No. 1, 2011
Artist: Gavin McNamara
25x32 Acrylic on canvas

I HAVE A DREAM

I have a dream of a boat on the blue,
not a pirate ship with a rogueish crew,
not a busy tug with a ship in tow,
not a submarine lurking deep below,
not an ocean liner for the spoilt and rich,
just a little blue boat for me and Mitch.

Jacqui Merckenschlager

Treasure Hunt

I did not choose this vessel 
to sail the sea of life
But c’mon and take the time
to see what’s inside

Come listen to my tales of life on the sea.
Each golden sunrise, a shiny opportunity
to fossick for treasures and adventures untold
as life’s treasure map will always unfold.

Natasha L Adams

Nest

Such violet blue
like bird or plane that flies
straight to my heart
and settles there.

Is that a wave I see from you?

Rose van Son


MYTH RAINBOW 

the rainbow woman fell
creating a new myth, a river sweeping
leaping through her blouse
her hand reaching for green banked grasses
flushed with the effort of explosion
her body given as landscape
a hand a cross, a windmill
and to remind us – a colour yet to come

Alistair Bain

the skateboarder launches 
off the rail
a moment in the air
held forever

nothing else matters

Mar Bucknell

Golden

Sunlight through a stained-glass window, floating on a breeze
Settling on water like a shimmering rainbow,
Stretching and folding back in like a soundless
Accordion

Sunset on the water, or maybe sunrise
Lacy patterns of Ruby and Gold
Coral curves pulsating, reef fish shining their scales on
Spongy fingers

Sky grazing water, trickling trail of molten metals
Fading with the light

Deb Micallef

Four colours mingling,

chasing each other…

…playing leapfrog with crickets.

Round and round through picket fences

until energy merges us all together

and we leap through the purple door…

connected, tired but happy.

Julie Fearns-Pheasant

the colours are mine

two brushes,

f o u r colours

look for f o u r

strong marks on the page

good to paint

fun to do

creating my individual artwork

just f o u r you

Sally Clarke

Big Pie Recipe

Take equal amounts of       ability

            accuracy

                        pace

anticipation                                                 

heart

add a touch of tagging

and a dash of favourable  decisions

mix well together with

a large dollop of passion.

Quantity enough for one football team.

Val Neubecker

pie in the sky

my heart's afloat with

candy coloured dreams

for you

reach in, touch one

my sky is full of

apple berry pies

for you

reach up, take them all

Christina Gammon

Nelly’s gathering gumnuts

seed strewn symmetry

maybe in bellies of birds

escapes the frame

A tender composition

Nelly hears the music

then a gentle gesture-

presses softly into clay

Amanda Joy

We give thanks for eucalyptus trees.

Torquata, whose brilliant spring flowers dazzle us;

Silver Princess, whose graceful bending with the wind

teaches us perseverance;

And grey-leaved, red-blossomed Macracarpa, holding proud and strong.

We give thanks for their wood, which forms and furnishes our homes;

for the artistry in their limbs, bark and nuts;

and for their healing oil.

But most of all, we celebrate their power to endure the fire

and bring forth new life.

Trisha Kotai-Ewers

     a butterfly’s wings

sunshine that got

left behind,

not taken back in,

not Glad-Wrapped

for tomorrow,

swathes of it,

waiting

to light night’s pages,

unfold a butterfly’s wings

Kevin Gillam

DANCING WITHOUT STARS

Jailhouse rocks and midnight black

pelvic pulses to strobe searchlights –

probing for the runner.

He’s cool, man,

scaling the perimeter fence and

dancing away without stars!

Max Merckenschlager

Hi Gavin, they’re auctioning Trigger and Roy Rogers,

But you have already collected them

In blazing colours, and moving Eastward,

Along with Buffalo Bill bringing the West to New York.

We still need that range riding, rodeo buckjumping, yodelling,

Six gun tooting, lassoing, cowbranding to remind us that life

Should be open and free and blazing the living daylights

Like yourself, moving around, walking, swimming,

 and cycling and singing along with Presley .

Peter Jeffery OAM

My Horse

I ride my horse along the path.

Mummy walks behind.

I am a big rough cowboy.

Gee up, Dobbin, I sing

and stop to pick a flower

poking though a fence

and slip it in Dobbin’s mane.

