Rhymes or Reason

Sorry I missed a couple. I have caught up now and thank you. xxx

 

April First today, and did you know that's no joke? It really is April First! No kidding!!

Anyway, here's today's ditty

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Brass in pocket

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The sound of metal chinks in cloth
the change that inhabits the pocket
shrapnel to pay for goods and what not
from ice cream to even a locket

depends on the cost of what's offered
deciding which way is the best
to dig out the card to hand over
or count out some coins to invest

the value of money's ever changing
and the meaning changes apace
the big coins of old are now gone
and small ones have taken their place

there are now moves afoot to discontinue
the penny as tender that's legal
but when you have need
to spend one you'll see
that a penny is still pretty vital

so don't think that plastic's the way
to purchase your stuff every day
even though it's so easy
some times it's so busy
that cash is the best way to pay

always try to keep coins in your pockets
and a pound coin's the one that's so sound
at the mart you'll be sorry
if you can't get a trolley
and you lug all your shopping around

there is always the aspect of tax
the tax man wants part of the action
but if you've paid with cash
from your own private stash
then he won't know to feel the attraction

of a private sale just between two
an exchange of some kind they both feel
is a trade that they both want to do
that's a fair and appropriate deal

so don't be so quick to ditch cash
your plastic would burn in a flash
but the coins in your pocket
are solid don't mock it
they'll always be there when banks crash

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The second tomorrow, and there's no shame in coming second (said the actress to the Bishop!). Ooer Matron!

 

Brilliant as always. X

 

Don't ask me where this came from, but the words below just fell out of my head this morning, and on to the page in front of me. Much to my horror!

Anyway, don't get too upset by the ode, odious though it may be to some. It's only words after all.

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The curse of the fall

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Where is the peace and where is the war
for here is the torture and there the mansion
so speak and tell, clear the conscience
unburden the breast and spare the soul
of pain unbound as yet by moral deed
and spread as though by heavy demon seed
to seek out new and unfound virgin lands
where in the darkness all the sky and sand
are frozen in the everlasting spell
of one who comes direct to you from Hell

the one who enters all there is to be
and tempts us all when we are feeling low
and there demands of us that we
worship the feet of him, the one who knows
the ecstasy and agony of war
who felt the warming glow of steady peace
yet choosing war for his own pleasure
takes it all and claims it for
the everlasting beast

the beast that is inside us one and all
the beast that renders flesh from bone and blood
the beast that survived the greatest fall
the beast that still survived the deepest flood
for he is mighty, evil though he be
and ever questing for more to enslave
and gain more power over thee
and thus begin to fight with those entranced
for though he is of nothing more than air
he keeps us in his thrall and curse forever

he tramps us down into the sodden loam
to crawl and breed and grow his crop to harvest
for he is not a light or beaming arc
a sun to rise and thrust away the dark
he is but of the darkness made himself
to scuttle and insinuate his seed
into our minds and there to oft partake
of all our dreams and hopes of future self

so now we know of whom we are the soil
the teeming ground wherein the seeds are sown
to germinate and fill the earth with ever growing life
and give to him his tithe of living death
for though we strive to be the best we can
and fight to free us from the worst of sins
inside us all the evil demon lurks
and guides our actions when we least expect

but though he fills our souls with fear and dread
and though he fills the cemetaries with dead
we struggle on beneath his spreading cloud
and fight for all our freedoms
to free us from the demons
the hateful frightened demons in our heads

the heads that often overrule our hearts
and though we may sometimes be true to both
when they're at odds we don't know which is true
and which is prejudice
it all comes down to this
will love or hate decide the fates for you?

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Well, I'm glad that's out of my head, even though if you read it, it's now in yours instead.

Happy Easter everyone!

 

After yesterday's rather heavy subject I thought I'd bring it back to something a little less depressing. So today's ode is about all the small things and the work they do.

