tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78880666451711308362024-03-12T11:35:40.440+00:0028 Sonnets LaterThis February four* intrepid poets set off on adventure into poetry territory. Twenty-eight* days, twenty-eight* sonnets. Let's go!
(*sometimes more)Adam Warnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08220943751095715863noreply@blogger.comBlogger373125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-61051447057378077922024-03-01T08:41:00.006+00:002024-03-01T09:01:59.206+00:00Seven Fukujin (complete crown)<p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvNPRVBSXvK4INF8tNh4jDABM3ttrEiwAvEeEQbHROS10HJ0e0_Mzor68gyLtKpUgUBSFjIGG1JSGQ_u3uEeHkcjsis8zEhAKVE8TG8UmczKnHmcr0FqBvYJ-TNS7muqQjJW65O8W-1wy7TfgJwZZeexHs6Uztc__ejeR1Jc-mPgGBNugtZuzwpMddhg/s900/seven-luckies-hokusai-utagawa-others.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="900" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvNPRVBSXvK4INF8tNh4jDABM3ttrEiwAvEeEQbHROS10HJ0e0_Mzor68gyLtKpUgUBSFjIGG1JSGQ_u3uEeHkcjsis8zEhAKVE8TG8UmczKnHmcr0FqBvYJ-TNS7muqQjJW65O8W-1wy7TfgJwZZeexHs6Uztc__ejeR1Jc-mPgGBNugtZuzwpMddhg/s320/seven-luckies-hokusai-utagawa-others.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">1 - Ebisu<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You’re hungry? I got what you really need.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Just stick with me, my son – I’ll see you right.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Why, you look undernourished, poor wee mite!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ebisu’s got you covered – guaranteed!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I’ll sort you out a mammoth, cracking feed:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">we’ll <i>feast</i> and fart into the blessed night!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And when this jolly blowout’s at its height,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">you’ll say a prayer, and give me thanks, agreed?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And fish! Oh boy! just think about the fish!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The carp, the codfish, shark (tho just the fin –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I’ll fix a soup if that’s the way you roll).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I’m here to grant your every hungered wish,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">and then I’ll leave you, with contented grin,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">a bursting belly, and one sated soul.<br />
<br /><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2 - Daikokuten<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A bursting belly and one sated soul<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">is well and good – but why not five? or twenty?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">He brings a
feast to fill your empty bowl,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">but one good <i>harvest</i> gluts your life with plenty.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Me? I think longer term, devise and plan –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">this planet offers bounty to the willing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Renounce the stopgap slop of Fishy Man:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">a prayer to me is future-proof fulfilling.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You teach a man to fish – y’know the rest, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">this hackneyed saw is centred on “himself”.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">My field is wider – there’s no use pretending:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You teach a man to grow, he builds a nest,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">with future dinners lining every shelf –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">a home, a hearth, and something worth defending.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3 - Hotei<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A home, a hearth, and something worth defending?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Is someone getting broody over there?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Does instinct urge you to provide an heir?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Secure genetic legacy unending?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Or else, it’s more for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">family</i> – you’re intending</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">to lead a joyous band of offspring fair,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">who’ll often make you laugh (and sometimes swear);<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">a life of love (and frequent moneylending)?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A small remembrance will secure my blessings,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">since – though your love’s a fortress, all-embracing –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">you can’t protect them each and every minute.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I’ll keep an eye, and see how they’re progressing<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">along life’s shining walkway, always facing<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the dangers of this world and what is in it.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4 - Bishamonten<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The dangers of this world and what is in it?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Precisely why you need a god like me!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This life’s a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">battle</i>
– I can help you win it,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">(but bear in mind: I rarely work for free).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Now, many call for skulls, or thrones of gore –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">some sacrifice before they offer favour:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">your firstborn plus two hundred fattened boar,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">(your daughters to be auctioned off to slavers).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Not me. I simply state: laws should be obeyed –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">those formal codes of manners and convention.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">If you behave, then count upon my blade,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">to execute that lifelong intervention:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">defending you in war and hostile strife;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">assuring you a long and healthy life.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5 - Jur<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ō</span>jin<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Assuring you a long and healthy life?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I rather think that’s my domain, old bean!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">One constant thought to pierce you like a knife:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">your years are finite; death comes unforeseen.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But I’ll be here, exchanging blows with brevity –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">a duellist fencing fickle Father Time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A prayer to me will guarantee <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">longevity</i>,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">and Socrates’ old wisdom is no crime.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Sit back, relax, and have yourself a peach –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Enjoy the peaceful garden, filled with light.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A mortal’s grasp should e’er exceed his reach,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">and reaching, grasp exceptionally tight.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And when the time-bell calls – your days are done –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">just close your eyes and face towards the sun.<o:p></o:p></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6 - Fukurokuju<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Just close your eyes. And face towards the sun –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">appreciate the blessing on your skin.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A lucky life’s the right of everyone:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the blithesome boon of seven fukujin.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">We’ll grant you lengthy days, and feasts to fill them;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">a castle to protect your laughing children;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">a love to make the Earth beneath you shift:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">all human bounties lie within our gift.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the chief of these is luck – or kismet, karma –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the serendipity of cosmic dances;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the happy fluke of how the dice may fall.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So here’s the deal: you cultivate your dharma,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">and us, we’ll strive to consecrate your chances –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">We’re seven Gods of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fortune</i>
after all.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7 -Benzaiten<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">We’re seven Gods of Fortune. After all<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the boys can offer you, I’ll take my turn.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The arts that fill your day are my concern:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the frosty morning Turner on your wall;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the noonday warmth in every verse you learn;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the evening wreathed in Chopin’s last nocturne.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">my works contain the talent to enthral.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">For what are lengthy days if they lie fallow?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A life bereft of art is hardly living –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">refreshment meagre, meditations shallow.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I offer <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">beauty</i>
– paramount, life-giving.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 36pt;">Art begets art. Compassion
breeds.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You’re hungry. I got what you really need.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">FEAST – HARVEST – FAMILY – BATTLE – LONGEVITY – FORTUNE –
BEAUTY<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><br /></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">AWB<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><br /><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><br /><p></p>AndyBennettPoethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06694434854938617555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-17093683562741719532024-02-29T09:00:00.005+00:002024-02-29T09:06:10.307+00:00#29 - Seven (by Lewis Buxton)<p> <br /><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #353535;">The
other men fumble for a special number</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">something
remarkable that’ll change the outcome<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">of
the game and remind them of Sheringham, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Roy
Keane, the little known Jeremy Alliadiere <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">or,
most beautifully of all, the lucky seven,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">which
will lay on their back like the sun’s rays. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">These
days it’s Saka, Ronaldo, or Michael Olise <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">but
before it was Cantona, Pires, David Beckham. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve
never gone in for that sort of thing<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I’d
pluck out eighteen, forty four, a bad <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">squad
player somehow come up from the youth team.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Things
only mean if you want them to mean,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">and
as I join the clutch of hands in the kit bag,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
number means nothing, only fingers brushing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gS5brjBeZZpqdndFqF24TwxG0d1cg8U4cUyfPO1GsQlbNRgoNH7KpUBIaGJpoZHEdipGQrpBMU6qd7AqrrcW4lmBCmCm_WFZ0ey6q6tqtAtgqCYSmSeQ_2JiK50X9x89sj1DmaY1wzss_8ovapUoE2gwYyPR6aKHcdtO0aBeWP6ThdUaL4r71sp-yDg/s295/7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="265" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gS5brjBeZZpqdndFqF24TwxG0d1cg8U4cUyfPO1GsQlbNRgoNH7KpUBIaGJpoZHEdipGQrpBMU6qd7AqrrcW4lmBCmCm_WFZ0ey6q6tqtAtgqCYSmSeQ_2JiK50X9x89sj1DmaY1wzss_8ovapUoE2gwYyPR6aKHcdtO0aBeWP6ThdUaL4r71sp-yDg/s1600/7.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Lewis Buxton is a writer and
theatre maker. His work has appeared in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Independent, Poetry Review, The Rialto, </i>and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Magma</i> amongst others. His first collection <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Boy in Various Poses </i>was published by Nine Arches Press in 2021.