Laurel Lamperd

Carousel

The carousel flicks colours

on its roundabout journey.

Children drawn to the spectacle

gather in garlands of colour

mesmerized by the jaunt of music

round and round in their head.

Gary Colombo De Piazzi

Sun peeks

thru dazzling red sky

Joins me with rays

of blue fingers of light

My space in the realms of visual art

stepping among musical notes of delight

Saz Campbell

I start with a brush

see the strokes, purposeful.

then,

fingers itching for more

colour engulfing

I squish hands into paint.

Oh!

how I love

the squelchy gooeyness—

see the difference.

Sally Clarke

Vermillion Wind

Painting the sky with earth’s shades

Of darkness and light

Debra Ratcliffe

Butterfly Dreaming

I, Great Green Caterpillar,

am considering breaking my earth-thread

to leave all that brown ground

that egg-messy, seed-spattered spot

though

these fiery buds tempt me to stay

these yummy green leaves

where my feet have been

I’d find hard to leave.

Jenny de Garis

Kicks

Imagine swaying in the crowd

the shout mounting around you

as the teams march on to the ground.

You fly like the ball

with their kicks, kick up your heels,

let rip, power your voice, give it your all

to urge your heroes straight to the goal,

their limbs rippling like the flag you fly,

your rave reaching the sky.

Jenny de Garis

PICTURES

I see pictures in Blue Poles

the painting they said Jackson Pollock

poured paint over canvas.

My painting is Blue Poles.

See the birds

the curl of their wings against the sky

flying low over the dry lake

towards the sun.

I want to go with them.

Laurel Lamperd

My People

My people walk the shores.

My people lacquer under the sun.

They read the stories of the dunes

riddled with words of dreaming.

My people wander this hard earth

as they have done since it began.

And when the music starts,

they dance.

Paula Jones

FOOTPRINTS’ SOLO

Ludwig van B had them dancing feet

the beat, the rhythm

grab up your baton, your blank lines

to make music on

the sun bears down curious

to see what we have made of heat

syncopate time, put our own stomp

on earth less delicate than its spin

Ludwig ranging the pounding heart

looks in and smiles to see our footprints' solo

Alistair Bain

Glide

Can you see me soaring, wings outstretched, riding thermals?

Dip and glide, dip and glide

I am Eagle, I am Swan, I am Crow, Parrot, Dragon and Butterfly

Dip and drift, dip and drift

Feathers, scales, filigree lace

I see you looking at me,

Wheeling around, gliding, dipping, soaring

I am airborne, air born

Born to glide

D Micallef

A Father’s Love

... is thicker than blood

it removes all doubt that the next colour

you lay on that palette is as true as  blue of sky

it is as thick as primary and just as indivisible in the place

he and you make wonderful, mysterious and new

together is the only language we know

the only speak that makes any sense in the drab of day

Christopher Konrad

Happy people at the station,

all ready to board the train.

Laughter and colours of fashion,

the holidays are here again.

Sandra McAlpine

For our planet

We give thanks for the planet on which we live;

for its rambunctious seas, home to leviathan and shrimp;

for its skies of azure toned to grey; dressed in clouds;

and the glory shows of northern lights and sunsets.

We give thanks for soil, both rich dark brown and pindan;

for the minerals which build plants and bodies;

for rocks that call the body to climb

and mountains which soar the soul aloft.

We give thanks for that thin, thin rind of atmosphere

that makes all this possible.

Trisha Kotai-Ewers

Yeah!

My keyboard looks black and white to you

Take my hand I’ll show you a different view

My fingers teach me to see inwardly

Music touches all the smoky hues

of my soul, each song my heart strings

But if you do not feel the things I do

And cannot hear the glory of my singing

Simply look at my painting then you will see

the multicoloured beauty I am bringing

Dr Liana Christensen

In 3D

Do colours feel as they extend

From my hands to brush’s end?

I think you’ll feel that you know me

A little better when you see

How I‘ve woven paint, applied

The colours dab and stroke and line.

Feel                the landscape of my art,

Don’t just view and stand apart.

Touch the moulded, sculpted paint,

Search out the landscape              of my heart. 

J.R.McRae

   one pond

a mind with all of the

bright ideas yet to be netted

the sky scraped clear of

planets and suns

envy and jealousy circling

the sea of acceptance

five poppies, four daisies,

one pond

Kevin Gillam

Red, yellow and royal blues

are really happy and cheery hues.

