June Report 2011

Winter was well and truly present on Sunday morning as I sat out in the sun waiting for the library to open; I was very near to about thirty keen library goers that crowded over by the door from 11:45am, they were in the shade. The knitting group did not require the meeting room so there was no double booking and we were able to go in there as per usual. Damien arrived early and assisted me with all the gear and the food, thank you Damien.

Next month on the Sunday of our poetry recital, Penny has decided to open her Coffee shop in the foyer of the library, to provide Poetry in Paradise attendee’s with Coffee and Cake along with a limited choice of hot food such as sausage roll’s or pies. It would be really great if everyone could purchase something to support her efforts, Penny works six days a week in her own small business. Both Di and I on separate occasions have enjoyed her coffee and can testify to its quality and that the food is always fresh. Penny will be there from about 12:30 to 3pm, depending on our support and the volume of passing trade once we are inside.

On the Saturday night before the June recital some of my family was over for dinner and along with Irene they got to witness the first test run of my newly built podium for poetry, it was the second one constructed by myself alone. Everyone present was very impressed with my construction efforts and Irene was particularly proud of my efforts. Unfortunately due to her work commitments Irene could not be there on Sunday for the official public unveiling of the fourth podium for recitation. A carpenter would laugh at my efforts and a cabinet maker would cry in pain at my ability to create an even joint. I however am very proud of my efforts, from the concept visualization in my head, to a six inch replica constructed from cut out paper, to the actual finished product as per the attached photo. My Mum and Stepdad were impressed and that is a pretty good compliment based on my historical recollection of their praise. The multi use/height construction was admired by many and used appropriately by all my colleagues in our group. I reckon it’s all right and my poem referring to the tale of its creation was well received. By next month’s meeting date I will have the podium stained and it will be finished.

Last month Allen rewrote an AB Patterson classic, ‘Lost’, he made it modern with the use of cars and mobile phones while retaining the sense of grief and sorrow effectively. His efforts inspired me to attempt the same challenge as ‘Lost’ is one of my favorite works; my rendition was also modern and focused on the gambling addiction of modern politics; and the lives it is destroying. Bob was entertaining with his humorous ode to “Big Brother” and its intrusion into all our lives, his second poem was a sentiment shared by most of us Men, the difference in the internal furnace of the human body between Men and Woman, their desire to lay down in a bed in winter that Satan himself would consider hot, not to mention their ability to stand in a pot of boiling water that is ready for fresh lobster insertion, that they actually call a shower and can stay in there for thirty minutes!!!!, while asking innocently “wont you join me honey?”

Joan shared a proud historical family moment, possibly foreseen by her Grandmother telling her Mother to always be clean and tidy because you never know one day the Queen might drop in for tea!! Joan’s Mum was the president of the CWA in Tennant Creek NT and she actually had to prepare afternoon tea for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip on their visit to Australia when they dropped into Tennant Creek. Joan’s second poem was on the big brother theme but it was a good big brother story as her three Grandsons, Billy Aaron and Daniel helped and watched each other race motor cycles around the track while Joan proudly watched their camaraderie. Joan then beautifully questioned our knowledge of self with her third poem about the moon and how though it is always there in whole we often can only see part of it, a well written thought provoking achievement.

Rita went to the Queens party and her poem recited the list of Queens in attendance, from the Queen of Pop to Drag Queens, Moomba Queens, Queen of the pool, Queen Bea and our own Queen to be from Tassie. Rita’s second poem was about her friends the “Kirks” and their brand new flash top the pile state of the art camper van, encountered and shared on their recent two week holiday in Woolgoolga. Rita’s third poem was a very powerful piece about how a friend of hers finally got to meet a Son she had reluctantly adopted out forty years earlier, her fourth poem was about the sad loss of her daughters dog of many years and how much it is missed by Jack and Cooper. Damien let us in on his dream to be a spaceman and travel the universe with a beautiful waitress in perpetual motion and discover all the good things it has to offer; he reminded us to dream of answers and to always maintain hope and he wished us all prosperity for the future. Judi agreed that Big Brother is over the top and that the intrusion is unnecessary and unwanted, Judi didn’t have time to write a second poem as she is preparing for a holiday with her family. Jean wrote a beautifully descriptive poem about the Queens party and made us all feel like we were there walking across the manicured lawns while the Queen dazzled the guests with her blue eyes and her colour coordinated outfit, her second poem was also on the theme of Big Brother and her humorous tale hoped that Big Brother would turn on its self and implode.

Cedric made an unexpected long awaited return to the fold, having been one of the originals that came along to our second venue in June 2004 the Evergreen Restaurant (First venue was Christabella’s at Harbor Town March April May 2004), I think Joan, Bob Cedric and Bette, Dancin Dan and Lydia and Sue were amongst the first to attend. Cedric’s first poem explained and apologized for his absence and the ink was still fresh as he wrote while drinking his morning coffee on that day, his second poem was a tribute to his first three kisses, first was his Mum second was a teenage romance and the third was the best ever kiss of them all as he still kisses her every day, she was the one he married, his Bette!!! His third poem was an exceptional poem he penned in 2005 titled “The hollow log” a fantastic metaphorical poem.