His new show ‘FRIEND’ is touring in Autumn 2024. He lives in Norfolk.<o:p></o:p></p>AndyBennettPoethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06694434854938617555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-54629233752208035262024-02-28T08:00:00.004+00:002024-03-01T12:07:40.281+00:00#28 - all we gotta do is get a preacher<p><i style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Number
four of George Carlin’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_dirty_words#The_words">‘Seven Dirty Words’</a></span></i></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Drawing
on <a href="https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107858488488/">‘Dance of the Seven Veils’</a> from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exile_in_Guyville">Exile in Guyville</a> by Liz
Phair. With (more) apologies...</span></i></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A
prophet rolls in on the wind and dust</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
cakes the court and chokes all idle chatter </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">‒</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">burning
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">pilgrim
laying bare the matter</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
piety, society and trust.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">So
dance your dance and claim a gift that must</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">both
lift the otherworldly veils and shatter </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">‒</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
gift upon a heavy silver platter,</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">your
gift of pain and joy, of dream and lust.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Then
Johnny, you could rent me by the hour </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">‒</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I’d
open up just like some precious flower</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">whose
scent may cause a man to lose his head,</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">but
all that eyes and heart and tongue devour</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">will
never get to grace our marriage bower </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">‒</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">‘<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">cause
Johnny, my love, you’re already dead.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>RJT</i></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kZWZSswtynfBYt7XIwbt-s3kPSivC9LHEdLe0Dma5B0TiZ1RRHRhZwDxy62KxzAm6t6CYoX9_-vpSIXKcwVvvq_aZ1h9Ggv0BiSHWkcoMZ_zbdOjaY4hDqwAyLBW7hL3Vkc68XqtoPTs5EtY2lsqohsaCNhSrdimrWP_sjSuNRJ4C1ug5WL40FgCAtY/s1050/JTB1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="761" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kZWZSswtynfBYt7XIwbt-s3kPSivC9LHEdLe0Dma5B0TiZ1RRHRhZwDxy62KxzAm6t6CYoX9_-vpSIXKcwVvvq_aZ1h9Ggv0BiSHWkcoMZ_zbdOjaY4hDqwAyLBW7hL3Vkc68XqtoPTs5EtY2lsqohsaCNhSrdimrWP_sjSuNRJ4C1ug5WL40FgCAtY/s320/JTB1.jpg" width="232" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><i><br /></i></span></span><p></p>russell j turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04145345923961584302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-51460700098420634042024-02-27T09:17:00.002+00:002024-02-27T09:17:00.134+00:00#27 - Yellow, Red, White, Black<p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Finally, we get to the core of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_planet" style="font-size: small;" target="_blank">Classical Planets</a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, watching Fay Roberts talk about the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sun" style="font-size: small;" target="_blank">Sun</a><span style="font-size: x-small;">.</span><br /><br /></p><p>We have a thousand names, we die each night<br />and then return to bring life to the land<br />our greatest gifts are knowledge – heat and light<br />united to help people understand</p><p>that hiding from our gaze will never work –<br />we dominate the sky from end to end<br />and our devoted fans would never shirk<br />from nominating those whom we must mend.</p><p>See, scientists and poets know the score:<br />that where we love too deep we surely hurt<br />the innocents who otherwise might soar<br />but plucked they plummet to their just desert.</p><p>They know that, given time, we’ll swell and burn<br />all those who stayed nearby done to a turn…</p><p><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIdrUV056z5BQWmI74n9e7udlFztZN31gnYoo3EQmQaKecN5wHOU9wSjHOHy-dlU6BI43sQak0k1unG2GKXACuqSANJcdFjjIm4NLSmTsHipmRz_BjjP91U-__pIynpC8VyVtLi4ec7FKdy6b13qmiucxJ0ewRgeUHSnIS_uRxS6YtzuXct-NUpb67rU4" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A clump of yellow flowers on long, green stalks, the heads of which look remarkably as though someone took a whole bunch of daffodils and stamped them flat..." data-original-height="470" data-original-width="470" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIdrUV056z5BQWmI74n9e7udlFztZN31gnYoo3EQmQaKecN5wHOU9wSjHOHy-dlU6BI43sQak0k1unG2GKXACuqSANJcdFjjIm4NLSmTsHipmRz_BjjP91U-__pIynpC8VyVtLi4ec7FKdy6b13qmiucxJ0ewRgeUHSnIS_uRxS6YtzuXct-NUpb67rU4=w640-h640" title="A clump of yellow flowers on long, green stalks, the heads of which look remarkably as though someone took a whole bunch of daffodils and stamped them flat..." width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narcissus sundiscs, because sometimes you have to obey the first thing out of the Google search algorithm. Image from the <a href="https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/narcissus-sun-disc/t46037TM" target="_blank">Thomas & Morgan</a> gardening site.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><div><br /></div>Fay Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423517411875294569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-83870469363151641412024-02-26T07:30:00.005+00:002024-02-26T07:30:00.239+00:00 #26 – Ophelia of the Bathtub<div style="text-align: left;"><i>Highgate Cemetery is one of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnificent_Seven_cemeteries" target="_blank">Magnificent Seven</a> cemeteries. It is located in the London Borough of Camden, and was originally consecrated in 1839. One of its more famous residents is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Siddal" target="_blank">Elizabeth Siddal</a>, artist, artist’s model and poet. In 1851, Siddal modelled for John Everett Millais’ famous painting, Ophelia, laying in a freezing bathtub to emulate the drowning of Shakespeare’s ill-fated heroine. </i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Ophelia of the Bathtub</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I want you to imagine how if felt</div><div>to hold that blighted posy in your hand.</div><div>You found the swollen river, and you knelt</div><div>Then – breathing deep – abandoned life on land. </div><div>The creeping cold might chill unwitting flesh</div><div>and turn your pretty blush to icy white</div><div>but Art is worth the sacrifice and fresh</div><div>aesthetic flair’s emboldened by the sight</div><div>of veils afloat. The dainty wedding lace,</div><div>all soaking wet and rippled on the skin;</div><div>the deluged comprehension in the face.</div><div>The hope of final rescue, wearing thin. </div><div>Now lay, palms raised, and lips a shade apart,</div><div>and think about the maiden’s broken heart. </div><div><br /></div><div>LM </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>Listen to the poem </b></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3V6FcV9wMuliVvwBJ-xEPU_qKx9u_bdmHvs3Uu9mtRWkVreSVKH6bxQkAzSaQAajrjJQYCWY0If5mvfNz-oNihwhfKV0fJzBnbLNdYuEzcnRvFI0PZx3DYfVCC7hv-W_xxvbth6DiNs8WWb4hodi8BtOnlZX79VxuSpTplTshA1lsa78hr_0tX-MhjFk/s1024/Ophelia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1024" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3V6FcV9wMuliVvwBJ-xEPU_qKx9u_bdmHvs3Uu9mtRWkVreSVKH6bxQkAzSaQAajrjJQYCWY0If5mvfNz-oNihwhfKV0fJzBnbLNdYuEzcnRvFI0PZx3DYfVCC7hv-W_xxvbth6DiNs8WWb4hodi8BtOnlZX79VxuSpTplTshA1lsa78hr_0tX-MhjFk/w400-h393/Ophelia.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Ophelia by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Everett_Millais" target="_blank">John Everett Millais</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Crimson Ebolghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980522480303126393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-89897171235921408612024-02-25T09:00:00.017+00:002024-02-25T09:00:00.241+00:00#25 - Seven Fukujin: Benzaiten<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIm882ONu0cLXLxFXEODNeBheorpfwsrViS-EsDGxJyxATIEkioHtsKYp1lFLkH2WFvUsRo7KKibINh_IeY7LB0oCwOX-Frh8ELaDg1Loo4_Tkj_hHQJ4zCKICkuMeZaiWVNh6eAOkKLCM6YxNzUIqElHZPlg_JWN2TH7tTl9_P-dFmc_mzMEX79lBP4/s900/Benzaiten.