They’re three colours of the old rainbow.

They lift your spirits.

You won’t feel low.

They’re really bright and all ablaze.

They all remind you of “Happy Days”.

Caroline Sambridge

A gift of Lilliums

as aromatic as a perfumer's dream

tells of champagne, pearls, cardamon nights.

She picks up his picture,

sets it next to the flowers.

A smile buds.

Jan Napier.

FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR

Amazing! Wow!

Did you see that one?

It flew up so high

Boy, I'm having such fun!

Woah, that was bright!

That star burst of light

Now it's all done

So that's it for tonight

Julienne Juschke

you, against us

we are movement. our

hearts pebble car parks

as train’s conduit. all i

dream off on my way to

work is you, naked &

warm, still flirting with

dreams & the night just gone

. in the press of rush hour

, i imagine myself pressing

, tender & urgent, against

Scott-Patrick Mitchell

The Paintbrush Dance

What is joy?

I think it’s paint,

Today.

I love the splash the colours make

When colours play!

Don’t you love

The dancing way

The brush’s move

Makes colours stay!

J.R.McRae

Prayer Hands

my prayer hands take me

to a sacred space

a gentle place

where sweet psalms flow

candles glow

I find peace

I know

I belong

Liz Nicholls

Sunlight breaks through the clouds

and I know He is listening.

I send these prayers like doves

in to His light.

Natasha L Adams

Together

my hand printed for you

to find me, guide me

as we walk in meadow springs

I reach into my pocket

break a chocolate bar in two

give to you that special piece

on teal plated blue

we float as if on air

sharing friendship as we do

Rose van Son

On the palm of a hand

a life.

See the lines on my hand, see the

colours that swirl and mix.

The red of love, the gold of treasure.

Hold my hand and I will share

my world with you.

Gary Colombo De Piazzi

Hands of time

Sculptured in laughter

Set in clay

Myriad joys

Speak here

Of reconciliations

Of friendships

Of many things untold

Saz Campbell

Beneath a tree

in paradise gardens

flowers bloom kisses.

Hidden birds

sing Grace.

Insects tremble

worms worm

deeper.

Coral Carter

I see a tree and the sun

and remind myself

of sleeping in the park

then waking at 6pm

but still warm somehow

and watching leaves above me.

now, hauling myself up

in the cold I recall.

and think of a tree and sun.

Nathan Hondros

'Oe nana makahehi

how attractive you are

ko'u ipo

my lover.

I will place a lei of sharks' teeth

around your neck,

to prove my devotion

and strength in the water.

Sue Clennell.

AUTUMN ON THE WAY TO CHURCH

Liquid amber clothed the icy path

and the whole world sparkled.

A teasing breeze tickled the golden elm

and five leaves shimmied to the path,

circling God’s collection.

Jacqui Merckenschlager

   the hurt

as if terra-firma and

a smear of cirrus have

lifted just one hour

of the world’s anger

and stitched a

tarpaulin from it,

knitted a scarf,

left wisps for thinking,

given the hurt

a purpose

Kevin Gillam

Creatures of the deep

Far below the ocean’s face

a world of creatures lives,

to catch the sun in colours

that only sunshine gives.

They swim among the coral there

in brilliant reds and shades of grey,

where men may visit for a time,

but know that never can they stay.

While the artist paints that beauty

in his own artistic way.

Peter Rondel

Electrical fields

pitched thoughts and sonic voices…

…musical tremors that jump, beating frantically.

Rocked, running and riled…

Beat it. Enjoy it…

(…Beethoven’s got nothing on me.)

Julie Fearns-Pheasant

Colour and images cross the screen,

Multitudes of sticks clearly seen.

Gay and riotous where they fall,

Like a game of fiddlesticks and all.

Red and blue, green and yellow.

Tim is really a remarkable fellow.

He paints, socializes and does work

And all activities he doesn't shirk.

The colours, the images cross the screen

His skill as an artist clearly seen.

Colleen O’Grady

Music drifts through the wind chimes

by my window, clash delicate tones

to spring touches of white onto

blue, purple and pink. Swirl and

cascade in wondrous sound to

smile my eyes, lift my lips

to sing.

Sitting by my window

people don’t see the

lively step I dance.

