Fancy night

It's Midnight for goodness sakes 

What are you doing out

White little rabbit 

Crossing the road

Right in front of the car?

You're lucky it's misty

And we had to slow down.

What's the hurry,

You couldn't wait for us to pass by?

Was the queen by any chance 

Asking for more heads?

Or has Alice committed

Some untold crimes?

Are you running late 

As usual for your appointment

Or your last cup of tea? 

I'm sure a tea cosy

Will keep it hot,

Oh dear , the mist is turning

Into a blanketing fog

And the trees morph

Into a monstrous forest.

Lucette C. Bailliet 

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A day of shame

So today was Sorry Day

Day to apologise to Aborigines

There is no apology deep enough

For the collusion that took place

Between church and state

In the genocide without a name

That almost  brought them 

To the brink of official extinction 

And the systematic devolution 

Of their enduring culture

From the denial of their most basic rights

To the methodical dispossession

That is currently taking place

For the entrenched victimisation 

They are subjected to

It should be a day of shame

For sorry is not enough!

Lucette C. Bailliet 

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Not another one?

Oh! My dear love,

The fifth one is almost there, really

Never a rest, never mind

You know how fragile you are

After each one, your depression 

Gets longer and deeper 

It takes you ages to recover

And then the next one

In turn is coming

Oh my deary me!

It is taking a serious toll

Your health is in jeopardy

Please take care

Do not tell me 

You're planning a sixth one

I don't think I can cope

With any more

At present.

Lucette C. Bailliet 

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Vale

You know he passed away 

You know he is dead 

You know he is buried

Still his presence is felt

Everywhere in the small things.

In the bathroom this morning

His razor was waiting for him

He won't need it anymore.

He was still present in the library system

You had to return his weekly lot

Of borrowed books 

Even if not all read

He won't need them anymore.

Today you changed the bedsheets

Witness of his last amours

Of his last hours

He won't need them anymore.

He has all given them up

All of these tear apart your soul 

Let him go, it is so painful

To release all the links

You shared with him.

It isn't a betrayal 

Do yourself a favour

Let him rest in peace!

For S. Mutimer

Lucette C. Bailliet

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Invocation

It's one of those days

A tough one to go through

A day of highs 

A days of lows

On the high side

House settlement

Or so we hope

As it had been delayed

On the low side

Third surgery

For the beloved.

Just checked the Astro

Saturn opposition moon

Oh glorious heavens 

Give me a break will you? 

Lucette C. Bailliet 

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The Great Fence

Tree change in Murch.

Main topic of conversation 

These days

Goats and geese 

The neighbour's ones 

That is to say

In the garden and orchard

The magnificent if malevolent

Billy goat is their leader

Doing untold damage

To trees and plants

Kangaroos and geese are their allies

Raiders are to be stopped 

Let's build the Great Fence!

Lucette C. Bailliet

Summer rain

Summer and rain don't go together

At least in my memory

Summers seem to be always sunny

And that I'm sure can't be. 

Summer storms I remember

Stuck in a tin shed for hours

Paralysed by fear of thunder

Hitting it's corrugated iron roof.

Lost day at the beach

Spent waiting by the window

Lashed by angry rain

In a Spanish hotel room.

 

Summer rain hoped for

And never coming in the drought

Despair feeling my heart

For the parched and desolate soil.

Miraculous Summer rain

Came from no where

Made the mountains sigh of relief

In the midst of a hellish bushfire.

Summer rains of my past

Marked with their stamps

Of fear, boredom, despair and relief

The passport of memories.

Lucette C. Bailliet

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By the river bank

For years now, everyday

From a toddler to a man

To the same spot he comes

To the same spot

The seedling became a tree

Both of them remember the day

When the flooding river took her away

Man and tree leaning together

Finding strength in shared sorrow

Hoping despite all she'll return

If not today, tomorrow surely

They'll be there waiting

To the same spot always.

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved 

Carnival

Carnival, time to be free, Carnival

Carnival, time for pranks, Carnival

Carnival, time to dance, Carnival

Carnival, time to show off, Carnival

Carnival, time to parade, Carnival

Carnival, time for primeval urges, Carnival

Carnival, time for misrule, Carnival

Carnival, time for charivari , Carnival

Carnival, time for excess, Carnival

Carnival, time for unbridled sex, Carnival

Carnival, time for drinking, Carnival

Carnival, time for celebrating, Carnival

Carnival, time to undress, Carnival

Carnival, time to let it go, Carnival

Carnival, time to have fun, Carnival

Carnival, time to grab your mask, Carnival.

