Sunday, October 24, 2010

Mail Away



One of the reasons 
that I am only occasionally present 
here these days
is that I have been making mail...



mail art




which can be made from anything
lying about, junk, images, old papers
drawings, magazines, brochures, flyers
and plenty of glue...




 You can recycle envelopes
turn them inside out
draw, paint, snip and paste
add poems, clippings, quotes,
create in any way
that expresses your individuality...
you don't have to be an artist
just keen to make mail
and connect with others




I have invited a few friends
to join a 'closed' blog
where we share the mail received
and build friendships




If this idea of snail mail art appeals to you
and you have the time and inclination
to indulge your creativity in this fashion
email me



and I will give you further information
about the Mail Away project





Friday, October 8, 2010

Wisteria

*



Yoshida Toshi



In the pale moonlight


Hasui Kawase


the wisteria's scent


 Chikanobu


comes from far away


 Hiroshige




Haiku by Buson




*

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

A Pre-Sunset Stroll

A pre-sunset stroll
along the Noosa River foreshore


sees the seagulls lined up
to watch the late afternoon skies


too late Jonathon
full house...


left leg tree pose is mandatory



and the vaulted sky



blazes with cloud

as the sun prepares to sink



the dog whisperer
(he really is called that)
wends his way home



with his three charges



impatient now 
to disembark...

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Holy Flute

*




The temple seashore
 incoming rollers
flow in time
to the holy flute


Buson









*

Monday, August 30, 2010

The Song Remains

*


The Song Remains...







Perching on a blooming branch of rose
The bird sang a melodious song





Spreading the cry of joy
Across the void of silence






The rose vanished,
Without leaving a trace
Of its colour,
Of its smell;






But when the bird vanished,
Its song remained.






The Song Remains
by Mahmud Kianush

1934-
Iranian Poet






*






Thursday, August 19, 2010

Kookaburra

*







I was walking over the hill
this afternoon
and noticed this sign
at a block of holiday apartments












and sure enough
right out the front
I saw this...
I am pretty sure
I know who it is...
Do You?













Another friendly kookaburra










who laughs



just like this...



Happy Days
everyone




*

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

An Old Fisherman

*

An Old Fisherman











An old fisherman spent the night here
under the western cliff
He dipped up water from the pure Hsiang
and made a bamboo fire
And then, at sunrise, he went his way
through the cloven mist
With only the creak of his paddle left,
in the greenness of mountain and river
... I turn and see the waves moving as from heaven,
And clouds above the cliff coming idly, one by one















An Old Fisherman

by Liu Zongyuan,
Poet of the Tang Dynasty



Top Painting by Wu Zhen
1280-1354
Painter of the Yuan Dynasty



Bottom Painting by Wang Su
1794-1877
Happy Fisherman






*

Monday, August 2, 2010

Sydney for a Day

I went to Sydney today...
Got up at 3am
drove to Brisbane 1hr 45mins away
flew to Sydney
which took 1hr 20mins

Visited the US Consulate
for a multiple entry-long term visa
and had time to walk down Pitt Street
to the harbour
take a few pics on my iphone
before returning to the airport
delayed one hour because of high winds
flew to Brisbane
drove home to Noosa
~ What a long Day ~

But look at Circular Quay



the area of the Sydney Harbour


between the Sydney Harbour Bridge


and the Sydney Opera House
two stunning pieces 


of man made engineering
and architecture

we mingled with the tourists
walking the shoreline


near the very Bay
that Captain James Cook
stepped foot on 
way back in 1788
222 years ago


Cook sailed into Botany Bay
just south of Circular Quay
on the HMS Endeavour



The British planned 
a penal colony for Botany Bay
which in time became the first 
European habitation of Australia
 
 
 
*

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Sew and Sew


 Cleaning shelves
recently at my Mother's house
In New Zealand



 I found her Elna Sewing machine handbook
 

 Bought before I was born


 The sewing machine
produced most of the garments
we wore as children


until we learned to sew
and made our own


 The sewing machine could even embroider


 In a back pocket of the handbook
I found the original guarantee
from the Robertson reversible Sewing Machine Co


My mother's three girls
dressed in their beautiful dresses
But my favourite dress 
was a red spotted summer number
with matching red piping,
hence the caption on the postcard above



*

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Evening Bell For Barry

*





Silent the old town
the scent of flowers
floating
and evening bell


Basho






Barry Fraser
The Explorer

April 3 1943 - July 20 2010



*

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Red Pearls












Red Pearls

Here
red pearls
on a vine
once treasures from
South America
now riches of glowing
fire engine red - bright orbs
beckoning to be gently plucked
their pungent aroma and sweet taste
bringing my father's garden back to life

















An Etheree poem 
has 10 lines 
of 55 syllables
beginning with one syllable
and building with the addition 
of one syllable each line 
to a total of 10 syllables

*