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="645" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIm882ONu0cLXLxFXEODNeBheorpfwsrViS-EsDGxJyxATIEkioHtsKYp1lFLkH2WFvUsRo7KKibINh_IeY7LB0oCwOX-Frh8ELaDg1Loo4_Tkj_hHQJ4zCKICkuMeZaiWVNh6eAOkKLCM6YxNzUIqElHZPlg_JWN2TH7tTl9_P-dFmc_mzMEX79lBP4/w210-h294/Benzaiten.png" width="210" /></a></div>We’re seven Gods of Fortune. After all<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the boys can offer you, I’ll take my turn.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The arts that fill your day are my concern:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the frosty morning Turner on your wall;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the noonday warmth in every verse you learn;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the evening wreathed in Chopin’s last nocturne;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">my works contain the talent to enthral.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">For what are lengthy days if they lie fallow?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A life bereft of art is hardly living –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">refreshment meagre, meditations shallow.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I offer <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">beauty</i>
– paramount, life-giving.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 36pt;">Art begets art. Compassion
breeds.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You’re hungry. I got what you really need.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">AWB<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(image credit: Celeste, <a href="https://celesteagnes.blogspot.com/2010/07/benzaiten-new-piece-and-step-by-step.html" target="_blank"><br />Random Colours</a>)</span></p>AndyBennettPoethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06694434854938617555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-73498191353516425862024-02-24T08:00:00.008+00:002024-02-25T15:37:09.673+00:00#24 - Paridae<p><i style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Number
seven of George Carlin’s ‘<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_dirty_words#The_words">Seven Dirty Words’</a>...</span></i></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Within
the </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Aves
</span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">there’s
a family</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">where
elocution varies on the fly </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">‒</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
English often make it rhyme with ‘sky’,</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Americans
pronounce it ‘parody’.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">However
we conceive its prosody,</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">whatever
way we try to classify,</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">there’s
one thing that nobody can deny </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">‒</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">they
are exemplars of things feathery.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Whenever
noisy, social song is heard</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">their
many species flit among the trees,</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
Rusty, Dusky, Ashy and the Blue </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">‒</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">it’s
safe to say that any hue will do.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">So
lift your head and turn to face the breeze, </span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
welcome home this paragon of birds.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>RJT</i></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_0DTyLu_WWv_Y0OJf1_aEi5LRmcW7ivmCdVpBqBmpifpdOtF_86bivw2NTd3Q6Jnuh27bF_u3l1_j2YgTrHogVQVCJYRQtap5sDITyyCHkmYaSGfkhTZertvVfi4HBqMe2PuzksKIkGod6B7K-sJT3kVoMGgL8D1XzdH1rY1iqTcmovV2t18-CFSlnk/s3472/Tit1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2604" data-original-width="3472" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_0DTyLu_WWv_Y0OJf1_aEi5LRmcW7ivmCdVpBqBmpifpdOtF_86bivw2NTd3Q6Jnuh27bF_u3l1_j2YgTrHogVQVCJYRQtap5sDITyyCHkmYaSGfkhTZertvVfi4HBqMe2PuzksKIkGod6B7K-sJT3kVoMGgL8D1XzdH1rY1iqTcmovV2t18-CFSlnk/s320/Tit1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><i><br /></i></span></span><p></p>russell j turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04145345923961584302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-34049271911085412252024-02-24T06:00:00.000+00:002024-02-24T06:00:03.031+00:00#23 Hatter, not Hater<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fittingly running late (but quickly), Fay Roberts channels <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury" target="_blank">Mercury</a>...<br /><br /></span></p><p>Prince Popinjay they call me, fly-by-night<br />Reticulating errand-boy and fraud<br />(I’m seeking your attention – please applaud!)<br />My brother named me patron of the sleight<br />As I touch down, more errant sparks take flight<br />My many talents follow me abroad<br />(Apparently my stock has really soared)<br />They say I’m easily bored (I think they’re right).</p><p>Erratic pizzicato? Maybe not…<br />Reticulating– wait, I said that part…<br />I lost my train of thought, so time to hop<br />Aboard the latest vehicle that’s hot<br />Had I the time to finish what I start<br />Gods know I’d love the chance to finally stop.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERRelwSptESEjMLgtDvO-wFvUNXhaJ0dMw5RSFjQQn0bfG4YBqFWekMKgPOgNvAEvIrt7szIDAcrl9ksRGUgzQCoVgweoDtHRck3J6hWbjvLtw3vkJa7_N4k539LJHhgGsAom6vIcMtv1F6-EcLTqQTUJtT1vceRXYkpBHfnl0SWuh7tkl_jlgHpHH-k/s223/Mercury%20animated.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A GIF of the planet Mercury, colourised in multiple hues, criss-crossed with many impact craters and carved lines so that it almost looks like a sphere of many networks, turning rapidly against a black background" border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="223" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERRelwSptESEjMLgtDvO-wFvUNXhaJ0dMw5RSFjQQn0bfG4YBqFWekMKgPOgNvAEvIrt7szIDAcrl9ksRGUgzQCoVgweoDtHRck3J6hWbjvLtw3vkJa7_N4k539LJHhgGsAom6vIcMtv1F6-EcLTqQTUJtT1vceRXYkpBHfnl0SWuh7tkl_jlgHpHH-k/w400-h400/Mercury%20animated.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rapidly turning GIF of Mercury (probably nicked off NASA), taken from <a href="https://gifer.com/en/Owne">GIFER.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Fay Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423517411875294569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-34945119037980191362024-02-22T08:01:00.007+00:002024-02-22T08:01:00.263+00:00#22- The Silent Woman<div><i>Brompton Cemetery is one of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnificent_Seven_cemeteries" target="_blank">Magnificent Seven</a> cemeteries. It is located in the Royal London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and was originally consecrated in 1840. One of its more famous residents is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_Brawne" target="_blank">Fanny Brawne</a>, the fiancée and muse to English Romantic poet John Keats. When word got out about their relationship, sometime after Keats’ death, the press vilified Fanny Brawne for being unworthy of the affection of such a great literary hero. Plus ça change, amirite? </i></div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Silent Woman</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>I am the silent woman - letters lost -</div><div>and so they choose to reconstruct me whole</div><div>from his words only - oh! but at what cost?</div><div>As misinterpretation takes its toll. </div><div><br /></div><div>I wish to be a book myself, intact,</div><div>and not a hasty postscript on a page.</div><div>Instead my name is slandered and attacked,</div><div>and I am now a conduit for rage. </div><div><br /></div><div>Society abhors a woman’s worth</div><div>and reconsiders only when she’s dead;</div><div>I hear their words reverberate through earth,</div><div>not dampening the roaring lies they spread. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am the poet’s widow, come what may,</div><div>my reputation built from mis-fired clay.