Just had my portrait painted by Elizabeth Greisman – a Canadian artist. There is a lovely bunch of women artists here for my last week at Tyrone Guthrie who have great energy around them. They include Juliette Bressan, a YA writer and doctor, and Michelle Jackson her collaborator on a book “What women know”which will be published by Hachette Ireland in September 2010. and Jacinta O’Reilly who does abstract landscapes. Unfortunately I cannot take pictures of their art but hopefully will get their websites when I leave on Friday.

“I could be you” the play is unfortunately becoming more topical. I cannot believe a woman PM Julia Gillard would pander to xenophobia by building a detention centre in East Timor. I’m disappointed, angry and depressed about this.

I have been meditating with Janet Pierce and this has restored my peace. Annagmarkerrig itself with the lake is a nurturing place for any artist to visit.

Here is a poem for my last week- which is on display in an open studio at Tyrone Guthrie Centre.

ANNAGHMAKERRIG

- for the women I met here

Women’s spirit infuses bright colours

Invoking landscape, trees and grasses

From home and other lands

Women’s warmth

Buoys up the emptiness

Sharing souls with wine

Flowering the divine

Glowing fertility and rain

Brings forth life and renews

I capture in the palms of my hands

My heart, and hope to bring myself home again.