SHAPES UNFOLDING

                                 'Fragmentation'  by  Trish

There's a shadow, a form, a body, catches my imagination.

But I'm hobbled  by my anxiety, and  my frustration.

Legs, arms, hands, feet, the body parts as such,

Other than, eyes, ears and mouth, never interested  me much.

But as with many things, my interest has changed of late,

It's as if I'm seeing from out side in, for me, an other state,

To that I've always known, in fact, it's positively brand new.
 I'll breathe the body's language, it'll know what to do.


'Take soft brushes', it says, 'stroke hues, upon womens' flesh,
Gentle shade upon  their landscape, places for them to rest.
Sculpt a fountain, surounded by sand, a sacred meeting place,
With streams of living water, cascading, over, all women's grace'.

Tushie

GRADUATION

'My Homemade Graduation Gown'  by  Trish

It's my graduation day, an award, I'll bestow on myself.

I'll frame the certificate I give me, and place it on a shelf.

I'll celebrate for a week, with friends and strangers too,

If you're interested in an award, I'll  gladly create one, for  you.

I've read, 'the roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet',
I've repeated those words often, to almost everyone I'd meet.
Some folk didn't care to hear it, and thought me quite absurd,
It didn't stop me from saying it, there's power in the word!

One day I was enthusing, holding forth about education,
I heard myself for the first time, heard my love and devotion,
For learning, in all its forms, through, touch, sight and more,,
Why shouldn't I recognize me, myself, for something I adore.

Tushie

I SLEPT FOREVER?

'Theft'  by  Trish

How did I awake? How long have I slept?

Now I remember, an angel stole my breath.

Removing neither clothes or shoes, I lay upon my bed

Rested gratefully on the stone pillow, beneath my heavy head.

The rhythm of the world, kept  on with its dance,

No one thought I was dead, just in a deep trance.

Time rested upon  me, embalmed my flesh and mind,

I dreamed my life on my sleeping lids, I felt I was blind.

One day music, floated, filtered through my senses,

In shock I opened my eyes, around me were  the remnants,

of  mangled steel, its twisted strength, formed the word, 'disillusion'
But nature'd traced in strings, and beads of greens, the words, 'happiness in profusion'.

 Tushie



'The Endless Sleep'  by  Trshi



THE COLOR WAS RED

'Red'  by  Trish

The color of my wrath, glowed night and day,

It took forever to find, what to do or say.
First I gathered together, all of my friends,
Those who'd joined me, as I journeyed  to my road's end.

I pursed my lips, puffed my cheeks, it turned me bright red,
Blood rushed to my face,  I nearly lost my head.
Just when I feared, this could lead me to my  death,
A blessed thought  saved me, it said  'Breathe, Breathe, Breath'.

Tushie

LOOKING

I found the garden of 'Flowers With Faces',

'Looking For Fairies'  by  Trish 

I'd heard there were fairies, but saw no traces.

I asked the 'Flowers With Faces'
 'Do you know, know when they come out?'

They told me, loud and clear,
'Not when people are about.'

'But, I'm not people' I said
 'Why, I'm a small child.'

My reply, to the 'Flowers with Faces,'
made the garden go wild.

In an instant it disappeared
and  heavy rain fell from the clear sky.

What made the garden so angry ?
I'd no time to ask, why?

It's too late now, to find out,
just what went wrong,

I must wait to find the garden again,
I hope it's not too long.

This time I'll prepare myself, 

'The Grand Queen of the Garden'  by Trish

make sure I get it right,
Next time, I'll do it another way
I'll search for the fairies at night.

                                 
(To be continued)

Tushie

SPRING



'New Life'  by  Trish



I'm hypnotizd by Spring, its new life, energy, power.

The Love creeper sleeps until winter's last hour,

Winter frosted, tears, tremble and slip away,

Buds appear, green springs forth, nature is at play.

