This is Queensland

this is queensland

Originally uploaded by gumbootspearlz

So it’s cloudy, the cane is growing again, and the wet season has finally begun.  This is the Queensland I have come to know.

The other part of Queensland is how generous some people are, with their time, and friendship. These last 5 weeks I have had a driving mentor who has given my confidence that one day soon I will indeed be able to drive a car. She has helped make me more confident on the road, and willing to take the risk to master the skills required.

Every time we do something kind for others they are so quick to repay that kindness. They seem like such little things we do for others, and yet it’s really appreciated, but we don’t do these things for any rewards.

This year I have made it into the clothes rounds. Now you really now you are in a town when you make the clothes rounds. Bags of clothes have appeared for all my children, shoes, shirts, you name it. Of course I also give clothes around but more is coming in then going out. I am astounded. It’s like people keep their clothes to find them a good home. Everything is so much better than the state you find it in local second hands stores.

My favourite part of my town has to be the beach and the local library. There are so many carvings, books and librarians who find books you love to show to you when you go in there.

Story time December 15th, hmm that has to be something we’ll put on our calendar. With the kids at school I rarely make storytime anymore, except once this year as a guest reader. Librarians turn into Queens and Princesses, can’t wait to see what they are doing for Christmas.

Everytime the part of Queensland that some people warned me about – the prejudiced side, the country bumpkin side, comes forward there are champions of justice, freedom and the truly human way. I am grateful to have met so many of the kind people of Queensland.

(c) June Perkins

End of Nanowimo

Hooray I did it!  I got to the goal, and I am half way through my first Fantasy novel.    I am so happy!  Four Soul Fooders have so far made the goal and become winners of the challenge.

Time to reflect— I have created a world, invented creatures, a cast of characters, some problems and mastered the art of cliffhanger – I hope.

I have two nanoreaders, one who has kept up with reading and egging me on, and another wanting me to write substantial amounts so she won’t have to wait for plot developments.  Nanoreaders have to patient, they are not reading edited material.  Sometimes they notice slip ups, but to encourage the nanowriter they say everything they enjoy and know it will be edited- they might make a note somewhere to help the writer out.

Nanowriters love their weekly peptalk emails! They are funny, to the point, and full of handy hints that really mean something as they are from people who have been through nanowrimo.

I have missed some of the ways I use my time, but I realise maybe I could do a little less of blogging, and photo uploading and facebook and spend more time creating stories.

Someone said I wrote a mininovel of my nanowrimo experience on facebook, but actually really I just twittered it there.   I counted down the words, reflected on what I was doing, and even found inspiration.  See facebook need not be a time eater.

I feel like I really can call myself a writer, why – because I write everyday, and something bigger than me is in the works.  Ah the responsibility.  I wrote a reunion scene today and was so happy for my characters.  I am wondering what has happened to the days I didn’t write.  They seem so very distant, and I can’t imagine a day without it.  Anything you do for a month can become a habit.

 

More important than the word goal

- learning to write everyday no matter what
- learning to listen to a character
- looking for threads
- trusting the story will unfold
- soul food solace
- mythology is wonderful
- names can be magical
- invent, invent, invent….

Hmm now I might take that and apply it to my exercise, diet regimen I keep putting off (:   Nanodiet, nanoexercise… 30 days ….. nanokindness….. you get the idea.

Over and out.  I’ll be back to blog, but maybe not as much.  I am still writing my novel and characters  and situations call!

(c) All rights reserved, June Perkins

One week of Nanowrimo

Nanowrimo generates a lot of positive messaging between people supporting each other through it. I have been doing status statement updates, and realise I’ve been keeping a diary really of the whole experience, must be my education and documenting impulse coming out. I’ve always been one to keep diaries. Some might say ‘June you are taking away from your word count,’ but I think this contact is actually helping my word count. It’s like reading helps too, inspiring me and others to design the next character, the next habitat and weave in mythologies. Walking is also inspiring, because I draw on my environment to help me create things.

Some of these messages were sent to the SFC novel writing group. Imagine my surprise when 10 soul foodies all decided to undertake nanowrimo, many of us for the FIRST time. Lori decided to set up a group for us on yahoo to encourage each other, and share tips about writing. THANKS Lori.

I’ve edited out some of the personal messages and replies to me but there have been many encouraging comments and I have two READERS for my emerging novel ( my daughter and best friend Paulien). The great thing about having two readers is that they are urging me on for the next chapter, I stay in front of them by a couple of chapters. Paulien has really made my day by saying she loved it so much she is doing art inspired by it! What a gem! As for my novel, I don’t want to say too much about it. You can have some hints from reading my status statements and I hope one day its coming to a shelf near you! I’m allowed to dream, cause at least I am dreaming and WRITING not procrastinating! If you want to know more about the progress of the novel let me know (:I’m keeping it a little under wraps.

Day 1

Its 7.40 just wrote my first 240 words and now going to have breakfast.
All the best to all of you for the day.

Its rainy here, and I heard doves early in the morning. I am looking out my
window to a cane field growing again and rain droplets on the screen.

June

End of Day 1

Its 7.20 pm doing one more writing session tonight, starting to enjoy the
characters, in the middle of a scene may get to the end of it or leave it mid
scene to dream the rest tonight…, will do a bit more before sleep — on a
dinner break.

All the best to you ! Will check in again in the morning. I have prompts all
over my desk… and a teddy bear with a red scarf with a H on it to give a hug
to now and then….

Day 1 Facebook Statements
240 words in — time to have breakfast….

June Perkins 862 words — almost half way for todays quota–

944 words — now to clean the kitchen the joys of nano with family committments….

June Perkins 1095 words — not quite there for the day –dinner time and some food for thought…

yay 1762 words funny though the characters are dreaming or is the author dreaming for the characters…..

