RINKLY RIMES

Opening Gambit

2012-01-28T03:56:00.001+11:00

MIXED BAG
http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/
asks for a poem involving conversation

OPENING GAMBIT

'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?'

It seemed a really clever thing to say.

Now here I have to make a true confession.

I was out to make a really good impression.

I'd seen her several times and thought her tasty

But I knew I couldn't win if I were hasty.

An opening gambit had to be just right.........

Now, luckily, at school I was quite bright.

In English I was always best in class.

I got distinctions, others a mere pass.

So why not use my mastery of words

To get little toe-in with the birds.

I used my Richard Burton voice to say

'Shall I compare thee to a summers day?'

Her answer, when it came, was quite a blow!

She simply sort of winced and answered

'No'.

--------------------------------------------------------------

DAHLING!

I was driving to the supermarket one day just last week

When I ran into an old school-friend and I slowed down to speak.

I hadn't seen that friend of mine since nineteen sixty three.

And I have to say she really shattered my equinamity!

She was slim and she was gorgeous! Her skin was smooth and creamy;

Her hair was blond and full of bounce; her eyes were soft and dreamy.

She wore high heels, showing off her legs, which were elegant and slim;

Her waistline, clinched by a narrow belt, was wonderfully trim!

Her clothes looked most expensive, yes, in the latest styles.

I could only guess at her husband's job; it was clear that he earned piles!

Her neck was quite unblemished, not a wrinkle, not a scar,

You could see, from the way she twinkled, that she knew she was a star.

'You haven't changed a bit' she said, no doubt with her fingers crossed!

I felt my 'Thanks a lot' response held more than a touch of frost.

Yes, I ran into an old school-friend and it caused me so much pain,

That I revved up the old Toyota

And ran into her again!

*

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PS

We tried-out a new cafe for afternoon tea yesterday, after our rehearsal (which, incidentally, wasn't the best). This was the Carwash Cafe. I'd never heard of it. It's just the cafe attached to the local car-wash. (Malcolm washes ours.) I think it came into being as a place to relax while the experts washed the car, but other people use it and it's really very pleasant. This photo is for Pam and Joy, who check-out my blog sometimes.

Joy, Ros, Pam, Yvonne and Betty

The Book of Me

2012-01-27T22:58:00.001+11:00

FREE WRITE FRIDAY
http://magicinthebackyard.wordpress.com
gave us the idea

THE BOOK OF ME

If, one day when I am dead,

'The Book of Me' could be duly read

It wouldn't be a Horror Story,

With lots of crime and rather gory.

It wouldn't be a Book of Jokes,

With rollicking fun for other folks.

It wouldn't be a Mystery;

I'm transparent and plain to see.

It wouldn't be a Recipe Book;

I'm not a person who likes to cook.

It wouldn't be a 'How To' guide;

That I'm ham-fisted can't be denied.

It would be a book of This and That;

Collected anecdote and chat.
*

My success would not be stellar;

I wouldn't be a World Best-Seller!

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KEEP SMILING!

The British have 'stiff upper lips'; they're good at fortitude.

They treat decapitation as a little interlude!

See how this jolly fellow smiles! He's definitely British!

The more he's pierced and knifed and cut the more he's growing skittish!

His foot's on fire! He's lost both legs! And his arms aren't too secure!

As for his head, it's been attacked by something like a skewer!

I see he's hanging by the neck! No wonder he's kaput!

His insides seem to be falling out! And a nail has pierced his foot!

I see there are 'illustrations'! I bet they're pretty gory!

'Read all about it!' Yes, indeed!

It's the gaping-inside story!

The Ruby Heart

2012-01-27T18:38:00.000+11:00

WRITING IN THE BUFF
http://www.writinginthebuff.net/
chose the cover

Would this blurb entice you to buy this book?

THE RUBY HEART

Les Jenkins

(The male author who thinks like a woman!)

Her mother had named her Erotica.

No-one was surprised.

Erotica's Mother,

Whose name was, unfortunately,

Enid,

Was fascinated by the subject.

Erotica grew up

Dumpy,

Beige,

Bespectacled.

Her unfortunate name

Made her the butt of jokes.

Erotica loved gardening.

Her vegetables were enjoyed by all.