As earth tilts towards the sun, embracing  new warmth,
Growth becomes abundant, as more and more is born.
Wonderous days are coming, a festival of colors arrive,
A Wedding Bush, blooms, its scented flowers thrive

A Snowy carpet of soft mist, a myriad of hues in lilac,
Shades of yellow amber, scatter their treasure back.
Upon the bronze iridescent blooms, and naked sun orchid,
Spring has our bushland aglow, a brilliant paradise orchard.

Tushie

TOO MUCH INFORMATION

'Mrs Lowry'  by  Trish

'Oh that woman!' I heard Mrs Lowry, our neighbor , say,

'That woman Milly Brussle, certainly has a way,

Of irritating me, she almost drives me insane!

What irritates me most is, she's got only half a brain!

I remember her, when she was just a little kid,

Even then she was snooty, about what she said and did.'

Mrs Lowrly, went on, 'Milly Brussle thinks she's so special,

She didn't look too good, the day she had a wrestle,
With my brother Tom, before he was grown up,

She daren't tackle him then, our Tom, was strong, and tough!'

I listened to our neighbor go on and on and on,

I thought, surely Mrs Brussle, had a part that's, not all wrong?

Later I heard  my mother, tell my father what Mrs Lowry, said,
My father replied without blinking an eye, 'That Mrs Lowry's not right in the head!'

Tushie

THE COLD PLACE

'Invisibe Ice'  by  Trish

It's a blundering, blind, nowhere place,

Neither, here nor there, or even in space.

It's a world of ghosts, a prison with steel bars.
There's no such thing as sun or stars.

This land is the coldest place on earth,
Entered into even before  birth,

It's not an appropriate place to be,

This freezing, numb universe, bestowed on me.

Lately it occurred, there could be an answer about,
This ice that keeps all warmth out,
I need to use a method, that will rattle, spark and shake.
Energy into action, I'm on the edge of something........great!!
           (To be continued)

Tushie

A STRANGE PHILOSOPHY

 (A conversation)

'A Mixture of Moods'  by  Trish

John says, 'People hurt  those most dear.
They tug, crush, break, the heart of those near.
He says, 'They  treat  loved one's so bad. Like an Emotional punching bag?'

I say, 'John, that's not right, it's not the truth!
When one cares, and I've seen living proof,
There's nothing too much to ask of the other,
I've heard 'Just tell me,what is it you want me to do' Be it sister or brother.

I've heard neighbors say, to a request made,
'No, no, I definitely don't want to be paid.'
John says, 'It depends on what your work be.
 As I've never worked, nothings ever asked of me.'

Tushie   1986

PARANOIA

        (Eyes everywhere)

'Paranoia'  by Trish 

Whose voice is that? Who spoke?

The words frighten me. How strange they sound.

Words have power, others are moved by them.

One must be careful of what they say.

What did those, words say? What did they mean?

You who spoke and listen, tell me!

But you don't answer. There's only silence.

Perhaps it was I who said the words?

Perhaps I have a message for myself?
But that doesn't make sense.
A message is given to one by another
I have no news for  myself or for, another.

Of course, there is...but that is under the seal of secrecy.

Trushie

'Ship Wrecked'  by  Trish

IF I CLOSE MY EYES

'Earthly Confusion'   by  Trish

If I close my eyes, it will all go away,

If I open them, it will all stay.
The dilemma is as old as time,
But this bewilderment is all mine.

I've spread the word to myself,
I'll never leave anything on the shelf
For dust to cover all my dreams,
It's the only way to go  it seems.

I've talked to people night and day,
Sharing backfired,  there was hell to pay.
I don't know what it's all about,
I do know there was much to sort out.

But the answer is definitely drawing near,
Even though, it can, then, disappear.
Inevitably I'll place my foot on the road,
Without the attributes of heritage's load.

Trish  

DINNER FOR TWO

'A Special Night'  by  Trish

It can soothe the tension, bridge the chasm of time

Soft lights, music, a bitter sweet wine.