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The mighty minnow

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The tiny minnow darts from growing reeds
and quickly swims to where it wants to feed
the underwater worm that's just below
notices the water's broken flow
and bites back down into the oozing mud
escaping what is happening above
within the stream of water as it wanders
from hill down to the coast and there to squander
its load of sediment that carries fresher nourishment
to all the fish that live within the river delta

meanwhile upon the meadow
where the cows and sheep all graze
and where the pigs will wallow
in the warming summer haze
the water they expend will slowly seep
through the soil until it reaches
the banks of streams and rivers
and there it gently leaches
into the mud below

the mud where underwater worms
will tunnel through the ground
and as they do the water follows
where they split the clay
to break up all the solids
and though some of it will stay
some will rise into the current
there to wash away
and join the constant moving tide
that ever flows abroad
to join with ocean forces where the land meets with the sea
to feed the shoals of smaller fishes
who then feed the larger fish
and following the tale
they become food for passing whales
eventually

the fresh water that's now mixing with the salt
will swirl around the rocky bed below
and some will lift evaporated to form clouds above
then rain on greening hills where the grass is growing still
that feeds the grazing livestock who then fertilise the meadows
through which all the trickling streams flow
where the tiny minnows feed
and even smaller swimmers breed
that all do their tiny best
to keep this world alive
allowing us to thrive
as though this hive of industry
was created just for you and me
but we don't seem to understand
how important all this is

but perhaps now those who know
will explain the constant flow
to our children as they grow
and the cycle won't be broken
but instead will always roll
ever turning like the soil
as though nothing ever changed in nature's kingdom
and with good fortune nothing ever will

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See you tomorrow.

 

wONDERFUL as always xxx

 

Struggled this evening to put a poem together as we've had a domestic crisis to deal with today. The sealant round the bath has been leaking, and this morning we noticed a puddle on the bathroom floor. So I spent most of the day on my knees under the bath, trying to find out where the water was coming from. Found out eventually, and now I'm stripping back all the sealant so that I can start again and reseal it. I can't really complain though, because it's about twenty years since I last did it, so we've had our money's worth out of those two or three tubes of bath sealant.

Anyway, here's today's attempt at amateur poetry. With luck and many years of practice I might even make it to novice level.

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The mighty pen

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It's not an easy thing to do when rhyming is the thing
it's much more difficult than said when trying to begin
for even simple poems can be hard to get to start
and though you try until you cry your ideas to impart
you struggle with your muddled mind your thoughts to put in line
it's hard to get your broken shards to mark the beat in time
but try you must so put your trust into the great hereafter
then dip your pen and scratch your chin your confidence to bolster
and look the paper in the eye to let it know who's master
then write a word, a starting word and soon you'll think much faster
as inspiration takes a hold and soon the rhyming flows
the dark ink shows and as it grows your muse you'll have to ask her
to give you phrases that embrace a meaning for your missive
it won't be long, and it's not wrong to hope it is exclusive
for only you can write the thoughts that wander through your mind
some are happy, some are sad, but never leave behind
a fragment of a thought unwritten till it fades away
but add it to the list of things that you've heard people say
as they expound with subtle sound in quiet conversation
their notions and emotions as they sit in cogitation
so you should try to not deny their velvet voiced expressions
that slowly fill your head until you're full of admiration
for all the things they've said that helped to give you motivation
to write your poem, now I'm going to give you confirmation
that it's all done the time has come to put your weapon down
the mighty pen has won again and now it's gone to ground
but when you need to mount your steed to battle words once more
that's when your pen will rise again and help your thoughts mature

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I hope I have more time to spend tomorrow, as it feels rushed this evening. See you then.

 

Bit tired today. I spent all afternoon trying to knock tiles off the bathroom wall. Whoever put them up must have used superglue and epoxy mixed with high strength concrete. The bloody things won't come off! It took hours of hard work and very aching arms to get most of them off, but there's still three and a bit tiles to smash off the concrete backing. So it's all to do tomorrow. Doh! Wish I'd never tried to get the bloody tiles off in the first place, but now we've started we have to finish, so I'll just have to carry on till they're all off.

Anyway, here's something different.

...............

Dreaming

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Her long hair spreads across the pillow
she breathes so quietly in her sleep
as gentle breeze sways the willow boughs
I see her eyelids flutter dreaming
wondrous dreams of pure enchantment
adventures in a hidden world
that only she can find when day's end
comes to take her to her bed

