My city turns 150! 

I am very proud to be part of the 150 celebrations for the city of Ipswich. My role in this, is part of my role as an Ipswich Poetry Feast Committee member. Our aim is to promote poetry in all its forms and encourage the development literacy skills in our young people through sponsoring poetry workshops in schools, which will be happening in May.

 

Our annual writing competition is now open and I would encourage all poets and children who aspire to be poets to enter our annual poetry writing competition. Details and entry forms are available online from Ipswich Poetry Feast's Website ipswichpoetryfeast@ipswich.qld.gov.au and fees can be paid through paypal. As part of our programe this year, to celebrate our 150 we launched i150 Jack Thompson's Limited Edition CD recording of 'Camp Fire Yarns by Henry Lawson'  which he exclusively recorded for the Ipswich Poetry Feast 2010, for more details see the website. You can stay up to date with the Ipswich Poetry Feast event by following our blog ipswichpoetryfeast@blogspot.com 

The Babies Of Walloon

He was lengthman on the railway, and his station scarce reserved

That pre-eminence in sorrow" of the Majesty he served,

But as dear to him and precious were the gifts reclaimed so soon. -

Were the workman's little daughters who were buried near Walloon.

Speak their names in tones that linger, just as tho' you held them dear,

There are eyes to which the mention of those names will bring a tear.

Little Kate and Bridget, straying in an Autumn afternoon,

Were attracted by the lilies in the water of Walloon.

All is dark to us. The angels sing perhaps in Paradise

Of the younger sister's danger, and the elder's sacrifice;

But the facts were hidden from us, when the soft light from the moon

Glistened on the water-lilies o'er the Babies at Walloon.

Ah! the children love the lilies, while we elders are inclined

To the flowers that have poison for the body and the mind

Better for the "strongly human" to have done with life as soon,

Better perish for a lily like the Babies of Walloon.

For they gather flowers early on the river far away,

Where the everlasting lilies keep their purity for aye,

And while summer brings our lilies to the run and the lagoon

May our children keep the legend of the Babies of Walloon

By Henry Lawson (1891)

WAR AND REMEMBRANCE ANZAC DAY

Our sons (& daughters) never be soldiers
Our daughters (& sons) never see guns,
There are years between them,
These are the years that were hard be fought and won.

(Rob Hirst & James Moginie.)

While Remembering the sacrifice of our soldiers, Jesus the Son of God made the supreme sacrifice for us.

Identify With Him

They took him and hung him on a tree,

And he was broken to  identify with me,

His body broken just like mine,

For all the world he would be just like me,

He was powerless and overwhelmed by society,

Isn't it time I identify with him?

(c) Copywrite Debbie Chilton, 2003

From Treasured Friendships

This is one of the first poems I wrote.

Lest We Forget  

About The Gift Wrapping

A PARCEL FROM HEAVEN

If I were a parcel from heaven.

Would you attempted to send me back,

Would you say to God,

He got the packaging wrong?

Would you suggest he change this or that?

If I were a parcel from heaven,

Would you choose to look inside?

Would you look beyond what you saw?

Would you allow me through your door?

If I were a parcel from heaven,

Would you be happy just to enjoy,

Would you resist the temptation

to analyze me?

Would you be content to enjoy

the beauty in me?

Oh, my friend why can't you see?

I am truly a parcel from heaven,

Why do you look at me as though

what you see is wrong?

Instead of enjoying the

beauty in me?

Copywrite (c) Debbie Chiltion, 2003

From my book, 'Treasured Friendships' 

The Hairdresser

While I have Cerebral Palsy and life presents many physical challenges, on a intellectual level I enjoy many types of intellectual pursuits, such as writing.  However many people I meet in passing on my  journey through life, sadly only choose to look at my gift wrapping.  One of my daily challenges is to choose to forgive and educate those who fail to look beyond my tatted gift wrapping.

This week I had an encounter with a new hairdresser, who relucantly untied the bow, that held my gift wrapping together.  I sat patiently in my wheelchair, waiting for the lady behind the counter.  For what seemed too long a time considering there were no other customers.  Eventually the hairdresser looked up and I asked, 'if anyone could cut my hair before 11 o'clock`,  I was quite happy to wait. However she immediately ushered me in as my support worker weaved my chair through the salon.  At this time she had not introduced herself, nor indicated she would be the one cutting my hair. She asked my support person if I could walk.  'Yes' my support worker answered abruptly.

I then walked to the chair at the basin and sat so the hairdresser could wash my hair. I asked my worker to put my chair somewhere out the way, for obvious safety reasons. The hairdresser butted in, 'she will be sitting there in that seat. If you want to sit with her.' it was not a question.

My support worker at this stage was less than impressed. She turn round and said 'this is Debbie.', before wheeling my empty wheelchair to where the hairdresser had bluntly instructed her to place it, sat in my wheelchair pick up one of those trashy gossip magazine and refused to engage in any further interaction with the hairdresser and only occasionally with myself.

The hairdresser was now forced to communicate with me directly, and thus discovered quickly I could clearly communicate the style and how I expected my hair to be cut!!

Observing how people view and unwrap my tatted wrapping is always interesting. I am thankful most people either do not see my tatted wrapping or choose to enjoy unwrapping the tatted paper. Sadly some people's perceptions are sometimes tainted by where and when we have an encounter.  People's reactions appear to be different depending on whether I am walking, being pushed in a manual wheelchair, or using my power wheelchair, whether I am accompanied or on my own.

I must confess I am equally guilty of being aware of the gift wrapping of others and making assumptions. However I like to think I am improving now, that I am using my wheelchair more regularly and in general people's preceptions and unwillingness to untie the bow to release the wrapping paper, has become increasingly stalled, as frequently commented on by my friends.

My prayer is we embrace our experiences of unwrapping the gifts people present and learn to view each others gift wrapping in an appropriate manner.