. . . nothing is more elemental than first love.
My story for young adults, Fire, Air, Earth, Water is now published at http://fterotalogia.com/fire-air-earth-water/
Thanks to editor Effie Sapuridis !
Fire, Air, Earth, Water
Author: jthorndyke
Haiga
Too Late to Leave
Everyone’s new favourite app
showed red flames across the map
bushfire closed in like a trap—
it was too late to leave.
Blackened paws and toasted fur
burnt poles where the gum leaves were
smoke-smudged skies an ashen blur . . .
it was too late to leave.
Blood-red skies on New Year’s Eve.
Politicians disbelieve.
Together people can achieve
a world with air that’s safe to breathe.
To keep our skies both clear and blue
you know what people have to do:
get rid of dirty fossil fuels
protect the trees like precious jewels
conserve our water, tend the land
at last the people understand
it is a choice we all must make
to save and nurture, give not take
to mend the damage, gain reprieve
there’s no plan B—we cannot leave.
Julie Thorndyke
Prayer of the Birds
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
picture source
Mountain Secrets
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.
Haiku Stars
Campbelltown Arts Centre
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!
A Scent of Cinnamon
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!
The Road Less Travelled
Thanks to Better Read Than Dead bookshop in Newtown for including my shortlisted story in the competition anthology 2019.
In My Garden
autumn leaves
and winter-flowering camellias
coexist in my garden . . .
freesias are budding
today it feels like spring
Julie Thorndyke
The turning year . . .
the solstice
steals into my calendar
too soon
the turning of the year
hastens our time of parting
Julie Thorndyke
Julie Anne Thorndyke 