Lucette C. Bailliet

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Femme fatale

Feminism has for

Ever and ever

Maltreated,

Misunderstood

Eve

First femme fatale

Always found guilty

To tempt away

Adam, this innocent

Lamb from 

Eden.

Lucette C. Bailliet

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Laughter

Beware

It rises from thin air

Loud and free

Can't be controlled

It's contagious 

Found under any climate

Touches every age

There's no vaccine 

May be fatal 

It has be known

To infect individuals

As well as groups

At small doses

It's healthy and euphoric

It can be a good medicine

Laughter is addictive

So beware.

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved

Along the Snowy River

Along the estuary of the mighty Snowy river

The laughs of the children at play blast through

The evening ruckus of the crickets 

Never disturbing the slow flowing waters

Reflecting the baroque sublime hues of sunset.

The sweet cloying smell of the rainforest

Accompanies one's steps

Amidst the sweet cries of the blue fantails

And the crashing noise on the river bank

Of a disturbed goanna.

The river is there seemingly immutable 

Deceivingly shallow encumbered by moving sand banks

Slowing down the mighty current to some persistent ripples 

When in fact each drop is transient

Traveling from the spring to the ocean

I, in the time of my watching, 

Has already been the witness

Of billions of them rushing to their end.

Can I stop it ? 

Like them, I am taken in 

The flow of time

Unable to get out 

The end is near 

I can hear the thumping surf

We have to submit 

To the ultimate change 

Merge in the aqueous multitude 

Before total deliquescence takes over.

Lucette C. Bailliet

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Shelter in the storm

Wherever life takes me

In its rolling turmoils

Of highs and lows

I know where to find 

Shelter from the storm

You are my rock

My heart can rest

Peaceful and safe

In that warm place

As long as you endure

Lightning can't touch me

For I know the strength 

Of your love will protect me

Together we'll let the clouds

Rush beyond the horizon

Let me rest my head on your shoulder

And walk hand in hand

Under the clear sunny sky.

Lucette C. Bailliet

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Haori jacket

I've got a coat like you never seen

On a black night sky

Slow airy clouds are crossing over

Made of gold, silver and copper

To make your dreams better

Follow the golden one

Fly with the silver one

Step onto the copper 

Any of those will take you 

To worlds you never fathomed existed

There's space enough

Stories to be discovered

Visions to be unrolled

Let the night take you away

Mindful or mindless

Its realms are real

The map is here

Follow the clouds trail

It's a gateway to nebulous worlds

Do not hesitate 

The mists will dissolve 

Once you are in dreamworld.

What a magical coat!

Lucette C. Bailliet 

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Egocentric

So, this is a special day:

There's the solar eclipse 

There's the super moon

The stars are on show 

There's the spring equinox

Is it the end of the world?

Of course not,

It's a special day

The stars celebrate

For it's my birthday,  

Oh Happy day!

Lucette C. Bailliet

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Nightly rituals

The Old Man cormorant

Firmly perched on the 

Half-submerged trunk

Spreads wide open its wings

As a last salutation

To the late rays of the sun

Catching the last heat of the day

Before retiring for the night.

Swanee, the black swan,

Is still holding her nest

Siting high in the reeds waiting 

For her new brood to emerge 

Flexing anxiously her neck

To follow our passing by

On the weedy bank.

HMS, the pelican is back

And silently scours the water

In search of a late snack,

Motherly, Goosey

Strategically placed on the weir 

Is honking for the late ducks,

Calling everyone to bed.

Just a normal evening

On the neighbourhood creek

Settling down for the night.

Good night, sweet dreams.

Lucette C. Bailliet

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Going bush

Going bush

How exciting

Dewy mornings

Early evenings

Going bush

Far from the crowds

Space galore

Tranquility guaranteed

Going bush

Making tracks

Picking up wood

For the evening fire

Going bush

Simple joy

To be alive

Near nature

Going bush

Spending time

Under the verandah

By rain or shine 

Going bush

Watching the Roos

Grazing in the paddock

Near the dam

Going bush.

Lucette C. Bailliet

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Last day of summer

The air is thick, so heavy

Its oiliness clogs the skin,

Slowing down any movement.

Under the relentless blaring sun

Already the droopy roses have

Spent their fragrance,

Freshness is glaringly absent

Even in windy alley

The shade is tepid and sultry

'Tis the last day of summer,

Time to leave it behind.

