Does a bird measure the success of its flight, or simply fly? After a moderately successful day at the market, I carried that question home. Sometime during the night, it became a poem.
Successfully Unsuccessful
Am I unsuccessfully successful or Successfully unsuccessful?
What is successful? Why be successful? Who defines success?
Is being successful? simply being successful at being unsuccessful? or being a failure at being unsuccessful?
Is Corporate greed being successful? or self-righteousness being unsuccessful?
What is successful? Who defines success?
As the magpie continues its flight… The poem ends here. The questions do not.
It’s Market Day this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. * Our popular monthly markets are all undercover at Centrepoint Arcade on the third Saturday of every month. * They feature art, unique goods from local makers, second-hand goods, plants, books, and more. * There are also open art studios, Yesterday Vintage, Untether Gallery, and the May’d Shop.
All at, Centrepoint Arcade 132 Little Malop St, Geelong From 10 am to 3 pm
And I’ll be there with ‘Frankie’ and my “New Bookstall Set-up“
Stories shared, songs performed, and a community brought together through the magic and community spirit of Pulse Radio Geelong.
Beneath the studio lights, there was something special in the air at Pulse Radio last night as “Smooth Talkers: An Evening of Tales and Tunes” brought together readers, musicians, broadcasters, and supporters of local arts. With a live audience, heartfelt performances, and the warmth of community radio, the evening celebrated the enduring power of stories and music to connect people and strengthen community.
1. Georgia and Maddi make final preparations before the audience arrives, setting the stage for an evening of stories, music, and community connection. 2. Live anchors Maddi and Chris welcomed performers and audience alike, guiding the evening with warmth, enthusiasm, and a genuine love of community radio.
1. With the audience settled and anticipation building, Martin opened the evening’s readings, setting a welcoming tone for an inspiring night of stories and spoken word. 2. Taking my turn at the microphone, I was honoured to be part of an event that brought together local readers, musicians, and supporters of the arts.
Throughout the evening, listeners responded warmly to the readings and performances, creating a welcoming atmosphere for all involved.
Wendy and Marianne brought the rich sounds of folk music to the Pulse Radio studio, and their harmonious duet became a memorable highlight of the evening.
Over at Weekly Pompts, the Weekend Challenge word is Fanciful. To visit their fabulous site, please click >> Here.
Author’s Note: The following micro-fiction piece was the one I shared during Pulse Radio’s “Smooth Talkers: An Evening of Tales and Tunes”. Originally published on this blog earlier in the week, I have included it here for readers who may have missed it and for those who attended the evening and wished to revisit it.
A Pigeon’s Lament(Micro-fiction)
Sitting alone atop this broken wooden fence, I stare into the blinding sun that floods the great blue yonder, wondering if the horror has finally gone. Are we carrier pigeons free to ride the airwaves again, or has the world turned us into couriers of foreboding danger rather than bearers of faithful hope?
As I reflected on an evening filled with stories, music, laughter, and community connection, one song kept returning to mind. Queen’s “Radio Ga Ga” remains a fitting tribute to the enduring power of radio to bring people together.
The day began with a rosy glow, the kind of gentle morning that seems to lean forward and welcome you in. Chrome‑tinted clouds drifted apart, the wattlebirds stirred their songs, and a brightening sky offered a quiet rainbow as a good‑luck sign. With nature setting such a hopeful tone, it felt only fitting that the Market followed suit — a day of kind faces, steady conversations, and a humble sense of things going right.
A Blue Sky Rainbow
Early Saturday morning and we are out walking before heading off to the Market
Dawn’s chrome clouds are clearing the wakening wattlebirds are warbling and serendipitously there’s a rainbow in the sky blithely waving hello and goodbye
Nature’s welcoming signs are favourable and on this cozy, rosy day, hopefully, Ivor’s Poetry Book display will become humbly profitable
As the sky brightened, the music rose with it, and even the morning’s rainbow seemed to hum along.
A year ago, during a visit with my Canadian cousins, I left Vancouver Island for Edmonton and met my Alberta cousin in the small town of Wainwright. Soon after, we set off on a three‑day road trip back to the island, travelling through Jasper and the towering Rocky Mountains — a journey carved into memory.
A Picnic in the Rocky’s
Leaving Salmon Arm
On the outskirts of Vancouver, heading towards the Ferry
The ferry from Vancouver to Sidney (Vancouver Island)
From the Mountains to the Sea
I am gradually drifting down, From out of the mountains’ smoky shroud, Toward the seaside playground, To rejoin a welcoming crowd.
Where, around the magical island, There will be more stories unfold, As time quickly filters through my hand; But these precious moments will be all molded Into poetic lines, written in charcoal and gold.
My Canadian cousins pointed me toward this Great Big Sea classic — a spirited companion for any journey drifting from mountains to shoreline.