Day 2

hey thanks for those good wishes, i want that bracelet too… but i do have my
teddy bear with h

h for humble, happy, horatio … the writing bear mascot.

yes i ‘ve been constantly distracted too but its still shaping up.About to go
write some more, just had a driving lesson — i am going for my ps in december
long story, another day eh.

Goodluck everyone thinking of you all write, write, even in patches, in
stretches, and yes dont do too much editing let it flow…..

writing power to all [my son made a delicious choccy cake, i think i may have a
piece to start me off today.... ]

june

Check in End of Day 2

wow you are all doing so well, all i can say is press onwards- i am doing mine
in spurts of 800 words, have a break, read something, check the bookcase, look
through wisdom cards, etc. the wisdom cards have awesome pics on them that
inspire me. I’m trying to reach 1700 words everyday if I can, anything more is a
bonus.

—also helps with ergonomics… i had a lovely time today writing and tried
not to censor anything too much but let the story keep developing ergonomically.

tomorrow i think i’ll put some music on that’s always a help too.

June

Day 2 Facebook Statements
June Perkins 3423 words — praying to the muse of novels to keep going…

Beginning Day 3

what day 3 already, snuck in 100 words before i sent the kids to school, then
had to prepare for a class and meeting, snuck in another 50 words.

now i see all these inspiring emails and Heather stand there with staminade…

thanks Lori for setting this up too !!! you all rock….!!!!

will pop in this evening again to see how all is going, gotta write before the
kids get home.

Yes i had back problems yesterday so trying to make sure i do some shoulder
rolls as well..

music… time to put some on!!!

june

End of Day 3
Awesome full moon, fruit bats flying past…. a walk
invention of creatures for my world, research on succulent plants and fun making
up names…

5222 words in total…. i have to laugh my characters seem to go to sleep like
me each day and wake up in my morning….

enjoyed reading some soul food prompts, looking for inspiration everywhere, and
keeping word notes within my word counts to remind me that i can draw from
anything and everything, did some reading about key themes in my story…

onward all… [noticed my lawn was green today after being dry]

how about this Shocked won followed by Crime Scene (horses in the Melbourne
Cup!!!)

Day 3 Facebook Statements

5222 words today and its developing layering and there are some mysteries and antagonists….

sorry total 5222 altogether reached my quota again… funnily my characters keep going to sleep when i do…

no aliens, but who knows what happens, there is invented wildlife and an interesting cast of characters.

yes 3 subplots

June Perkins
500 words…. and now time to think for a bit….

June Perkins
total count 4700 so far…

Day 4

yahee just passed the 6000 words mark, now heading into the longest story I have
ever written territory…

Just sharing the opening from a few days ago — i hope you are all having the
best day, it’s only 10 am here and I have all day free to write!!! I am enjoying
reading your updates.

The opening…

‘It was the first white coffin of the drought. The mother, of the young man
within, beat it frantically with the palm frond leaves. She wailed in a long
high pitched peal.
How can anyone know what it feels like to lose a child until they have been
through it – Indera Bayu pondered. She had lost her daughter many years ago now
but still it felt as recent as the breath she had made the second before.
Yet, losing the rainy season for three seasons running had been like the town
losing its own child. The town was so used to rain falling for those four
months of the year and replenishing the supplies that they had not made
provision for a dry spell. Now the paddocks outside their home were one great
big dustbowl.’ (c) June Perkins 2009

june

Day 4, Facebook Statements

a whole day to write, putting the hotpot on for dinner for everyone tonight and then straight into it – saw fruit bats and an awesome moon with cloud glove holding it last night… no no camera in sight…

6098 total…. and its only 9.47 am i think the story is beginning to have a life of its own….

6098 total…. and its only 9.47 am i think the story is beginning to have a life of its own….

characters stranded up a tree with a heartcodile after them better go have lunch and work out how they get out of this one!!
Day 5 Earlier in Day

I am 7,300 words now but had to stop 1.2 way through
yesterday with a headache– i went for a long walk last night and had a bit of a
rest, its like pacing yourself in a race isnt it.

Anyway back to it later today off for a driving lesson this morning.
I am enjoying the way the characters develop organically, a tip in nano wrimo
was not to change anything once its down but to highlight it if you want to
trash it later to keep up your word count.

I have been going back and filling characters in a bit more and making it
consistent, by reading from the start each day – that’s been a big help and adds
words as well, but at the same time it keeps moving forwards.

Opting for fruit and water ahead of coffee (which i gave up 4 months ago) and
cake (which is not so good on the weight).The fridge is full of watermelon which
is delicious.

GOODLUCK everyone heading into the weekend soon –

June

hot pot simmering up to 7070 words in total sun is out!

Day 5

Well just got a tiny bit excited as I just passed 9000 words and the day is not over yet….

Hope you are all doing well — i love google!!! You just think yeah need to know more about… and if its not on the bookcase you can probably google it.

also finding soul food prompts and everything else on my desk a help.

It is good having a few sets of characters as I can switch from group to group when running out of steam on another….

June

Day 6

I have found that writing is much more physical than I realised, tendonitis in
arms and yes like some others a sore back… so I am taking myself off for a
walk, and yes trying to eat healthy

- had a cracker headache last night, pillow was wrong on bed… thought oh no i
wont be able to write, but managed to kick it.

watermelon, fluids, etc. I am very blessed at the moment, to be doing all my
work from home as writing and so I don’t have to rush off and do too much else,
but I have waited a long time for this so its a real joy–.

My dear husband is trying to work on it too, with work and all, and is doing his
best.

i dont think it matters how much you write — i just try and get to 1700 per day
and see anything else as a bonus.

Please all have a good day, and I am sending you lots of positive thoughts,
including dear ……… You will write what you need to in the month and have
something substantial to develop.

Day 6

Pressure is an interesting thing, for some it causes vacillation and for others
more activity and striving, however you use pressure ensure it becomes a
positive for you and not a negative.

