Mel From Melbourne - Music & Words

  I need to love   In the last few years I’ve lost everyone I loved My whole world of meaning & home Now cut adrift I drift I need to love I need to nurture & give This cold world is transactional The way of the prostitute & the john Psychologist & patient Clairvoyant & sucker But nowhere do people belong We walk the streets alone I need to love I need to nurture & give I need to love I need to nurture & give I need to love I need to nurture & give I need to love I need to nurture & give     Published & Copyright Malachi Doyle 2024.

  The global north snored or was it farted?   The global north snored or was it farted both at the same time like a quantum computer staining its underpants gee was the satellite intercept earlier than expect who would have guessed we heard 40 years ago that it was impossible you mean science lurches from one fallacy to another & doesn’t understand sarcasm not a pleasant thing sarcasm better to use a world like ecosystem about industry The global south had lived like ancestors till it was ignored & now wisdom is for after hours & holistic thinking replaced by contrasts like a symbol in black & white in a kung fu gym full of men who haven’t worked through their anger & sexual issues I guess the two are the same & men kill women in droves I thought am I the only one left who can see science’s feet of clay & lack of wisdom, so I went to the bar. I doubt I’ll leave. Wake me up when we blow ourselves up.     Published & Copy...

  Don’t watch crime dramas at 6.35am   Note to self: don’t watch crime dramas at 6.35am. A dramatization of an abduction of a young woman by a man in a balaclava is not the best way to start the day. It’s a cold mid Spring morning, the sun only just up, the birds playing a glass marimba on the air. & still this poem in prose has not started. Perhaps it’s a longer piece which will take more time to develop momentum? Schubert’s Death & the Maiden plays on an op shop cd through his late mother’s, then late father’s mini hifi. So, a morning & a piece about killing & abducting women. A photograph on my social media feed yesterday of a woman who’d had a mastectomy, both breasts removed, which, discussed, sounds traumatic, but the photo of survival looked strong & brave. Just one thing though: her genitalia had been blurred out to please Instagram & the dominant powers that if we are prevented from showing human bodies in full, it is easier for people to a...

  Post-Modernism you have betrayed us   The pen is apparently mightier than the sword & yet the unpiloted drone flown remotely might know something, were it to have a consciousness Metaphor, yunno Before literally meant metaphorically The day humanity (for me at least), ‘jumped the shark’ Yunno my moods are up & down & unlike the crazies I KNOW they’re up & down Anyway, not unlikely, I was drunk yesterday & the American Corporate machine which runs social media Had a post about the inaugural ‘World Series’ baseball Now because I was feeling loose I commented “only America would name a domestic competition the World Series” I forgot about it Later this afternoon I open my instagram account & see the comments section has gone bunta! Some American ‘Patriots’ they call themselves Took exception to my joke I thought it was hilarious But Americans, not known for their sense of humour Started using battle speak I t...

  Mork (or avoid Spanish York Ham, it’s a trap!)   The jury’s out on Schumann. Was his left foot his dominant side? I saw him kick a left foot torp 70 metres. Now accuracy is another thing. On his right, he was a better kick for goal. A dream perhaps or am I just projecting? Either way, not my favourite composer. I mean Moondance is a good album. Van Morrison at his best, but Brown Eyed Girl gives me the shits. Either that or red wine. Too light, yet florid. When I think light, I’m thinking Debussy or Takemitsu. When we were younger, in our 20s, we’d talk about how over-the-top sports commentators were, as “sperming.” A bit like 80s Cock Rock that’s still so popular in Eastern Europe. “I’m mean I think you’re getting too silly,” said the echo of an old workmate. But I would say that one can’t get silly enough with fucking Schumann in the background. Pomposity. Too much ham. Or “late night ham” as Holly & I concurred. It’s been a while. Miss ya. We had a good day listen...

  Ponderosa   Mental illness is, to borrow from James Brown, “Getting to be a drag! A man can’t do nothing no more.” He wasn’t talking about mental illness of course. He was too busy being “the hardest working man in show business.” He was in fact talking about sexual relations, but that discussion has gown tedious, odious, noxious & generally words ending in ious, somewhat like IOUs though that’s more likely to confuse. Obstruse then this journey into Mahler’s 4 th Symphony, 3 rd Movement. Apparently, Gustave had a composing studio at the end of his garden, acres from the domestic doings & tooings. He needed silence to get his groove on. His was not the concrete jungle groove of James Brown, even if I’m borrowing here from Bob Marley. “Anyway,” rejoindered Socrates, “…there’s more than one way to skin a cat!” My year 7s were shocked. Does this guy really have a working with children check? Sounds a bit loose to me! Mahler & Brown & for that matter, Marle...