At six years old the dreams are vivid
all the shapes and colours there
invite them all, the bold and timid
to the party for to play
until the dawn of a brand new day

when through the curtains daylight peeps
across the floor night's shadow creeps
until at last it's gone and now
it's time for breakfast, so hurry
down to the kitchen and grab your bowl
pour the milk till it's so full
the morning flakes are in danger of spilling
but once all eaten they're so filling

then back you go to clean your teeth
don your clothes and brush your hair
and grab your bag then out the door
it's off to school to learn some more

more facts and figures to fill your head
at playtime have a morning snack
all this work is just so tiring
never mind it'll soon be lunch
then more new lessons to watch and learn
lots of writing fingers aching
pencil's getting blunt and messy
never mind it's time for home

soon homework's done and dinner's eaten
time to play some little games
then all too soon it's time for sleep
so get undressed and try to keep
the memories of what you did
as under the duvet you now slide

with head on pillow eyelids heavy
soon those eyes are closed, you're ready
now to dream and end your day
and there to join your friends and play

meanwhile on the pillow rests
your long hair as you quietly breathe
like gentle breeze sways the willow boughs
your eyelids flutter as you dream
adventures in your hidden world

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See you tomorrow.

 

Wonderful as always Bj.xxxxx

 

Bit tired this evening. Been working in the bathroom again today to try and make it usable till we can get the whole thing redone properly. More expense! Never mind, it's about time we had the bathroom updated. I've forgotten when we last updated anything in there, and we've been living in the house for over thirty years. Anyway, here's the word.

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The Word

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First there was the word and the word was all there was
it sat alone upon the page and wondered at its purpose
so it spoke itself out loudly to gather some attention
hoping to find another word that would add a new dimension

for long long minutes the word spoke out but no-one did reply
until just as the word gave up it suddenly heard a cry
as more words came to join it an inexhaustible supply
and soon there were so many words gathering nearby
the word now wondered where they'd been when it had first appeared
and worried that unless it spoke they would soon disappear

so now it cleared its throat so that it could make a speech
but then it had a problem, it ran into a glitch
the word was just a single word, it couldn't act as more
and though it wanted to explain it really wasn't sure
for just one word cannot convey a complex thought or feeling
as though it were a sentence or a story full of meaning

and so it had to signal to the others on the line
to form a proper sentence that would let the words combine
into a longer story that might garner many readers
stories of adventure or perhaps of horrid murders

and all this from a single word that found itself alone
and called for help from other words to form a cornerstone
a cornerstone of knowledge imparted from the page
to help us learn new meanings for our lives at every stage
as they appear before our eyes in every written passage

so when you see a single word with nothing else around
remember that it won't be long before they will abound
just take your time and wait awhile to watch the words come out
and grow into a story, it's what the world's about

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See you tomorrow!

 

Not much to write about this evening, but I shot a few words onto the page to give you something to target in your reading list.

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Collateral damage

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The sound of thunder rolls away
the flash like lightning shines
the clap sends shockwaves rippling out
by darkness now defined

as from the barrel issues forth
the ball of solid steel
that flies as though it's drawn to North
like a magnet given wheels

the ball arcs high into the air
it whistles as it flies
for all those within range to hear
until it falls to earth

the sounds of battle rage around
the howitzer's report
the smoke that followed out the ball
now keeps the gun obscured

from those who'd fire back and seek
to end the gunners' lives
for firing on their comrades
who have managed to survive
so far among the killing and
the dying all around
yet now as cannon fodder stand
to give their lives as ground

and all because the men in charge
want gains to show their bosses
they really don't care what it costs
they write off all the losses

as though they were just numbers
like bullets from a gun
who only matter when it comes
to totting up who's won

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See you tomorrow.

 

Just posted up a bunch of linked haiku's in the haiku thread. I'll post them here now as a taster for perhaps an extended version later.

Haiku's

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Outside it's raining
yesterday it snowed so hard
the ground is soaking

the cold seems to be
here to stay another week
I don't like the cold

perhaps with luck the
weather gods will holiday
somewhere else anon

till then I'll stay in
warm and cosy here within
my old dressing gown

and wait till the sun
visits us once more by day
to dry the wet ground

at last the children
can play out of doors and sing
and I can relax

so keep to the script
don't hide in the crypt my friend
but stay till the end

the end is in sight
this eternal night will end
when Spring has arrived

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See you later!

 

OK, so here's the extended version of the haikus.

.......................

Haiku to you!