Entree  that slides over, tongue, hard palette,

Then a main course of prawns and red mullet.

Dancing, entwined in each other's arms,
Perhaps admiring the vocalist's charms?
Return to the table for dessert
The waiter dabs red syrup, off your white shirt.

As the night unfolds, music and song
Begins to sound loud, lacking, all wrong.
There's undisguised strain, on the vocalist's face,
Perhaps due to the tight belt round her small waist?

The musicians played, violins, guitars, at the tables,
Music from other lands, set to folk lore, fables.
Of the  pale image with the tiny waist, there's no sight.
The waiter brings the account, says 'Hope you enjoyed the night.'

Tushie

WITH ME IN MIND

'The Masque'  by  Trish

My Ancestors shiver in their shrouds, I have disturbed them,
With my relentless search, for answers, my constant vigilance.
There is much to sort out, in my theatre of charade,
My costume's not been started, my role not yet cast.
The elements are all there, mime, drama, the power of play.

The masks, for all my old roles, are waiting.
Breathe, your audience awaits.Mystery and magic, tragedy and mirth, combine perfectly in my theatre of Charade.
But this is not my audience! Is this even my theatre?

Where is the part, that's a poem, that produces the perfume of life and love?.
I have searched the forests, with a sword in one hand, my heart in the other..
Closed my ears my eyes. Did it achieve anything?
The forest swallowed me whole.With the sword, I purposely pierced my own heart.

I've performed endless roles, amongst them, the threadbare servant, and the red nosed clown, and they were my greatest moments.
Now I need something else? Surely it is there amidst my theatre of clouded mirrors,
Secret corners and this crowd of sad, creepy, cranky masks I've collected!

What if  the old masks vanished, melted away? What then?
Well...I could  paint my bare flesh,
And if there was, as well,  living breath,
I'd have a complete canvas to paint my world of colors upon..
But my skin is raw, from the masks' harsh cloth, and may distort the colors, I put upon it?
Let's just say, I did start to fight myself, for a new character? where would I begin? 

At my throat,
I'd loosen the rope.

Until my breath flows
And my voice grows.

I'd have my body in my bed
 A body attached to my  head.

          (To be continued)

Trish

I SEE ME

'Dissocation'  by  Trish

I'm slowly growing, hands fingers, and toes,

They're almost there, and so in my nose.

My arms, legs, feet are coming along too,

I know about my feet, by the size of my shoe.

It's isn't as if I didn't have any limbs,
They became invisible to me, due to my sins.
People around me don't see the change,
The difference will appear, but  it's quite long range.

As always, I  don't understand  how I know all these things?

Why the only parts visible to me, for so long, were my wings?
I think it's because I've kept my eyes raised to heaven,
I've had them like that since I was five, six, or seven?

It won't be long before I'm able to turn a new leaf over,
Look down and enhale  the perfumes, of flowers and clover.
When that day comes, I'll keep on giviing 'thanks' with my prayers.
Another thing, my wings are shrinking, as my limbs grow, I can Hardly fly upstairs

It's sad in a way ,that I 'm forgetting how to fly,
It's probably to do with my upturned eyes,
Beginning to come down from their prayerful state,
It feels as  if I've been fast asleep, and soon will feel, wide awake.

Trish

A NEW DRESS

'Tradition'  by  Trish

I'm going on a journey, wearing a special dress.
When I get to where I'm going, it mustn't get wet!
I'm heading to the sea, for a very particular parade,
My costume cost a lot, it was especially made.

My father took my picture for our family album
He says 'pictures contain  memories, mother calls it nostalgia.'
Whatever the reason for  my picture, in spite of what father said,
Most of the photos in our album are of folks long dead.

