Tag Archives: Cindy Keong

June 17, 2013 · 12:50 pm

My Aching Back: Lyndon Norton Remix

It’s time for one last remix of My Aching Back… and with this post comes the news that the original poem will be published in Kokako, a fine journal of Japanese forms published in New Zealand. It’s wonderful to see this poem reaching a wide audience. So now, it’s over to Lyndon to give it one last spin…

*****

My Aching Back: Lyndon Norton Remix

Side 1 – jo – preface

Link #1 (3 lines) – hokku (autumn)

my aching back
a leaf falls
from a branch

(Matt Hetherington)

Link #2 (2 lines) – wakiku (autumn)

as I put down the rake
the sky darkens

(Lyndon Norton)

Link #3 (3 lines) – daisan (non seasonal)

cold night
our words
left hanging

(Cindy Keong)

Side 2 – ha part one – development

Link #4 (2 lines) – winter moon

stuck up a tree
winter moon

(Andy Smerdon)

Link #5 (3 lines) – non seasonal

not even the radio
tonight
a bus passes

(Jonathan Hadwen)

Link #6 (2 lines) – non seasonal

the old dog dreams
of the chase

(Mal Keeble)

Side 3 – ha part two – intensification

Link #7 (3 lines) – spring blossom

along the edge
of her grave
a row of daffodils

(Cindy Keong)

Link #8 (2 lines) – spring

shadows shrink
sun cannot warm the air

(John Wainwright)

Link #9 (3 lines) – non seasonal

behind teeth
a storm gathers
I cannot swallow this

(Nigel Ellis)

Side 4 – kyu – finale

Link #10 (2 lines)- non seasonal, love verse

all that remains
broken on the shoreline

(Cindy Keong)

Link #11 (3 lines) – non seasonal, love verse

incoming tide
waiting for
the next wave

(Cindy Keong)

Link #12 (2 lines) – ageku (summer)

nothing matters
after sunset

(Carly Jay Metcalfe)

My Aching Back: Chris Lynch Remix

Time for another remix of the epic, My Aching Back. This time, Chris Lynch leaves his fingerprint on the poem.

*****

My Aching Back 
Started: 15 May 2013 – Finished: 8 June 2013
Written between: Matt Hetherington, Lyndon Norton, Ashley Capes, Lee-Anne Davie, Chris Lynch, John Wainwright, Cindy Keong, Simon Kindt, Andrew Phillips, Chloë Callistemon, and Carly-Jay Metcalfe

my aching back
a leaf falls
from a branch

(Matt Hetherington)

as I put down the rake
the sky darkens

(Lyndon Norton)

in the shed
removing a dropcloth
from old paintings

(Ashley Capes)

gravy smears the dinner plate
winter moon

(Lee-Anne Davie)

I regret
the light switch
cockroaches

(Chris Lynch)

deep breathing
in a library of ladders

(John Wainwright)

along the edge
of her grave
a row of daffodils

(Cindy Keong)

roots slide in deep
an earthy spinal tap

(Simon Kindt)

aaaahhhh
a receding tide
scurries across the mud flat

(Andrew Phillips)

your bite
wrapped in my scarf

(Chloë Callistemon)

morning in bed
between us the glow
of smartphones

(Lyndon Norton)

nothing matters
after sunset

(Carly-Jay Metcalfe)

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Tagged as Andrew Phillips, Another Lost Shark, Ashley Capes, Carly Jay Metcalfe, Chloë Callistemon, Chris Lynch, Cindy Keong, Graham Nunn, John Wainwright, Lee-Anne Davie, Lyndon Norton, Matt Hetherington, My Aching Back: Chris Lynch Remix, renku, Shisan, Shisan: My Aching Back

June 12, 2013 · 4:05 pm

My Aching Back: Mal Keeble Remix

It’s time to start posting the remixes of My Aching Back. Reading each one has deepened my love of the process and of the work it inspired. So let’s kick things off with the Mal Keeble remix, along with a few notes about his process…

*****

To keep the learning process going I have taken a running leap at the shisan remix. I decided to keep the first three links as to break them up would have been an injustice to the words and the poets. The remix proved to be more difficult than I thought… Each of the poems appears as they were originally submitted, except for Miguel’s which I have edited slightly.