She had no time for flowers.

Until.......

One day,

She is drawn, inexplicably,

To a great crimson globe of a blossom.

It grows, on its own,

In the centre of her

Onion bed.

Magic is afoot!

Erotica finds herself shrinking,

Shrinking,

Drawn into the great dark centre.

You must read the book to discover what goes on

On 'the other side.'

When she emerges

She has changed completely!

You will marvel

At her experiences!

Erotica becomes

Erotic!

*
(Sold in a plain brown paper package. Banned in Little Throgmorton.)

The Onion Growers Weekly; letters to the Editor. How dare you suggest that there is anything more exciting than gardening! I shall withdraw my subscription immediately! Worzle Gummage.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

LOGIC!

Mary-Lou was badgering her father for a car.
'Please, Dad, please!' she went on. You know how young girls are.
'All the other girls have cars and I'm the odd one out!
Tell me one good reason why I have to do without!'
'What have you got two feet for?' cried Dad; 'For goodness sake.......'
She said 'One for the accelerator; the other one for the brake!'
*

Nosey

2012-01-27T10:51:00.002+11:00

SKYWATCH

NOSEY

It's pressing its nose against my window,

Crying its tears all down my pane,

Beetling its brows and crying its thunder!

Will the sun ever shine again?

----------------------------------------------------------

PLAYMATE

A shadow on the playroom floor;

I wonder what it came there for.

Stretching lazily as if to say

'Look at me! I'm here to play'.

Use me as a road for cars;

Ramps for rockets bound for Mars!

Tell me I'm a track for trains;

Or a runway for your planes.

I'm here! I'm here! Look at me! I'm great!

Play with me! I can hardly wait!'

But then some clouds rubbed the shadow out!

Oh well, they'll just do without!

The Uphill Road

2012-01-27T06:08:00.001+11:00

POETS UNITED

http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com

supplied the topic.... 'Road'

THE UPHILL ROAD

'Does the road wind uphill all the way?

Yes, to the very end.' *

And a good stout pair of walking shoes

Is something I recommend.

The road is certainly not for wimps

Who quickly get out of puff;

There's no let-up from the uppiness

And that makes things quite tough.

This road is designed for walkers

Who never need a rest,

For, sure enough, more road will appear

When you think you've reached the crest.

You hope for a gentle incline

That will give you some relief,

But no! The dratted upwardness

Is quite beyond belief.

For sure the wind will be bitter.

For sure it will pour with rain.

Better roll over in your bed

And go to sleep again.

* With apologies to Christina Rossetti

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ASPIRATION

We aim for the stars

But our own earth detains us

Maybe for ever.

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The Tryst

2012-01-27T05:38:00.001+11:00

WE WRITE POEMS

THE TRYST

I suppose Todd's 'a good provider' but that's as far as it goes.

Look at him lying snoring! The picture of sweet repose!

I wait until he's fast asleep....he goes out like a light...

And then I keep an eye on the clock; the timing must be right.

Ah! Twelve forty-five exactly! Time for a lovers' tryst!

Now is the time, precisely, for the ceiling to be kissed!

I know that Rupert's on the floor of the bedroom up above.

And it's Rupert, yes, it's Rupert, that I so dearly love!

His dull old wife if snoozing, no doubt she's snoring too.

Rupert says she's the sex-appeal of an old and worn-out shoe.

We meet each day in the office; he sometimes squeezes my knee.

But we know that our glorious romance can never really be.

I couldn't afford this apartment, if Todd and I ever parted.

Is it any wonder that I feel so down-hearted?

And Rupert can't leave Marianne; she's got a heart condition;

His hands are tied and I understand his delicate position.

So this is our moment of romance, me perching on the bed

And Rupert spread out on the floor of the bedroom overhead!
With only floor-boards between us it's truly titillating!
You can't imagine the thrill I get from this nightly levitating!

It isn't much of a romance; not like the ones on TV,

But ours is an 'Unrequited Love' and that's how it's got to be.

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IN A MINORITY

I have the reputation of being rather strange

But, even so, I tell you now, I'm not about to change.

I don't like social kissing! I think it's insincere;

I really feel uncomfortable when pursed-up lips appear.

