Livestock

Clouds

The sunset clouds billowing

like sails of olden times

in golden hues they run the wind

and head for warmer climes.

How oft I've wanted to be

sailing too, carried by a breeze

from gentle pushes to the fiercest storms

excitement and recumbent ease.

I'd catch the raindrops for my thirst

and dine on snowflakes minted fresh

hailstones would crunch agreeably

but the rainbows would be best

Their sweetened colours like a feast

would tantalise and treat

oh! how I wish I could greet a rainbow

and settle down to eat!

Journeys

I have walked the road oft travelled

I have met with praise and rebuke

I have shamed myself

had honour, too, and angst

Along the way, I've seen great things

and some that led me to despair

cruelty, horror and death

masquerading as life.

I have loved, and been loved

rejected love and been rejected

but each disappointment

each joy has seen me renewed

And now, I am on the road less travelled

I have the freedom of a gentle path

the sun shines where it will

and often shines on me

I am content in many things

that would never have made me smile

in the old, uncomfortable days

I am content

I have peace, perfect peace

a quiet warmth within

and my journey starts anew

each wonderful day

The Hitchhiker

I saw him as I drove past

and I did not stop

you see, it is illegal here

too many have been hurt, and killed

Illegal for me to stop for him

illegal for him to encourage a ride

and what if?

What if - he wanted my car

what if - he hurt my daughter

what if - we had an accident

what if - he wouldn't leave?

I don't know his story

is he down on his luck?

has he been kicked out of home?

is he a wanderer by choice,

someone who is wanting to see the World?

what things in his life

have brought him here, now?

Is his belly empty or full?

Is his mind full of memories

or an open chasm of chaos?

I guess I'll never know

all I can do is shrug

and hope, hope

he understands when I

don't stop.

Livestock

Stop! Look at what you have

those animals that are entrusted to your care

who believe they have every right to get looked after by you

how trusting they are that food will come every day, on demand

look into their eyes. Stop for a moment and look. Remember the

humanity that is yours. Think that you are the only creature between

animal and starvation. Animal and freedom.

A Day in the Life of...

I am in an almost constant state of Rushed.

I have trouble remembering -

What did happen yesterday? What did I do?

Life flies past

Already my daughter, my little one, is nine years old

How many lost opportunities, how much is missed?

I rejoice on seeing her grow,

but soon she will be too big for my lap

Her independence is wonderful

but I can no longer just pick her up and piggy back her anywhere

Each day is a new challenge,

each day brings new adventures, new insights,

and each day brings more happiness and more joy

as I share with my Alice.

In my mind

In my mind is

the perfect house -

although it changes, that

is a part of its perfection

The verandah,

the swing,

the grapevine and wisteria

climbing around each other

like an old married couple

Warm wood,

comfortable old house smell

deep dark still cellar

light airy attic, with dust motes dancing

bedrooms of bliss

a princess' palace for my sweet girl

a romantic hideaway for us

and a haven for each guest

kitchens of country comfort

big old ornate stove

black and hot

jars and bottles each an art form

filled with taste-bud tempters

and mouth waterers

and the garden!

oh! the garden!

rolling lawns of emerald

a creek flashing silver

and all the colours of Aladdin's Cave

flowering in gentle sunlight

a gazebo

white, Chinese,

padded seats, coolness at Midday

a dam

filled with trout and yabbies

and beautiful waterbirds.

So goes my imagination

it's not a bad place, really.

Some days

There are days

when I can't be bothered.

Another death, more mess,

whatever.

It's raining like it's never going to stop. Ever.

I have more dirty clothes piled up.

And my self-image is battered by that cold, cold mirror.

But then a new day dawns -

a friend calls, expresses love

an e-mail, unexpected, but wanted for all that.

New life, optimistic in its power.

and people around me, who buffer me

protect me, help me smile.

The smile continues when I watch my animals,

or see my daughter, my husband, my friends.

And the rain stops,

and the heart glows,

and life, as it will, goes on.

Flying

I live for the take-off and landing

that stomach-left-behind feeling

the miniature landscapes, like

a toy shop, so detailed

a million lives, in great colour,

a hundred thousand backyards,

each a differing lifestyle, a diverse ecosystem

But oh! The incredible beauty of strafing rain

as we swim through clouds of cold comfort

highlighted by flashing wing lights.

The deep, dark sea of a nighttime landscape

Just Out There. Scary. If you let it.

I can't wait to go up again. I bags the window seat!

Mars

You deep, dark protagonist!

Staring with fearsome eye in menace

at our cool, life-blessed Planet.

Your gaze, mocking, challenging

like a warrior of old

You seem weary, but you've fooled others

with that scam. Not me!

I see you for what you are - a romanticized version

of fighters' leering tales, an Oath of violence!

