This motel room is neither here nor there
I’m halfway
And another day to go
Thoughts occur half way
And even though the pause is inevitable
I half wish I’d driven all the way through
I spent an hour in the dark
Before the sun
Wondering if I was enough
The thoughts drove me up
Out of bed
And into the morning
to walk along a strangers street
In a town that is half way there
And so far from anywhere
That it is often a travellers denoted
half way
And I wandered along with a half way point tumbling around my mind
And then an ordinary bird
On an ordinary building
that had stood for 100 years
sang It’s ordinary morning song
And I laughed that I had doubted myself
Yet again
I realised I don’t matter to anything at all
It just all matters to me
And that’s the difference
Between
Header: old house from my morning walk in Blackall this morning.
For this trip I’ve challenged myself to use monochrome only images. So of course the first thing I did was bump into a man who showed me a gallery of gorgeous dresses made out of the most amazing fibres and colours. But that’s another post.
This is Blackall at 6am with the sun still rising and me with a tourist map particularly interested in number 4 and letter Q which were at opposite ends of the town.
More on Instagram on the Kate.gwp account – I will do something different for the other account when I have the chance to edit on my laptop
I was from a sheep station and when I first met my father in law he quizzed me on Jackie Howe – I had heard of him but couldn’t recite how many sheep Jackie shore – now I can – 321 sheep in 7hrs and 41 minutes. Well deserved honours to a hard working and skilled man!
And now I’m here in Winton and nervous about the meet and greet for authors this afternoon. I don’t call myself an author and yet here we are . I think I will feel more like an author once I publish my first novel later this year, I don’t feel like poetry counts for me at least – but feel free to tell me I’m wrong.
Here’s to meeting and writing fellow writers and readers and a few days living in an iconic outback town. This is going to be fun!
Cheers
I’m not one for poetry, but I do love the photos.
Leanne I used to write with a writers group years ago, one night they announced we were going to do some poetry and I complained loudly, “no not poetry, I hate poetry” and then I began and never stopped. Just saying. If I could change 😁 speaking of which I’m sticking to monochrome challenge so far, see how I go.
I have every confidence that you’ll do great, Kate! You’re a natural, as the poetry and prose you convey captures the interest of readers, who can relate and are hungry for more of what you have to share. I think you’re an excellent writer and know you’ll have a wonderful time in Winton! And, thanks for sharing your marvelous monotone collection from Blackall, too. Best wishes, my friend ✨🤗
Thanks Phil, it’s all about the people, I am meeting so many fascinating people. Winton is where the sky touches the earth for me, for a lot of people – I’ve lived it since I first came here. I hope when I’m 80 I’m still making the trek back, it’s a special place.
Kate, your poem feels like it hovers gently in the stillness of in-between. “I realised I don’t matter to anything at all / It just all matters to me” struck me especially—there’s something quietly liberating in that recognition.
Thanks for sharing all those amazing photos!
Much love,
David
Thank you David – I love when we are writing a poem and that moment of liberation, enlightenment, aha appears. It is why I love poetry so much and find it so healing. Daily medicine for a mind that talks itself into a hole and then poetry pulls it out again, dusts it off and says – there you go, don’t take it all so seriously. 😊💕
🤗
Your reflections are always beautifully written as you navigate this journey holding yourself in love and esteem as you move from darkness to light
in this new experience with an open heart and mind navigating what’s next! I love the spaces in between the journey! 🩷❤️🩷❤️
The spaces in between are the best for potential but the most uncomfortable Cindy – I’m glad to have had lots of in between spaces
Winton.., I passed thru there on the way to Alice Springs from Rockhampton on a bike years ago. It took several days and it was very hot!.
I’ve done it twice by motorbike both times thankfully in cooler weather – it would be scorching in summer for sure
I love the way that bird turned your thinking and those stunning snaps esp the eerie ones; great post, Kate —
Thanks John, I challenged myself to just use black and white this trip and I’m so enjoying it
I’m looking forward to he next post, Kate 🙂
btw Kate: your poetry holds up well; go out there and perform —
Haha thanks John I do appreciate your support
And most certainly you you are more than enough and such a gift to all of us and then some. Your photos are lovely, Kate! 🩷
Ahh thanks Cindy 🩷
of course, Kate!!! 🙌🏽