It’s show time here in Brisbane… one of my favourite times of year. So to celebrate, here’s a new haiku capturing a little bit of the Ekka experience.

into the lights
of the ferris wheel
the smell of cow shit

ghost train
seeing the boy
the scream belongs to

Balloon

Into the blue of August
a balloon has left
without saying goodbye.

Boys and girls
throw up their arms
as the roller-coaster crests.

Such a lonely dialogue.

*************************

The 10 days of the Ekka produced some moments that will remain etched in memory…

One such moment was when this gentleman approached the stage just as we were about to kick off and asked us if we were going to play some rock’n’roll. Sheish aptly replied, I think what we do is rock’n’roll. The gentleman smiled, shook his hand and said ‘great, my name is Roy Lynes, I was the original keyboard player for Status Quo. You may have heard of them.’ We nearly fell over!

And Michael O’Neill who came along to see us everyday and joined us many times on stage for a poem, never failed to surprise us at the end of each gig with a new drawing. At the end of the 10 days he presented Sheish and I with a poster, collecting many of the drawings and photos he had taken. Here’s one of them.

No wonder I love the Ekka! ‘Til next year…

Day Ten

After ten red daybreaks
and evenings of swirling lights

I turn my poems into breath
and scatter them

for the birds to continue
their hushed rise and fall.

In the Shed

Taking no notice
I step in a fresh cow turd

so glad you are hear to
share this joy

how its smell sweetens
the city.

Calf

As you take
your first breath
the sky is empty of clouds.

There are only seconds
in your heart
but so much wisdom.

Show Day

Fireworks blooming over Machinery Hill
thrill rides looming behind me
and in between
a thousand silly heads.

Maybe tomorrow the sky will come out.

The Ekka 2010: pics and poems

Today is the last day of The Ekka for 2010. Sheish and I played our last show yesterday afternoon and we went off with a bang… the crowd responding with whoops and hollers and people coming to the front of stage at the end of the set to talk and thank us for our performance. This is what I love most about The Ekka… the generosity and kindness it brings out in the human spirit. It really does widen the smile on everyone’s face!

So with a little sadness in this weary heart (8 gigs in a row + a stint drumming for Sheish Money’s band last night at The Step Inn is seriously tiring), I post these pics captured at the 2010 Ekka by Cindy Keong and a few of the haiku she was responding to. Ah yes… another project emerges, so keep your eyes peeled for more news about this later in the year. 

 

                                                                people’s day
                                                                the whirling lights
                                                                of thrill rides

                                                                   dappled sky
                                                                   the appaloosa’s
                                                                   perfect run 

                                                                  showtime
                                                                  watching the fireworks
                                                                  in people’s eyes

 

 

People’s Day

Here in Brisbane, it’s ‘People’s Day’ at The Ekka. I am just about to pack my bags and head off to take in all the tastes, sounds, scents and sights of the show… and remember, if you are at The Ekka today, come along and see us at 5pm on The Community Stage.

Here’s a few haiku to start your morning and bring a little of The Ekka into your day.

                                                                          dodgem cars
                                                                          waiting for the sparks
                                                                          to fly

grand parade
the lowing of cattle
drowns in itself

                                                         
                                           pink nose of the bull bristled by our scent