</div><div><br /></div><div>LM</div><div><a href="https://on.soundcloud.com/UPeKT" target="_blank"><b><br /></b></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://on.soundcloud.com/UPeKT" target="_blank"><b>Listen to this poem</b></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaH2U9RX9X6DSyGWl0nqVKjOWPnk_zOXExjbow0hFh2itBpdxLPUW6OblmtNPavFB-DMxNHQCcNQS_HNObVtTRFP0l6cXdHCyX1O8Ae7BDi8g3pTLsjsV7cDPgZy3Xq9SOoye3EoJo4D5nL1FgyrGnoAJyglxI5b1XPeFlyhnGl4e90-O2_NELOujmgzQ/s776/Fanny%20Brawne.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="746" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaH2U9RX9X6DSyGWl0nqVKjOWPnk_zOXExjbow0hFh2itBpdxLPUW6OblmtNPavFB-DMxNHQCcNQS_HNObVtTRFP0l6cXdHCyX1O8Ae7BDi8g3pTLsjsV7cDPgZy3Xq9SOoye3EoJo4D5nL1FgyrGnoAJyglxI5b1XPeFlyhnGl4e90-O2_NELOujmgzQ/w385-h400/Fanny%20Brawne.png" width="385" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_Brawne#/media/File:Portrait_miniature_fanny_brawn.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Crimson Ebolghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980522480303126393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-65667791911521106542024-02-21T11:45:00.007+00:002024-02-21T12:46:11.544+00:00#21 - Seven Fukujin: Fukurokuju<p> <br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Just close your eyes. And face towards the sun –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqku4LntWzH4sPC3ev7sTgHLT5nJYKc6VtN2Glmu5nkP3RVe_gYtdxj5KIKKNsB5LZ2WGnuf9QIsQOxotH_KC8pvNH6L_UB6fRkX4r28FkMHg4vHrc-weX25Njvw4t1oy2kewofHmE5tPKqTshjwtxmv1fMc8PhyVCAnKVu-oXMmO1hSUQPJXxdtR3SM/s2328/Fukurokuju_-_color.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2328" data-original-width="1092" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqku4LntWzH4sPC3ev7sTgHLT5nJYKc6VtN2Glmu5nkP3RVe_gYtdxj5KIKKNsB5LZ2WGnuf9QIsQOxotH_KC8pvNH6L_UB6fRkX4r28FkMHg4vHrc-weX25Njvw4t1oy2kewofHmE5tPKqTshjwtxmv1fMc8PhyVCAnKVu-oXMmO1hSUQPJXxdtR3SM/w181-h413/Fukurokuju_-_color.jpg" width="181" /></a></div>appreciate the blessing on your skin.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A lucky life’s the right of everyone:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the blithesome boon of seven fukujin.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">We’ll grant you lengthy days, and feasts to fill them; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">a castle to protect your laughing children;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">a love to make the Earth beneath you shift:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">all human bounties lie within our gift.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the chief of these is luck – or kismet, karma –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the serendipity of cosmic dances;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the happy fluke of how the dice may fall.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So here’s the deal: you cultivate your dharma,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">and us, we’ll strive to consecrate your chances –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">We’re seven Gods of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fortune</i>
after all.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">AWB</p>AndyBennettPoethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06694434854938617555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-75237028562062357852024-02-20T08:00:00.003+00:002024-02-22T17:31:26.113+00:00#20 - Baise-moi<p><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><i><span>Number
</span></i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><i><span>three</span></i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><i><span>
of George Carlin’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_dirty_words#The_words">‘Seven Dirty Words’</a>...</span></i></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
French have many ways <span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-GB">of
saying</span></span> <span style="font-style: normal;">‘kiss’</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(though
‘French kiss’ simply isn’t one of those,</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">it
tends to just appear in English prose)</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and
listing some might go a bit like this <span face="Arial, sans-serif">‒</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">there’s
<i>bisou</i><i>s</i><i> bisou</i><i>s</i><i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">when
friends reminisce,</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>embrasser</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
gets you through the highs and lows,</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">plus
<i>biser</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> for a peck on cheek or
nose.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But
one of them can be quite hit-and-miss:</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">while
<i>baiser</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> as a noun is pretty
sweet</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(its
practice is unlikely to disturb)</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">be
careful not to use it as a verb</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">with
any random stranger you may meet <span face="Arial, sans-serif">‒</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">for
if, by chance, their jaw don’t hit the floor,</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">you’ll
end up with more than you bargained for...</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>RJT</i></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0WZANxO7RFDYbgYBJog7DxDiI8uznTYt4QysNxu-rdMGxIVj-ZU6AFqsfKOVtbkFBZNbaUmuBQuYmB-kp5cWDcHtNe8t5KP-HON-t1pn9zS9NtuIovqovgqyAkMs5i4dQ1_G_LMGOlQKizikTMebDChL9uIRwbLFbqFKvLxQINDJB7Bo5b9NmZFPA8o/s301/The%20Kiss%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="300" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0WZANxO7RFDYbgYBJog7DxDiI8uznTYt4QysNxu-rdMGxIVj-ZU6AFqsfKOVtbkFBZNbaUmuBQuYmB-kp5cWDcHtNe8t5KP-HON-t1pn9zS9NtuIovqovgqyAkMs5i4dQ1_G_LMGOlQKizikTMebDChL9uIRwbLFbqFKvLxQINDJB7Bo5b9NmZFPA8o/s1600/The%20Kiss%202.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><i><br /></i></span></span><p></p>russell j turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04145345923961584302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-79592546481794666312024-02-19T09:53:00.001+00:002024-02-19T09:53:00.134+00:00#19 - Dodging the Obvious<p><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Far from home, but inspired by our planetary twin so close at hand, Fay Roberts (with a little help from zir friends) addresses <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_(disambiguation)" target="_blank">Venus</a>, another of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_planet" target="_blank">Classical Planets</a>:<br /></span></i><br /></p><p>Now heralded by conches, you emerge;<br />adrift no more, your light is always there.<br />And though you rise and fall, your fateful surge<br />impels your host to heights beyond compare.</p><p>Your blissful dissonance beguiles our rest;<br />your messages of hope inform our dreams;<br />though many only see you at your best,<br />still others fall to wanton, guileful schemes.</p><p>It seems you run more hot, support less life<br />than Gaia, standing in the line of fire,<br />and those who skip the research offer strife<br />in your name to us souls blown in the gyre.</p><p>Though maiden, mother, victor, bearded, bald,<br />in any guise you’re more demand than skald.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirplUmTAuO5kbahipQmVvaL4QuvzqxDreGFBxxOadiL82fb2iXrKmjSHMCzuAIPPpSxRNjQHJWenXW-OVN6Xxx2fSkvNzkoki7Sf9vf-wLzzD4aIsYVJS07_fkM1iHdHb7cyZ_0VCpeusx_gqKLjzHL1i2U1685q2WY08sglTUraWtf2aRJLZLe2JDOtw/s1346/Venus_-_August_24_2016.