Gloria made it along but had no new poems to share so she was able to enjoy the whole afternoon relaxed, Vincent read an apology poem from Alex who is off visiting family and I read an apology poem from Joyce and Mac who were off celebrating 60 wonderful years of love and marriage, hope they had a wonderful anniversary, with each other and all their family. Marta and David could not make it as they are away again.

Paul recited an emotion stirring tribute to his Great Uncle that fought in Gallipoli and Egypt and gave his life for our freedom, along with some of his school mates and many other young Aussie lads. His second poem was an inspirational tale about his young daughter and her efforts as part of a rowing team and their reward for participation in racing as a team, reminding us of the Aussie spirit of hanging in there and never giving up!! His third poem titled “The Auctioneer” was his usual high standard and went over well with everyone especially Cedric who had a similar upbringing to Paul. His fourth poem was one of the ones he is performing at the Ekka in his first entry into the world of performance poetry, good luck Paul we know you will win the novice section, with a poem like “The first of 17 wins” and your confidence and style we know you will give it your best.

Vincent recited some short poems and some limericks on his first time round and I don’t usually include poems in the report but one of his was as follows, Rusted three pin plug- Water lapping all round- wrong kind of current. His second turn at the podium was like the first but different, included a limerick about Nelson Mandela and some short poems, he is a born entertainer and casually proves it every month. Eoin wrote a quick limerick about the Queen and made us all laugh; he then made us all cry remembering the beautiful, but way to short, time he got to spend with his lovely Mum who passed away in 2002. His second poem was on the Big Brother theme and his anger at the invasion into our privacy, he also reminded us that we have our own built in Big Brother, our very own conscious, his third poem was also very emotion stirring as it was about a story known to all Australians the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels along the Owen Stanley Track, known as the Kokoda trail officially since 1972, well done Eoin.

Oct 12, 1972 - On 12 October 1972 the name 'Kokoda Trail' was proclaimed in the Government Gazette of Papua New Guinea. This proclamation has never been amended or rescinded so the official name of the track over the Owen Stanley Range between Owens Corner and Kokoda is 'The Kokoda Trail

Di recited a poem she stated was based in science fiction and she included a hand drawn picture on the white board of a plant growing into the heavens and blooming with oxygen bubbles as flowers, titled “2050 Super growth”, very well written and very powerful, her second poem was a lovely journey into the human heart that explored the feeling of longing for a friend dearly missed. Then Roger burst onto the scene with a poem about the Queen, not the one some think treated Di the worst but one we know as Lizzie the first!!; he recited a tale as funny as true about the Queen from past sometimes known as a shrew!!, some in the audience just did not agree but as there’s no judging they let him off Scot free. His second poem was about poor Ross’s loss and how with his flash new four wheel drive he was a bit of a toss, then he told a tale of an Indian and he exaggerated a bit about some John Wayne paper and how it didn’t take ....it!!

Kathy intelligently and at times humorously explored the many uses for the word ‘fall’ and how it is so versatile, oh the wonders of the English language. Her second poem was created after much supermarket research and involved the help of an inquisitive employee, her topic was toilet paper and was inspired by the confusing multitude of those little squares on offer for the pampering of our derrieres, I’m glad we’ve come a long way from used corn cobs and left hands to today’s sensitive unbleached tree friendly micro fibred naturally scented biodegradable five ply two hundred sheeted rolls so we can all spoil our bums!!

Trish bought many a tear to the eye with her well written tribute to the fallen Gold Coast Queensland Police Officer Detective Senior Sergeant Damien Leading and his poor family that have to go without a husband and father, those poor little babies and his brave wife. Her second poem was an oldie but a goody when Trish wrote about motorcycles and how in Tahiti she had once been on the back of a scooter with an officer and a gentleman and it confirmed her liking for doors and four wheels when on the road. Pat came along and she shared her poem about the Queens party and all the members of the royal family that would be present, she finished it with some advice for Queen Elizabeth, to come down under and instead of the pomp and pageantry have a good old fashioned Aussie BBQ on the lawns of Kirribilli, why not!!!

Joan and Jean ended the day with the offer of a refresher workshop next month at 1200!!! on meter and rhyme in the library meeting room just before the poetry starts, please come along if you’re interested, no need to book just be there at 1200. Bob closed the day with a comical tale of teddy bears and novelty prizes for performance in the workshop on the good old Aussie work bench.

See you all next month and take care, be happy and live life to the full. From Jeff Irene and all the poets at Poetry in Paradise. June 2011.