I know the French are into it and I think they're to blame

For the widespread kissing habit which I just think is lame.

Brits saw it at the cinema and thought it continental;

And now they're aping Parisian chic, all pseudo-sentimental.

It's even reached Australia, the home of the rugged male!

It's become so unoriginal that it's getting really stale.

The left-then-right is automatic; not a scrap of emotion;

Sometimes people kiss the air! A very peculiar notion!

My friends all know I'm 'agin it' and leave me well alone.

This gives me the reputation for having a heart of stone.

I think a gaze into someone's eyes and a firm grip of someone's hand

Sends an affectionate message that all can understand.

I only know when I'm approached something inside me squirms,

And that's before I've given a thought to the breeding of fresh germs!

I took a poll on the subject earlier on today,

And I then looked-up to ascertain what most responses say.

It turns out the habit is disliked by 15% of folk!

So I'm not as odd as people say!

Stop treating me as a joke!

Where Are You Now?

2012-01-27T05:20:00.000+11:00

WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

A little mining town called Gwanda,

Buried in Africa's heart.

There I taught in the local school;

I'd only just made a start.

The country was Rhodesia

Which now has another name;

Now it's called Zimbabwe

And things aren't quite the same.

Not a single black child in my roll-call,

(Indians were 'honorary' Whites);

And, oddly, in the nineteen fifties,

We weren't too aware of 'rights'.

I was fresh out from London,

Intoxicated by the sun,

Very aware of a cast-off past

And a new life just begun.

Felicity is at my right knee;

She lives in the Isle of Man,

And we correspond with each other

As often as we can.

'Flick' is a Granny herself now

I can scarcely believe that's true.

As for the other children,

I wonder 'Where are you?'

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INDIRECTION

Ask them to smile as they're sitting in their places!

They'll purse up their lips or pucker-up their faces.

Some will look 'practised', others rather shy;

Some of them will blush, though I can't think why!

But catch them indirectly and what do I see?

Ladies of the afternoon, chattering at tea.

The Burst Bubble

2012-01-26T09:09:00.000+11:00

THREE WORD WEDNESDAY

http://www.threewordwednesday.com

asks us to use the three words in blue

THE BURST BUBBLE

I lumber out of bed, feeling a total wreck,

As though I have a millstone tied around my neck.

I feel as though I'm wading through mud in heavy boots;

I feel just like a flower pulled up by the roots.

What happened to that bubble I floated in last night?

What happened to that feeling of romance and delight?

What was her name, for goodness sake? And where is she now?

I'll never have another drink in my whole life!

I vow!

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THE BLUE HOLE OF BELIZE

Unknown to generations before us

It gazed, unblinking, at the sky.

Only from the air is it visible,

That great impossible eye.

Sailors may have guessed at it,

As they crossed the ocean wide,

But they never saw it as we do,

Entire, and side to side.

I wonder if we appreciate

The wonders that we see,

All brought about by modern life

And bold technology.

Now even I can see it,

From the comfort of my chair,

And I can marvel at the fact

That the hole is even there!

I can even dive way into it,

And find the caves below,

All with TV cameras

Putting on a show.

I'm blessed with imagination,

As so, I hope, are you,

And, with such a wonderful gift,

There's nothing we can't do.

We can swoop from blue to turquoise,

We can dive to darkest black,

We can glide through high cathedrals

And then we can rise back

Into the world of sunlight,

To feel the salt-sea breeze,

Rejoicing in the memory

Of the Blue Hole of Belize.

Companionable Silence

2012-01-26T07:32:00.000+11:00

BLACK AND WHITE

COMPANIONABLE SILENCE

I don't know about you, but I often lapse

Into the little world of 'perhaps'.

When I see a scene like this

I ask 'Is this a scene of bliss

Or something rather less appealing,

Involving that old boredom feeling?

Of course, they may not know each other.

Of course, they could be sister and brother.

They may be glancing above their books,

Giving each other 'come-hither' looks!

One of them may just feel disdain

Thinking 'Oh no! Not him again!'

Or are they a couple of long-standing

Leading a life that's undemanding.

'Let's go to the top deck and have a read;

Peace and quiet is what we need.'

They may be a wildly passionate couple

In the cabin! All young and supple!