I love reading all your word counts, because I think of you finding time to
create what you want to, and however close or far from the goal, it will be
closer than with no pressure from the project at all.

For too long I have been living without pressure of deadlines, since finishing a
doctorate, but I am finding its actually fun to have just a little bit of
pressure.

Anyway when it all becomes too much I am heading for a nice cool lemon and lime
water,a slab of watermelon and a walk out to see the kookaburras.

Good luck to you all.

June

A letter to Soul Fooders. Day 6

Well a lot of us are finding just how important the staminade is
when we are doing writing stints with a word count focus…
everyone is doing so well, with most achieving between 5000-20,000 words per
soul foodie.

There are sore backs, headaches, stop starts, interruptions,late night writing
sessions, early morning sessions, but the task goes on — sounds like we are on
bit of a quest.

Some of us are finding characters have a mind of their own, and just appear, and
direct their own fate…others are writing several openings and may have several
books opening up & yes google is a treasure, soul food prompts are a treasure
and all your positive energy is as well.

Keep thinking of us… we are all doing our best- someone will be in no doubt to
give you another update for us.

June

Day 7 Facebook Statements
another day begins how are all the nanowrimos…

time to draw a map to navigate an invented world…

Excitement just passed 10,000 now on 10, 500 words in total….

computer headache going for a break so i can write again..
13670 words …. more interesting plot developments – who can you trust, a dragon is made a promise, and why oh why three puppets and a succulent plant….

Day 7

One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without
courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind,
true, merciful, generous, or honest.
- Maya Angelou

My parents told me that I could do and be anything I really wanted. I believed
them.
- Molly McDonald

The hero is no braver than the ordinary [wo]man, but [s]he is brave five minutes
longer
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

what a great first week. I am so proud of us all.

My characters are all developing
intricate past histories with each other, building to present day tensions, and
I have to do a map to work out where they are going as I need to know where
everything is in this invented world… inventing some animals and i am sure
some plants soon…

Day 8 Facebook Status Statement

last night it rained and I was dreaming about the next part of my story…a frog puppet dancing and singing (no not kermit!) a grieving father and people hiding in the desert..and more cultures for the world i’m putting together in the novel…

Currently on 15,600 words
(c) June Perkins, all rights reserved….

Thanks to all those who have been supportive, Gemma, Kerry, Jane, Despina, Paulien, Sheridan, David, Carmel, Lori, Jane, Jo, Sally, Cle, Vi, Heather, and heaps of the other Soul Foodies. … You make me laugh, keep going and inspire me !! All of you who are novelling this month I wish you all the best, and KEEP IT UP!!!

Gone Nanowrimo

Dear Readers,

 

I’ve gone nanowrimo for the month, there will be no blogging until December.

All the best to you fello nanowrimos out there, onward to 50,ooo words.

I am glad to be in the company of the Soul Fooders whilst doing this.

 

 

June

 

Unity’s Garden

(For reference and orientation to this character and her friends visit Unity Bell’s Cabin)

Unity and her friends stood at the entrance to the next cave. It was an ancient tree with a heart opening. They had a positive feeling about this cave.

Kiona went ahead and they could hear her exclaiming ‘ Oh I cannot believe the garden in here.’ They followed, and Armful of Tiger Lillies was singing the most uplifting tune inside Unity’s head.

‘In the garden of Thy heart plant naught but the rose of love’

Shruti was speechless, and seemed far less anxious than she had before. She was busily identifying all of the plants

‘hibiscus, ginger, roses….’

It did not make sense that so many kinds of flowers could exist so harmoniously in one space, but they did.

Then there were the birds. A bird no bigger than a butterfly flew over Unity’s shoulder. It had a black coloured head, and yellow jacketed body. It was delightful. She put her hand out and it flew over her.

Just as they were settling in they felt the sprinkling of rain – a rain which began to pelt down so they went to seek shelter in the garden.

‘Oh what I would give to always live in a garden like this,’ Unity said aloud.

Shruti sighed, ‘Yes it is just so beautiful the way it rambles, we can stay here awhile can’t we,’

The donkey’s were all delighted, even with the heavy rain. It was like being in a delightful dream.

It was then that they first came across Nature girl.

(to be continued)

For more of this adventure visit Unity’s Garden

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Refuge

A shelter cannot withstand everything. Sometimes large waves come and they wash everything, or almost everything away.

Every time a large wave comes the people can only run as fast as they can to the mountains. If they are not fast enough, or do not hear the warnings quickly enough they are often lost. They may cling on for dear life, to anything they can grab.

They end up in the hungry mouth of the wave, which devours them like some ravenous dragon.

September 2009 the waves were precipitated by quakes, and they hit American Samoa, Samoa. Whole villages and families wiped out. In Indonesia there were quakes, and thousands of people were killed and missing. In both places people were displaced, homeless, weeping by the wreckage.

‘In Samoa there are no degrees of separation,’ said one reporter, everyone is connected to someone that went away.

I have never been in one of these waves. Although I have tried to live in the lands they come to and wanted to move to Fiji or to Hawaii and made attempts to do so. My heart is out there in the tropical islands. I’ve been as far as Kiribati- where for two weeks I had just a small taste of culture and challenges. My daughter loves learning Indonesian. She likes the culture and would like to travel there, as well as Japan one day.

People live along fault lines. They make their homes wherever they are born, and wherever history has led them to settle. They do not check the science and move to where it might be physically safest. Beside what is safe. Sometimes the places along the fault lines are the friendliest, kindest places you could live. You don’t choose where you are born, although you may travel far from the place you were born. You may end up traveling to the place where the fault lines are.

A nun has said she does not see these recent natural disasters as acts of God. You know nature just happens as it will. You make the best of it and do what you need to in such emergencies. A sensible woman of faith she made sure all in her care were as safe as possible.