My Aching Back
Written between: Matt Hetherington, Lyndon Norton, Ashley Capes, Lee-Anne Davie, Chris Lynch, John Wainwright, Andrew Phillips, Miguel, Andy Smerdon, Cindy Keong

Side 1 – jo – preface

Link #1 (3 lines) – hokku (autumn)

my aching back
a leaf falls
from a branch

(Matt Hetherington)

Link #2 (2 lines) – wakiku (autumn)

as I put down the rake
the sky darkens

(Lyndon Norton)

Link #3 (3 lines) – daisan (non seasonal)

in the shed
removing a dropcloth
from old paintings

(Ashley Capes)

Side 2 – ha part one – development

Link #4 (2 lines) – winter moon

stuck up a tree
winter moon

(Andy Smerdon)

Link #5 (3 lines) – non seasonal

behind the frame
no view
of the picture

(Lee-Anne Davie)

Link #6 (2 lines) – non seasonal

deep breathing
in a library of ladders

(John Wainwright)

Side 3 – ha part two – intensification

Link #7 (3 lines) – spring blossom

along the edge
of her grave
a row of daffodils

(Cindy Keong)

Link #8 (2 lines) – spring

startled by my head
beside the swamp lily

(Andrew Phillips)

Link #9 (3 lines) – non seasonal

recalling
the head on collision
first kiss

(Cindy Keong)

Side 4 – kyu – finale

Link #10 (2 lines)- non seasonal, love verse

exhaling your name
my steam-powered heart

(Miguel)

Link #11 (3 lines) – non seasonal, love verse

the river at high tide…
the distance between us
growing

(Lyndon Norton)

Link #12 (2 lines) ageku (summer)

it’s decided then:
last round’s on me

(Chris Lynch)

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Tagged as Andrew Phillips, Andy Smerdon, Another Lost Shark, Ashley Capes, Chris Lynch, Cindy Keong, Graham Nunn, John Wainwright, Lee-Anne Davie, Lyndon Norton, Mal Keeble, Matt Hetherington, Miguel, My Aching Back: Mal Keeble Remix, renku, Shisan, Shisan: My Aching Back

June 8, 2013 · 7:37 pm

Shisan: My Aching Back (post 1500 on Another Lost Shark)

What a great way to celebrate 1500 posts on Another Lost Shark… 21 poems to consider for the ageku position in the shisan, My Aching Back.

Before I begin to discuss the poems, let me thank absolutely everyone who has been following the development of My Aching Back. To each of the poets who have offered their words, thank you, and to all of the readers, you are why we keep showing up. In fact, to everyone who has ever visited the site, thank you for keeping me energised!

Now, to the poems… with so many to enjoy, I have decided to discuss the five poems that have made my shortest of short lists. The five poems are:

nothing matters
after sunset

(Carly)

This poem is so direct, so fitting to bring the shisan to its end… not only does it add a gorgeous splash of colour, it reaches into the darkness beyond and in doing so opens up an afterlife for the poem and links us back to Matt’s hokku.

an empty bed
under the poinciana

(Mal)

Like Carly’s poem, this adds a big splash of colour and smacks of late summer afternoons, seeking refuge from the heat. It’s leap forward to the hokku is so vivid and the emptiness of the bed leaves room for the incoming tide to settle. Truly magnificent!

the snake flows
over dry grass

(Chloe)

The sound of this poem has held me transfixed… The use of the word ‘flows’ continues the movement of the incoming tide while adding a quiet menace to the poem. Such a unique portrayal of summer in Australia and such a strong leap to Matt’s ‘my aching back’.

peeling the skin
off the day

(Miguel)

The action in this poem is easily understood by anyone who has spent too many hours (or is that minutes?) in the relentless summer sun… many a time have I felt like peeling the skin off the day (as well as off various parts of my body) as the light blisters everything in sight.

it’s decided then:
last round’s on me

(Chris)

It feels very fitting to take a seat at the bar (with Chris and everyone else) and toast this poem. I love the generosity of this poem… for me, it captures the camaraderie of the group that has gathered to compose this poem. Would be wonderful to gather everyone together in real time to have that drink!