Not that I'm worried about that, nothing will happen to me
I'm going to live forever, and I won't go in the sea,
Even though our parade is very near the water,
I'll be there to represent, my father's, father, and my father, as a daughter.
                             (To be continued)

Trish

AWAY WITH THE FAIRIES

In the heart of most flowers lives Artinka 'Guardian of the Light.'

She turns it up each morning and down again each night

To help her with her work, her unseen duties, amount to many,

Are two little helpers at hand, Agris and Jabin always ready,

To do any jobs she may want done. In their spare time, they help The Sun, share its rays, over fields, working folk, and those having fun.

Agris and Jabin know the Sun's not very big, compared to some Stars,
Which is why they'd like to visit their cousins who live on mars.
Not that they've met their cousins, although part of the family.
They'd like to take a look at mars, see if it's a good place to be.
Once, with Artinka, they'd  visited a place called Norridge,
'It's not like the surface of the sun,' Artinka, said, 'which looks like Boiling porridge.'

Lately the helpers have felt tired, they must be quite an age,
They've noted Artinka, 'Keeper of the Light,' doesn't ever change.
"Maybe she was born to live forever' Agris once said,
'She's so happy, doesn't sleep much, it's a wonder her eyes aren't red.'
Jabin nodded. 'What's say we  go see Atrinka? ' he asked, 'see what we can do?'
When Atrinka, saw them, she shone like the morning star and said 'Agris and Jabin, I do so love you.'

Tushie

'Atrinka and Her Two Helpers'  by  Trish

LEAVING ON A JET PLANE

'Moving Out'  by  Trish

It's not what he promised, the night he invited me home for a beer!

I'll just  leave! pack my things! and disappear!

I'll write him a note, leave it on the kitchen table,

Say,'Will write when I can, be in touch, when able.'
Why not as I'm going, have one long, last shot,
If he came in the door now, my look would shrivel him on the spot

I'll write, 'This place is not big enough, for the dogs, you and me,

Nor am I interested, in baby sitting greyhounds, picking up their pooh, or making you endless cups of tea,

You drive me crazy, in bed each night, you're even giving me  wrinkles,

It's the crunch of your beloved potato chips, and the bags crackles and crinkles.

Left my key in the letterbox, fed Kelly your new greyhound pup,

Left the house barefoot, Kelly's  chewed all my shoes up.
You said when we met we were created for each other,
The only creating  done in your life mister, was by your father and mother.

Tushie

THE WEDDING

'Fantacia'  by  Trish

When I get married  I'll look my best 

I'll wear a  frothy veil and lovely white dress,

I'll carry a gorgeous bouquet, I'll wear  flowers in my hair,

I'll invite all our neighbours, simply everyone will be there.

Aunt Mill, aunt Rene and her poor dizzy daughter

Who drinks wine from a big mug, and says it's just water.

My handsome brother Don, who couldn't help but tell lies,

He hurt people when he did it, he only stopped when he died.

Hilton the sly fox who I hate passionately.

He's a  lurker, and to my disgust, obsessively  loves me. 

Special food  will be spread out on the table

Decorum  may reign, from those who're able.

It's strange the way I feel, it's as if something bad,

Will come from the event, I hope will make me glad.

I can't help but wonder, what's gone wrong?

After much thinking, I understand, my heart's lost its song.

I must close my absurd theatre, of crazy laughter and love,
Recently, I dreamt,  through my open window, flew a pure white dove,
Alighted and rested upon my bed, then moved to my pillow,
 'Follow me,' I heard it say, 'it's important you return, to the curly willow.'

The homely tree, and more, so long ago mine,
It had unusual leaves, they curled and twined,
Like ringlets upon a little child's head,
They'd make a lovely crown, wreathe for the dead.

Forgive me, my morbid turn of mind,
It's all I can do, as I  begin my climb,
To the top of the curly willow tree,
That once upon a time, belonged to me.

Tushie


BLACK SPACES
I don't want anymore black spaces,
Or dark moods, on grumpy faces,

'Good Vibrations'  by  Trish

Or harsh words to come at me,
Even if they fit ,yours truly ,to a T.