Yet, there are acts of disaster made by humans. There are bigger waves toppling thousands upon thousands of people. Waves of materialism, civil war, despair, not caring about others and doing great injustice to others- these are just as scary, if not more scary than these disasters are. Sometimes the disasters bring these waves with them- looting, stealing and fraud.

Where is refuge? Refugees move in waves, into tent villages- they rebuild, or they move out. My heart is with the refugees as I see their children crying on the television.

How can I help? Perhaps I can give some spare money, even sacrifice a few things to give something to help those out. Yet, I have more than one wave to deal with. I must deal with those other waves, the ones I need to protect those I love from.

I want my children to care when things happen to others, whether it’s the neighbour, someone at school or someone overseas. I want them to see all of those near or far as part of their family. I want to create a family that is a refuge.

Our refuge is for those we love, and when it’s the whole world it’s for all those in it. Sometimes it is not always easy to welcome people in, they may take advantage and end up being so selfish, we must send them back out into the world, as the mother superior says to Maria in Sound of Music, ‘we are not a place to run away from your problems you must face them.’ So when we build a refuge it’s not a place to hide, but a place to build strength, and to grow.

Refuges provide shelter. The shelter may be a simple cave, a tent, a house, a caravan, or under the open stars in a swag. Yet as I have said a refuge is more than that. A refuge is a place to heal, to pray, to build up strength, to laugh and cry. It is a place we can pop in and out of. Perhaps the only long lasting refuges lie in faith, ethics and caring for others. We then build refuges that a wave can only temporarily knock down.

So today I think on refuges and refugees and how we need to shelter each other. It is not a time to reflect on what we have lost, but what we can give.

© June Perkins, 2009

From Little Seeds Big Trees Grow

I asked my youngest son to plant a dream seed. He said “I want to play cricket in South Africa!” I did not tell him it was an impossible dream instead I said “So what do you need for that- can you draw it for me.”

He drew me a cricket bat. Then we yarned some more and he said “I can learn to speak South African.”

Then I spoke about Stephen Waugh “Who’s that Mum?”

“He was the Australian Captain and he met Mother Therese and said she changed his life.. because then his philanthropic work became more serious.”

“What will you do when you play South Africa.” Mummy planted a dream seed next to his dream seed.

I asked my daughter to plant a dream seed. She said “I want to meet a dragon.” I said “A dragon lizard”. She said “No a DRAGON,” so I said knowing she is also interested in making robotic limbs “Well maybe you could make a robot dragon or an animated one,”

“Oh yes., a big robot dragon that looks really real! with muscles and a skeleton..”

“And what will you need for that my little one.”

“art and computers and science ..”

Together we could just see that Giant Robot in an awesome movie!

(C) June Perkins, all rights reserved.

Into Orbit

You can read all of these poems on this site, look at the pages down the side and choose the one you wish to read.

All copyright of the works belongs to the authors, copyright of the collection/concept to Licuala Writers group. Click on the author/title under the poem to read the whole poem or extract of story.

Short Stories coming soon.

Extracts from Into Orbit

It was one of those lucid
You know where you were
One small step for Man moments
When smells sounds touch and taste
Are forever imprinted
One giant leap for Mankind
© Alan Webb, Summer of 69.

The night’s delight
It is so bright
It gave me a fright.
© Sandon, Moon

New life is born, a natural force
explodes the sky in slivers of light.
A star treads gingerly upon its course
laid down through centuries, across the night
© Tara Webster, Life into Orbit

Hellos circle stars and moon
Humanity searches for a cocoon
Whilst the child soldier hides in the wheat.
The tide is moving to the global heart beat.
© June Perkins, Hellos in Space.

From a distance it begins,
A blinding light bursting forth and,
Stars, a river of stars flowing through,
Darkness and passing over the hand.
© Niloofar Davidson, Evanescent Soul.

My eyes are like orbits
The bone around my eye is called the orbit.
© Shinji, Into Orbit


MONDAY
Ellie: “Tomorrow for the table test, I want to be the very best.”
Mum: ‘I’m busy with a painting of a woman gently fainting.
Ask Daddy Egbert – he’s the family expert.’
Ellie: “Help, Daddy Corbett – Mum’s away in orbit!”
© Pam Galeano, Homework at the Corbetts’ This one will be up soon.

What if you saw the Southern Cross running around the sun like a cherry bun?
What if the stars were playing soccer with the earth like people?
© Sandon, What If/Constellation.

There is no territory you can’t
dream even the ocean deep
or the sky high
flying in the dream sky
© June Perkins, Written Territory/Unwritten Territory

Flowing water on endless journey
Babbling, bubbling over mossy rocks
Forest sounds, loud, reverberating all
Vibrant life, mesmerising, addictive
Till night reigns once again.
© Dave Delaney, Cycle.

A star winks out for now, and then
we begin to descend,
the creamy white orb is still shining through
a pale pink sky
© Niloofar Davidson, Flying out Moon Down.

She was flying alone, yet not alone. Surrounded by power she could not begin to fathom. Racing along invisible paths to places never seen.
© Danielle Stephens, Awakening

Would you really melt away?
Would you really start to sway?

If you close your eyes
Will they open again?
© Sheridan, Orbiting the Sun

They gather to watch the sun spirits hide
They count down to 6 minutes and 31 seconds of darkness
The solar eclipse attracts the human tide.
© June Perkins, Eclipse.

For an amber sun I made a circle
And refrained from spending money
By rendering the solar orb
With a dab of blue gum honey.
© David Perkins, Food for Thought

All packed–ready to go.
Why, we could move to another galaxy
and not even crack a flowerpot.
© Patricia Shafer, Moving On.

Why do we circle round and round;
ever moving,
ever chasing,
ever distanced,
through a million passing moments…

© Linzie Moore, Why?.