It’s Market Day this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. * Our popular monthly markets are all undercover at Centrepoint Arcade on the third Saturday of every month. * They feature art, unique goods from local makers, second-hand goods, plants, books, and more. * There are also open art studios, Yesterday Vintage, Untether Gallery, and the May’d Shop.
All at, Centrepoint Arcade 132 Little Malop St, Geelong From 10 am to 3 pm
And I’ll be there with ‘Frankie’ and my “New Bookstall Set-up“
Let the quiet magic of Sigur Rós guide you toward a Saturday filled with makers, music, and friendly faces.
This afternoon we attended the very first Booktrovert Meet & Greet + Book Swap at the welcoming Books & Brew Café in North Geelong. Running from 11am to 3pm, the event marked the launch of a new bookish community for Geelong and surrounds — a space for readers, writers, and quiet creatives to gather and feel at home. The café was alive with friendly conversations, book swapping, and curious visitors learning about the new Fiction and Non‑Fiction Book Clubs. Local indie authors and makers had their work on display, adding a lovely creative buzz to the room. It was the kind of gathering where strangers quickly became bookish friends, and where the simple joy of sharing stories felt like the heart of the afternoon. A wonderful first chapter for the Booktrovert community — and a warm, memorable day at Books & Brew.
Over at Weekly Prompts, this weekend’s challenge word is Fruitful. The Booktrovert gathering turned out to be a truly “fruitful” afternoon at Books & Brew — full of new faces, shared stories, and the quiet joy of creative community. To visit their fabulous site, please click >> Here
Books & Brew Café — the perfect welcome for Geelong’s first Booktrovert gathering. A bright, inviting front view where readers, writers, and quiet creatives wandered in with curiosity and smiles.
The counter humming with coffee, conversation, and that gentle Booktrovert buzz. Frankie’s chosen table — our little home base amid the warmth of the afternoon.
Local indie authors and makers showcasing their work — a colourful corner of creativity and community.
A lively crowd filling the café with book swapping, friendly chats, and new connections. A beautiful first chapter for the Booktrovert community.
Captured moments by Catherine — fellow Geelong Writers poet and generous friend. A lovely snapshot of us together, celebrating stories and community. Her images reflect the heart of the day: warmth, camaraderie, and shared creative spirit.
A wonderful first chapter for the Booktrovert community — full of warmth, curiosity, and connection. Books & Brew proved the perfect home for this new creative gathering, and I’m already looking forward to the next event.
In the hush before dawn, the poet’s desk waits — ink, paper, and silence mingling with the faint hum of a song. “Last Rites” plays softly, and the night’s spell lingers just long enough to ask: how deep is my well?
How Deep Is My Well
Inside my pastel grey cell, where the poet’s pencils dwell, I stumbled over the inkwell and felt a dank, dark swell run down my silk lapel.
“Help!” I yell. My cocoon’s inner shell has become as black as hell.
“Please! Ring the hotel bell Perhaps the night-shift personnel will know how to quell this bewitching writer’s spell.”
From here, the ink settles… and this song becomes the last whisper of the night.
Cohen Noir: Celebrating the Music, Words & Legacy of Leonard Cohen
There’s a quiet thrill in the air today — Maree and I have just secured our tickets to Cohen Noir: Celebrating the Music, Words & Legacy of Leonard Cohen, live at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Saturday, 26th September.
It’s only four weeks away, but the mood is already settling in: that velvet‑dark Cohen atmosphere, the poetry, the ache, the humour, the songs that have followed us through decades. To step into a hall shaped for his voice — even through the hands of others — feels like a gift waiting patiently on the horizon.
A wonderful night ahead… and I’m looking forward to sharing the experience with you all.
And as we count down the four short weeks to Cohen Noir, I keep returning to the night we saw Leonard himself in Melbourne back in 2009 — a concert that still hums in the heart. To set the mood, here’s his wonderfully cheeky and soulful Tower of Song, live from London in 2008.
Some mornings test us in small, stubborn ways — cold water, burnt toast, lights that won’t flick on. This old poem from July 2018 reminds me that even on those days, we can reset, breathe, and begin again.
Burnt Toast And A Cold Shower
When it’s so hard to get out of my warm bed, I force myself to throw the sheets off, and I face another day again.
When the light doesn’t go on above my head, I replace the globe and flick the switch, and I see again
When my shower hot water turns cold, I patiently wait for the boiler to reheat, and I shall be ready again.
When the toaster burns my bread, I turn the grey dial down to three, and I restart again
When the kettle runs bone dry, I dutifully refill the jug, and enjoy a cuppa again.
When breakfast is done, and it’s time to run, I feel the advantage of being alive, and I smile at my world again.
And sometimes a song is all it takes to steady the morning again.