I'm tired, cheesed off, and disgusted,
I warned you, if you ever didn't cut the mustard,
I said 'quick as a wink, I'll call it quits',
And I am, it's dangerous, for you, us living like this.

So here's your choice, Casanova, just bugger off!
And don't try me for pity, with your pathetic asmathic cough
Out you go buster, out you go bare bum, and all,
I'll save a fortune, at night, not leaving the light on, for you, in the hall.

Did you think I'd be so blind , to not sense, something was odd,
It just shows how you underestimate me, ya rotten little sod!
Go back to your scrawny new love, thin as a rake I hear,
Never puts on an ounce, though, I'm told, she's able, to guzzle down a barrel of beer.

Out! Out ya sneaky little bastard, I'll take you for all you've got,
And don't think I'm intimidated, by the fact, ya used to be a cop.
Out, out I say, don't show 'your ugly two timing mug around here,
And if things get too hot for you and your, new love, go drown in a barrel of beer.
Out!!

Tushie

SOME PEOPLE!

'All At Sea'  by  Trish

Some say I'm foolish, to drift around like this,

What they don't realize is, I was born to be a fish.

Sometimes I look untidy, a right royal wreck,

But the constant dipping under water, makes my hair a mess!

The eyemake up, I bought, they said it was waterproof,

It'd make my eye mysterious, on both counts there's no truth.

I'm searching above and below the deep green, blue sea,

Floating, swiming seeking for a place to be fishy me.

When I'm tired of  treading water, battling enormous waves,

I take a nap on a rock, in one of the comfy caves.
It's not as if I'm fussy, and must have all I wish,

If I found something more interesting, I'd give up being a fish!

Tushie

FESTIVAL TIME AGAIN!

'Celebrate'  by  Trish

I'm wearing my classic festival dress

If one looks closely it's quite a mess.

I've stitched and darned, what's falling apart

With needle and thread I've refined the art.

The perfume of days long gone away

Linger in the clothes worn on Festival day

We all join hands and we leap about,

It's toe and heel, and then a shout,

'Winter! Spring! Summer! Fall!'

Let's all prosper and heed the call,

Bring branches and boughs, covered with leaves,

And the heart shaped ivy with its many greens.

Create garlands to adorn our wrists, our necks,

No need for money, nor to impress

In sunshine, wind, storms and rain

Our 'Festival of Thanks' honours its name.

Tushie

JUMPING AND JUMPING

'High as High'  by  Trish

See me jumping in the sky,

I can go as high as high,

I'll never fall down, because,

As folk once said,

"She's developed a big head."

Damn and blast them, the whole lot,

Tip them all in the compost, let them rot!

I'm a whirling wily, witty girl

Why I could make their hair curl.

But for now I'll take it easy

This high altitude is making me..... queasy.

Tushie

BOREDOM!!

'Depression'  by  Trish

I'm so bored, it makes me tired,

sometimes I feel as if I could cry.

There must be some fun times,

Even for a child guilty of crimes,

Such as laziness, and too much to say,

Why only last night, or was it in the day?

You see, that's where things get hard for me

I don't know dates or days, or where I should be.

It seems my ideas are all back to front,

I've started to feel like a real dunce.

If I could just breathe like other little girls

Instead of  in, stop, start, panting whirls,

I'd be bright as a button, I'd be on my way

To the happiest of worlds full of hugs and play.

Tushie

GOLD

'Gold And Darkness'  by  Trish

I'm standing in shallow waters and it's so cold,

If I stand here long enough, could it turn to gold?

To stand and wish and wait forever,
Is proving to be a useless endeavour

If I look behind, will the darkness devour me?
But nothing could be worse, than feeling so lonely?

Soon I'll turn, so slowly, I won't know I've done it;
And at what I'll see I know I'll say "Thank you God, I love it!"

