Ode to the Speak-Easy Toastmasters club

I want to tell you this story,
So, you can tell it too.
A story for the ages
As I know it to be true.

                ***

Welcome to our meeting!
Write your details down -
Take a seat and tell us
Why you came around.  

Somebody suggested
That I dropped on by.
Now I've thought about it
I want to tell you why.

      I’m seeking my voice.
      I’m preparing a speech.
      It seemed the thing to do!

                ***

The meeting starts,
The roles are set,
Speeches are all shared.

We laugh a lot,
And applaud,
Commend and Recommend!

Assembling for each meeting,
We meet throughout the years.
The batons passed,
From peer to peer
And to those who are around.

Leaders take charge,
Upon Toastmasters’ paths,
To tops of Mountain peaks
From the valleys, far below.

                ***

Looking to the future,
And reflecting back.
A constant cycle turning -
Over forty years past.

“Speak-Easy” suggested,
By Herb in seventy-six.
A name ever reflecting,
Our club's nature and tone.

Always Mixed & friendly,
Supportive of us all,
On our many journeys
Towards reaching our goals.

                ***

The plans were formed,
From John's home:
Present they were there!

Young Herb and Hugh,
Russel and May
All seemed to have a view -
That women and men
Must have a place,
A home to express those views.

      Sharing their stories -
      Past and new
      And into the future too.

From where we began,
From seventy-seven on,
From these meetings came.

This idea that grew
Throughout the years, to come,
And into the future too!

This idea was born,
For this here club -
TO PASS THE BATON ON…

                ***

      ...The beginning...

                ***

   Penned and shared by Allison Brown,
        11 April 2017

                ***

ANZAC Dawn

As we remember them

Wind rustles the leaves

As we remember them

Light wakens in the sky

As those words are spoken

We remember them

Written at the ANZAC Dawn service and posted on Twitter 6:58 AM - 25 Apr 2015

https://twitter.com/ally_cat/status/591677581495152640

__________________________________________

At the Dunedin ANZAC dawn service in Queens Gardens with a few other people. Waiting for 6:30 am #fb pic.twitter.com/KkzsH0wd9G

— Allison Brown (@ally_cat) April 24, 2015

__________________________________________

Orokonui music

Breathing ~ Sounds

Inhaling ~ Words

 

Music flowing

Hovering

Moving

Inside air

Words form

Echoing

Beating

Rhythm

 

Music played

Merging

Reviving

The soul

 

 

 

---

 

 

Music played in the main building at the Dunedin Orokonui Ecosanctuary sounds extraordinary. Both Ariana Tikao and previously Delgirl both sounded fantastic within this space.

Autumn greys

Enter a morning
Dome saturated in mist ~
Wearing its Autumn greys.

 

_________________________________________________

Posted on Instagram


Shared via Twitter

Enter a morning, Dome saturated in mist ~ Wearing its Autumn greys. #gigatowndun #poem #haiku #fb http://t.co/U86Gx6hZvj

— Allison Brown (@ally_cat) April 15, 2014

Weaving clouds - pictured

The poem "Weaving Clouds" has been altered slightly before being added to my photo. Nothing is static including my poetry or the clouds that drift across the sky :-)

Weaving clouds - pictured by Allison Brown is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Australia License. Based on a work at allisonbrown.blogspot.com.

Seagull

Low to the ground
Close to the sea
Gliding along
Catching the breeze

Seagull by Seagull is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Australia License.
Based on a work at allisonbrown.blogspot.com.

Ending

Thickening air
Heat rising
Mist hovering

Sight unseen
Glowing lights
Journey returning
Homeward bound

Feet aching
Smile wide
Ending time

Ending by Allison Brown is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.5 Australia License. Based on a work at allisonbrown.blogspot.com.