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Outside it's raining
yesterday it snowed so hard
the ground is soaking

the cold seems to be
here to stay another week
I don't like the cold

perhaps with luck the
weather gods will holiday
somewhere else anon

till then I'll stay in
warm and cosy here within
my old dressing gown

my back aches so much
I need to keep warm and dry
munching painkillers

while still sitting here
watching the weather outside
drying as I watch

I'll wait till the sun
visits us once more each day
to dry the wet ground

at last the children
can play out of doors and sing
and I can relax

so keep to the script
don't hide in the crypt my friend
but stay till the end

the end of the tale
the story of how things are
so soon to be told

the end is in sight
this eternal night will end
now Spring has arrived

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That's it for now. Tomorrow then??

 

BRILLIANT AS ALWAYS my lovely. xxx

 

Early one today. As it's sunny outside (but not for long according to the forecast!) I was inspired to write about a sunny day.

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Decisions decisions

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The morning sun shone through the curtains
"It's a lovely day outside" he said
then rolling from his bed he reached across
and pulled the curtains far apart to let more sunlight in
the warmth and brightness lifted up his heart

"It does me good to see the sun" he muttered to himself
then turned to wake his partner soundly sleeping
she hid her face behind her hand to shield her hurting eyes
then smiled at the new day now appearing

so up they got and breakfasted and then the man declared
"I think it's time we moved along my dear!"
"Why?" she said, "What's wrong with this place?" nodding with her head
and pointed through the door to what was near

for they were next to a silver stream that bubbled as it ran
through meadows lush with grass of vivid green
"There's nothing wrong with here" he said as the scenery he scanned
"but we've seen all there is that can be seen"

"So where do you think we should go?" she asked him with a frown
"We might have seen the sights, but that's not all,
the people of the village are so friendly I have found,
much more than any others I recall"

"Yes I agree they are quite friendly, generous too it seems,
I've found both work and comradeship, and that is what I mean,
it soon would be a prison, with ever open doors,
and us unable to go through for fear of what we'd lose"

"It's true it would a prison make, a life long one at that,
we'd leave it in a pine box come the day,
so I agree you're right to say it's time that we moved on,
let's gather up our things and be away"

and so they hitched the horse and cleared the fire of its embers
then packed away their precious pots and pans
and soon were once more on the road and no-one now remembers
the travellers in the gypsy caravan

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Have a good one. It's Frixxxxxxxday don't forget, so that means lots of xxxxxx ing!

 

Not been well today. I couldn't sleep last night and got the shakes, so I had to get up and have a sandwich. After that I managed to sleep, until my right hip woke me up this morning. Ouch! So I've had to sleep half the day away, but with what's left I've spent a few minutes putting together today's ode.

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Changes

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"I'll rise to the occasion!" he said looking at the mountain
but being only ten years old it wasn't such a boast
however, over the next few years he shot up like a fountain
puberty came and puberty went
exams were passed and then at last
to university he was sent

and now he could really stretch himself to rise above his peers
he studied hard to gain his grades and did so without fear
of ever being beaten or gainsaid in his subjects
until at last his finals passed
his race was won and clear

a bright career now beckoned for this first class man of letters
he'd done his best to show the rest that he was blessed and better
and interviews now followed from requests by this go-getter
but here he found he hit a snag no-one wanted a trend setter

his bold ideas were anathema to those whom he'd applied to
they only needed clay from which to mold the candidate who
fitted in with their ideas and then ticked all the boxes
so bright as buttons geniuses weren't hunted down like foxes
but instead were turned away to go and seek out other means
to earn a crust and gain the trust
of those who must employ them
and just give orders to their teams

so at last he found a niche, it wasn't what he wanted
instead he had to knuckle down and not be the exhalted one
but with a frown
he kept his head down
working like a beaver
to build the dream as one of a team
in time he became their leader

and so he found his childhood boast had really come to pass
he'd risen to the occasion and recognition followed on at last
now he could hold his head up high
when he saw how far he'd climbed for
to reach the highest grade in whatever he'd applied for

"I think I've risen far enough" he whispered to himself
then slowly easing, quietly teasing
his career he was silently freezing
till in its place was an empty space
he turned his face away with grace
to seek another goal to chase and mountains to attempt
for the saying really is true that; 'familiarity breeds contempt'

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See you tomorrow.

 

Late one tonight, and not at all well thought out either. It's all I had time to do as I've got lots of other stuff going on right now.

...........................