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Against a black backdrop, a planet divided - on the left a serene-looking half in swirling shades of sandstone, dove grey and, at the top, baby blue. On the right a black half highlighted in jagged patches of vivid orange" border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="1346" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirplUmTAuO5kbahipQmVvaL4QuvzqxDreGFBxxOadiL82fb2iXrKmjSHMCzuAIPPpSxRNjQHJWenXW-OVN6Xxx2fSkvNzkoki7Sf9vf-wLzzD4aIsYVJS07_fkM1iHdHb7cyZ_0VCpeusx_gqKLjzHL1i2U1685q2WY08sglTUraWtf2aRJLZLe2JDOtw/w400-h303/Venus_-_August_24_2016.png" title="Two-faced image of Venus" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Processed using infrared and ultraviolet (IR1, IR2, UV1 [283nm, 365nm]) filtered images of Venus taken by Akatsuki on August 24 and September 4 2016. JAXA/ISAS/DARTS/Kevin M. Gill via <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Venus_-_August_24_2016.png" target="_blank">Wikimedia</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Fay Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423517411875294569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-57150788523013369002024-02-18T07:00:00.001+00:002024-02-18T07:00:00.126+00:00#18 – How to be dead<div style="text-align: left;"><div><i>West Norwood Cemetery is one of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnificent_Seven_cemeteries" target="_blank">Magnificent Seven</a> cemeteries. It is located in the London Borough of Lambeth and was originally consecrated in 1837. One of its more famous residents is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_Beeton" target="_blank">Mrs Isabella Beeton</a>, whose book ‘Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management’ was a seminal instructional text for middle class housewives in the mid-nineteenth century.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>How to be dead </b></div><div><br /></div><div>It takes some getting used to. There’s a knack</div><div>to coping with the stillness in your chest. </div><div>The strangeness of the quiet and the lack </div><div>of breath and mood and motion, when at rest. </div><div><br /></div><div>It’s not a state to seek before your time -</div><div>Lord only knows, we need your kind on earth -</div><div>but sure as taxes tax, and poets rhyme, </div><div>your end will come, as certain as your birth. </div><div><br /></div><div>But nothingness is tough to contemplate; </div><div>the mixture of relief and doubt and dread. </div><div>Take comfort in your universal fate:</div><div>coz hierarchies don’t concern the dead.</div><div><br /></div><div>It takes some getting used to. There’s a knack</div><div>to coping with the quiet and the lack.</div><div><br /></div><div>LM</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b><a href="https://on.soundcloud.com/Gm6UR" target="_blank">Listen to the poem here</a></b></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTk7JvW96OMSSeKs6TwY_vMMmLgPKJ0GqoHo26vhQ1QXpuIO0xm5_H-466U1XEIddReSfvhG4Qj22fd9CU4k9I8GWJmkEvXpfp4chvVqmLNV94JvlflvVW2ssR0WFwokBiU9XYG8DL8qJ52mlc3Dbhm4S2KOUsagR796zhyphenhyphenDcOq3ig6XYU4s-1xvZL5A/s640/Mrs%20Beeton.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="640" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTk7JvW96OMSSeKs6TwY_vMMmLgPKJ0GqoHo26vhQ1QXpuIO0xm5_H-466U1XEIddReSfvhG4Qj22fd9CU4k9I8GWJmkEvXpfp4chvVqmLNV94JvlflvVW2ssR0WFwokBiU9XYG8DL8qJ52mlc3Dbhm4S2KOUsagR796zhyphenhyphenDcOq3ig6XYU4s-1xvZL5A/w400-h378/Mrs%20Beeton.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Photo credit: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Beeton%27s_Book_of_Household_Management#/media/File:Title_page_of_'Household_Management'_Wellcome_L0042710.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Crimson Ebolghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980522480303126393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-29486831750335719352024-02-17T11:03:00.000+00:002024-02-17T11:03:04.028+00:00#17 - Seven Fukujin: Jurōjin<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmpTCIwMnrDKKQID3H3Ik_3IOhMGdE_FB4q4Umby2KAbnIM7B7_rsqQ1cdV3mvBRWML5aWckOwiEqyC5KswXElCHn4GDG6NPK3f0oeNEfYkk4ZfGwql3aS5U_E4-nOVFCa9NfKoU_THEB_hQU4MzkxqXHL1fC00tmKKFAbt6VK7eXPzR9aqUGf_10TBY/s2281/jurojin-768x2281.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2281" data-original-width="768" height="593" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmpTCIwMnrDKKQID3H3Ik_3IOhMGdE_FB4q4Umby2KAbnIM7B7_rsqQ1cdV3mvBRWML5aWckOwiEqyC5KswXElCHn4GDG6NPK3f0oeNEfYkk4ZfGwql3aS5U_E4-nOVFCa9NfKoU_THEB_hQU4MzkxqXHL1fC00tmKKFAbt6VK7eXPzR9aqUGf_10TBY/w182-h593/jurojin-768x2281.jpeg" width="182" /></a></div>Assuring you a long and healthy life?<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I rather think that’s my domain, old bean!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">One constant thought to pierce you like a knife:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">your years are finite; death comes unforeseen.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But I’ll be here, exchanging blows with brevity –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">a duellist fencing fickle father time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A prayer to me will guarantee <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">longevity</i>,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">and Socrates’ old wisdom is no crime.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Sit back, relax, and have yourself a peach –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Enjoy the peaceful garden, filled with light.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A mortal’s grasp should e’er exceed his reach,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">and reaching, grasp exceptionally tight.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And when the time-bell calls – your days are done –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">just close your eyes and face towards the sun.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />AWB<o:p></o:p></p>AndyBennettPoethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06694434854938617555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-83902172595484660862024-02-16T08:00:00.005+00:002024-02-19T13:05:23.998+00:00#16 - La Mer(de)<p></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Number
one of George Carlin’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_dirty_words#The_words">‘Seven Dirty Words’</a></span></i></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">A
re-imagining of the track from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horses_(album)">‘Horses’</a> by Patti Smith. With
apologies...</span></i></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This
sea, this sky, are stitched up with the land</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">as
horses’ hooves shape iamb and trochee </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">‒</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">some
simple syncopated poetry.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A
boy steps forward, lifts his arms, the sand</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">cascades
like blood-red water through his hands.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">A
girl leans on the parking meter, she</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">will
dance in tongues, </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-style: normal;">converse</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
elliptically:</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">unlearn,
untwist, uncover; understand.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Behind
the mirror, Johnny conjures dreams</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">where
butterflies are flapping in his throat,</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">where
silver horses range the in-between.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The
mirror cracks, with silence and with screams</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">that
coalesce as one transcendent note </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">‒</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">and
Johnny </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">falls</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
