Almanac Poetry — Page 33

Almanac Poetry: Melbourne’s Not Yinnar

April 20, 2021 by Almanac Admin 11 Comments

Reprising a poem that we featured on the Almanac site way back in 2011.

Almanac Poetry: Forget the Metaphor

April 20, 2021 by Kevin Densley Leave a Comment

In this Tuesday’s poem, Kevin Densley points out the basic ‘error’ in Aesop’s famous fable involving the tortoise and the hare.

Almanac Food: Hanging Out At My ‘Pandemic Café’

April 16, 2021 by Kevin Densley Leave a Comment

Did the Covid-19 pandemic (hopefully just about over in Australia) and its resulting forms of lockdown bring out in Almanackers particular food cravings/obsessions? It certainly did in Kevin Densley’s case. In response, KD created a personal “Pandemic Cafe” menu, one high on instant gratification, and low in terms of other culinary considerations!

Almanac Poetry: Platinum Blonde

April 13, 2021 by Kevin Densley Leave a Comment

This week’s intriguing poem from Kevin Densley is about 1930s Hollywood glamour icon, Jean Harlow, who died tragically young.

Almanac Comedy: ‘Mo Goes to the Dogs’

April 9, 2021 by Kevin Densley 6 Comments

Kevin Densley introduces an episode of the classic Australian radio comedy series, McCackie Mansion, from just after WW2, starring the legendary actor/comedian Mo. In this episode, Mo McCackie, his son, Young Harry, Uncle Horrible and Spencer the Garbageman go to the Harold Park dogs – KD describes it as “seven and a half minutes of hilarious, nostalgic joy”.

Almanac Poetry: ‘Magpie versus Crow’ – Tommy Mallet

April 6, 2021 by Tommy Mallet 1 Comment

A battle for territory between magpies and crow is the topic of Tommy Mallet’s poem, ‘Magpie versus Crow’.

Almanac Poetry: Morrisons, Victoria

April 6, 2021 by Kevin Densley 2 Comments

This week’s poem from Kevin Densley is about Morrisons, a Victorian locality near the small town of Meredith. Some of KD’s relatives farmed there is the past.

Almanac Memoir (and Music): ‘Maybe’ by Split Enz

April 2, 2021 by Kevin Densley 2 Comments

This Friday’s piece from KD, although quite brief, covers a great deal of territory, including mid-1970s Sydney, the Opera House, King’s Cross, a family holiday, and an encounter with early Split Enz.

Round 2 – Haiku Bob – life is simple

April 1, 2021 by haiku bob 1 Comment

Watching the Magpies’ win over Carlton, Haiku Bob had a moment of clarity about a simple rule for a happy life (for Magpie fans).

Almanac Poetry: Uncle Bert and the 1909 Warrnambool to Melbourne Cycling Race

March 30, 2021 by Kevin Densley 6 Comments

This week, Kevin Densley’s poem is about two relatives, Fardie and Bert, who rode in the 1909 Warrnambool to Melbourne – yes, for some time, the famous cycling event went in the opposite direction to what is the case today.

Almanac Poetry: ‘Get Up’ – Tommy Mallet

March 30, 2021 by Tommy Mallet 1 Comment

Tommy Mallet’s poem ‘Get Up’ is about the perils of working in the bush, especially falling branches.

Almanac History: Yahl – South Australia

March 26, 2021 by Kevin Densley 17 Comments

Ever heard of Yahl, South Australia? In this Friday’s column, KD writes about the place and its close connection to the German branch of his family history.

Round 1 – Haiku Bob: laid bare

March 24, 2021 by haiku bob 4 Comments

Haiku Bob offers his reflections on returning to the MCG

Almanac Poetry: Kate Kelly (1863-1898)

March 23, 2021 by Kevin Densley 10 Comments

Kate Kelly, Ned’s sister, is the subject of this week’s poem by Kevin Densley.

Almanac Poetry: ‘Scales’ – Tommy Mallet

March 23, 2021 by Tommy Mallet 1 Comment

Tommy Mallet delights in the joys of the natural world after a day working in the bush.

Almanac Music (Jazz): ‘St James Infirmary’ by Louis Armstrong and His Savoy Ballroom Five (1928)

March 19, 2021 by Kevin Densley 4 Comments

In this Friday’s column, KD looks at a jazz standard recorded by Louis Armstrong and His Savoy Ballroom Five in 1928, ‘St James Infirmary’. Since then, there have been hundreds of recordings of this song.