No, on second thoughts, I doubt it;

I'm inclined to think they do without it!

I don't know about you, but I often lapse

Into the little world of 'perhaps'.

---------------------------------------------------------------

MY LIPS ARE SEALED!

Well, Little Petal! How are you?

Bet you've heard a thing or two!

Come on! Spill the beans, my dear!

Tell me something I'd like to hear!

It will never be revealed!

I promise you, my lips are sealed!

Hopeless Task

2012-01-25T22:21:00.002+11:00

POETIC BLOOMINGS

http://poeticbloomings.com

We are asked to compose a

QUATERN.

This is a French form, involving sixteen lines and repeating the opening line in each of four stanzas.

HOPELESS TASK

This is all we'll ever know..........

That we know, truly, not a thing.

Our lives are transient as the snow,

Which fades away at the breath of Spring.

We know a trace of this and that;

This is all we'll ever know.

We guess at what we're looking at;

And get a hint before we go.

Our piles of clever volumes grow,

Their pages numbered endlessly.

This is all we'll ever know;

We gaze and gaze but can't quite see.

When we look out upon the stars

We're merely dazzled by the show.

We try to pickle them in jars.

This is all we'll ever know.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS FLASH

CAVOODLE

If your mistress is Prime Minister you get above yourself

And think that you can gate-crash anywhere!

Today she was performing in the way Prime Ministers do,

When, suddenly, her puppy-dog was there!

It was a solemn moment, full of pageantry and flags,

For tomorrow it will be Australia Day,

But Reuben, her cavoodle, didn't stand on ceremony.

'There's Mum' he said 'I think it's time for play.'

Silhouette

2012-01-25T18:40:00.000+11:00

SENSATIONAL HAIKU WEDNESDAY

http://youknowthatblog.com

SILHOUETTE

Featureless and black,

Outlined against a bright light.

Only shape remains.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHILDREN'S HOUR

Two small words to conjour with......two words..... just 'Children's Hour';

A tiny phrase that hardly seems to speak with any power.

For what could be more gentle than the scene you see above,

A delightful motherly picture, embued with parental love?

Between the dark and the daylight, when the shadows began to creep,

The children were read a story, before they went to sleep.

These days, when the night is beginning, life is hardly the same!

The modern child will be occupied with the latest computer game!

The parents are certainly not relaxed! They've exhausting occupations!

And when evening comes there is no pause! Life's full of complications!

No time to lower the lamps to dim or cuddle on the settee,

No time to devote a whole long hour to home and family!

But wait! This picture also recalls a time when the Ma and Pa,

Were often very distant souls, only seen from afar!

In high-class families Nannies lurked, ready to whisk away

That dear little girl who only saw her Mother once a day!

Not for them the hurly-burly, that is known, world-wide, right now!

Not for them the spat, the laugh, the hasty kiss, the row!

In days gone by, there was a lack, as far as I can see

Distance lends enchantment!

Enjoy your family!

Water, Water Everywhere

2012-01-25T13:07:00.000+11:00

WATERY WEDNESDAY

http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

Water, water everywhere, yes, even from the sky,

For this is a wet summer in a land that's often dry.

But here you see the Hunter River, with coal ships out and in,

And, beyond, there is the ocean, where wild waves make a din.

Watery places everywhere, and we are so glad of them.

Lake and river, ocean too. We absolutely love them.

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ONLY THE BEST

I eat at the very best restaurants, where the food is completely divine.
And, today, I found a new place where I could go to dine.
The chefs were Max and Harry and the food was plasticine
And the plates were delightful colours, blue and red and green.
Harry made me sausages, complete with tomato sauce
And Max cooked me a little pink fish, ocean-fresh, of course.
Max also gave me ice-cream on a lovely crimson plate
And Harry's neat banana dish was absolutely great.
Outside it was raining but who cares about rain
When one finds the perfect restaurant?
I think I'll go there again.
*

Boa! Constrict Her!

2012-01-25T06:28:00.001+11:00

ABC WEDNESDAY

http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/

BOA! CONSTRICT HER!

It could have been a bad mistake,

Naming a scarf after some old snake!

And not just any mild creepy crawler!

The one they chose was a deathly mauler!

Having designed a scarf from feathers.....