And on that note, it is time to choose the final pearl in our shisan. To hold down the position of the ageku, and bring us full circle, I have chosen Chloe’s ‘the snake flows’.

But let’s not make this the end… as we did with the New Junicho, I would love people to send me through their own remix of the poem. So if you are up for it, the only poem that needs to remain in place, is Matt’s hokku which gives the poem its name, other than that, here is a link to each of the posts so that you can go back and read through all of the poems and make your own selections.

I hope to read (and post) remixes from many of you. The depth of writing offers such great potential, so have fun playing with it!

*****

My Aching Back: Shisan
Started: 15 May 2013 – Finished:
Written between: Matt Hetherington, Lyndon Norton, Ashley Capes, Lee-Anne Davie, Chris Lynch, Mal Keeble, Chloe Callistemon, John Wainwright, Nigel Ellis, Andy Smerdon, Cindy Keong

Side 1 – jo – preface

Link #1 (3 lines) – hokku (autumn)

my aching back
a leaf falls
from a branch

(Matt Hetherington)

Link #2 (2 lines) – wakiku (autumn)

as I put down the rake
the sky darkens

(Lyndon Norton)

Link #3 (3 lines) – daisan (non seasonal)

in the shed
removing a dropcloth
from old paintings

(Ashley Capes)

Side 2 – ha part one – development

Link #4 (2 lines) – winter moon

gravy smears the dinner plate
winter moon

(Lee-Anne Davie)

Link #5 (3 lines) – non seasonal

I regret
the light switch
cockroaches

(Chris Lynch)

Link #6 (2 lines) – non seasonal

the old dog dreams
of the chase

(Mal Keeble)

Side 3 – ha part two – intensification

Link #7 (3 lines) – spring blossom

the puppy
pisses on all
the daffodils

(Chloe Callistemon)

Link #8 (2 lines) – spring

spring shower
yolk burst on the tongue

(John Wainwright)

Link #9 (3 lines) – non seasonal

behind teeth
a storm gathers
I cannot swallow this

(Nigel Ellis)

Side 4 – kyu – finale

Link #10 (2 lines)- non seasonal, love verse

china doll
still holding hands

(Andy Smerdon)

Link #11 (3 lines) – non seasonal, love verse

waiting for
the next wave
incoming tide

(Cindy Keong)

Link #12 (2 lines) – ageku (summer)

the snake flows
over dry grass

(Chloe Callistemon)

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Tagged as Andy Smerdon, Andy Smerdon haiku, Another Lost Shark, Ashley Capes, Ashley Capes - daisan, behind teeth, china doll, Chloë Callistemon, Chloe Callistemon haiku, Chris Lynch, Cindy Keong, Cindy Keong haiku, cockroaches, Graham Nunn, gravy smears the dinner plate, in the shed, incoming tide, John Wainwright, John Wainwright haiku, Lee-Anne Davie, Live Shisan on Another Lost Shark, Lyndon Norton, Lyndon Norton - wakiku, Mal Keeble, Mal Keeble haiku, Matt Hetherington, Matt Hetherington - hokku, my aching back, my aching back - hokku, My Aching Back: Shisan, Nigel Ellis, Nigel Ellis haiku, post 1500 on Another Lost Shark, remix my shisan, Shisan, spring shower, the old dog dreams, the puppy, the sky darkens, the snake flows

June 6, 2013 · 8:03 pm

Shisan: My Aching Back (Links #11 – #12)

We are now breathing distance from the ageku and the end of the shisan. What a thrill selecting each link has proven to be; and this is thanks to the vibrant community that has gathered to build this poem word by word, image by image, link by link. So let’s jump in and take a look at the poems on offer for the second of our love links.

Again, it was exciting to see love painted with such broad brushstrokes. From the inspiration that floods from Miguel’s ‘blushed cheeks’, to the glow of smartphones between Lyndon’s lovers; the glorious presence of Aaron’s ‘glimmering eyes’ to the fragrance that lingers as Mal skips a stone across the water; the dark intent of John’s moon to the distance between Lyndon’s tide and lovers; the nakedness of words as Andy slow dances us across the floor to the lull between waves that Cindy leaves us to experience; we experience love in one of its many outfits.

