Reading Francis Webb's poems from Ward Two was tough. Pneumo-encephalograph had me wincing in pain, its graphic description of an archaic procedure where oxygen is pumped into the brain for an x-ray is just too horrific. I could dissect the poem here but I'd just end up with a headache. But his overall themes of... Continue Reading →
Unastrayan
Our big ugly fat-necked wombat headed* Prime MinisterGot his knickers in a twist over some animal rights protesters"It's shameful, it's unastrayan!!!" he roared and pounded his chestKeep living in ignorant bliss you pig eating buffoon.At the RSL Club some drongo shoves a meat tray in my face"Raffle ticket love, to help out our fishing club... Continue Reading →
First-class marksman by Sidney Nolan (1946)
I loved this painting so much I bought a print in the art gallery gift shop. I have learnt many things about First-class marksman; that it was 1 of 27 in the Ned Kelly collection painted by Nolan in 1946-1947. This was the only painting that Nolan did not paint at the Heidelberg home where... Continue Reading →
Dame Mary Gilmore and the ‘New Australia’ Settlement
Whilst researching Mary Gilmore's life I was intrigued to learn that she was part of the New Australia Movement, which established an Australian settlement called 'Cosme' in Paraguay in the 1890's. During this time many Australians were disillusioned with the government, the conditions of workers, and fed up with British rule. Led by William Lane,... Continue Reading →
Midsummer Noon in an Australian Shopping Centre (2 days before Christmas)
Write a poem about your own experience of a hot Australian summer’s day. It does not need to be set in the bush! “Are you leaving?” I hopeful ask A woman laden with food She pretends not to hear me as she pushes her trolley No need to be so damn rude! I roll... Continue Reading →
Misanthropic Misophonic
I have since my teens felt like a misfit in society. My growing intolerance of crowds, traffic, noises and children leaves me invariably pondering why I was put on this earth. I seem to lack that filter others possess which often results in me offending people. Humans do weird things I cannot comprehend like eating... Continue Reading →
julie is a junkie…
In setting up this blog page for my uni course in Australian Literature I had to pick a username. Every name I tried was taken so when this song came on my Spotify playlist at 3am I typed it in and voila, here I am. Julie Is A Junkie is a ridiculously catchy tune by... Continue Reading →