Best to look forward 

Crispy autumnal mornings

With their soft dappled light

Where subtle aroma rises 

From morning dew 

When the days call 

For a brisk morning walk.

Lucette C. Bailliet

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Happy Birthday !

Have

A

Particularly

Petulant

Year

Because

I

Recommend

To

Have

Dayly

A

Yoghurt!

Hahahahaha

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved

Happy 60th !

We have had our ups

We have had our downs

We've gone through a full cycle

You're starting on the second one

I'll be there for you

For I love you

Have a Happy Birthday! 

Lucette C. Bailliet

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Dead wind alley

Windy alley has morphed 

Into dead wind alley

The gumtrees hang on 

Limp and despondent.

Not a leaf stirs

No frill in the air

Heavy as lead,

Muted sound of footsteps,

Birds hiding and silent

Waiting for that burst of rain

Regenerating, refreshing,

Cleaning, healing,

Life giving

When will it be?

But the sky is charged 

With the empty promise

Of a late sunny afternoon

Despite the grey haze 

Hovering over the hills.

The rain will come with the wind,

There is no wind 

Therefore no rain,

Waiting is the rule of the game

In dead wind alley.

Lucette C. Bailliet

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Broken noses

Nosedee had lost a nostril,

Nosedum had fallen on her face,

Both had faces to scream

You wouldn't want to meet them

As twilight settles down.

A sure recipe to spoil your dream.

Here come the bandage

To save the age,

They might look funny

To you and me,

But better be queer

Than hide in fear.

Lucette C. Bailliet

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Valentine 2015

I know I don't tell you

I know I don't show you

You mean the world to me

So I picked this morning rose

Still pearled with dew

Got the golden ribbon vase

And served you breakfast

A simple gesture

But a loving one

Yes, I admit I could tell you

I love you!

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved

The spill

A week in politics

Is a long time

A week with a spill

Is even longer

But for sure our PM

Is a goner

Tomorrow or later

It does not matter.

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved 

Summer haiku

Birds fly in the wind

Heavy purple clouds roll in

Summer walk cut short.

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved

Night is yawning 

The chilling hour is felt

Dawn is late this morning

Laziness fills my bed.

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved

On the LNP Queensland rout

How come o mighty Captain Abbott

You're trembling in your boots?

What a kick the Queensland vote

Was to your Honourable butt

Your abbot-ship is in danger but

It is well known when duty calls

The captain goes down with the ship

We are expecting nothing less from you.

Well served Sir, we salute you!

We might even give you a gong

For your entertainment value

First order you deserve not less.

Lucette C. Bailliet

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A visit to the hospital

Visit to the hospital

The patient in the second bed

Has been here for more than a month

On inquiring why he was there

He told us: "the knee and the hip

Had to replace them, you see!"

On commenting it must have been 

Hard to stay so long here

His answer was :

"Oh I missed so much Christmas

When my wife told me

She had put down the Christmas decorations

I realized I had not seen them, you know! 

I love the festive period so much

All the trimmings and the family,

The children and grandchildren around,

You can't replace it, you know!"

He's got his priorities right, I say. 

No need for money and power

When love surrounds you

You are the richest and happiest man !

Lucette C. Bailliet

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Ocean of pain

After the severe storm 

Wave after wave 

Dry heaving, retching 

Comes and passes me by,

Leaving me as a wreck, alone

In utter misery,

Bent over

In the fetus position

On she shores of the ocean of pain

Bordered by the endless hours of the night

I barely breathe 

Shallow and tentative 

Shivering, taunt 

Each of them is felt

Bewildered as to the cause

Shocked to its effect

Hoping for sleep release

Cringing against a new assault

An upcoming attack

For war we are waging

My body and I

Will I make it to the morning?

Lucette C. Bailliet

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Blazing pain

The last comfort of rest

In my bed is denied to me

As pain incrusts itself 

In every nook and cranny 

Of my decrepit body

Making it a foreplay to hell

Constant pain throbbing 

Without any respite

The mattress develops hurtful knobs

Against which my fragility

Finds no defense

The blankets acquire

A sudden heaviness

Insufferable to turn and toss

Stretch and curl

Each second morphs to infinity

Or so it seems in the endless night

To find a senseless position

Where pain stays muted 

And not flicker up lapping

Against the sinews and joints

A red hot iron bar crushes

Bones and flesh

Blazing pain radiating 

Throughout every breath 

To sleep would be a blessing

Pain go away, already

You have stayed too long

Too afraid to take a pill

That could worsen it all

I have to go through it all.