Gary Colombo De Piazzi

It was a dark and blustery stormy night.

The cats all hid and the birds took flight.

It was very choppy out at sea.

It really wasn’t the place to be.

The storm lasted for several hours.

The rain did wonders for the flowers.

By morning the sunshine had come about.

It really made you sing and shout.

Caroline Sambridge

A sunny day;

along the fence

petalled faces

greet me

look up

expectantly;

they brighten my life

lift my heart

and make me smile.

Val Neubecker

Wallflowers

If you only took the time to look

it is the Wallflower that warms

the Winter heart

Natasha L Adams

Waves of grass that beckon welcome

swim through my dreams.

Butterflies in glorious colour kiss

each flower, dance delicate breezes

scatter clouds across brilliant blue.

Give me a place of open streams

fields to the horizon kissed with

winter green to spring alive,

to smile this country girl.

Gary Colombo De Piazzi

Swan Valley View

Outside the restaurant -

a plate of colour

blueberry sky pie

marshmallow yellow flowers

strawberry butterflies

on a bed of

spearmint leaves.

Maureen Sexton

Flutter, flutter

Sweeping colour

Burst forth

Crimson wings

A flurry of flames

Over cool

Sticky stems

Dancing

Til the sun

goes down

Tanya Jaw

I hadn’t met nor even

seen her,

except that she’d

laid out

anonymous paint

in colourful eyes –

so what else matters?

Nathan Hondros

I ask you to imagine

For a brief glimpse of time

The glory of the moment

In which creation arises

From the blank page

Catherine Szathmary

Imprinted

impression in red

gentle smudge from the left

wet full stops to a gesture

caught

and held

like a bird

in a sky

Amanda Joy

Bushfire cloud gradually shrinking.

Dancing ash floating, fleetingly

faced off and feral…

…each ash whispering memories of vocal tears and torn fingers.

Moving within cloud dimensions the ash changes colour and shapes

until the redness enfolds and embraces the bits…

Stronger, angrier and thicker.

Crimson weeping cloud.

Julie Fearns-Pheasant

Life on Mars

The red planet burns

sulphur hot and steaming.

Is there life bubbling

in the spheres of lava,

in the black rock?

Things we never imagined.

A flaming ocean?

A sizzling shore?

Paula Jones

Field Painting

Curlicues of colour

loop through, garlands

gathered by a grouping

of hairs that make a brush

held in a hand whose

soft pulse quickens

as long strokes of green

form a field the eye can

run through like fingers

through hair flocking

to a smile of joy

expressed by a brush

tipped with colour

Amanda Joy

EAT YOUR GREENS!

A mould of inaction

may grow on your jeans,

but stay in your seat till

you’ve eaten your greens!

Max Merckenschlager

   imagine

imagine,

running to stand still,

sun in its corner,

friends and flowers and

fresh cut grass,

all the joy daubed on,

bliss of brushwork,

watercolours stopped running,

Imagine

Kevin Gillam

haiku for Jane

in my garden

I grow flowers

and friends

Mardi May

Making a mosaic one fits bit by bit

To make a magic glorious whole.

So too, the bright sun

Moves each flower to stand by one another,

And the clouds line up perhaps to bring the rain,

Or to soften the intense summer blue

With their fluffiness and bring up

The dancing green of grass as  a soft carpet

For us to lie upon and dream.

Peter Jeffery OAM

MORE TO MAKE

            Mister, I’m not a boy; no, I’m a man,

            and I believe in a promised land.

                                                Bruce Springsteen The Promised Land

We ride the sun.

People say we're dreaming.

We've just begun:

we're not even streaming.

Our colours rise,

the annuals of spring

blaze and surprise

the eyes that hear them sing :-)

To those who shake, deny what plainly flows -

we've more to make: unstopped, our brilliance grows!

Alistair Bain

AUSSIE BEACHSIDE BBQ

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, Oi, Oi!

We don't like the mozzies, but the Barbies we enjoy

The mozzies do not matter, there is still lots of fun

Lots of noise and chatter, and hamburger buns

Sausages and steak; filled to the brim

Must then wait a while, 'til go for swim!

You find that your smile, is as big as your head

Then that's it for a while, as it's home now to bed

Julienne Juschke

Sky floats on cream clouds

Between each tree, life is free

magnificently

Debra Ratcliffe