Each of these poems has its own possibility, and many have held (and continue to hold) me in there spell. In making my decision, I have gone back through Links 1 – 10, to ensure that Link #11 breaks new ground, as now, more than ever, it is important to look forward without referencing any of the previous images. Sadly, this ruled out some excellent links… two examples of poems that would otherwise be a fine addition to the shisan are Miguel’s ‘his blushed cheek’ (its use of canvas creates a direct link back to Ashley’s ‘old paintings’ in Link #3), and John’s ‘moonshine’ (in the shisan, there can only be one moon image).

So with this in mind, I have been moving between two poems to make the next leap. These poems are the uproariously funny ‘pyjamas’ (John) and Cindy’s ‘incoming tide’. In the end, the tide carried me away and for Link #11, we welcome Cindy into the shisan. The hushed tones and longing pull of this poem will provide the perfect touchstone to bring us full circle with Link #12. To strengthen the flow of the poem, I have however, decided to change the position of the fragment – incoming tide – moving it from line 1 to line 3.

So let’s open the final call out… Link #12, the ageku, asks for 2 lines with a good splash of summer. It is also important that this link in some way brings us back to imagery in Matt’s opening link (the hokku).

Enjoy the last leap!

*****

Side 1 – jo – preface

Link #1 (3 lines) – hokku (autumn)

my aching back
a leaf falls
from a branch

(Matt Hetherington)

Link #2 (2 lines) – wakiku (autumn)

as I put down the rake
the sky darkens

(Lyndon Norton)

Link #3 (3 lines) – daisan (non seasonal)

in the shed
removing a dropcloth
from old paintings

(Ashley Capes)

Side 2 – ha part one – development

Link #4 (2 lines) – winter moon

gravy smears the dinner plate
winter moon

(Lee-Anne Davie)

Link #5 (3 lines) – non seasonal

I regret
the light switch
cockroaches

(Chris Lynch)

Link #6 (2 lines) – non seasonal

the old dog dreams
of the chase

(Mal Keeble)

Side 3 – ha part two – intensification

Link #7 (3 lines) – spring blossom

the puppy
pisses on all
the daffodils

(Chloe Callistemon)

Link #8 (2 lines) – spring

spring shower
yolk burst on the tongue

(John Wainwright)

Link #9 (3 lines) – non seasonal

behind teeth
a storm gathers
I cannot swallow this

(Nigel Ellis)

Side 4 – kyu – finale

Link #10 (2 lines)- non seasonal, love verse

china doll
still holding hands

(Andy Smerdon)

Link #11 (3 lines) – non seasonal, love verse

waiting for
the next wave
incoming tide

(Cindy Keong)

Link #12 (2 lines) – ageku (summer)

21 Comments

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Tagged as Andy Smerdon, Andy Smerdon haiku, Another Lost Shark, Ashley Capes, Ashley Capes - daisan, behind teeth, china doll, Chloë Callistemon, Chloe Callistemon haiku, Chris Lynch, Cindy Keong, Cindy Keong haiku, cockroaches, Graham Nunn, gravy smears the dinner plate, in the shed, incoming tide, John Wainwright, John Wainwright haiku, Lee-Anne Davie, Live Shisan on Another Lost Shark, Lyndon Norton, Lyndon Norton - wakiku, Mal Keeble, Mal Keeble haiku, Matt Hetherington, Matt Hetherington - hokku, my aching back, my aching back - hokku, My Aching Back: Shisan, Nigel Ellis, Nigel Ellis haiku, Shisan, spring shower, the old dog dreams, the puppy, the sky darkens

June 5, 2013 · 7:16 pm

Australian Love Poems and Tearoom Books

This week I received news that my poem Yearn will appear in the forthcoming anthology, Australian Love Poems 2013, the first release by exciting new publisher, Inkerman & Blunt. The anthology has been edited by award winning Australian poet, Mark Tredinnick and will bring together the best writing on love this country has to offer – 200 poems by Australian poets including Les Murray and Paul Kelly. I am really excited about this, so if you want to secure a copy of this landmark anthology before it hits the stores (and support the local publishing industry) click on the image below.

