's been too quiet’ thought Annie.
Neddy gave a nervous neigh. 
'What is it Neddy, do you hear something?. 
‘Oh Dear, where is that sound coming from?’ cried Annie out loud.
The birds and animals were making very loud noises.
They knew something was happening.
The wind was racing up the ravine behind the raft and Annie's E menagerie. The wind became a roar and Annie could see actual flames only a hundred metres behind them. 
Neddy nearly broke into a trot. 
'We have to outpace the wind and fire’said Annie.
‘If we get to The Lower Turn Back, we might have a chance.’
At Lower Turn Back the river twisted, snake-like, in a different direction.
'Oh, no, look Neddy, another challenge.
The river had narrowed to such a degree thatshe worried that the raft would not squeeze through and get stuck on the banks.
'Faster Neddy Faster’,cried Annie.
Neddy had a worried look on his brow as if to say 
‘I am doing my very best Annie.'
As they got closer and closer to the narrowed section, branches were blocking their path.
Neddy simply head-butted the branches out of the way.
'You little beauty...Neddy, you are marvellous.’
With some extra grunts and pants, Annie's raft got through the narrow section of the river all thanks to Neddy. They were now into deeper water. 
Annie had almost forgotten about the fire behind her and turned to have a look.
'Where did you come from old fella?’.
They had picked up a hitchhiker. Perched on top of the cages was an old male koala with very burned feet.

He must have been on one of the branches that Neddy knocked off.
'You are very welcome to join us’ said Annie.
She grabbed a small blanket and placed it on her lap.
‘Come let me nurse you. You will be much more comfortable up here’.

As they turned the bend, the fire seemed to stay the same distance behind them.
'We cannot go any faster than we are going", said Annie. "What will be, will be".

BACK IN TOWN
Marie and Charlie were allowed to board the helicopter.
The fire had passed through and they were ready to inspect their property and find Annie.
'The pilot, Jack Rip, said ‘Don't be surprised if your property is gone, Charlie. I am just preparing you for the worst.’
Marie and Charlie did not care about their property; all their thoughts were for their little girl.
‘Oh my goodness,’ cried Marie…'the house is still standing.'
Charlie had hoped that his fire prevention work had been effective and it was. He had cleared a very large patch around the house. There was not a tree for a hundred metres near the building.
'Where is Annie...where are the animals?' cried Marie. 
Charlie ran down to the river.
'The raft is gone.'
‘Oh, what has she done/‘ cried, Marie.
The pilot yelled 'Get into the helicopter quickly.'
He flew low following the river back towards Bracken Town. The smoke had cleared enough for the passengers to view the damage. All the trees had been burnt along the river. They could see no sign of the raft or their Annie. 
Marie and Charlie held each other and were sobbing. 
'Hang on’, said the pilot. Jack, the pilot, was listening to a message coming through the radio.
'What was that...say it again’.
'What is it?’ asked Marie.
‘There is something we all have to see.’
The helicopter flew towards town and landed just near the bridge that crossed the Bracken River.
Marie and Charlie ran to the bridge. A crowd had gathered blocking their path.
Charlie and Marie pushed through.
'What is it?” cried Charlie.
Karen Brooks, an old friend, said, ‘Look, Charlie..just look.’
They could not believe their eyes.
They did not recognise their little girl at first with her ragged clothes and blackened face.
‘It's Annie' cried someone in the crowd.
It took a while for Marie and Charlie to take the scene in.
There in the middle of the shallow river was Annie nursing a koala, riding the old draught horse who was pulling the raft, laden with every type of animal and bird from their rescue farm.
Betty and Deb Ferguson from the Bracken Town CFA waded into the water towards the raft.
Annie spotted her Mum and Dad on the bridge.
‘Hi, Mum. Hi, Dad.’said Annie waving madly.

A WEEK LATER
The fires had passed. It was not the most significant fire in Bracken’s history, but it still did a lot of damage. 
Three farms were lost but no lives, fortunately.
All of Bracken Town had gathered for the celebration. The local jazz band played lively dance tunes. The bakery served free pies and pastries. Genni Lee from the Sri Lankan restaurant served free samosas...everyone pitched in.
The local Lions Club created a new award for bravery. It was called the Little Hero Award. Annie was embarrassed when the Mayor placed the award around her neck. 
Annie was prompted to speak through the microphone.
She was about to speak but said nothing. She could not find any words. From the stage, she could see Neddy, taking everything in.
Annie said into the microphone ‘Excuse me', and walked off the stage, down the steps, through the crowd to the animal shelter to Neddy. 'Hello Neddy, this is yours. You deserve this’. Annie tried to place the award around Neddy's neck. The award was way too small for Neddy's big neck. She decided to hang it on his ear. Neddy gave a neigh as if to say thank you.
Sometimes words are not needed.
The crowd understood and everyone cheered.
 In Annie's Mum and Dad's eyes, Annie was their little hero.