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AUSTRALIAN EPIPHANY

On the program from Australia on CBC Overnight the broadcaster was exploring the Green aspects of Canberra Airport and said, "Well, the building faces north so it gets lots of sun". This jolted me awake. And came the immediate realization that south of the equator this would be the case. Further reflection had me deciding that a north - EAST exposure would still be desirable for early risers. For a moment my mind trotted across the Sun coming, perhaps, from the West in that fascinating land of the Aussies...

One of the Green aspects of the Canberra Airport that netted it a five out of six was its waterless urinals. Seems that a layer of oil keeps them odour free. The interviewer was asked to do a nose test, did so, gave his approval. Brow-raising images entertained me.

I never know what I am going to hear on Radio Australia. If it didn't seem such a Big Deal to visit there, I likely would.

CLOUDS

Clouds. Just simply clouds. Some preening themselves on the horizon just now. Some off to the south pointing toward the Olympic Mountains. Clouds. They never fail......

HAIKU SELECTION

Memory Haiku

Toddler son, staring
Up at the full moon gave me
The gift of "sky ball".

Travel Haiku

The train flanked a field
And simultaneously
Farmer and I waved.

Autumn Haiku

Most autumn days are
Summer-tinged, (thank you Nature!),
Not winter-tainted.

Haiku for a Wasp about to Land in my Salad

I do hope I would
Approve of where your multi-
Feet have been, lately.

Haiku

I trust old toaster
In its original box
For sale at garage sale.

from SIMPLY HAIKU

POEM TODAY THE BIRDS CAME

Come.
And they came.
Tiny, light,
Feathered creatures,
Feet firmly pinned
To the tips of my fingers.
Come.
And they came!
The mind called.
But the heart beckoned.

from MOON MADNESS and Other Skywritings

POEM RAIN SQUALLS

The rain came down like baseballs,
The windshield was the bat,
And every throw a strike without exception.
The storm was short, the innings fast,
But as so much for that
The game was really just in my perception.

from CLOUDS

RANDOM ACTS OF POETRY WEEK

GAUCHE, AGAIN!

I'd welcome a blush,
I'd welcome a stammer,
I'd welcome a faux pas
Adolescent in glamour.
The menu is perfect,
The seating divine,
Perhaps it would help
If I gobbled my wine.
Talk about weather,
The news, of a play,
No pause is too pregnant
To labour away...
But then of a sudden
Catch eye in discourse,
Share mute understanding:
First date. Post divorce.

from Dorothy, Were We Once Related, I Was
Parker For 24 Years

POEM FOR ROBERT FROST (One Poem You Didn't Write)

He took offence at something that you said,
That stranger in the poets' lecture hall,
"I'll show you what a firecracker is!"
He said. You laughed, seemed not to mind at all.
But later, when the parcel came, all shabby,
A size and shape suggestive of - a bomb,
You took it, shook it, gazed at her in worry
And tried to take a brave hold on aplomb.
"It's likely just cigars," she said, half shrugging,
"I don't smoke - it's well known," you replied,
"But I've a mind to just undo the wrappings...."
You did so - a cigar box - loosely tied.
"The seal looks like it might have been refastened,"
She said and you could not help but agree.
And suddenly the tension burst in action,
"I'll throw the goddamned thing against a tree!"
She put a hand to hold you, then withdrew it,
She might as well have tried to snuff out stars.
You flung the box in angry, mounting terror,
And showered the back garden in cigars.

(from MOON MADNESS and Other Skywritings)

HAIKU FLEECE

Maybe it was the sight of frost on the rooftops - first this year - that had me thinking of warmth - and - wool - and the givers of wool.... and brought to mind this haiku

HAIKU

Fleece. Astounding fleece!
Sheep giving up heart without
Relinquishing soul.

CHAIR COMFORT

Saw a stool that looked just like a tractor seat in one of those studio-type stores the other day. I like the idea of taking something out of context but suggesting the same use and I assume in this case it was the tractor seat that inspired the stool and not the other way around. My preference would be to find an old tractor seat and turn it into a stool, if I decided I just had to have one. I imagine tractor seats are more comfortable than not (oh! distraction!! a flicker just skimmed onto the dead branch of the birch tree out front, silhouetted itself against the gold of the birch leaves across the street, looked for a snack but seemed to find the supply lacking so flew away with that white flash of tail!!!).

Tractor seats. Comfort. The sturdy plastic-stripped chairs around the Snakes and Ladders game in the back garden suddenly featured themselves in my 3 a.m. think time. Two are a lovely deep sea blue and one an apple green. They are comfortable and as I am getting rid of chairs that could do better in this respect - and comfortable chair should NOT be an oxymoron! - I decided to bring these indoors and place them around the table which will be part of my next place. Did so this morning. The proportion is wrong so they journeyed back outdoors and continue in the garden. But they could be made to work in a different space. The time of sitting in them again, back supported, arms not in the way of knitting but there for support, body being able to forget about the chair - this will motivate me when I 'clothe' my next home. In the same way one ought to be able to take shoes for granted and let them do their thing, so one ought to be able to count on a chair.

VICTORIA RAIN

When people ask, "But doesn't it rain a lot in Victoria?", I usually reply, "It rains a lot but there isn't much rain. Vancouver is where it rains a lot and there is lots of rain." A case in point: this morning when I rode off on bike to the Deli it was raining. The newspaper had predicted rain and the radio confirmed it. But I only saw one person with an opened umbrella. The rain this morning was more mist. At times it can be real rain that leaves actual drops but this comes in bursts and if one must, one walks under building overhangs during such 'downpours' or goes into a store. Or trots more quickly. And it wasn't cold this morning so I sat quite comfortably on the Deli patio having my tea and knitting. Albeit misted. At the moment the 'rain' has stopped and the sun is having a serious discussion with the clouds about edging through - ah! - there it has done it. Enough to cast shadows. Now clouds have shouldered. Now sun. Wearable, watchable weather. Vermont is the only other place I have felt it so in evidence. Possibly Belize.