'Warmth and elegance in all weathers.'......

They chose a name from the deepest jungle!

Surely that could have been a bungle.

Victorian ladies were prone to faint,

Something we consider rather quaint.

There was every chance that they'd swoon away

And then there would have been hell to pay!

'A boa constrictor! What an allusion!'

And then there would have been such confusion....

'When it's coiled round under my chin,

You can't imagine the state I'm in!

I feel it tightening bit by bit!

I think I'm going to have a fit!'

The designer could have been blamed and sued

(Though in those old days people weren't so rude.)

My theory is that the boa's creator

Was secretly a woman-hater.

He'd been leading a ghastly life

With a harridan as a wife.

He'd designed the scarf with a view to death,

Intending to squeeze out all her breath.

But she said 'Trala!' and went to the shops

Where all the shoppers pulled out the stops,

Oohing and aahing in admiration

At this feathery-fine creation.

'It's a boa constrictor' the wife declared,

And found the shoppers not one whit scared.

They were then produced commercially,

And now they're my theme for the letter 'B'.

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The tiles in my son's kitchen

MOODY BLUES

Sometimes I'm drawn to symmetry; sometimes I like a riot,

A scene of crazy dissonance, a dazzle of unquiet.

Sometimes it gives me pleasure when patterns stand in line;

Sometimes a whirligig of hues seems absolutely fine.

I wonder if psychologists consider this attraction;

These quite opposing decorations giving satisfaction.

I'm feeling rather low today so is that why I choose

These tiles? Is there security in these, my Moody Blues?

The Very Moment

2012-01-24T18:49:00.001+11:00

POETS UNITED

http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/

supplied the illustration

THE VERY MOMENT

Just think! The very moment, folks, when my life went down the gurgler!

The apple had been picked by Eve; she was the very first burglar!

Until this potent moment we had wandered in the nude,

Never thinking of sex at all and never feeling rude.

We'd gambolled, innocent as lambs, among the new-mown hay,

And, we'd been such buddies way back then, before lust got in the way.

Just think! Without erotic thoughts we'd had endless hours to chat!

We'd sat beneath the shady trees talking of this and that.

Those merry hours are a memory now. Remember we spoke of bees;

How they buzzed in the pretty flowers, and how leaves grew on trees.

Time seemed endless in those days, following our pursuits;

Playing with the butterflies, the possums and the newts.

But then Eve was disobedient, encouraged by the snake;

She went up to the apple tree and gave a branch a shake.

Down fell the fatal apple; the scales fell from our eyes

And our mutual nudity took us utterly by surprise!

Oh woe is me that my innocence died on that fatal day!

It was when I saw Eve naked that I saw she had feet of clay!

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ON BEING SAFE

I have never felt safe in my adult life!

Safety is an illusion.

Dangers have beset my way

Sometimes in profusion.

I have lived my eighty years

In a constant state of dread!

Will Ebola reach these shores?

What's that under the bed?

I fear I am a pessimist;

I always fear the worst!

The sun may shine on my perfect life

But, undoubtedly, I am cursed!

Is that pimple on my nose

Something I dare not mention?

Will the Government, suddenly,

Remove my old age pension?

Is the man in front of me in the line

A member of a gang?

Is there a bomb in this aeroplane

That will suddenly go 'Bang!'?

The World is a terrifying place;

Safety is unattainable!

What about all those fossil fuels?

Is their use sustainable?

I've lived a life that's been long and safe!

Retribution's overdue!

How can I have done so well?

How can I have struggled through?

It's all out there, the Danger!

It will get me in the end!

Safety is an illusion.

On that you can depend.

Balance

2012-01-24T06:23:00.000+11:00

THEME THURSDAY
http://www.theme-thursday.com/
chooses 'balance'

BALANCE
(An Acrostic)
Balance as you go through life;

A little joy, a little strife.

Love your food, but don't be greedy;

And seek love but don't be needy.

Never dive where it's too deep;

Caution! Look before you leap.

Enjoy this life but be aware

It will exist when you're not there.
*
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NEWS FLASH

NEWT?