  I don’t owe you nothing   I fumbled around in the dark with you when I was a virgin There was no sex ed back in boys school back in the 80s But I’ve never met resistance & kept going I was raised a feminist by my mother & I missed many opportunities by being sincere Now I’m 53 & post divorce I’m living in a world where it’s assumed all men are rapists Nothing could be further from my mind I’ve been a human pin cushion for women Like a deer in the headlights Never able to call out Till the damage is done I go through all sorts of brutality, cruelty It would never occur to me to use my physical strength Over someone I’ve always felt 4 foot tall But women on assertiveness training Are trippin They’re not remotely interested in intimacy Buy your vibrator Leave me alone Stop messing with me I don’t owe you nothing     Published & Copyright Malachi Doyle 2024.

  Acceptance/exceptance   I never wanna go shopping with you for things for the house I never want you to wear business clothes I never want you to spend hundreds on skin products I never want to hear you say you’re better than anyone else I want you to be yourself & there’ll always be acceptance As long as it’s in good faith You could be a rocker You could be electro You could dance the disco I will dance along Pretty simple Like grade 6 Let’s not get lost to the capitalist dream Lets climb trees     Published & Copyright Malachi Doyle 2024.

  Like Odysseus seduced by the sirens’ song   Like Odysseus seduced by the sirens’ song I feel sometimes the universe pulling us apart There are strange forces at play I guess most people would think political But I think it’s more radical that The magnetic pulls this way & that Like being driven to some godforsaken place Because you’re like the deer in the headlights & powerless to resist the fates I might die here or wind up in prison I’ve had those experiences at times How did I come to be here? When all I want to do is be at your side But you are far away & I’m just giving us space So we don’t rush & spoil A Buddha might just sit But I’m more innocent & foolish All those times between our being together Is dangerous time Idle time & they threaten to separate us By one false move I don’t want to travel that ship anymore When I am not the captain But can I resist the sirens’ song     ...

  I’m happy with the way things are   The day I hoped has come This morning outside for a cigarette An attuned female butcher bird alighted on the back fence I had feared that my wonderful neighbour The golden throated male butcher bird would spend spring alone There are so few around these parts   & so I’ve come indoors I’ll give them space I’ve turned the music down low   I’ll keep a low profile & fingers crossed They’ll make bird magic & fulfil Spring’s purpose   As for me I’m grieving my divorce So I’m glad you & I are friends There are moments when I’m overwhelmed By your beauty & grace But it’s too soon since I watched a good man & a good woman go South So I’m happy for these tender embraces & getting to know you to a slow groove The tempo & intensity is perfect I’m happy with the way things are     Published & Copyright Malachi Doyle 2024.  

  Two things it seeded   I’m just obliged to think that you wanted to list two things it seeded as we weren’t listening Just moaning motions of what you’d just done up Cigarette St Thought Donne she did that many years ago Stop thinking said the author & pausing & setting the dam wall & your efruit for breakfast to stress me when you chew “Really YOU, Marten” It tasted like what we were when we were wise beyond remorse We said a moment ago what I wanted to say & so I bent over her like I do Conversing without really being there Coz I had never said “this was just the pathway to breathing freely at last” You motion that don’t want to listen     Published & Copyright Malachi Doyle 2024.

  After Okri   Thinking too much about possible trajectories I give up & go blind seeing inside finding the booming resonances in the great halls that sound outwards as little more than whispers I look forwards to the travels to strange lands I have never read about too often in the outer world we are guided by guide books this is the writing of my ever changing territories inside my being I don’t wish to tie them down or lock them in like Who wants to be a Millionaire? There will be no quiz show about these travels they are mainly about sound & somewhat like the flickering shadows of Plato’s Cave but far stranger because as I say constantly changing & I’m unsure whether there’s an evolution or if it’s just impermanence? Right now the Mozart that plays in the outer is affecting the procession in my being somewhat like Grenada yet none in procession are strictly human they need not be in cloaks because Ganesha appears & needs not anything except a hug We all...

  The river of the spirit   Golden day A perfectly tempo-ed walk Limestone energy The stones speak Eons Yet our chat is suitably light Their cool voices Beyond the ken of man But carrying the spirits of those who’ve gone before A traditional meeting place It drifts between the responsive human & natural: spiritual For two little footed mammals An ancient hug A handful of wildflowers Echidna digging into the topsoil for sustenance Music that speaks in the after glow Eternal time & so we meet again & meet in our solitude later Empowering Energizing The river of the spirit     Published & Copyright Malachi Doyle 2024.