The Adventure

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I'm getting tired and need to sleep
but never mind I'm sure it'll keep
the story I was going to tell you
that if you heard you might enjoy

still, I'm sure you can wait till tomorrow
there's no rush I'm sure that you'll agree
the story's really not much of a tale
it's just another adventure you see
about a boy and a girl who meet
and how they eventually become free

free from oppression, free from anger
free from depression and free to roam
across the open plains and steppes
to somewhere they can choose as home

so join with me and hold my hand
I'll show you how it all pans out
as we go exploring through this land
and I'll explain what it's all about

there was a boy and he had a dream
to meet a girl to call his own
but though he searched he could never seem
to find her, she remained unkown

and so he went on his great journey
searching every town and city
talking to everyone he met
hoping that he'd find the one
the one he's meant for in his dreams
but somehow though he went for miles
he couldn't find her so it seemed

instead all he found was heartache
loneliness that filled his soul
an emptiness a migraine headache
a painfulness that took its toll

but one day when all hope was gone
he sadly sat and in despair
then happened to look up and there
she was the girl with eyes that shone

she smiled and sat down next to him
as though she'd known him all his life
he looked agog and wondered then
if she would one day be his wife

so hand in hand and side by side
they walked on out to seek their fate
taking on the world together
a new life to investigate

but as it's late I won't continue
I'm too tired to carry on
perhaps I'll tell you more tomorrow
if by then I haven't forgotten

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See you.

 

I love them all Bj xxxx

 

Late(ish) one today. I had a busy day doing rebores on two tractors! Now I'm relaxing at last. AaaaHHH! I think I'm a god, laying back on my cloud and looking down at the world. Now there's a coincidence. My poem's all about gods too.

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Gods

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I want to be a god I do
a sacred superman to you
I'd sit up high and looking down
I'd stare at you and wear a frown
I'd make you all bow down and pray
and if you don't I'll look away
and then you'll all be really sorry
and bring me presents on a lorry
lots of stuff you'd offer me
like well cooked meat and jars of honey
hoping that I'd eat the meat
and after that I'd have a sweet
a piece of bread soaked in the honey
a gift that's worth much more than money
coz all the money that there is
couldn't buy indulgencies
if I get angry with you all
I'll turn your faces to the wall
and then I'd really tell you off
and rant and rave until I cough
but then I'll have some soothing honey
my sore throat won't be so runny
in fact I might just think it's funny
and then I'd make the weather sunny
so you all burn and go bright red
and be all sore with aching heads
and then I'll smile and laugh instead
to see you all quite sick in bed
you see I am a vengeful god
in fact I'm a really nasty sod
I like to give you lots of orders
and make you stay within tight borders
and sing to me most every day
and worship me in every way
until you die and then at last
you've got away once you have passed

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See you tomorrow, if it comes that is!

 

Tired today, and achy from the work I did yesterday, and the stuff I did this afternoon. Got more work tomorrow as well! I don't have time for this, I'm supposed to be retired, but I never get a day in edgeways where I'm not expected to be somewhere or do something for someone else. The main problem is I haven't had the time to do any shopping, and we'd run out of just about everything, bread, butter, milk, ham, eggs. You name it, we didn't have it. So today's poem is about just that, shopping.

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Shopping

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Ah shopping, now there's a thought
if ever something made me fraught
it's something learned not something taught
and not a nasty bug I've caught

some people shop to pass the time
but me I'd rather have a coffee
or do some writing that's sublime
not waste my dreams on what to get me

just to spend and spend again
appears to be the modern way
of showing that you never work
but lunch and shop the hours away

well that's okay if you don't care
and chatter just to pass the hours
but me I think it's just hot air
that swirls round shopping mall towers

passing gossip mouth to ear
and on to someone else to spread
the rumour mill still works my dear
alive and kicking in your head

and all the time the cash is flowing
out of pocket into till
until your basket's overflowing
and you decide you've had your fill

your fill of wasting hours and hours
of time that you could use to make
useful things for those around you
or at least to bake a cake

okay you needed fresh food items
flour and eggs to make your mix
but that's no reason to waste the day
as into every shop you flit

anyway it's getting late now
the shops are shut it's time for bed
so go and rest and get prostrate
remember all the things I've said

like keep your money till it's needed
don't just fritter it away
but store it in the piggy bank
to use it on a rainy day

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I hope it's not raining tomorrow. I don't want to have to spend all the money in my piggy bank. Boo Hoo! Oink Oink!