A lovely old couple, a strung out junkie watching bees, and labouring in a valley are all part of Tommy Mallet’s poem ‘The Call’.
Almanac Poetry: Dredge Pond, Harrietville, Victoria
February 14, 2022 by 4 Comments
Kevin Densley depicts the Tronoh Dredge Hole in Harrietville, Victoria, created by gold mining operations. He remembers it well from family holidays.
Almanac Poetry: A Boy and His Football
February 11, 2022 by 11 Comments
Michael Pardy makes his Almanac debut with a poem about kids who have a footy in their hands all the time and how it becomes their friend. (Welcome aboard, Michael – Ed.)
Almanac Music: Greatest Hits of 1856 – ‘Gentle Annie’ by Stephen Foster
February 11, 2022 by 4 Comments
In this Friday’s column, KD discusses an American pre-Civil War popular song, Stephen Foster’s beautiful ballad ‘Gentle Annie’, and examines how it has stood the test of time, presenting a couple of versions as examples.
Almanac Poetry: Ben Hall’s Photograph
February 7, 2022 by 6 Comments
This week’s poem from Kevin Densley is based upon (arguably) the most iconic photograph in the history of Australian bushranging.
Almanac Poetry: Imponderables
January 31, 2022 by 2 Comments
In this Monday’s poem, Kevin Densley asks the big questions of life … well, not really ‘that’ big.
Almanac Comedy: Mo in McCackie Mansion episode ‘The Scottish Butcher’
January 28, 2022 by 7 Comments
KD introduces another example of the work of legendary Australian comedian, Mo: a very funny episode of his radio series, McCackie Mansion.
The Old Migrant
January 25, 2022 by 1 Comment
Damain Balassone’s poem ‘The Old Migrant’ suggests thoughts don’t always reflect what is shown.
Almanac Poetry: Seen from a Window Table in Acland Street, St Kilda
January 24, 2022 by 6 Comments
This week’s poem from Kevin Densley dates from the time, about twenty years ago, when he lived in Melbourne. St Kilda was a short tram ride from home…
Almanac Memoir: My Most Enjoyable Sports Injury
January 21, 2022 by 4 Comments
Sometimes it ‘hurts so good’, to quote from John Mellencamp’s well-known song. In this Friday’s column, KD travels back in time to an athletics carnival at Geelong Grammar School in the mid-1970s, where he suffered what he describes as his ‘most enjoyable sports injury’.
Almanac Poetry: ‘Exhale’ – Tommy Mallet
January 18, 2022 by 1 Comment
Tommy Mallet’s poem ‘Exhale’ reflects upon the relief of taking a break, visiting friends, the talk and the realities, and the issues that arise.
Almanac Poetry: ‘The Off Season’ – Tommy Mallet
January 11, 2022 by 2 Comments
This week’s poem from Tommy Mallet ‘The Off Season’ reflects life living in the tough environment of the bush, providing for loved ones and making ends meet.
Almanac Poetry: Photograph of Bushranger and (Alleged) Multiple Murderer Tommy Clarke, of the Notorious Braidwood Clarkes, Aboard the Stolen Racehorse Boomerang, circa 1865
January 10, 2022 by 4 Comments
In this week’s poem from Kevin Densley, it’s ‘back to bushranging’ – he profiles Tommy Clarke, of the notorious mid-nineteenth century Clarkes from the Braidwood area of New South Wales.
Almanac Music: My Favourite Rock Drummers – Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick
January 7, 2022 by 4 Comments
In this instalment of his ongoing series about favourite drummers, KD profiles the inimitable Bun E. Carlos, best known for his work with Cheap Trick.
Almanac Poetry: ‘Saw Repairs’ and ‘Jesus Shadow’ – Tommy Mallet
January 4, 2022 by Leave a Comment
Two poems from Tommy Mallet; a response to the young, and the second, a reflection of a hard day’s work in the bush.
Almanac Poetry: Pisanello’s ‘The Virgin and Child with the Saints George and Anthony Abbot’
January 3, 2022 by Leave a Comment
According to Kevin Densley: ‘In this poem, I put my own spin upon a fifteenth century painting by Italian artist Pisanello, an unusual work featuring an Egyptian hermit, a saint with a legendary association with a dragon, and the Virgin and Child.’
Almanac Music: ‘The Song is Ended (But the Melody Lingers on)’: Blake Hazard Sings an Irving Berlin Classic
December 31, 2021 by 2 Comments
In this Friday’s piece, KD showcases a magical combination of performer and song, and attempts to answer the question: where does the magic come from?
Almanac Poetry: Two Poems – Tommy Mallet
December 28, 2021 by 1 Comment
Two short poems from Tommy Mallet this week; ‘Dusk’ plus ‘And I Thought Of You’.
Almanac Poetry: George Stubbs’ ‘A Lion Attacking a Horse’
December 27, 2021 by 2 Comments
Kevin Densley’s poem is based on a famous eighteenth century painting by arguably the greatest horse painter of all-time, George Stubbs. The great poet William Blake also receives mention.
Almanac Life: What I Did Last Summer … And The Summer Before … And The Summer Before …
December 24, 2021 by 4 Comments
Do you have an annual summer tradition, more particularly, something you typically do to occupy those languid days after the Christmas festivities, but before the New Year arrives? KD writes about how he usually fills in this time of the year.
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