Views in Verse on youth mental health

Get Behind Youth Mental Health 

The North Ryde Fun Run is on Sunday 19 October 2014 from 9am to 2pm at the Macquarie University Sport Fields, corner of Culloden and Talavera Roads, Macquarie Park. 

It is a community event organised by the Rotary Club of North Ryde, with venue partner Macquarie University. It is for fun walkers and runners, not for professionals.

The proceeds go to Australian Rotary Health to fund research into youth mental health and treatment programs. Why not join in the fun to raise awareness and some money.

It is important to care for the mental health of our young people. Between 2-5% of young people will suffer from anxiety. Young children with anxiety are 3-5 times more likely to develop teenage depression.Only $10 to enter see our entry form here!

Dark Reptiles

Dawn breaks bitter light

Stirring stone refuge once more

intruding again on broken sleep

Red eyes stare down the door

Movement doesn't come easy

Reticent to leave the source

Where can one go to find refuge?

Fate steer me that safer course 

Inviting faces challenge the mask

The now freeing frame distracts

As routine brings timely release

In hiding the guarded facts

How can I improve  my position here?

Can warmth not ease the doubt?

As the stalking dog ...he pads nearby

He's always, always, about.

Over the shoulder a shadow looms

night can't be far away...

Bent in regression a constant curse; 

Call dark to shroud the day!

So bring me sleep to salve my life

In an all too brief reprieve

The gloom closes in yet sleep does not come

the subconscious defying the need

Where do you go; where do you go?

To escape this moribund place

Waiting for heat 

from much needed sun 

with a gripped gnarling face

   

epilogue:

    The ones that I love

    They take good care

    They know the struggle in me

    The ones that I love

    They know me well but

    Their love can't set me free

Forwarded from my I pad - Grahame J Flynn

Views in Verse on 'put me in coach'

Since the LA Dodgers visited Sydney at the start of the year, their mercurial pitcher Clayton Kershaw has pitched a season 21 wins - good eh? The real stuff is about to begin!






The play-offs for the World Series are about to begin. My team - the SF Giants got in on a wild card. Go the Giants! First game for them is Thursday. I'm ready! Let' s go!

Centerfield (JR Fogerty)

Well, a-beat the drum and hold the phone
The sun came out today
We're born again, there's new grass on the field
A-roundin' third and headed for home
It's a brown-eyed handsome man
Anyone can understand the way I feel

Oh, put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Look at me, I can be centerfield

Well, I spent some time in the Mudville Nine
Watching it from the bench
You know I took some lumps, when the mighty Case struck out
So say hey, Willie, tell the Cobb
And Joe DiMaggio
Don't say it ain't so, you know the time is now

Oh, put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Look at me, I can be centerfield

Yeah, I got it, I got it

Got a beat-up glove, a home-made bat
And a brand new pair of shoes
You know I think it's time to give this game a ride
Just to hit the ball, and touch 'em all
A moment in the sun
It's a-gone and you can tell that one good-bye

Oh, put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Look at me (yeah), I can be centerfield

Oh, put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Look at me, gotta be, centerfield
Yeah

Views in Verse on enforcing the law of the land

The Australian Prime Minister this week addressed  the United Nations. Impressive!  No-one can deny his statesmanship in attacking the Islamic State threat...but why oh why do we have to keep being sucked into handling these terrorist threats as religious matters?


They are not ...these people are criminals. Plain and Simple!

They take their positions by including their religious zealotry in their names as though this really has any significance ...it doesn't. And yet, as Mr Abbott has done again here, we make the mistake of routinely mentioning Islam and Moslem as many times as we can in response to somehow show that we aren't targeting everyday people. But in doing so achieve exactly what the terrorists lure us into doing ...addressing them on their terms and further blurring lines by bringing religion into our position at all. We only need to create and enforce laws in dealing with crime.

These people have taken up occupation in a foreign land and declared a sovereign state thereby breaking international laws. The local terrorist act we had here in Melbourne this week where two policemen were stabbed (before shooting their assailant in response) is simply a criminal act - why risk further religious zealotry by explaining away responses to a 'terrorist act'.

We have international, local and now terrorist legislations to deal with these matters in a straight forward manner.  Why risk unjustified retaliations by attempting to show how well we understand the varying implications of Islam and the Koran - we really don't know. But furthermore, we don't need to!

As for the media and their irresponsible 'stirring' of possible sensitive boundaries  in relation to such events - we should be legislating against this as well. Stirring up religious unrest in relation to 'breaches of law' is more irresponsible than what some of the rogue leaders can be accused of in their mosques. The latter may reach hundreds in one pass; the former can reach millions! And to what end the media...? Beats me.




And justice for all...?

A wild but stumbling rush
a thirst for brother's blood
a victim falls hard before a baying crowd
A lusty blow is struck
just one with any luck
roars of faith ring out for hours
good and loud

The wild group arrived
a sword strapped by the side
the verdict a prescribed but grisly fate
A rigid but cruel
right of tribal rule
it seems justice can be swift
no need to wait

A bunker lit up bright
well into winter's night
Top brass around a massive table
Seems the generals have their say:
"Sir,there is no other way...!"
"but to hit this region hard
to keep it stable!"

