Why can’t girls …

18/02/2021 – Poem a Day Compilation



        Darling daughter, you look sad

        What’s on your mind, my sweet?

        You seem a little upset, my dear,

        Is there something I can fix?



My friends at school were talking

About what their daddies do

And when I said I wanted to be like them

They said they were only jobs for dads.



        What type of jobs did they mention?

        I’m sure I’ve never seen a job

        That only men are qualified for,

        Let’s see this list of yours!



Why can’t girls play football?

I can run

And kick

And tackle.



        You can do all those things

        And you could be the next Sam Kerr

        Or maybe Daisy Pearce

        If you really wanted to.



Why can’t girls be software developers?

I can code

And am creative

And have an eye for detail.



        There are many women in software

        Just ask Jaime Gunther or Jane Chau

        And they’ll give you a long, long list

        If that’s what you want to do.



Why can’t girls be farmers?

I can sheet a sheep

And milk a cow

And plough a field.



        A lot has changed in this century

        And many women run farms

        I’m sure Lorraine Gordon

        Could shed a little light.



Why can’t girls work construction?

I can drive heavy machinery

And use power tools

And push a wheelbarrow.



        There’s no part of that you shouldn’t do

        If that’s your chosen profession

        If you want a female tradie

        Then Penny Petridis is the person to ask,



Why can’t girls be engineers?

I can design technological solutions

And test production lines

And analyse risks.



        You could be a chemical engineer like Marlene Kanga

        Or do infrastructure like Elizabeth Taylor

        Maybe defence engineering like Trish White

        Or take on the civil side like Mehreen Faruqi



Why can’t girls be astronauts?

I can study the planets

And work in microgravity

And be away from my family.



        Christina Koch and Jessica Meir

        Have done a lap or two

        Around this planet we call home

        And maybe you will, too



Why can’t girls be architects?

I can design skyscrapers

And be a visionary

And plan every step.



        Have you heard of Momoyo Kaijima?

        Well, you should probably look her up,

        I’m sure he was headstrong just like you

        When she was a little girl.



Why can’t girls be firefighters?

I can hold a hose

And carry more than my weight

And risk my life.



        We’ve got captains and assistant commissioners

        Who are in the fire service

        Like Louise Livermore and Rebel Talbert

        Not to mention all-female crews!



Why can’t girls be pilots?

I can understand meteorological information

And be calm under pressure

And remember what all the buttons do.



        Deborah Wardley was told she couldn’t

        But she proved them very wrong,

        And Nancy Bird Walton

        Is getting an airport named after her. 



Why can’t girls be judges?

I can study hard

And be impartial

And uphold the law.



        I hardly think Virginia Bell

        Let a man tell her she couldn’t be a judge

        Or he’d have been appearing before her

        In a supreme case of misogyny



Why can’t girls be CEOs?

I can run a business

And handle problems

And manage money.



        Melanie Perins didn’t let being a girl

        Stop her in her tracks

        When she started up her business

        That’s now massive in tech.



So, I can be anything

Just like all those other girls?

Do you really think it’s possible

For me to be like them?



        Not only is it possible,

        It’s practically a guarantee

        And don’t let anyone tell you

        You can’t because you’re a girl.

The Dialogue

01/02/2021 – Poem a Day Compilation



Can you hear me?

        Yes, I can hear you.

I feel so alone.

        What would you like me to do?

Sit with me.

        But you won’t be able to see me.

That’s ok, I know you’re there.

         What do you want to talk about?

How much I miss you.

        I’m always here with you.

It’s not the same, though.

        I’m sorry you’re sad.

It’s not your fault.

        But I left you.

You were taken from me.

        I didn’t fight hard enough.

You fought as hard as anyone.

        I didn’t want to go.

You’re still here.



In my mind.

Overheard

23/12/2020 - Poem a Day



I overheard you talking

You didn’t know I was there

I didn’t let on that I knew

I wouldn’t even dare



You told her you loved her

Though I already surmised as much

From your barely disguised overtures

Flowers, lunch and such



I don’t know what she said

But I know it made you smile

Bigger than I had seen before

It really lit up your dial



I wish that you’d admit

Your feelings for her are true

You remind me of your father

Neither of you have a clue

Flashlight

15/12/2020 – Poem a Day Compilation



I need the flashlight, honey.