deep into the machine...</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>RJT</i></span></span></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpIgIAho9L56Ts1slEdGjzN8WMLC0C7fAPg7a6jHAx_3v81zbiFvnJV7-QdTFaSU_3u9Q7pYgUV-1CbXptELbLgtBZdPF7TJVfG8CM1aAY8nrneVfahgAF9Osl6502NQrWA3AdJWRjuFNCV1FHFAspLt5agEKhmQaZr_LpE-pGgcs4oBPUn4m6GoWvQs/s300/PattiSmithHorses.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpIgIAho9L56Ts1slEdGjzN8WMLC0C7fAPg7a6jHAx_3v81zbiFvnJV7-QdTFaSU_3u9Q7pYgUV-1CbXptELbLgtBZdPF7TJVfG8CM1aAY8nrneVfahgAF9Osl6502NQrWA3AdJWRjuFNCV1FHFAspLt5agEKhmQaZr_LpE-pGgcs4oBPUn4m6GoWvQs/s1600/PattiSmithHorses.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>russell j turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04145345923961584302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-8643702301670834582024-02-15T23:42:00.003+00:002024-02-15T23:42:47.697+00:00#15 - Eclipse Us<p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Lackadaisically lunar, Fay Roberts dashes in under the closing door of the day with a take on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon" target="_blank">Moon</a>, as part of zir examination of the seven <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_planet" target="_blank">Classical Planets</a>.</i></span></p><p>We’ve longed for you as long as we have gazed<br />above our darkened state to raise the stakes,<br />and every nation large or small has praised<br />that glass in which we magnify mistakes.</p><p>You fill our nights with wonder and we miss<br />your silver bars when you have ducked from view.<br />While lovers tumble, grapple, howl, and kiss,<br />your visage blushes red, and royal blue.</p><p>As tides cannot be conquered, and the light<br />that hides in stubborn syzygy can’t die,<br />so you, our nearest neighbour in the fight<br />against our murky nature must not fly.</p><p>Strange forces change the nature of our tryst,<br />but, as we drift, please know your view is missed.</p><p>– FR</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1Hmcfb4JoJw7XEtolz3x5SX24ZnWOOzTAJe0lBw3ahCSASd6UMtaEiT7R6tajGwmg8UjvEvZreDUydHoYIldvYEE4uh8Q1l5RlTmqilyf_-w9m15yUzTd26yeubG5bNtvTybWpQQfhKCcYXHdYBUEtkBDFepzumqSy_uIaF40KIxY2WApWNkACsDUQc/s642/Lunar_libration_with_phase_Oct_2007_(continuous_loop).gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A continuous, looping GIF of the Moon's Libration (i.e. phasing in and out of darkness). At the top is a scrolling set of dates from October 12, 2007 through the 28 days of the phases." border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1Hmcfb4JoJw7XEtolz3x5SX24ZnWOOzTAJe0lBw3ahCSASd6UMtaEiT7R6tajGwmg8UjvEvZreDUydHoYIldvYEE4uh8Q1l5RlTmqilyf_-w9m15yUzTd26yeubG5bNtvTybWpQQfhKCcYXHdYBUEtkBDFepzumqSy_uIaF40KIxY2WApWNkACsDUQc/w399-h400/Lunar_libration_with_phase_Oct_2007_(continuous_loop).gif" title="Lunar libration GIF" width="399" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunar Libration with Phase October 2007 by <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Tomruen" target="_blank">Tomruen</a> via <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lunar_libration_with_phase_Oct_2007_(continuous_loop).gif" target="_blank">Wikimedia</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Fay Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423517411875294569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-57706726943636815062024-02-14T07:14:00.006+00:002024-02-14T07:14:00.149+00:00#14 - Back to Black <div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Abney Park Cemetery is one of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnificent_Seven_cemeteries" target="_blank">Magnificent Seven</a> cemeteries. It is located in the London Borough of Hackney and was originally consecrated in 1840. In 2007, Amy Winehouse filmed the music video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJAfLE39ZZ8" target="_blank">Back to Black</a> in Abney Park Cemetery. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Back to Black </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When royalty first came to Abney Park, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">the monuments all craned to take a look,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">the bushes combed their leaves and smoothed their bark,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">and grasses, in excitement, reeled and shook. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The spirits of the cemetery stirred</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">as soulful melodies were sung aloud,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">and though they couldn’t make out every word</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">the filming drew them close, this ghostly crowd. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A London graveyard is a sombre place,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">and phantoms, left behind, are prone to ache,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">but Amy was each spectre’s saving grace,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">and so, the loveless gathered in her wake. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was as though she’d been this way before, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">where each soul dies a hundred times and more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">LM</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: right;"><b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><a href="https://on.soundcloud.com/AnW4c" target="_blank">Listen to the poem here</a></b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_K52R2pDe7cKeQ-OKfz01YtqQRBXfmo9YQAdMa9linu-p2rx60azx8jcXl-8zYr_CgKj3KCyVYnnEEEKvuADL-92bmv-MHsI1XGIP4FhpYIdqvBSO4FxSSGTe5Kl10v0Yy8NVi7ixereuoCsrwjfD3KjLNIiclvTRZWKmehIhSd7BhrONVKd1RS-Y1Y/s640/Abney_park_cemetery_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_K52R2pDe7cKeQ-OKfz01YtqQRBXfmo9YQAdMa9linu-p2rx60azx8jcXl-8zYr_CgKj3KCyVYnnEEEKvuADL-92bmv-MHsI1XGIP4FhpYIdqvBSO4FxSSGTe5Kl10v0Yy8NVi7ixereuoCsrwjfD3KjLNIiclvTRZWKmehIhSd7BhrONVKd1RS-Y1Y/w400-h300/Abney_park_cemetery_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abney_Park_Cemetery#/media/File:Abney_park_cemetery_1.jpg" target="_blank">wikipedia</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></div>Crimson Ebolghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980522480303126393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-61488996613355799982024-02-13T09:00:00.010+00:002024-02-13T09:00:00.147+00:00#13 - Seven Fukujin: Bishamonten<p><br /> The dangers of this world and what is in it?</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Precisely why you need a god like me!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIutEt6w0fvVb6G0ux5_uHqSmDJ9p8MoGu6lxjuwdrylc-5Z8hV_-_OP7x6VPhewi-qXQFiuWmyfA1HYDx3ksHqj2dhQeSKe_f6zd9sXGsFPSK0eSm0ZK5qyNgLoVjZJXuSSEt-f6o-kUazBP3i1Nlvuy2JSc16lYaCgDpO8y2mgkdQQXVbr0cAr-zlN0/s800/bishamon-12-deva-Master-Closeup.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="559" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIutEt6w0fvVb6G0ux5_uHqSmDJ9p8MoGu6lxjuwdrylc-5Z8hV_-_OP7x6VPhewi-qXQFiuWmyfA1HYDx3ksHqj2dhQeSKe_f6zd9sXGsFPSK0eSm0ZK5qyNgLoVjZJXuSSEt-f6o-kUazBP3i1Nlvuy2JSc16lYaCgDpO8y2mgkdQQXVbr0cAr-zlN0/s320/bishamon-12-deva-Master-Closeup.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>This life’s a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">battle</i>
– I can help you win it,<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">(but bear in mind: I rarely work for free).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Now, many call for skulls, or thrones of gore –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">a sacrifice before they offer favour:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">your firstborn plus two hundred fattened boar,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">(your daughters to be auctioned off to slavers).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Not me. I simply state: laws should be obeyed –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">those formal codes of manners and convention.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">If you behave, then count upon my blade,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">to execute that lifelong intervention:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">defending you in war and hostile strife;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">assuring you a long and healthy life.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">AWB</p>AndyBennettPoethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06694434854938617555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-9887836841083959772024-02-12T08:00:00.002+00:002024-02-14T19:26:28.474+00:00#12 - Oedipus at Colonus<p><i style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Number six of George Carlin's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_dirty_words#The_words">‘Seven Dirty Words’</a></span></i></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">After
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophocles">Sophocles</a>...</span></i></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
storytellers, oracles relate</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">how
I have earned the enmity of men,</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">how
I have killed one of my kin and then</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">slept
with another, slept and sealed my fate.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
whims of law and history dictate</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">if
ignorance is a defence, and when</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">the
wheels of war and time roll on again,</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">if
all our little lives are worth debate.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">So