But you are startling, beautiful, and my poor eye contemplates

whilst it can. You will soon be just another,

interesting feature of the night sky

paling beside the glory of the Milky Way

I will enjoy you, and wonder

at the Imagination of a God

Who ordered you and foresaw my

imagination at your ochre presence.

The Dreamer

journeying through a vast storyland

all my hopes and fears laid bare

images mix with logic there

and life is a siren's call

each vivid adventure scores my soul

and when awake part of me

hankers back to that nebulous

non-time to see

to know

to realise

what will happen

can it be altered

can my life be changed

what of the characters, existing somewhere

leading lives of rich colour

But dreams fade, though the idea fixee

may haunt

and Life in the Real

calls me always to be who I am

My Home

I cannot tell you what I really want-

those castles in the air,

so prettily they hang there

beyond any millionaire.

I had such grand visions,

designs beyond mortal ken,

long ago, now, and far away

I was so different then.

Now you ask me what I want

where would I be content

with you, my love, is all I beg

you'll hear no plaintive lament

I feel the wrinkles on my face

I see the grey in your hair

but I tell you true, my own sweet love

'tis better than castles in the air.

Journeying

I never imagined myself

living to this age.

I never saw myself

in this way.

What I now see

are the joys and sorrows

etched on my face,

my hands.

I am glad they are there

I revel in the experiences

of my life.

Without them,

I am shallow

foolish

incomplete

forever making the same mistakes

With them,

I am

Wife,

Mother,

Daughter,

Friend,

Leonie

Some lessons

have been hard, so hard

Some have reduced me

to tears

Tears of fear

Tears of agony

Tears of hatred

Tears of tiredness

Tears of sadness

Tears of soul pain

Tears of laughter

Some lessons

have finally taught me

Joy

Peace

Love

Friendship

Self-sacrifice

Laughter

I do not know which I value more.

But I know I need both, I would not

survive with just sorrow

I could not live just with joy

And so many were my choice,

my responsibility,

me.

Winter

Frost, like shattered glass

shining on my grass

The day, ice cold

and I, my bed clothes hold

Even in the kitchen now

my breath fogs the air

and we cluster 'round the fire

as close as we dare

I love the winter weather

the quiet of the day

I love to hear the rain

half-dreaming, I lay

All around me I'm cocooned

and nothing now is calling me

I am a winter bloom

So I'll bid you sweet good night

and sup my soup in peace

by the passing moon's bright light

and the racing clouds beneath.

Cool Days

Persian turquoise skies

daubed with icing sugar clouds

and the sudden grey and black

of thunder-in-the-offing.

The wind picks up

and I feel like flying with it

that if, like a wave, I could pick

the right moment, if only I could

I would soar and dive and roll through

the air

Bright reds of sunsets

vivid rainbows bisecting the heavens

the temperature drops

and I hurry inside to warmth

I regret that I am not there

to savour the clean air

But I am so grateful

for the living cosiness of

the kitchen.

Being Rural

Today the black headed ibis were back

The most austere of legal inquisitors

stalking around to the indifference of

my other, larger, farm life

They make me stop and smile and wonder

I do not want to move, the better to appreciate them

and to pray that I do not startle them into emigration

I often wonder at the sights and sounds that were my backyard

before Europeans visited these shores, before even the Aborigines

changed everything, before anyone could talk history.

Sometimes in my mind's eye, I see a multi-coloured feather

drifting slowly down to earth and I hear a chorus

of voices calling to each other

Never again.

But at least the ibis are still here.

Night Sky

The air is crisp

my ears are so cold

diamond stars play cat-and-mouse with clouds

the moon glows, its corona a halo of jewelled proportions

I hear the wind in the she-oaks

and my heart relaxes and sighs

I float in the reassurance of

the continuation of life around me

It rains and the cold drops hurry me

inside to the warmth of the fire

and the relief

provision for my needs!

A Mother's Day poem (feel free to use it)

You were worried about me before I was born

Your greatest regret is that not more people are like me

You loved me when I felt I was unloveable

And held me when no-one else would

You made me understand the beauty of wrinkles

And the wisdom of saying "No"

I see you in a thousand things I do

And I am proud of that

Thankyou for being my Mother

Thankyou for caring, and loving

Thankyou for teaching and sharing

Thankyou for the sacrifices, only some

am I beginning to understand.

Autumn

I love each season

as it comes

each has its joy

winter winds to

summer plums

I love the autumn

for the fiery leaves

that spin their way

down past my eaves

I love the chill that

greets the dawn

the glitter of frost

on my back lawn

Hot soups that simmer

on a wood-burning stove

the smell of gum leaves

burned in their droves

I love to snuggle

'gainst my husband dear

he keeps me warm

in heart and cheer.