Long Swags Poems

I believed that I was rural … that I lived in country style,
where the city was close handy … that big distance was a mile.
Trains and buses ferried daily; a freeway ran close by …
comforts...

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Awaking blithe each morning,
with eyes upon the World,
I wonder, are we mourning
with ebon flags unfurled –
or are they but a warning,
some draped like snakes and curled,
stray stars and stripes adorning,
sent from the netherworld.

I wander through...

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Memorial Day – 2024... origin of holiday

Strong and brave men and women 
gave their level best
crème de la crème 
strongest and bravest
leaving grieving significant others 
with emotional agony 
within treasured chest
o'er the redoubt  
the...

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In all your doings, acknowledge your weakness. 
For all to count, subscribe to His power. 
Forget the current situations' bleakness, 
For favour shall outpour breakthrough's miraculous shower. 

Prayer is the key, 
To open spiritual doors,...

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I’ve sorted spuds at Cora Lynn, picked asparagus at Vervale, 
Cherries in the Dandenong’s, beans on the Thompson close to Sale,
I’ve picked apples out at Labertouche and made a tidy quid,
But I’ve never picked an...

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Our Mate Charlie Brummell
Yes mate we went a droving back in nineteen fifty eight, 
The drovers cook was pretty rough, he couldn`t wash a plate. 
Hector he was fifty two, when he burnt our damper...

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I have always lived in this house.
Yet, these floors I don’t seem to remember.
From parlour to pantry there were once rugs
from Persia and Minton tiles of cherry in the halls.
Now the boards are decayed and...

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The air was damp inside the house, chill creeping through the walls
 Swags and Tails with dusty eyes seep through the faded falls.
  The garish group sat silently hands splayed upon a table square
Whilst...

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January 22, 2024
                    ____________________________________

Divergent viewpoints can arise
Whilst triumphant variously savor
Glorious tune of achievement,
Gain glory as godly...

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I turn off the spicket of daily business
From inside the cocoon
Of my hammock
My world seems different
As I gently sway, caressed in suspension
No effort needed
To watch the graceful lineal limbs
Of a cedar tree
Rising like a chipmunks’...

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A Cowboy is.

Out on the stock route 10 mile days
Keep those cattle moving
He hopes there’s grass and water, prays
His seat he won’t be losing……..watch them yang yang horses

The cattle settle down at night
Bout midnight up...

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A Bagman

There he walked an unknown Bagman, 
who camped upon the track. 
So sad he seemed this Swagman, 
his jingling billy burnt and black. 
Yes mate he'd been away with friends, 
crossed the sea at...

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High above the quiet, darkened streets of January, the night wind begins to whisper secrets through my apartment window casements. Far below me lie four cafes, all in sync as they awaken from daytime hibernation...

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bake the goodies
bake the snacks
snack tray covered
snack tray to taste
taste the cookies
taste the candy
candy cane the tree
candy cane the swags
swag the tables
swag the doors
door bell ring
door covered with lights 
light up house
light up tree
tree the...

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We scratched and scrapped and piled it together,
thin as cobwebs, like molted bird feathers,
spread out on the frozen lawn,
a gossamer frosting in early dawn,
a meager, stingy December snow,
hardly enough to foster a glow
from the Christmas...

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free spirit of spring: a new foliage
wraps the air; vagabond sunset awakes
upon colored tones,
mounds  of rosebud lips drip of 
citrine sensation…how beautiful they are, enough
to rustle hundreds of maiden’s smiles: and while
the swags of...

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Billy Buttons
under  the 
Celery Pines

free verse 

Billy Button's downy foliage
Burst open with large gold blooms.
Midst thousands of dandelion's green
Above, celery pines tip their plumes.

Grasslands wave contently in the fields
Missouri golden rods climb the hill.
Broom...

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I suppose no speech or pen can reveal.
Hidden mysteries of the cell buzzer.
Whose sleek screes fit conjointly like a deal.
To boast about such a complex shudder.

A thin membrane that provides protection.
In order to shelter its swags...

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As summer fields grow plump yet mild,  
I dimly lay with swags of blooms      
Outlined by duskfall  I can feel ;
The heavens flaming realms beyond 
Just when his...

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Walk for peace as quiet as a stranger 
Tread softly without digress on this road
It does look so lovely to endanger
So, neither jump nor leap like a smart toad 

Switch left or right if that...

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clouded omens across code

the objective fact of the atmosphere here
starves even the most modest
ambitions of fish outside their home waters

journey of yearning mundane
day-glow gradients of green
scales gasping 
toward the summit

regret etched in the eyeball
a penumbra...

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Christmas fills the air
With scent of goodies to share,
Pinecones, poinsettias weaved swags;
Wishes in stockings and Santa's bag,
Kitties snuggle and puppy tail wags.

A Christmas Wish,
Shooting star across the sky.
A glimpse of Santa Claus
And Rudolph's luminescence red-nose,
Sleigh...

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***  *      * 


wishes for  silk lamps
to soften all chilly nights, 
promise of  world peace
ringing  wind chimes  from heaven
and orchids flaming the lawn

A glow climbs...

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The Cloisters is a special place,
Medieval and austere,
Assembled from five monasteries
Brought from France to here.*

Within its walls are gardens,
All meticulous and neat
And to celebrate the holidays,
There is a special treat:

Swags of greenery and apples
On the...

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Twisted
--------

Horrie's words became confused and twisted
though careful people (like me) thought we understood.

What I could not understand 
was his appearance -
that golden beard become unruly
and arms and legs so thin.

Another change was Horrie's girlfriend choosing,
a...

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