lead me sister/daughter through the grove</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">and
raise my eyes to what I cannot see,</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">then
I will bathe and pray and shed the knave.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Go
tell the world that, at the end, I strove</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">to
cleanse the land of all impurity</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">and
gift one man the secret of my grave.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>RJT</i></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsVEYN0L4gm3zj4LoikkW_brh13a47vDo-StTqHnu1BBIQvtuo5Hfxbp_LbLtsCz2rNepPNfEcLj2eaFjilJsbc0XLXEjFHQu9_1_aBrxaBjY7dCZwu6E8CwUrH9V6oTarj-WGH1CElUh4uXT85VnVgZ7ML4LP8Oe-F4Amle3raOGWmjelejnrj97ojY/s5500/Oedipus1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5500" data-original-width="5500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsVEYN0L4gm3zj4LoikkW_brh13a47vDo-StTqHnu1BBIQvtuo5Hfxbp_LbLtsCz2rNepPNfEcLj2eaFjilJsbc0XLXEjFHQu9_1_aBrxaBjY7dCZwu6E8CwUrH9V6oTarj-WGH1CElUh4uXT85VnVgZ7ML4LP8Oe-F4Amle3raOGWmjelejnrj97ojY/s320/Oedipus1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><i><br /></i></span></span><p></p>russell j turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04145345923961584302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-69075145523810069102024-02-11T17:39:00.009+00:002024-02-13T01:05:31.894+00:00#11 - Ostinato<p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Today Fay Roberts examines Mars, and takes in all sorts of cultural wayposts as ze goes (some expanded on below the image).<br /></i></span><br /></p><p>But now the intro’s done, it’s far too late:<br />the hot-head with the coldest heart is here;<br />the tension mounts, you must accept your fate,<br />for here is one that you can love <i>and</i> fear.</p><p>Relentless, red, his pockmarked visage looms,<br />all atmosphere is drained and breathing grows<br />so difficult; the coloniser booms,<br />crescendoed to <i>fortissississimo</i>.</p><p>Though many find him lurid and profane,<br />here’s some who laud him guardian and more –<br />a route to honour and their rightful gain,<br />the means to set foot first on further shores.</p><p>But while they claim he represents their sex,<br />there’s more to manhood than a single X.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX2HFE6277AC28uNn0CzT8l2uP788ghRPJwLYw8JaBc7fs_adKnS71rcBuw_g9AEOy-3aUUhwsAY7m5joYzkrEBhEe6zAzvCr87OQxT_zog_vuHKXyfbwjjxdMK7Fc-eNIoxA78B5z3W3Bp8sm55cA3oD9eRVsI1g1sk6rJ2MAFg7mYhZ3-eBJsp8l3o/s302/mars-planet-animation-6.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An animated GIF of the planet Mars, spinning rapidly to show every facet of its orange, dark-scarred surface, with a glimpse of its icy, white North Pole. The background is black with white stars dotted on it." border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="302" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX2HFE6277AC28uNn0CzT8l2uP788ghRPJwLYw8JaBc7fs_adKnS71rcBuw_g9AEOy-3aUUhwsAY7m5joYzkrEBhEe6zAzvCr87OQxT_zog_vuHKXyfbwjjxdMK7Fc-eNIoxA78B5z3W3Bp8sm55cA3oD9eRVsI1g1sk6rJ2MAFg7mYhZ3-eBJsp8l3o/w400-h388/mars-planet-animation-6.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mars GIF courtesy of <a href="https://bestanimations.com/gifs/Mars-Planet-Closeup.html" target="_blank">Best Animations</a> (no clue who created it though, sadly)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-5ea06da3-7fff-9b1e-c920-b52eb824525d"></span></p><p>Some explanations may be necessary – <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostinato" target="_blank">ostinato</a></i> is a term for “a motif or phrase that persistently repeats in the same musical voice, frequently in the same pitch,” which I first encountered in the description of Holst’s first piece in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Planets" target="_blank">The Planet Suite</a> – Mars, Bringer of War, where the intro’s percussive motif is played <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Col_legno" target="_blank">col legno</a>, with the strings of the stringed instruments being hit by the wood of the bow. The piece builds to the loudest dynamic in formal, “Western” classical music: <a href="https://dictionary.onmusic.org/terms/1492-fortissississimo" target="_blank">fortissississimo</a> (ffff).</p><p>Any other interpretations in this poem… well, that’s up to you…</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="444" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4gKHw7KJ7pE" width="534" youtube-src-id="4gKHw7KJ7pE"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><div><br /></div>Fay Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423517411875294569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-81316669923373367212024-02-10T07:01:00.011+00:002024-02-10T07:01:00.227+00:00#10 - The Parakeets of Nunhead Cemetery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Nunhead Cemetery is one of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnificent_Seven_cemeteries" target="_blank">Magnificent Seven cemeteries</a>. It is located in the London Borough of Southwark and was originally consecrated in 1840. Like many places in London, and other cities in the UK, Nunhead cemetery is home to a number of non-native species, including the beautiful, raucous ring-necked parakeet.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>The Parakeets of Nunhead Cemetery </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">All souls, in granite slumber, stir to life,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">surprised by sudden throaty, screeching calls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A ring-necked parakeet has brought his wife</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">to nest within the mausoleum’s walls. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">These feathered captives slipped their iron cage</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">escaping from a cramped menagerie, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">and, courting consternation and outrage, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">they made their home in Nunhead’s ancient trees.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When London cemeteries are so sad</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">and local birds so dull and seldom-seen,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">in deep November, can it be so bad </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">if through the granite grey, there flashes green? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A gloomy graveyard, now alive with squawks; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">the perfect way to brighten winter walks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">LM </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><a href="https://on.soundcloud.com/qccYx" target="_blank">Listen to the poem here</a></b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXMjk47jKiGArP5UnEAABOEfFnyvR2ZLjLP0RHSitcGm6sf8GUYJgs7bWiEq3GPbN9zcnHom-IMoaIhGcfx-PN7DN6KR5ckShoam8wYq90jZ2HNrX87hJG0M5OGCk1IWGBp8tHkabKb6C1C39rSB3fy5az87AO-KrXF0RQaUdDpEUXcIyjlNcwSetosM/s1074/Screenshot%202024-02-09%20at%2015.27.24.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1066" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXMjk47jKiGArP5UnEAABOEfFnyvR2ZLjLP0RHSitcGm6sf8GUYJgs7bWiEq3GPbN9zcnHom-IMoaIhGcfx-PN7DN6KR5ckShoam8wYq90jZ2HNrX87hJG0M5OGCk1IWGBp8tHkabKb6C1C39rSB3fy5az87AO-KrXF0RQaUdDpEUXcIyjlNcwSetosM/w398-h400/Screenshot%202024-02-09%20at%2015.27.24.png" width="398" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: <a href="http://unsplash.com">unsplash.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Crimson Ebolghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980522480303126393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-39274767374083956132024-02-09T09:00:00.004+00:002024-02-09T09:00:00.135+00:00#9 Seven Fukujin: Hotei<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">A home, a hearth, and something worth defending?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Is someone getting broody over there?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpx8351gfSdCFvJ9F5JuyFZKImdAnQvub5ZapSg4xL55Sn3bqswCZ5zdklScsuEY8jam-UIyAfKipARQzGSXhB2AQ2mE591Z0fr0aO_XNskcldtGMG5XU3EbR8UbLYt4cUuXyVTIeDlFKSgQppprO5gLUvq4mtmWGQhoqGp5QzjiH9bfsAxE3Ld4Epas/s1500/Hotei.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="766" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpx8351gfSdCFvJ9F5JuyFZKImdAnQvub5ZapSg4xL55Sn3bqswCZ5zdklScsuEY8jam-UIyAfKipARQzGSXhB2AQ2mE591Z0fr0aO_XNskcldtGMG5XU3EbR8UbLYt4cUuXyVTIeDlFKSgQppprO5gLUvq4mtmWGQhoqGp5QzjiH9bfsAxE3Ld4Epas/s320/Hotei.jpg" width="163" /></a></div>Does instinct urge you to produce an heir?