Another exciting piece of news I received recently, was that my poem Tiger, has been included in Tearoom Book’s second issue of Loop. Tearoom Books is an indie publisher based in Durban, South Africa doing some really great things in the digital publishing arena. Check out the issue by clicking the link below… It’s free and features some breathtaking new work.

Always good to be getting some new work out into the world… speaking of which, I am now in possession of the second release in the Another Lost Shark Publications ‘First Words‘ Series – Same Sky by Cindy Keong. Believe me when I say, this is a remarkable debut… more on this soon.

Boondall Wetlands Ginko

On Sunday, ten of us embraced our haiku spirit and the natural wonder of the Boondall Wetlands as we set off on our Autumn Ginko. The sky was endless blue and the wind had a crispness to it… as did the poems that were shared after our time spent walking / sitting / dreaming. There is such a warmth and sense of kinship amongst the group… a sense of togetherness and discovery that is truly inspiring.

I hope that feeling shines through in these poems and that they give you the same inner sparkle that I get each time I read them.

Thank you also to Cindy Keong for her always stunning photography… already looking forward to our winter walk at Slaughter Falls.

[photograph by Cindy Keong]

self-guided tour, making a note to learn how

(Chris Lynch)

sunlit grass
my eye loses the way

(Roger Callen)

on the shorebirds turf
a crab filters mud

(Andy Smerdon)

[photograph by Cindy Keong]

to kill the mosquito
he slaps my face gently

(Matt Hetherington)

some tree species show every bump of the cyclist

(Andrew Phillips)

stingless bee
the old man
picks a flower

(Jonathan Hadwen)

[photograph by Cindy Keong]

after the poets leave the crow comes

(John Wainwright)

daydreaming
further and further
off-track

(Cindy Keong)

river mouth
my brother’s infected toe

(David Stavanger)

6 Comments

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Tagged as Andrew Phillips, Andy Smerdon, Another Lost Shark, Autumn Ginko, Boondall Wetlands, Boondall Wetlands Ginko, Chris Lynch, Cindy Keong, Cindy Keong photography, David Stavanger, Graham Nunn, John Wainwright, Jonathan Hadwen, Matt Hetherington, Roger Callen

May 20, 2013 · 9:38 pm

Walking the Wetlands

Sunday was a glorious day for a ginko (haiku walk) and the Boondall Wetlands are a truly beautiful place to let yourself sink into a haiku headspace. I will be posting more about the ginko in the next few days, along with poems from the group, but for now, here’s a few poems composed while walking the wetlands.

[photograph by Cindy Keong]

river mud
I look into
my future

clouds pass
flashing the salt bush
back to red

[photograph by Cindy Keong]

off the track
a new track
of trampled vines

autumn wind
the kite I cannot see
whistles

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Tagged as Another Lost Shark, autumn wind – haiku, Boondall Wetlands, Boondall Wetlands Ginko, Cindy Keong, Cindy Keong photography, clouds pass haiku, Contemporary Australian Haiku, Graham Nunn, Graham Nunn haiku, haiku, off the track haiku, river mud haiku

May 5, 2013 · 11:19 am

Between Thistles: Variation #4 by John Wainwright

After Chloe’s exploration of humour in variation #3, John has countered with an exploration of the darker moments the poem conjured. While the first half of the poem is similar to the original, the second half breaks new ground and shifts the tome of the poem dramatically. And as John so aptly pointed out in his email to me, ‘Andy’s three word verse (link #10) is a statement covering a decade and the full spectrum of Australian politics’.