The American election system quite bemuses me!
A quarter of life is taken up with campaigns, literally.
Once every four years one whole year is devoted to the show!
It's a popularity contest and the entrants all have dough!
But, please, my American readers, even if he's cute (?)
Don't elect a President who has the name of Newt!
A newt's an aquatic amphibian with not a lot of brain!
I fear that other world leaders would view him with disdain.
If he were baptised 'Newton' let him use that name.
President Newt sounds terrible! Such is the price of fame.
*

Strewth!

2012-01-23T19:10:00.003+11:00

RUBY TUESDAY

http://rubytuesday2.blogspot.com

STREWTH!

I looked on Facebook and I said 'Strewth!'

When I saw a shot of Ruth

In a coat of brightest red.

'That's Ruby Tuesday stuff!' I said.

Saves me looking through my files!

A little reminder of the British Isles.

------------------------------------------------------------

COME ON, LOVE!

Lucy sat down on a park-bench, to rest her weary legs,

And up to her wandered a vagrant, the sort of man who begs.

'How about a bit of fun?' the vagrant sort of wheedled,

And Lucy, being a lady, felt positively needled.

'How dare you said Lucy, angrily, going bright red in the face,

'I have got high standards and you are a disgrace.'

'Come on, love, stop pretending' the scruffy beggar said,

'If you're not after a bit of fun why are you in my bed?'

Hidden Possibilities

2012-01-23T06:03:00.000+11:00

SUNDAY SCRIBBLINGS
http://sundayscribblings.blogspot.com
suggests 'possible'

HIDDEN POSSIBILITIES

Fascinating!

That they were there all the time.

That they were crackling through space

When the dinosaurs walked!

That prehistoric man

Was surrounded by them

In his caves!

That Galileo was immersed in them

And never noticed!

It is as though they were lying in wait.

Miracles!

Just waiting to be discovered.

In our present age they are not considered miracles.

We even cook our food with them!

So what else is there

Not yet discovered?

We judge the possibilities of

Space,

Time,

Universes,

By what we know now.

But existence

Is full of

Possibilities.

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DEADLIER THAN THE MALE!

Great, noble, yellow beast;

Predator most feared,

With your gleaming golden eyes

And your straggling beard;

With your teeth as sharp as nails

And your claws to match;

Always on the look-out

For another prey to catch.

With your roar that chills the blood,

And makes us run and hide......

What's this anomaly that I see?

You're hen-pecked by your bride!

'Did you put the garbage out?'

'Why were you home so late?'

'You always forget my birthday!'

'Call yourself a mate!'

You're even trying to run away!

Your muzzle looks quite pale!

It must be true that the female

Is deadlier than the male!

Motive for Murder

2012-01-22T19:12:00.000+11:00

The Wordle

THE SUNDAY WHIRL

http://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com

asks us to use all the words in the Wordle

MOTIVE FOR MURDER!

I'm the older of two sisters,; my name, I fear, is Maude.

My features in the mirror, are pallid, plain and broad.

My little sister, Rosalie, is pretty as can be,

And ever since that girl was born I've suffered jealousy.

Our story is the age-old one; envy has turned to hate.

And even more so since Benedict has asked her for a date.

She's crushed my dream. The scattered shards of what was once my heart

Are racking me with bitterness and tearing me apart.

Look there! I see them whispering! My instinct is to pry.

I'm ashen-faced and sorrowful and I'm sure she guesses why.

She has a knack of hurting me! Look at that mocking smile!

Though scalding tears run down my cheeks, giving-in is not my style.

I feel the urge to destroy them both. So how much will it take

To go out to his motor-car and disengage the brake?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MAD KANE

http://www.madkane.com

gave us the first line of this limerick

A man with a very full plate,

Was so hungry he just couldn't wait!

He tossed off the lot

But the food was so hot

He simply could not masticate!

Is That All?

2012-01-22T14:08:00.000+11:00

CARRY ON TUESDAY

http://carryontuesdayprompt.blogspot.com

asks us to use the title words from the Peggy Lee song in blue

IS THAT ALL?

I don't believe in heaven; when I take my final breath

That will be the end of it. I'll never experience Death.

All the time I'm a thinking thing I shall be alive.

I'll never be aware when I, no longer, can survive.

But if there were a Heaven it would be a place

Without that disappointment that human-beings face.

We'd never say 'Is that really all? Is that all there is? Just that?'