<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Secure genetic legacy unending?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Or else, it’s more for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">family</i> – you’re intending</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">to lead a joyous band of offspring fair,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">who’ll often make you laugh (and sometimes swear);<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">a life of love (and frequent moneylending)?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A small remembrance will secure my blessings,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">since – though your love’s a fortress, all-embracing –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">you can’t protect them each and every minute.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I’ll keep an eye, and see how they’re progressing<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">along life’s shining walkway, always facing<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the dangers of this world and what is in it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">AWB<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p>AndyBennettPoethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06694434854938617555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-21751015080086207612024-02-08T08:00:00.008+00:002024-02-11T00:19:43.031+00:00#8 - long ago and far away<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Number
two of George Carlin’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_dirty_words#The_words">‘Seven Dirty Words'</a></span></i></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>A
reworking of one of my own poems - ‘A Boat Made of Bottles’ from
‘The Vodka Diaries’...</i></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Build
me a boat made of bottles <span face="Arial, sans-serif">‒</span>
elope</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">by
latitudes ever illusory,</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">by
winds and by waves all imaginary <span face="Arial, sans-serif">‒</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">a
craft of confusion, vodka and dope.</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Riding
the currents with just enough rope,</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">murmur
a mystery meant only for me <span face="Arial, sans-serif">‒</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">two
lovers adrift on a wine-red sea</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">with
a cargo of tears, kisses and hope.</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I
dream you build a harbour, that I may</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">be
able to return again one day.</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But
all my fantasies extinguish trust</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">as
good intentions crumble into dust.</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For
lives are built together, not alone <span face="Arial, sans-serif">‒</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">good
luck, and may <span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-GB">your journey
bring you</span></span> home.</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>RJT</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6yIRzYRjjvUzEsySIoTT0orO7xtzDyd9vn0LLasszQ131hyxrnqzHatOhEP6lj6s-CEfR0ps8Z7IFilVTXyXrsJMYBIsQc5ynPlaysZ11pEz4ECtkLdYZuCWYhUOwcqADBtd_NKDfO38vaeGkLJsQnO_gfgcTs_nJf4tMTe1wZ6I60nTN_UUMiFWWBc/s1274/VD%20Poster%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1274" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6yIRzYRjjvUzEsySIoTT0orO7xtzDyd9vn0LLasszQ131hyxrnqzHatOhEP6lj6s-CEfR0ps8Z7IFilVTXyXrsJMYBIsQc5ynPlaysZ11pEz4ECtkLdYZuCWYhUOwcqADBtd_NKDfO38vaeGkLJsQnO_gfgcTs_nJf4tMTe1wZ6I60nTN_UUMiFWWBc/s320/VD%20Poster%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><i><br /></i></span></span><p></p>russell j turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04145345923961584302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-24305176941254906202024-02-08T01:23:00.006+00:002024-02-11T17:40:23.958+00:00#7 - A Jovial Lay<p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Delayed due to migraineʼs bitter curse, Fay Roberts explores <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter?wprov=sfla1" target="_blank">Jupiter</a>, the largest and oldest of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_planet?wprov=sfla1" target="_blank">Classical Planets</a>.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p>High winds above this bright and stormy night<br />
sing shrill, warm hallelujahs to the king<br />
who dwarfs the other monarchs in his might<br />
and main, amassing wards in lieu of bling.</p>
<p>Wives and daughters, lovers, fools, and more<br />
attend his majesty, the first to rise<br />
and dedicate his thunder to the score<br />
of all aoidoi laid upon the skies.</p>
<p>But kings should hear, as bards know best of all,<br />
that hubris has a knack for bringing low<br />
the mightiest, and even kings can fall<br />
and break their pride on what they used for show.</p>
<p>When destiny contracts from near and far<br />
you’ll either end up dust or as a star.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-L62cGtQNLAMDC-PACcDj-yjrJ-1wM8rLHV_RLtB-YXkLSrEFt4DQPQzFZ3LoaPcPCeRsbOFKHZe4iD3PiNWRquisf3z0a7qNMCbc8sFN9gSUMcRD6S9r56zQNNCnRmip5yiMgpykmwkcxUAKiCyT37SpOn7q0AfofTVT08pf6iWlMr-FJYliivk4wM/s579/Jupiter%20New%20Horizons.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="579" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-L62cGtQNLAMDC-PACcDj-yjrJ-1wM8rLHV_RLtB-YXkLSrEFt4DQPQzFZ3LoaPcPCeRsbOFKHZe4iD3PiNWRquisf3z0a7qNMCbc8sFN9gSUMcRD6S9r56zQNNCnRmip5yiMgpykmwkcxUAKiCyT37SpOn7q0AfofTVT08pf6iWlMr-FJYliivk4wM/s320/Jupiter%20New%20Horizons.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jupiter, © NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute via Wikipedia</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Fay Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423517411875294569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7888066645171130836.post-73818907197724305022024-02-06T07:01:00.004+00:002024-03-01T14:31:23.713+00:00#6 - A Balancing Act <div><i>Kensal Green Cemetery is one of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnificent_Seven_cemeteries" target="_blank">Magnificent Seven</a> cemeteries. It is located in the Royal London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, and was originally consecrated in 1833. One of its many famous residents is the Victorian Tightrope Walker, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Blondin" target="_blank">Charles Blondin</a>. </i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>A Balancing Act </b></div><div><br /></div><div>A man can rest his weight upon a wire</div><div>above a town or raging waterfall</div><div>but can he master all his base desires</div><div>through sheer audacity and foolish gall? </div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes I am the tightness in the rope,</div><div>sometimes I am the yawning black abyss;</div><div>I tread the air to struggle and to cope</div><div>with all that I am not, and all I miss.</div><div><br /></div><div>I’ll carry you, a pilgrim, on my back,</div><div>and see you safely to the other side.</div><div>We’ll navigate the narrowest of tracks:</div><div>twelve thousand inches long, three inches wide. </div><div><br /></div><div>I bless the boys below who tied the knots; </div><div>this clichéd metaphor is all I’ve got.</div><div><br /></div><div>LM </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b><a href="https://on.soundcloud.com/93rYV" target="_blank">Listen to the Poem Here</a></b> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXd9szLf3rzwv2BDXxQvuQZifoVbxhrXtOcqNsydIWY14-vmbqC97XZd13EIXZPcax-erSWmZLYKQBuWqGRnnlaFXsXI3m20uDwxJ-U8j0u5-N16hEKcnLZK8vXpNqUYeerh_FLeJLGQBDCPZKf2HSDtA0BRfhnqpmhwgQ_SXxCLzWQsO6Why3cjFfctc/s1078/Screenshot%202024-02-05%20at%2016.19.57.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1074" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXd9szLf3rzwv2BDXxQvuQZifoVbxhrXtOcqNsydIWY14-vmbqC97XZd13EIXZPcax-erSWmZLYKQBuWqGRnnlaFXsXI3m20uDwxJ-U8j0u5-N16hEKcnLZK8vXpNqUYeerh_FLeJLGQBDCPZKf2HSDtA0BRfhnqpmhwgQ_SXxCLzWQsO6Why3cjFfctc/w399-h400/Screenshot%202024-02-05%20at%2016.19.57.png" width="399" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Blondin#/media/File:Charles.Blondin.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Crimson Ebolghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980522480303126393noreply@blogger.com0