Do we help those who in orbit fall
Do we really care for all
Do we help them rise and grow
Or is it just ourselves we only know?

© Jean Vallianos, Are We in Orbit?.

The stars glittered overhead, tiny pinpricks looking as if some ancient hand had sewn them into the blanket millennia ago. As she sat gazing into this rich tapestry, she dreamed of and wished for a time not so long ago when the world was at peace.

© Despina Parakas, Extract from the Night Before Christmas

a thing of beauty
dependant on the earth, the sun, the sky
but the sun set and forgot to rise
the ginger waited with its drooping head
rejected
© Lydia Valeriano, Ornamental Ginger

in the drift of a spiralling arm
of a milky galaxy
that’s just a tiny drip
of an oceanic universe.

© Sally Moroney, Sometimes.

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Arteries and Prince of Peace

Be thou as a throbbing artery, pulsating in the body of the entire creation,
that through the heat generated by this motion there
may appear that which will quicken the hearts of those who hesitate.
~ Bahá’u'lláh

No time to feel the heat of words
That burn bridges between teenagers.

No time to feel the numbness of
Those who have used words
To destroy
Those who have read them
As they tried to shut out
Loneliness.

Only time to quicken, quicken
The entire creation,
Only time
To think of the brightness of the sky
Filled with cool cool moon
And warm warm sun.

No time to hesitate
Hand raised high
We’ll take on that challenge
To quicken hearts

When the morning arrives

We know some brilliance in the day
Awaits
Something, someone, is waiting there
Knowing how to make
Us feel the throb of hope.

© June Perkins all rights reserved.

Prince of Peace

“Wither can a lover go but to the land of his beloved.”

There he is
I can’t see his smile
Just a fuzzy outline from a window

But he is near

So near I could run up the stairs
And sit at his feet

But the door is closed

Not by him but be others

Everyday I am in this city
I will stand here on the corner
Thinking ‘there he is’

I can feel his smile

It enters my bones
The pith of me
And my core calls out

I am sure he knows
I’m here and he would
Take my soul and make it whole in his presence

The rumour of his life
And words have moved me
To journey here

I am not disappointed
For his kindness falls
From that window

You can feel its presence
In every leaf falling
Every rose blooming
In each footfall

You know his purity is
No rumour

There he is

I am sure his breath is clearing the city of pollution
And sorrow

I can see others smiles
Raised to his honour
And his footfalls say I am lesser even than the earth

And in that lies his greatness
Yet he is not abased
This pure mirror

Reflecting glories
One can only long to
Feel the silhouettes of

He is truly here
This promised one
Fifth Buddha, Lord of Host
Prince of Peace

His light is touching
Each footfall
Each trees shadow

Each face is left beaming
Each heart is left yearning

For the suggestion of his presence in their cities.

I remember the scent of oranges and it
Reminds me I must return

I rejoice
For I was so near

I offered prayers for his safety
For the glory of his mission
For everyone to be near to him

Unwillingly
I will take my feet away
And leave my soul forever dedicated

No city can contain him
No prison imprison him
Remoteness from him would be unbearable

And even though I only
Saw mostly influencing
Extending out its hand
I can feel his breath
Permeates every corner here

When I leave
I will carry that breath
On my sleeves
In my hair
Within my heart

And whisper it to you
My love.

© June Perkins all rights reserved

Image by June Perkins all rights reserved.

More notes on teaching Baha’i Class coming soon

Coat of Forgiveness

…let your adorning be forgiveness and mercy and that which cheereth
the hearts of the well favoured of God.’
Baha’u’llah

Putting on the coat of forgiveness
Each button done up releases the pain
That came from others disdain.

Putting on the shoes of forgiveness
I walk straight by those who did me wrong
Free at last from the chains.

All that was done does not touch me now
As I am shaded in my hat of forgiveness
The sun that reaches me now
Why it’s the sun of forgiveness

Cupping the light of that in my hands
I dig deep and let go of all the pain
Throw it out to the wind
Let it be taken out to the ocean.

The sea breeze blows out mercy
Wraps me in hope from the sky
Stitches beads of happiness
All over my coat of forgiveness.

(c) all rights reserved June Perkins

I’ll be writing last terms experiences up soon, so watch this space. Thanks for all the teachers who have been contacting me for information. All the best with your classes.

I am working from Book 3A Ruhi this term, and adapting it for grade 3 level, and will throw a few extra stories from Brilliant Star in. Looking forward to doing some more drama and songs with the kids. The above poem is based on the first quote in book 3A.

June

Eclipse and Moon and Fire

- written for the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century

The solar eclipse attracts the human tide
Flooding into villagers homes
Are they looking for an eternal guide?

They gather to watch the sun spirits hide
They count down to 6 minutes and 31 seconds of darkness
The solar eclipse attracts the human tide.

The hosts to visitors have their pride.
They take in the searchers who have arrived
Are they looking for an eternal guide?

Prayer halls spires call people from the outside
‘Don’t look up directly’- call out the holy ones
The solar eclipse attracts the human tide.

They know that the sun will not long hide.
Darkness will leave them far behind.
Are they looking for an eternal guide?

The moon between the sun will glide.
The celebrations have already begun.
The solar eclipse attracts the human tide.
Are they looking for an eternal guide?

(c) all rights reserved June Perkins

This is an example of a villanelle, it’s been a long time since I attempted one of these.

Villanelle

Look into the flame
What do you see?
Do you see stories
of how the fire came to be?

Look up to the moon what do you imagine?
The bush lemon looks so much bigger
From this angle
It could roll away the moon.

Dad has put some bush lemons
Into the fire
The moon has had the final laugh.

 

(c) Words and Images June Perkins

World Citizen Dreaming

The majority of my poetry and stuff will be filed on this blog World Citizen Dreaming

Ocean girl dives for poetry dreams.

I look for words out windows.

Rain is my memory eulogy.