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved

   

Modern medicine

Miracles of modern medicine,

They can do wonders today,

They fix you in a wink,

Go and see the doctor,

They all told me,

You'll be fine they said,

Not to worry they repeated.

His first question was not

What brings you here?

But rather the more pragmatic

Do you have any private insurance?

On the negative answer that I gave

My treatment was short

To the point of non existent

And don't forget

In case of emergency 

Go to the hospital!

Not even a good bye

I was given.

Next!

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved

 

In the streets

In the cities all along the back streets

The lace of the fire stairs hangs

Along the walls of the buildings

Like a sheer curtain framing a window

Bringing a cosy feel to the street

The domesticity of the neighborhood 

Increases by leaps while obscurity 

Is kept at bay with the high street lamps

It is called  home to so many     

Finding refuge in a door way 

An underground vent is the best bet

Against the winter breeze

But is a highly disputed space

Carton boxes are a luxury.

The night will be good

When a friend shares a bottle

By the lit fire but it can be deadly too. 

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved .

Credit Picture Gary Introne

Midsummer

Already it's midsummer,

Juicy cherries and soft

Fragrant fleshed mangoes

Have come and gone.

Now is the time of moist apricots, 

Dewy peaches and crimson plums.

Soon figs and sweet melons

Will refresh our sated palates

And summer bounty will end

With grapes and pomegranates.

What earthy luscious delights

This season cornucopia has been!

Why does it need to finish so soon?

I wish it would never end,

But everything has an end date.

Lucette C. Bailliet 

All rights reserved 

When the didge sings

Listen to the didgeridoo 

When it sings along

With his mellow voice

Taking you under a starry sky

By the banks of a sunken lake

The world is yours

And your spirit soars free.

Listen to the didgeridoo 

When its sound rolls around

Through arhythmic cadences 

In a mossy cave

Where water trickles

Slowly down pulling into a basin

Feeling the connection

With long ago spirits

Peaceful is the world.

Listen to the didgeridoo

Leading you hooting and rolling

Near an aromatic pit fire

With its allusive smoke 

To the stories of old

Of the dreaming time

They are of today

Can you hear it?

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved 

Dichotomy II

I don't know about you

But I think I'm young

When I know I'm old.

Why is it that I think I'm strong

But know I'm weak?

How come

I think I'm healthy

When I know I'm dying?

Dare I mention that

I think I'm intelligent

But know I'm ignorant.

Not to add that

I think I'm successful

Yet know to be a failure.

That splitting mind of mine

Drives me insane

So who should I believe

My thoughts

Or my knowledge?

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved

At the hairdresser

SBecause she was cutting my hair

I was stuck in a chair

When she told me

"What you're saying doll?"

I thought she was speaking to a troll.

Her broad 'strayan pitch

Caused my skin to itch

I lowered my lingo 

And gave it a go

So she could get it, 

While she kept at it

And now I am the proud owner

Of a new trend : the coconut wear

Guaranteed to last a year!

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved 

The old whore

When France has a cough

The world rushes to her bedside

To check her pulse

Anxious about her comfort.

The old lady has still life in her

Her spirit is strong yet

She took to the streets 

And worked them 

Like a pro!

She can kick some ass

Oh dear, are we going 

For a new explosion?

For she's some temper

The old whore,

Raped, abused and knocked down

Her appeal is universal

She still has a voice

And sings loudly,

Her Tired but ever true faith

"Liberty, equality, brotherhood".

Three simple words,

It's enough to give nightmares 

For those who would prefer 

The masses to be blind and deaf.

Beware some people

Can hear her populist shout

Are you awake?

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved

I'm a fool

Cormorants diving and fishing together

Sure to deplete the creek.

Wait aren't they salt water birds?

Obviously not!

The Roos have moved back 

To the upper paddock

It does not make any sense

The grass is greener in the lower one

During this scorching summer.

What drive them to act 

In a counter intuitive way?

What do I know about instinct?

Man surely is hell bound

If we follow the news

Killing and destroying

His own kind

On each and every continent

And here I am 

Commenting on some 

Perceived animalistic aberration.

I'm a fool, that's what I am!  

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved

Writing

Night after night

The blank page beckons

Begin again!

It orders

Find a theme

Express yourself

Expose your feelings

Swear, cry, shout,

Curse, pledge, beg even

You want to laugh?

