Spotlight On Writers
Don Flecknoe
- Where do you originate from?
Born in Sydney, Australia, in 1940 to parents of English origin, I grew up in the eastern suburbs of Sydney.
- What do you cherish most about the place you call home?
I find I must answer this question in two parts, the home I grew up in and where I now live. In my childhood, living in the South-Eastern suburbs of Sydney, I was within walking distance to the beach. The then, unspoiled hinterland, sand dunes and heath, was a great place to roam and to play. I didn’t appreciate how fortunate I was. In my adult life, still in this area, I married Margaret. We reared three children here, two sons and a daughter. In 2010, we moved north to Tweed Heads, in the Northern Rivers District of New South Wales. Living on the Tweed River estuary, the natural beauty, climate, and the pace of life of the area are the things we love.
- What ignites your creativity?
I keep returning to nature, the sky, the sea, our river system, and all their moods. The memories of sailing offshore along the coast still excite me. Another activity where nature inspires me, is paddling my kayak in our own patch of wilderness, the Tweed River estuary, across one of the broad waters into narrow creeks and around unspoiled islands thickly timbered with mangroves and she-oaks. If I’m lucky, I might see the local pod of dolphins, pelicans, herons, or sea hawks. I find walking along one of our beaches, listening to the sound of breaking waves, also inspires me. Other sounds, the melodic birdsong of magpies or butcher birds, delight me. Classical music, particularly Mozart, can transport me to another place, another plane.
- Do you have a favorite word, and could you incorporate it into a poetic phrase?
I try not to have ‘favorite words,’ and I’m always looking for new metaphors. Looking back over my work, I find the word Sea used frequently, as it is most appropriate for several of my poems.
Using the word in a phrase like, ‘A leaden sky hung over a slate grey sea.’
- What is your pet peeve?
One is the use of the word ‘awesome’ and other words in the wrong context. Another is the rate of change of computer technology.
- How would you describe the essence of Don Flecknoe?
From an early age, I showed an interest in and began drawing and painting. It seemed a logical progression into my profession, architecture. I have always been interested in all forms of visual arts. In comparison, my interest in literature began much later, in my early twenties, when I began reading ‘modern classics.’ The Alexandra Quartet by Lawrence Durrell comes to mind.
I love working with my hands and particularly enjoy working with timber. In retirement, I have built several kayaks and pieces of furniture.
I enjoy solitude, particularly paddling around the estuary. On the other hand, I feel lucky to have a partner, Margaret, my wife and friend of sixty years. We share similar interests, writing, listening to classical music, going to live theatre and music. About six years ago, my wife and I joined ‘Poets and Writers on the Tweed,’ and I started writing poetry, both romantic and comic. Our club is a small, close-knit group, members having contrasts in style and content of their work. I enjoy the company of the friends we have made. Regarding romantic poetry, I am still looking for my voice, trying to unravel my thoughts about the interaction of people. I try to paint word pictures of nature to complement the emotional content of the poem. I feel this endeavor will stay with me while ever I can put words on the page.
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