Tushie

SOMEWHERE

"Racing Towards Happiness"  by  Trish

I'm on my way to somewhere, boy will it be great!

My mother will be waiting for me, at the garden gate.

She'll see me coming towards her and say, "Hello my little one,

Had a good day today, did you have lots of fun?"

I'll hug her and I'll kiss her until her face turns red,

And later, she'll say, "Sweet dreams" and tuck me in bed.

And when the lights are out I'll have a good chat to God,

I'd tell how much it hurts, to be called a lazy little sod.

I know it will stop , if not tomorrow, or even the next day,

And as I wait and wait, I'll pray and pray and  pray.

Tushie

GOING AWAY

I'm going to run away to China, I'll go as far as far,                                                             'Mina'  by  Trish

I wish I knew how to drive, and had a big strong car,

I'd drive without stopping, drive until, I got there

I'd even sleep on the ground, I'd sleep anywhere.

As long as I got to China, I wouldn't care who got cross

Just once in a while why can't I, me Mena, be the boss!

Every body's  angry, and it's me who gets the blame.

It seems to me, all of them, should feel really ashamed.

I wonder how long I will need to get so far away?
Maybe about....hm mm......perhaps a whole day?
When I've stopped being angry, I'll ask my friend Sal,
She might like to come with me to China? Who can tell!

Tushie

'Sal'  by  Trish

AT THE GYPSY BAZAARE



'Fortune'  by  Trish

Let me tell your fortune, I have a gift for it.

The past and future are clear to me,

Good or bad, I tell it as it is.
Why not know truth of the past?
There is no living future without it.

Some say they don't care about either,
But they are unwise, or perhaps afraid.
No matter, because the past will creep up,
Behind them, and the future will come and find them.

Let me tell your fortune, I have a gift for it,
You can be the one to receive it, if you're ready.
Don't cross my palm with silver, sing your song,
Dance your dance, that way, nothing can go wrong.

Tushie

From My Window

'Baby Doll'  by  Trish 

Sing baby, sing your song, beyond your window sill
Cut your hair off, move that numb body,
Breathe for Gods sake, no needs left, to kill.

Your space is yours where ever you are.
Your Breath, belongs to you,
In  a cathedral, or boozy bar.

Let words on your mind be what they may
Rough, raw, childish, wise, they are a sign,
You're in a different place, to the old of yesterday

Danger's not your enemy, no longer are you,
Enjoy, enjoy life, out from your  hiding place,
Breathe! breathe! move! move! Relax...relax...too.

Tushie

BROWNIE

'Jack of all Trades'  by  Trish

(A wedding setting)
Brownie does the bumping in and out
For 'The Theatre of Dumb Charade',
He desperately wants to be an actor,
But as yet,  hasn't made the grade.

So while Brownie's waiting for his big chance,
He helps out wherever  he can,
Does lighting, painting, repairing,
Something to be done in a hurry? he's your man.

There's no call here, for a sound person,
As the actors never need  speak,
'The Theatre of Dumb Charades' plays,
Drama always, at pure emotional  peak.

Brownie's preparing the stage
For the new show, that's bumped on in,
It's meant to look white and wedding  like,
To cut costs, he's, utilized, bits of rusty old tin.
        (To be continued)

Tushie

SELF EXPRESSION

'The Actress'  by  Trish

"I'm going to be an actress a,

Famous interpreter of the art.

I'll learn all the words perfectly,

Always ready for the part.

If I get lazy and careless

I'll clip myself over the ear,

As my mother threatened to, do,

And I won't shed a tear."

"May God strike me dead",
I heard her say, to my aunt Ann,
"She won't listen to a word,
 anyone says!

Oh no, not her,
It's  got to be all madam's say,
I tell you Ann, she needn't turn to me,
When the tide turns the wrong way.

I've done everything I can,
now it's all upon her own head
But the day that tide does turn

I'll say, remember what I said?"

Tushie