Dry plants beat my brother’s coffin.

Mother dreams big daughter banker.

Father dreams big daughter academic.

Daughter dreams big great parent.

Brother dreams sister stops hopeless dancing.

Sister dreams brother stops hopeless attitude.

Yellow are my feathers to fly.

Blue are my weaknesses denied.

(c) june perkins

man at peace with world, originally uploaded by gumbootspearlz.

The Birth of Baha’u'llah is coming up soon so I am dedicating a few posts to that.

This is a poem I recently wrote (: It is part of a series on the life of Baha’u'llah.

A Father’s Dream

A dream of fish clinging to his hair
But he swims on and no one can slow him down
His father wakes up wondering what does it all mean.
She dreamt of a white Elephant
And was filled with Certitude
The baby in her womb
Would later dream of He who swam with the Fish,
The Fifth Buddha, His Spiritual brother.

She dreamt of the gateway to him
And followed that Light to the Conference of Badasht
She took off her veil,
Knowing the power of Spiritual Revolutions.

Holy trees, Bodhi Tree,
Greatest Holy Leaf
The scriptures whisper out songs of souls long gone .

We try to follow the light in their footprints
To Englightenment, to Awakenings.

We are not the fishes in the dream
We are riding on his broad back
We will stay there if we follow
The Light.

We are swimming in the green light
Awake,
So awake from centuries of sleeping

We do not slow him down,
He swims faster and faster
Taking us all into the light.

When we surface we will know
That we have not been dreaming
This is now,
This is the day
It is our turn to swim.

20/7/2007 During Study of Ruhi Book 4. (c) June Perkins

Sea Dragon

I hear the wind
The sea dragon must be on its wingless flight
So far from its underwater palace.

Where are the places through which my
Footsteps wander without me?
Jewelled hearts are there.

The sea dragon is dining
Chewing away the past and future
Breathing out fire
Spreading through water
Purification.

The sea dragon rises to the surface
The ocean surges as it flies to
The superior heavens.

I hear the rains descend
The sea dragon must be on its wingless flight.
Far from the feeding frenzy it hears
From its four sisters
Who wander through palaces of Jade and Jasper.

I see my house unrooved
Metal darting down the streets
It must be the breath of the Dragon King
Sending out his eternal din.

I hear the wind
The sea dragon must be on its wingless flight.

(c) June Perkins all rights reserved

Unity’s Cabin

This is my favourite of my posts from Unity’s Cabin. I am going to finish of the caves section soon and then have a brief break from that blog… and post occassional poems and songs from Unity.

Path of the Feather

“Viriginia, Oodgeroo, Emily” the Old Man in the Green Turban called the three writing owls that I had known back when I lived on my island. I placed my two wings in the palm of my hand. The feathers tickled and made me giggle- but then my giggle changed into a “tuwhoo tuwhoo” and I was an owl myself.

The Old Man in the Green Turban had turned into a giant tree and the three owls were seated on his branches. The tree whispered “fly” – I hesitated the tree boomed “fly” and so I flew and saw with Owl’s Eyes.

Above it all – I saw with the Owl’s Eyes- patterns made by rivers and lakes, mountains rising to peaks, orange soil sown for the coming crops, fields full of sleeping goats- and I felt my tummy rumble- and instinct kick in.

I saw a lighthouse and it was then that Viriginia the Owl flew down and I followed. I felt a bit off balance as we swooped down to the lighthouse. Flying and looking, flying and looking until I became the thing I looked at and I was looking at a tasty mouse- trying to break into the lighthouse. I swooped and grabbed and was satisfied with my feed.

I looked into the house and saw the ghost of a lady with a green shawl staring out at me – lost in her beauty and her sadness. I put my head to one side. Virginia and I perched on the tree as the lady with the green shawl came out to sit with us. Together we saw light, darkness, povery, wealth, wings, dust, leaves, and wind- it all swirled around us.

I was flying again, “tuwhoo, farewell Viriginia” this time I followed Oodgeroo- she took me to a place of stories dreaming the landscape. We followed the caterpillar in the mountains, taking flight into blue butterfly- we stopped and danced with the brolga. For a moment I became a human seeking to understand the story of how I became an owl- I danced an owl dance, and danced the owl into the landscape.

I listened to the landscape with Oodgeroo and reread her poems – and her lifestory. Grass roots solutions, education, how wise she was, before her time. No outside of time. I saw her flying with her son.

They were gone and I was now flying to the Ferry with Emily- Emily pouring hope into my feathers, and urging me to fly on to the wharf where the ferry waited. She sang her songs, her poems – and we swooped and settled back onto the tree man, the green turbaned old man, and my wings appeared back on my hand.

I stood at the base of the tree, for now the green turbaned man was gone, back into the soul of the island.

The Tree Man

(c) June Perkins all rights reserved.

You want to read all this adventure so far then go to ——— Unity’s Cabin

Protected: Reflection on Lesson 8 Ruhi Book 3, Humility

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Gone Editing

Gone Editing – Back Soon

Yes, I’ve gone editing! Wish it was fishing, but there is fishing waiting at the end of editing. I’ve been amused reading about fish whisperers- and came across poetry whisperers too! Hmm an editing whisperer!

(C) June Perkins

More News
Oh my the book is closer to completion! It is becoming exciting as soon it will be off to the designer! I’ve been doing a lot of collaging in picasa, and well as making wordles- here is one!

This week I am looking forward to seeing the other Licuala Writers! We have started to set a few goals as a group and as individuals.

EXTRACT FROM BOOK

Introduction

I hunt for poems everywhere – in the rainforests, oceans, memory, and holidays of my experiences and imagination. It’s inspiring and magical to walk with my camera and click away at what captivates me. At first my family would say, ‘Come on Mum, hurry up?’ Now they scout out photos for me. ‘Here’s a good one, Mum. Hey, can I have the camera?’