It's easy

Whatever goes

What's your problem?

A word calls a word

You get in a rhythm

Once blank the page

Presents you with a pathway

That you'll forget as soon 

As you turn it 

You can twist it,

Plait it, dress it up

Or down, your game

Rhyme it or not

Space it or not

It is all in the end about

What matters

That is writing.

Lucette C. Bailliet 

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A day at the beach

Nowadays a day at the beach

Has changed somewhat:

Better study the wave sign

Before bathing, for no surf club

Will come to your rescue,

The sand castles are built by adults,

Drones hover over surfers

Beachwear is long sleeves tees

Above long shorts and sun hats.

The umbrellas shade the dogs,

From the sun hurtful rays,

Children and parents 

Wear sunscreen masks

Still people have fun:

Walking, swimming, playing,

Digging, fishing, talking,

Reading, resting, laughing

Wading, sleeping, eating

But soon it is time

To pack up,

Rinse the salt and fine sand off

Before driving off

Such a lovely day.

Lucette C. Bailliet

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Hommage

Mon  cœur est endeuillé ce soir

Wolinski et Cabu 

Ne sont plus

Héros de ma sage adolescence

Ils ont payé le prix de la liberté 

Charb et Tignous

Les ont rejoints

Mon âme est déchirée ce soir

Charlie Hebdo est diminué

Mais pas vaincu!

My heart is in mourning tonight

Wolinski and Cabu

Are no more

Legends of my quiet youth

They've paid the ultimate price for freedom

Charb and Tignous

Have joined them

My soul is torn apart this evening

Charlie Hebdo is bleeding

But still fighting.

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved

Holiday

Yay! We are on our way

To some holiday

Whiling the hours away

The kilometers add up on the odometer display

Eating the distance like hay

The expressway has turned into a highway

To lead us to the ocean gateway  

We stop to pass the relay

To the other driver on the freeway

Everything becomes a wall of grey

From the gathered clouds spray

To the names of new towns seen

And immediately forgotten

Only focused on the next one

Everything takes on a sway

It's all so faraway

On the beach by the open bay

The dogs and oblivious children play

 Oh happy day!

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved

Spider and shower ditty

Shower and spider

Might be a rhymer 

But spider and shower

Don't go together

Bed and spider neither

For that matter

The heat of summer

Make them take shelter

Better watch over

That dark corner

Behind the soap dispenser

Let the water 

Whirl it down the gurgler

This unwelcome insider

Has to morph into an outsider

I don't wish to bother

About the critter

For today any longer!

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved 

Summer stroll

Sultry stroll in the evening

The moon popping up 

Beyond the gum tree

To hide herself 

In the smokey cloud

For summer is here

With its cohorts of fires

The cockatoos are screeching

Nesting for the night

The crickets are chirruping

Lost in the dry gras

Along the path 

Lizards absorbing 

The last of the heat scatter

In front of us

Men hiding in their man cave 

Polishing endless car parts

Cats slicking out

Without too much purpose

The heat defeats the chase

Their twilight hunting

Becomes desultory 

The dogs are too exhausted 

To bark at our passing by

Such is life in suburbia,

Humans, pets, wildlife

And creatures, at the end

Meaningless nothingness.

Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved

Summer song.

 

Hot winds and scorching temperatures

May mean cooling by the beach

But here in the bush

The questions arise

Have we reach red code yet?

The signs are here

The fires are coming

Soon the blue hill line

Will disappear behind

Billowing dirty clouds

Will the containment lines hold?

The time is come

To take shelter and batten up

The slow passing of the hours

Waiting for the nightly respite

Or the announced change

Will they be on time once again ?

This is the Australian summer song.

Lucette C. Bailliet

 

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Picture from The Guardian Adelaide Hills

Credit :The Humbug Scrub fire which is burning out of control in the Mount Lofty ranges northeast of Adelaide. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/AAP

2015 Resolution

Here we are in the New Year

It's time for resolutions:

None but to survive the year

Why? That is a good question?

I won't get better marks if I do 

Or get worse ones if I don't.

Enjoy every day at its most,

In my case not being sick,

Taking life slowly along the seasons.

Being alive beats any alternative 

In my opinion.

I'm not looking for future salvation,

I'm afraid my soul will have to work

That fight for itself if it ever needs it.

For alone we are when it matters

Alone at birth, alone at death.

Lucette C. Bailliet

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