We'd never have that let-down, when everything falls flat.

We'd never attain our heart's desire, then find there is a catch;

We'd never learn that heart's desires rarely come up to scratch.

There'd be no flies in our ointment, no niggling little doubts,

We'd never find that 'withs' aren't that much better than 'withouts'.

There'd never be that vacuum which comes on Boxing Day

When children are bored with their new toys, which all have feet of clay.

'The dust-cart follows the Lord Mayor's Show' so the old saying goes.

But, if there were a Heaven, great Shows would be greater Shows.

We would enjoy for ever the thrill of anticipation;

For ever and ever we would know limitless elation.

I can't envisage it myself; it sounds like a drug-filled dream.

Fancy the indigestion, living on clotted cream!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOT YET!

(A poem for children)

Goodnight Horsie! Goodnight Bear!

Time to climb the wooden stair.

Bertha has the candle lit

But I don't like it, not one bit!

Look at Donkey! He's sad too.

What will all my treasures do

When they're left downstairs alone,

Without a playmate, on their own?

Bertha doesn't understand!

She keeps tugging at my hand.

I can take my book to bed;

That is what my Mummy said,

But books don't cry, books don't feel sad.

Leaving pets makes me feel bad.

Never mind. I know, tomorrow,

We'll forget about our sorrow.

Goodnight Horsie! Goodnight Bear!

So long as you know that I still care!

Kiltish Invasion

2012-01-22T12:28:00.001+11:00

I SAW SUNDAY

http://isawsunday.blogspot.com

a little oddity from my week

KILTISH INVASION

Just a quiet afternoon in our neighbourhood;

Songs of birds were all that we could hear.

When, suddenly, the skirling started, right out of the blue;

Very Scottish! Very, very near!

No-one was parading as far as we could see!

It wasn't any special Scottish day!

They merely played a 'tune' or two, with bagpipes to the fore,

And then they, just as quickly, marched away!

-----------------------------------------------------------------

COMPATIBILITY CHECK

ARIES with LEO

Two enormous egos, battling for the top!

You'll try to gain ascendancy and keep on till you drop!

Actually, it's quite exhilarating, when the feathers fly!

You both enjoy a good old spat so it's certain you'll get by.

Both partners like a feeling of excitement in the air,

So an Aries and a Leo make a nearly perfect pair.

The chemistry is fabulous, your love-lives are supreme;

You'll never tire of each other and need a distant dream.

All physical excitement is something you both crave.

Extreme sports of every nature prove you strong and bold and brave.

You both adore the limelight, but, happily, you can share,

And you praise and support each other, a sure sign that you care.

Aries, who is stern, at times, shows a softer, gentler side,

With the romantic Leo as a warm and cuddly guide.

You both like new experiences, attacking life head-on,

Building up great memories you can look back upon.

Should you marry and have children, you’ll bring them up to be

Hikers, cyclists, swimmers, showing great agility.

But domestic life may pall a bit and lead to some regrets!

Let's hope that when you’re old you say

‘This is as good as it gets!’

Good Try!

2012-01-22T06:44:00.002+11:00

GRANDMA'S GOULASH

http://grandmas-goulash.info

supplied the prompt

GOOD TRY!

A horse who was known as Billy

Spied a divine little filly.

He yelled 'I'm here!

Please join me dear.'

Said she 'I would not be so silly!'

(140 characters)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

ORACLE OZ-STYLE

If ever you're asked about Oz

You wont be stuck because

You'll have read this Ozzicle Oracle

And be the wisest that ever there was.

There are more one-humped camels in Oz

Than anywhere else on earth.

They were brought in from places abroad

And they've spent all their time giving birth!

For every Australian that lives

There are eight sheep or possibly more.

But I've never met anyone yet

Who's bothered to check on the score.

You can write from the Barrier Reef

And stick on its own special stamp,

Although the recipient may

Find the letter a little bit damp.

The Tasmanian Devil has jaws

With the strength of a huge crocodile.

So if it looks eager to bite

Try and better the four-minute-mile!

But if you are after clean air

The cleanest on earth's in Tasmania.

So people who choose to live there

Must be wiser than you and much brainier.