Two of the main influences on my writing are the Romantic poets and music. I love the Romantic poets, like John Clare, who observed nature so carefully and wrote on anything available including old newspaper. It’s amusing to imagine William and Dorothy Wordsworth having some of my experiences. I’ve been chased by a cassowary, seen snake skins in the yards, and spent time listening to kids talk about their monster trucks and mermaid friends. There are no cheetahs living here, yet they are always running around in the rainforest because kids say they are. My mum used to tell me fairies could be anywhere. I didn’t think about mermaids when I was little but maybe it’s the proximity to a warmer ocean that brings these creatures into kids’ imaginations in North Queensland. Some of these poems are nonsense poems and inspired by the works of Edward Lear, Pam Ayres and Spike Milligan.

‘Rain’ has many musical terms in it because rain reminds me so much of music. A poem called Reading becomes a poem about reading the soul. Some of my poems like ‘Monster Truck Boys and Mermaid Girls’ and ‘Unity’s Beat’ are songs!

I think children need to be encouraged to be the best they can without being preached to and there should be ‘lovefulness’ trees everywhere! ‘Kids will be Kid’s is about the need for adults to set the example they want rather than just criticize. ‘Love Gumboots’ is about peace and if you look carefully you’ll notice something special about its structure. My Sorry Day poem is dedicated to all Australians and anyone who needs to go through a process of reconciliation with their country’s Indigenous peoples.

Protected: Steadfastness

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Sky Dress

If I had a dress made of sky
I would fill it with light wispy clouds
That did not flood the plains
But rather darted across my dress to add interest.

I’d take that dress and give it rain that forms
Rainbows in a thick arch across a field
So I could have all the colours of light
Washing out from white.

As I wore my dress I’d gently spin it
To calm my cyclone children
Larry and Winifred
Into an indecisive Hamish.

My dress would feel light and airy
Full of space and lightly touch
The Misty Mountains with
The edges of sunrise.

I’d like to float in my dress made of sky
Imagining I was an angel who could
Fly like a kite in the sky to
Make sure memories would never die.

(C) June Perkins all rights reserved.

In memory….

In memoriam.

For my brother Bill
Who has climbed far and over the hill
Into the next world
Far too young
Before he got his wisdom
Yet maybe he is happy now
And peace has found
My brother Bill.

He loved to listen to Jimi Hendrix
He taught himself guitar
He wandered streets
He searched for peace
But never it he found
Yet peace found him
In quiet moments
When clarity visited

He could be most charming.

So we’ll remember him at soccer games
at plays
and circuses–

We’ll remember him dancing
Proudly in a grass skirt
That’s the Bill we are proud to know
And let’s leave all the rest behind.

Remember the Bill he could have been
Remember the Bill we dreamed.

(c) gumbootspearlz, all rights reserved.

My Grail – in wordle

I’ve just joined soulpancake, looks awesome. I had a go at a wordle.
Here is my very first one.

This was generated by Wordle

A Circle of Sisters in The Abbey Garden

From Series Walk in My Shoes

Happy International Women’s Day- This post seems apt for today.

It is part of an ongoing series  in Unity’s Cabin

I touched down and placed my wings in my walnut. I came to what initially looked like a large ornately carved door, but as you looked closely at the door it appeared there was a much smaller door within the large one and that was the one I had to open.

As I went through it I came to some stone arches which curved over soft grass. I took my shoes off and felt the soft mossy grass through my toes. It was comforting to feel land again after being in the sky and on the ferry.

I pulled my tiny map out of the walnut and tried to make out its details. I wonder if it might hold clues to my grail, after all it seemed to have both the universal and my individual heart beat etched into it.

I could see a loaf of bread, a candle and a rock with nails on it. I touched the map and then the images vanished. What could this mean? Were they clues to my inner grail?
I continued to walk under the endless row of arches until I came to a cloister.

A nun was sitting on a stone bench, her fingers thumbing furiously through a book. She came upon what she was looking for in the pages and a deep sigh emanated from her.

As I went toward her I paused, maybe I shouldn’t really bother her, but as that thought entered my mind she looked up.

From Series Walk in My Shoes

“Ah, Unity, we’ve been expecting you.” She motioned to me, “This way child, you are to come to our area for inter-spiritual dialogues. They’re waiting.”

I followed her into the Abbey and now the archways covered cool stones that felt smooth under my feet. I saw arched windows that had tiny splinters of light peering into the large room. We didn’t stop there though.

We passed through the abbey it seemed to an outdoor area, with the most exquisite flowers, almost every fragrance and colour you can imagine. Roses, hibiscus, wattle – oh it was just so vibrant and lush. The scent of all the flowers rushed out at me and I took in the sound of hummingbirds and honeybees.

From Series Walk in My Shoes

We came to a circle of people. I think there were nine or ten there.

A Buddhist nun in a humble orange habit clapped her hands
“Unity has come,”
They all jumped up and came to welcome me.
There was a slender Indigenous women from the Americas. She wore a dress with intricate geometric designs,
“The Great Spirit welcomes you,”
Then a young girl from India, with a red dot on her forehead came forward
“Hare Krishna.. and then Om….” Came from her as she bowed to me and to all gathered.
A small lady with large eyes and a simple white habit came forward.
“It is all in the actions what you do, that we will know if you can carry on the work we need done.”
The little girl from India, pulled at my sarong (“She speaks like that because she’s one of the nuns that worked with Mother Therese”)
Another woman with a long veil draped around her came to greet me next.
“We come here to remove all the spiritual veils we place around ourselves,”
She lifted her veil “I am in the company of women and so I will remove this for now.”
Another woman, who was I realized, the Angel of Water, but who was now young and dignified, came over to me.
“Unity please take a seat by me, my sisters we must begin. We can have any more introductions later.”