  Still you around, beyond the grave   Listening to Peter Tosh’s Mama Africa I’m back with Mikey My late friend (RIP) Joyful discussions of Fully’s smile “Hooting” is the word we used For years spent I’d head down on the train to see him in the country & once there high on herb Feeling Irie & even once we were both forced to give it up We could still access that vibe Bouncing around whistling, humming on the beach ball At Yarto, Bambra & at Boonah Picking wild blackberries & eating with pancakes & cream Golden hours Heavy guitars on Billie Jean Delay of Igziabeher My brother & me & like the high that remained post smoking The high exists now Now we’re again being spoken of internationally Even that you’re gone I don’t feel melancholy thinking about loss I feel joyous in our shared mythology Still you around, beyond the grave & our joint Irie     Published & Copyright Malac...

  Songbird   The lonely butcher bird  Sings so beautifully for a mate His aria so varied & bell-like Is he the last of his kind About these parts? His kind pushed out By housing developments & invasive species I ache with his pain It’s almost too much to meditate on Spring can be a cruel time We don’t know why we flower so & from whence come these passions This primal need Modern man Would have it medicated out of us That we should live in the world as drones Sedation of the songbird     Published & Copyright Malachi Doyle 2024.    

  Falling into the abyss   Falling into the abyss Clawing at reality for the unmasked God Last hour of daylight Birds singing their evening prayers I ache Too many cigarettes These past few days Followed by too deep a sleep The shower was perfunctory Only to wake me I was warned against listening to my favourite Beethoven Because what doesn’t exist is preferable: virtue When style becomes political I’m out I’ll be reading Browning The abyss is dark & deep Like a moonless night That spreads one’s being Inside out One does not know what is interior & what is exterior Falling Not sure whether it is up or down Forwards or backwards Not sure whether it’s a year or a minute Sane or insane Sentient or non-sentient Alive or dead     Published & Copyright Malachi Doyle 2024.

  Australia’s Suicide Disgrace   According to research published by the World Health Organisation in 2019, the global age-standardised suicide rate was 9.0 per 100,000. 1 This compares with the 2019 suicide rate in Australia of 13.2. – (Suicide Prevention Australia).   Yet another alert that someone, “who was such a lovely, kind guy” has died suddenly at a young age. Nowhere is it discussed, the cause of death.   It pisses me off. This fucking PC Anglo reserve society, where everyone is expected to keep their personal life & wellbeing issues quiet.   & we’re NOT getting better at it.   What the fuck Australia!?   An affluent society & so many people giving up.   A sad indictment.   Shame!!!   We each have a responsibility to one another to be open about our inner lives.   To generate REAL conversation.   Talk to anyone long enough, & I DO TALK OPENLY,   ...

  Mental health self assessment   My support worker Gave me a survey to fill out About my mental health I answered on the low middle side of things One of the few I answered on the high Was that supporting others contributed greatly to my own wellbeing But not today I’m nursing myself Fatigued physically & mentally I mean I could have a flying cat land like a cap on my head But most of the time it’s the girl crazy blackbird & me A slow day Slippers & naps If anything the coffee made me sleepy I mean I could have a 3 point turn of a whaling vessel in my bathtub But most of the time it’s the flathead fillet warring with the dim sims in my freezer making that noise It is impertinent to screw up your nose at what’s on offer But old Mary does it When you ask her what she thought of the exhibition She often says “I didn’t care for it” Quite matter of factly     Published & Copyright Malachi Doyle 2024.

  Attempting to write a poem voice to text   Well, this is quite amazing I'm dabbling in the diabolical El Diablo world of voice-to-text and I'll be interested to see what's next Occasionally I will type but realistically that's what I'm doing The reason I do this is because I'm so fatigued but I'm worried that with once relying on this new technology I will lose innate ability, as invariably follows Google Docs doesn't like my Australian accent it struggles  Can I do poetry this way? A poem is born from the intestines, lungs & heart of the sun As it rises & sets & I’m back to typing Because the microphone can’t pick up my voice It got lost I’m feeling galvanised because I attempted the new & found it lacking & so Again I write Or type Occasion depending I don’t want to always hate the new Occasionally one must check out what all the fish is about But I've found this microphone business  L...

  Wouldn’t have a clue sonnet   Black & yellow cat rack (always black!) On top/a top, erh! anyway the car She likes cinnamon donuts They come flying through the air Coming off the booze today Feeling somewhat ditzy & dizzy Unable to ear picture iambics I pop the can & it all fizzes Browning pumpkin in the oven A wheat bag at my back I got tired of burning my hand you see So I guess it’s not a ballad How strict should a modern sonnet be? Look mumma, no end rhyme!     Published & Copyright Malachi Doyle 2024.