Heartland

The heart of a woman
Is very much like
the earth

At its core
A fire burns
It has its quake

At its face
Life flourishes
It has its birth

In its depths
It has its treasures
Too
Artist Milan Milojevic 2016, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery Twist exhibit 2023.

Poem inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s The Heart of Man

Entertain an idea

On a scale of bland to grand
Some ideas seize
By the hand

Come, willing thoughts
Let me lead down garden path
A humble thought experiment
The ingredients are us

Do you dance the tango
Salsa, ballroom or swing?

Be my partner on the floor
Do you mime or sing?

Would you go to Thailand
Egypt, France or NZ?

Do you prefer the seaside
Or mansion in the city?

Would you rather hike
Into the wilderness, or ride?

Perfect night out?
Or in, or both until retired?

The need to entertain
The needs of one another's
Thoughts

The clash of minds
Can give off sparks
Like New Year's fireworks

While if they coincide
Minds grow contented
As they are

These thoughts, kind companions
Never leave us alone
Frederick McCubbin’s ‘Lost’ (1886)

Tea for two

In fiction I would be
A tea and scones librarian
With a secret archive
The contents of which
Was derived from many
Hours of polite
Conversations
How the mind
May wander
Is a marvellous
Thing indeed
L to R: by Jeff Mincham, Barbara Swarbrick and John Bartram ~ Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery

Rare find

Nightly thoughts invade
Missed chance blooming
Once a year
Beauty and opportunity
Keeping me awake
How long till next opening?
Keeping me grounded
Expectantly waiting
Indefinitely
Crowds gather round me
Knowing
Queen of the night
Stood over me
Displaying her colours
For one glorious moment
From then on I became
More like myself
Each passing day
Image source New York Botanical Gardens Est. 1891.

Bird on the wing

Take you with me
Everywhere I go
Wherever I stay
Yet pieces of you
Will be strewn
Carefully
Tenderly
As I speak out
A love that dared
As I shed scales
Off laden wings
Turning transparent
Emptying
Evolving
As we all are
Portraying colour
Residing within
Becoming again
A heart
That sings
Silent Spring by Gerry Wedd, South Australia