For the rest of this post and more of Unity’s Travels go to …

Circle of Sisters in the Abbey Garden

(c) all rights reserved June Perkins

I am Camera

Top Hat by gumbootspearlz

I am your first Kodak camera, capturing the Kodak moments of your Life. I point and take the image, I am uncomplicated to love, but
You have to use me sparingly and can’t take too many pictures for
Films are expensive and your parents won’t let you waste film
They yell at you if you cut off heads, take images only of feet saying “What On earth are you up to can’t you take what’s in the frame” not realizing this is your first foray into art and that this is your frame and one day you will take images like,
Feet and hands, walking every texture of earth, stone, gravel, and Soft soft grass, hands scooping up water, scooping up sand and Sifting it through fingers, your models are your children whose first Cameras are digital see they can snap and snap away at feet, flowers, soft toys in elaborate poses and then edit them However,they like on computers and they even do stop animations of
Dinosaurs eating robots on the lounge-room floor.

30 years later I am your latest love, Digital SLR,
I am your sepia, colour and black and white eyes and your dream to Capture Cairn Bird Wing butterfly perched in fingers before it feeds on Nectar of a vibrant red plant. I can Take still like frames of every
Movement of your daughter on a trampoline, your son Bowling to his Poppy and his Dad and I capture sunrise and sunsets
Better than you ever did before. Oh how Monet would have loved Me, dawn and noon and night, and Vincent even too, who I imagine Would send me to capture poverty and Crows out in the fields. Now Everyone can capture snapshots of family and sunrises and sunsets But the tool is not the be all and the end all, because there is still the Choice in the subject, what you put in backgrounds, and capturing Images in raindrops the back of a helmet, or in a mirror and even now The Artist calls to you to push the Image to the envelope in the first Choice, and says,
“Come with me my love. Take a top hat for a walk in the sunset and Make it a story about a lost groom in the sand, watch out for crab Holes and ripples and lie down on your stomach to be the insect Scampering on the sand.”

© June Perkins, all rights reserved.
March 2009.

Butterfly Eats by gumbootspearlz

To Write

Afternoon Dreaming-Image by June

To write is to breathe in the air of imagination
To write is to heal anything that builds up in our heads and remove it to a blank piece of paper or a computer screen
To write is to not always hit send when we have written, we can even hit delete and watch it all disappear like a meditative mandala
To write is to amuse ourselves
To write is to amuse others
To write is to make links and metaphors that make us see the world anew
To write is to look for our holy grails
To write is to breathe dreams into paper so that dragons and unicorns come to call
To write is to say thankyou
To write is to give the power of words lasting time, herstory, history, yourstory
To write is to remember and interpet
To write is to say this is what I know
To write is to say this is what I don’t know
To write is to breathe..

(c) June/Pearlz – all rights reserved.

Interesting Articles to follow this topic

Why Blog

Why Write: A Soul Fooder’s Conversation

Childhood to Youth

In response to a prompt from the Chocolate Box in the Soul Food network of creativity

What I see…

I look at these photos and see friends and a brother passed on, in accidents that I heard about in some cases second hand.

I see highschool friends some I still know and some I don’t.   Some are mothers and some will be soon.

I see the promise of childhood in my daughter’s hand brushing the weeds, or are they flowers?

I see a pinecone that will be in my future.  I see my daughter wearing the grass skirt I never did.  It took that many years for my mother to come into her own with culture.

I see my parents full of anticipation for their children’s future, not realising time will pass so quickly, so quickly these photos will fall like  still life memories of their lost son.

I see my childhood, my daughter’s childhood, my mother’s motherhood, and the anticipation that things can change- we can paint a new canvas.

That is what I see.  This is what I hope.  Do I really see?  Do I really understand?

(C) June /Pearlz all rights reserved.

Gone Travelling, Virtually

I have “virtually” set sail on the SS Vulcania, a creation of Soul Food. It is an interesting venture involving both collaboration and introspection in one’s own cabins.

My character in Unity Bell. She comes from a small island and has pet gecko, Speck. She also has a shell of prophecy and has just hopped on board. To understand more of this world go to Unity’s Cabin and follow the links, particularly my compass links.

Some friends and I recently visited another writing group up the road from us and it was a wonderful and inspiring day. Hearing new voices reading their work was awesome and seeing their project, an anthology for Anzac Day, was fantastic. We were so inspired we decided to work on an anthology for our community and its in the works, more announcements on this when we’ve shaped it more.

I’ve also joined a poetry network on line and that’s a pretty interesting group which is growing all the time, with 53 poets I think at last count.

I am continuing to develop songs and would love to attend workshops on this. I am finding the songs are developing over time and I am waiting quite a while before I sing them publicly in case I add riffs etc to them.

It is fabulous to have some great writing friends on the journey of life, and I really treasure time with them as we share this passion for writing and it binds us together.

Well that’s my news at present. I’ll be back to post some samples of work.

I do continue as an RE teacher and I will be back to blog on that occasionally and organise the resources to be easier to find. Ah so MUCH to do.

You can read more about my imaginative journey with the Soul Food Mob, on the SS Vulcania   – simply visit Unity’s Cabin.

If I haven’t blogged here in a while that is probably where I am !

(C) June/Pearlz

Poetry

Poster by Pearlz/June

I write Poetry and will feature some of it here.
You can also visit some of my blogs.

Click on any of these titles and be transported to the poem.

Walking Childhood
Learning to the Read the Archives
In the Shadow of my Grandfather Carver
Looking in the Lines of Sole
Tracing the Past
Motherland
Pythian Games Participation
World Citizen Dreaming
Rain Mirror
Can you Learn
Inside I am
Writing Nature in Images
Sister Basket
Story Tree
World Citizen Dreaming
Where will you Walk Little Feet Fatherhood as Sun Sets
Love’s Embrace

Poetry on Flickr

(c) words and images June, all rights reserved