I’ll see if I can find it,

What do you need it for?



I’m just looking for something.

I can’t find the flashlight.

Will a candle do?



Only if you want to burn the house down.

No need for sarcasm.

Do you remember where you put it?



It should be in the draw.

It’s not in the draw.

When did you use it last?



When I was cleaning out the attic.

Maybe you left it up there.

Why can’t you put things back?



I didn’t leave it anywhere.

You must have because it’s not in the draw.

Are you sure it’s this draw you put it in?



Well, I didn’t put it in the sock draw.

I wouldn’t be surprised if you did.

Why am I looking for the flashlight, anyway?



I can’t leave what I’m doing, that’s why.

If you just put things back where they belonged.

Is it in your toolkit?



Maybe, just hurry up and find it.

Ok, ok, no need to get shirty.

Where’s the toolkit?



Under the stairs next to the vacuum cleaner.

Right, oh, so that’s where my laundry basket went.

Why is the laundry basket under the stairs?



I was using it for ... something ... I don’t remember.

Your memory has more holes than this basket.

Did you say next to the vacuum cleaner?



Yes, next to, or maybe behind.

Found it, under the vacuum.

Why did you put it there?



Just get the flashlight, I’m in a rather awkward position.

Keep your knickers on, I’m looking.

What on earth is all this stuff?



Don’t worry about the other stuff - the flashlight!

Got it but you really should sort out that toolkit.

What do you need it fo- ?



Stop laughing and give me the flashlight.

Oh, oh no, this is too good.

What on earth were you doing?



I was testing them out and I dropped the key.

I just need to get a photo, just hold that thought.

Do you want me to look for the key?



No, I can do it myself, just give me the flashlight.

You’re going to look back at this and laugh.

Why were you testing them, anyway?



It was meant to be a surprise, for later.

Oh, you are one big constant surprise.

Have you found the key?



Yes, I’ve almost got it.

Maybe next time wait to me to handcuff you to the bed.

Do you want a cup of tea?



Please, that would be lovely.

Oh, and put the flashlight away when you’re done.

We don’t want this happening again, do we?

Dear Reader

06/09/2020 -  Poem a Day Compilation



Dear Reader,



If I might have your attention

For a mere moment in time,

I have something important

That I must impart to you.



A writer’s job is not an easy one,

It is filled with dread and uncertainty

But is also the most fulfilling,

Bringing joy and a sense of success.



For myself, I do not write for money,

I do not write for fame and fortune.

I write because feeds my soul

And sets my spirit free.



I can communicate with my inner self

And discuss the world around me;

I pour out emotions onto the page

And am filled to the brim again.



There is no right way to write,

No perfect set of instructions.

There’s no time of day that one must use

Nor a style to which you must stick.



Be a novelist or write comic books;

Be a screenwriter or be a poet;

Be whatever writer you want to be

Or be all of them if you so choose.



Whatever you do, dear reader,

Just enjoy what is before you,

For it is a work of art, and heart,

Of which there will never be another like it.

Backseat Driver

14/08/2020 -  Poem a Day Compilation



Do you know where you’re going?

    Yes, I’ve driven there lots.

But do you know the quickest way?

    I’m going the easiest way.



Don’t forget there’s that speed camera.

    Which one?

The one after that bend. You know.

    OK.



Slow down, you trying to kill us?

    It’s a 70 zone, I’m doing 68.

Red light. Red light! RED LIGHT!

    Mate, it’s a hundred metres away.



Can you put Britney on?

    My car, my tunes.

I can Bluetooth it.

    You’re not pairing to my car.



You’re going the wrong way.

    No, I’m not.

You should have turned there.

    I know where I’m going.



I need to go to the toilet.

    Why didn’t you go before we left?

I didn’t need to go then.

    How old are you? Like three?



It’s easier if you take the motorway.

    I know, that’s why I’m going that way.

You need to speed up.

    You know there’s a limit, right?



Watch that truck.

    What truck?

The one over there.

    You mean in the breakdown bay?



I thought it was going to pull out.

    It didn’t even have the engine on.

Still, you never know.

    Mate, it’s fine.



Are we nearly there?

    I thought you knew the way?

But I’m hungry.

    You’ll just have to wait.



Can we change the radio station?

    No, I like this music.

But Metallica sucks.

    Get out!