So much to enjoy here…

*****

Between Thistles: A New Junicho
Started: 12 April 2013 – Finished: 30 April 2013
Written between: Ashley Capes, Chloë Callistemon, Cindy Keong, Chris Lynch, John Wainwright, Andrew Phillips, Rachael Briggs, Andy Smerdon, Lee-Anne Davie, Trish Reid

Link #1 (3 lines) – hokku / shasei

between thistles
the crane’s
Egyptian walk

(Ashley Capes)

Link #2 (2 lines) – waki / cultural (literature)

she hushes the bundle
in a river basket

(Andrew Phillips)

Link #3 (3 lines) – daisan / cultural (film)

fan rotors beat
The End
to the smell of napalm

(Chloe Callistemon)

Link #4 (2 lines) – verse / shasei

recycling at 2:30am
moonlight on bitumen

(Chris Lynch)

Link #5 (3 lines) – verse / shasei

moth seeks out
only dark spaces
tired I turn off the light

(Trish Reid)

Link #6 (2 lines) – verse / cultural (art)

Caravaggio fades in from black
is that a pallet knife?

(John Wainwright)

Link #7 (3 lines) – verse / cultural (religion)

he makes the sign
with crossed fingers
crucifix

(Lee-Anne Davie)

Link #8 (2 lines) – verse / gendai

remorse-
a bouquet of verbs

(Cindy Keong)

Link #9 (3 lines) – verse / gendai

floods and locusts
here come the horsemen
swine flew

(Rachael Briggs)

Link #10 (2 lines) – verse / cultural (politics)

overboard
opportunity drifts

(Andy Smerdon)

Link #11 (3 lines) – verse / cultural (music)

bind your soul
to the beast that waits
at the crossroads

(Andy Smerdon)

Link #12 (2 lines) – ageku / shasei

in rifle sight
my enemy’s eyes

(Chris Lynch)

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Tagged as Andrew Phillips, Andy Smerdon, Another Lost Shark, Ashley Capes, between thistles - hokku, Between Thistles: A New Junicho, Chloë Callistemon, Chris Lynch, Cindy Keong, gendai, Graham Nunn, John Wainwright, Junicho, Junicho remix, Lee-Anne Davie, New Junicho, Rachael Briggs, shasei, Trish Reid

May 4, 2013 · 11:25 am

Between Thistles: Variation #3 by Chloë Callistemon

Between Thistles has grown into something much more than the sum of its and continues to be one of the most exciting writing projects I have been involved with. This variation has been curated by Chloë Callistemon. Chloe’s variation is an experiment in tone; it explores the sense of playfulness and humour that bubbled beneath the surface of the poem.

*****

between thistles
the crane’s
Egyptian walk

(Ashley Capes)

Out! Damn dog
brought the bloody river home!

(John Wainwright)

Gambon with a fork
of Mirren’s lover
light spools a feast

(Chloë Callistemon)

recycling at 2:30am
moonlight on bitumen

(Chris Lynch)

sleepless night
tossing and turning
the same thought

(Cindy Keong)

bad Saturn! put it down!
Goya should paint a bell on him

(Rachael Briggs)

the dog tears up
the holy book
without reading it

(Andrew Phillips)

the tollway flickers
another promise

(Ashley Capes)

futuristic finches
genetically modified
themselves

(Rachael Briggs)

Mr Rabbit, the Red Queen,
or Mad Katter’s tea party

(John Wainwright)

snort awake
to the boom
of Beethoven’s cannon

(Chloë Callistemon)

Wee Jock leaves his mark
down by the bulrushes

(John Wainwright)

3 Comments

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Tagged as Andrtew Phillips, Another Lost Shark, Ashley Capes, between thistles - hokku, Between Thistles: A New Junicho, Chloë Callistemon, Chris Lynch, Cindy Keong, gendai, Graham Nunn, John Wainwright, Junicho, Junicho remix, New Junicho, Rachael Briggs, shasei

Tag Archives: Cindy Keong

My Aching Back: Lyndon Norton Remix

My Aching Back: Chris Lynch Remix

My Aching Back: Mal Keeble Remix

Shisan: My Aching Back (post 1500 on Another Lost Shark)

Shisan: My Aching Back (Links #11 – #12)

Australian Love Poems and Tearoom Books

Boondall Wetlands Ginko

Walking the Wetlands

Between Thistles: Variation #4 by John Wainwright

Between Thistles: Variation #3 by Chloë Callistemon

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