Soot and ash line path and sill
hope is low, but Christmas will
bring us blessings large and small—
we long for rain, to hear drops fall.
Sweet things, soft strings, voices limber
wrapped-up books and stars a shimmer
tinselled trees and eyes that glow . . .
love expands as children grow.
For these things we give our thanks
as fires rage round empty tanks.
Hear the prayer the wild birds call—
and send sweet rain, best gift of all.
Julie Thorndyke
So wonderful to participate in the Ginninderra Press launch of their new anthology Mountain Secrets at Blackheath.
My poem “How to Move Meehni” is just one of the many poems themed around that most mysterious of landforms, mountains.
After a long association, I was able to meet publisher Stephen Matthews and editor Brenda Eldridge (Matthews) in person.
Thank you so much to both these wonderful people who keep local literature alive in Australia today.
This November it was a pleasure to share the essence of haiku with a group of local children experiencing the Japanese garden at b Campbelltown Arts Centre.
We thought about the sights, sounds, textures, smells and tastes of the garden experience after their ginko.
Using some ancient and modern examples, the children then wrote original poems. We wrote the poems inside origami stars to create a haiku “surprise”.
It was great to experience haiku in the ambience of the Japanese garden.
Thank you to West Words for the opportunity of sharing haiku!
Thank you to The School Magazine for including my story The Scent of Cinnamon in November ORBIT. A sad Christmas story with a happy ending!
Thanks to Better Read Than Dead bookshop in Newtown for including my shortlisted story in the competition anthology 2019.
autumn leaves
and winter-flowering camellias
coexist in my garden . . .
freesias are budding
today it feels like spring
Julie Thorndyke
the solstice
steals into my calendar
too soon
the turning of the year
hastens our time of parting
Julie Thorndyke
Julie Thorndyke
Does your mother own enough African violets?
Here’s a unique Mother’s Day gift idea!
Order a signed copy of Mrs Rickaby’s Lullaby and receive a free limited edition bookmark
all for just $30 (includes postage within Australia).
To order please email j.thorndyke@bigpond.com