The cameras whirl and play
at church that very day
it didn't really matter it wasn't Sunday

"God bless this call we've made

there'll be so many saved"...
(except for thousands there trapped
along the way)

It seems the rules are clear
handed down o'er many years
for a phalanx to extol it's common call
It's well known far and wide
that with god at your side
his will is clearly done
through one and all


But is it really fair?
whose premise we compare...?
seems they'll all see fit to make a rightful plea
Appears there's justice there for all
for help with righteous cause
as long as one goes down
on bended knee


from my desktop Grahame J Flynn

Views in Verse on sights, sounds and tastes of summer

Great news on the radio today as I awoke to a beautiful spring morning in Sydney...

"The North Queensland Growers are calling a bumper crop of Mangoes for this summer!" 

Aussies love their summer salads on a hot day (to accompany the BBQ meat!) but there is nothing that sets off a summer's day better than a sweet juicy mango to cool you off.

The earliest shipments are often found in a few weeks on the city roadsides where the country opportunists sell the early picks by the box-load off the back of a truck to those (like me) who can't wait to get into them again! Everyone wins as each mango this way works out at less than a $1 each instead of the $4 you will pay once they eventually hit the retail stores.

To complement that news on the way through the city afterwards today there was some spring warmth in the air and the welcome sight on a warm day of the girls in their summer clothes around Sydney town. This week marks Fashion Week here in Sydney - so the ladies will be taking centre stage. Makes you feel alive again to shake off winter and look forward to a another hot Sydney summer!

As for the sounds of summer I will draw on one of my favorite pieces by the Australian country artist Sam Hawksley. We do look forward to our cricket on the ABC radio - it's an Australian institution!

Many prefer to listen to the radio rather than watch a test match on TV. One of the many delightful sounds of summer in Australia to look forward to 'cricket on the radio'... can't wait!!!

SOUNDS LIKE SUMMER

Sam Hawksley

Feelin still a little foggy in the head
Last night hanging over my bed
I've got no clue or no idea
Just what the time is dear?

At least I know where I am
that little, I understand
I listen closely and it’s oh so clear
just what day we have here

Oh it Sounds like a summer, Sunday to me
Cicadas and their symphony
Cricket on the ABC
Oh it sounds like Summer to me

Kids playing in the yard next door
Waves crashing down on the shore
The subs in some hotted up car
A coupla guys strumming on guitars

Ring pull cracking open a beer
Dogs barkin ,ringing in my ear
Mower blades on an uncut lawn
One thing I know for sure

Oh it Sounds like a summer Sunday to me
Leaves blowin in the breeze
Radio says its 40 degrees
Oh it sounds like Summer to me

Sunday morning it’s a sweet sound
Nothing to do got some friends comin round
Monday morning ill feel bad
But these are the best times I'll ever have

Oh it Sounds like a summer, Sunday to me

The Cicadas and their symphony
Cricket on my TV
Oh it sounds like Summer to me

Great song too!!! - download it today - GF

Views in Verse on the die hard fan!

The Sydney Swans last night powered into their second Aussie Rules Grand Final in three seasons as their champion Adam Goodes celebrated his 350th game for his proud club.






The Swans (or Bloods), as they are often known with their South Melbourne heritage, were far too good for their North Melbourne opposition and will now meet either Port Adelaide or Hawthorn in the big game next week. Adam Goodes - a greater player Sydney has not seen!

Goodes is a gifted and proud indigenous player and also current Australian of the Year! He seems to be belying his 34 years and had a wonderful game just when it was needed - igniting his side to dominate from that time. Tippett, Franklin, Rohan, Parker, Jack, Kennedy also had marvellous games.The defensive unit was also outstanding constantly blunting the oppositions forays to goal.

The Melbourne dominated media chaired by the irrefutable Eddie McGuire could not help but immediately decry the Bondi Billionaires tagline after the match. McGuire also the chairman of rival club Collingwood, who performed poorly this year, is desperate to redress the balance as Sydney (with their remarkable depth beginning to show) appear on the cusp of a golden decade.

Perhaps Eddie should be more respectful of the culture that this club has now on display at all times. This factor is the true envy of the other clubs regardless of how much money they have.

Next week may see the Swans ascendency really firm although they can seriously expect a tougher game than last night. Perhaps the North Melbourne Kangaroos played their grand final last week after qualifying in from the bottom of the draw.




The Die Hard Fan

What is this light
That dances round me?
My skin is cold within
Am I watching
Am I sleeping
Is this face my kin?
I hear soft grumbling
The image mumbling
There's no clear lines I see
What's this happening
Surely dreaming
A chill sweat covers me

I try to move
But nothing's moving
Confounded by the light
I'm now awake
On that I'm clear
Fumbling in the night
Blimey! ...not Dad?
...reaching out...
...he's long past skin and bones...?
Now he's touching
I feel his breathing
I hear his gravelly tones:

"Son, we worry about things
that our life brings
We're not happy till it's done
We lock ourselves up tight
Day and night
Much like a train we're riding on
I don't know the answers
As I'm telling you this
My life was lived the same
But I need to know
before I go...
Did the Boys win that last game?"

"Did they smother Plugger
That big hard bugger?
Did Kelly make them pay?
Did Tighe do it tough
Down the guts
To steal the game away?
No apartheid fall
No Berlin Wall...
My life wouldn'a bin the same
I've just gotta know
before I go...
Did the Bloods win that last game?"


Sent from my IPhone - Grahame J Flynn