Old Timers at the Bar

December 17, 2024 by 6 Comments

In every pub, you see them at the bar chatting about the good times in the old times.

Almanac Poetry: ‘Tiger’ – Tommy Mallet

December 17, 2024 by 2 Comments

In the bush, confrontations with snakes are part of life, a life and death existence a metaphor for life itself as ‘Tiger’ Tommy Mallet’s latest poem suggests.

Almanac Poetry: Goya’s El Pelele (The Straw Manikin)

December 16, 2024 by 2 Comments

Previously unpublished, Kevin Densley’s poem gives voice to the figure of the airborne straw man in Goya’s well-known painting. [Gives new meaning to straw manning, Ed.]

Revisiting The Footy Almanac Grand Final Eve Lunch: Bruce Dawe’s September greeting

December 12, 2024 by Leave a Comment

The poetry vibe was strong at The Footy Almanac Grand Final Eve Lunch where John Harms read this greeting from Bruce Dawe.

Almanac Poetry: ‘Red’ – Tommy Mallet

December 11, 2024 by Leave a Comment

A poem about a red wobble dashboard robot is the latest offering from Tommy Mallet.

Almanac Poetry: Harmsy of the Almanac (with apologies to Banjo)

December 10, 2024 by 3 Comments

After they won the bid for The Barossa Tour Weekend at the 2023 Footy Almanac Grand Final Eve Lunch, Luke McNamara and John Dumaresq and their partners, Amanda and Tracey, spent a December weekend visiting the beautiful and historic wine region. Taking his lead from Banjo’s Clancy, Luke dipped his thumbnail in Rockford Basket Press to remember it in verse. [Very clever – Ed]

Almanac Poetry: Venticelli

December 9, 2024 by 2 Comments

This zephyr of a poem from Kevin Densley concerns the ephemeral venticelli, Italian for ‘little winds’.

Almanac Music: ‘If I Was A Sculptor’ – Songs Connected to Painting and/or Sculpture

December 6, 2024 by 79 Comments

This instalment of KD’s epic series on popular song concerns songs connected to painting and/or sculpture. As usual, readers’ song choices and comments are warmly welcomed.

Almanac Poetry: ‘No Blinds’ – Tommy Mallet

December 3, 2024 by 3 Comments

A tale of a dog named after its breed features in the latest poem from Tommy Mallet, ‘No Blinds’. [Language warning: – Ed]

Almanac Poetry: Italicised Poem

December 2, 2024 by 4 Comments

In today’s poem, Kevin Densley looks humorously at italics.

Strange Dismissals

November 26, 2024 by 5 Comments

The cricket has inspired poet Damian Balassone to make a few quirky observations.

Revisiting the Footy Almanac Grand Final Eve Lunch 2024: Interpreting the signs

November 25, 2024 by 2 Comments

When Adelaide Auslan interpreter, muso and lyricist, Glenn Butcher came to Rick Darling’s book celebration at the Adelaide Lutheran Football Club in early 2024, he mentioned he was hoping to get across to Melbourne for an Almanac Lunch, and if things worked out for his footy club, maybe the Grand Final Lunch. Well, his footy side did make that Grand Final and he made the trip. He wrote a little poem in anticipation of the following day.

Almanac Poetry: Ode to Cigarettes Past

November 25, 2024 by 25 Comments

Following on from his latest music themed post, we reshare Kevin Densley’s look back on the “golden age” of cigarettes. A one-two punch of pungency if you will.

Almanac Poetry: ‘Dear Robert’ – Tommy Mallet

November 22, 2024 by Leave a Comment

Tommy Mallet returns to the Footy Almanac with his inimitable verse, first up ‘Dear Robert’.

Almanac Music: ‘Have a Cigar’ – Songs Involving Smoking

November 22, 2024 by 88 Comments

In the latest instalment of his epic series on popular song themes, KD deals with songs involving smoking – cigarettes, cigars, pipes, whatever…

Almanac Poetry: Dat Ole Debble Called Redrafting

November 18, 2024 by 2 Comments

Every writer does it; some should do it more; others should do it less – in this Monday’s poem, KD deals with the subject of redrafting.

Almanac Footy History: ‘Mulga’ and Ye Olde Buckland Inn

November 13, 2024 by 6 Comments

Allan Barden fondly remembers Maurice ‘Mulga’ Gregson, an old stalwart supporter, storyteller, and former player of the Swansea Football Club who passed away recently aged 94.

Almanac Poetry: Captain Albert Jacka, VC, MC and Bar

November 11, 2024 by 12 Comments

On another Remembrance Day – arguably at a time when the collective memory of war is most sorely tested – we reshare Kevin Densley’s poem on the iconic, heroic and ultimately tragic figure of Albert Jacka this week.

Almanac Music: ‘I ain’t ‘fraid of no ghost’ – Songs with a Halloween Vibe

October 31, 2024 by 53 Comments

The latest instalment of KD’s epic series on popular song is ‘Songs with a Halloween Vibe’. As usual, readers’ song choices and comments are warmly welcomed.

Almanac Poetry: A Pilgrimage to San Isidro

October 28, 2024 by Leave a Comment

This week’s poem from Kevin Densley, previously unpublished, takes as its point of departure a disturbing late painting by Spanish master Francisco Goya.