In Rebecca's Garden

2012-01-22T06:23:00.000+11:00

PINK SATURDAY

IN REBECCA'S GARDEN

Clad in all its rich regalia,

In the summer in Australia,

Here we see a charming dahlia,

Opening in the sun.

Petals merge both pink and yellow,

In a scheme both bright and mellow.

Each bloom vying with its fellow

To be 'the one.'

-------------------------------------------------------------

THE LONG WHITE CLOUD

(Written before Australia's terrible floods last year!)

We visited the Land of the Long White Cloud about a year ago;

New Zealand, a land of plenty, where everything seems to grow.

Australia is often a golden brown, when drought is holding sway,

And so we love to visit that green haven 'across the way'.

A quick flight over the Tasman and we find ourselves surrounded

By fertile acres, rolling streams and fecundity unbounded.

But the Kiwis have to pay a price for all their moisty mist;

They get an awful lot of rain while we are so sun-kissed!

Here you see The Long White Cloud, which looks distinctly grey!

I'll visit that South Seas Paradise, but I don't intend to stay!

Second-Hand Glows

2012-01-21T13:52:00.003+11:00

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS

http://weekendreflection.blogspot.com/

SECOND-HAND GLOWS

(To be sung to the tune of 'Second-Hand Rose')

Second-hand Glows, Second-hand Glows,

I'm not the real thing, everyone knows.

Though I love to sparkle and to shimmer,

I'm aware that I am just a glimmer.

Up in the sky, shining on high,

The sun's to great for poor old little me.

I am a reflection from the rail overhead

I must just accept that I'm a copy instead.

Second-hand Glows; I'm one of those

From Second Avenue!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIN KING

Clearly George was overweight. The Dr said 'You must run

Ten miles a day for a hundred days and when all that is done

You'll be down to your perfect weight, without the slightest doubt.'

So George put on his running shoes to try the theory out.

In due course he rang the Dr saying that he was slim,

And the Dr told him, delightedly, that he was proud of him.

'I must take your measurements. Call and see me today.'

George replied 'How can I? I'm a thousand miles away!'

The Look-Out

2012-01-21T11:30:00.000+11:00

Brisbane, Australia.

SCENIC SUNDAY

http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

THE LOOK-OUT

Is it a trick of brain or eye

That high from high seems much more high

When we are up and looking down

On the country or a town?

From below an elevation

Seems no cause for exclamation.

Maybe Everest and the like

Cause one to gasp when on a hike,

But I have found a local hill

Doesn't hint at any thrill.

But climb it and the views become

Such as can strike the tourist dumb!

Is it because we long to be

Masters of all that we can see?

Looking up goes against the grain,

For being looked down on with disdain

Is something that we all avoid;

In fact it makes us quite annoyed.

Looking down......that's a different story!

Suddenly we're bathed in glory!

We're Masters of everything we survey.

Fields and valleys stretch away,

Houses shrink and oceans spread

And we tread where all gods must tread,

Among the clouds and elevated,

Noble, proud and celebrated.

To us all praise and power is due

When we say 'What a lovely view!'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

PIPE DREAM

Just a big old pipe in the shadows,

Curving its way along,

Snaking over the pastures,

Far from the city's throng.

Weaving it's way through the valley

Where the Hunter River flows

Appearing to have no purpose,

Inert even as it goes.

Yet, inside, it is churning, rolling,

Inside it is in full spate,

Inside it is racing madly!

It seems that it just can't wait!

Chichester Dam gives the water

That rushes along within.

It will end in our taps tomorrow.

But it's here we see it begin.

Framed

2012-01-21T09:31:00.001+11:00

THE WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE

http://blackandwhiteweekend.blogspot.com/

FRAMED

Caught in the act and unaware

That a stray photographer is there,

Catching a glimpse of other lives;

Husbands, lovers, children, wives.

An arm is raised; a head is turned;

Glances exchanged, a new name learned.

A cross-section of humanity

Sailing on a Southern sea.

Framed and frozen, perpetuated,

In an album, named and dated.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

HOO SEZ?

So hoo disides the rools?

Werds ar onle tools.

The wuns that I cre8

Ar cwite legitim8.

Providid I impart

Meening from mi hart

And I can say to yoo

Wot I'm intending to.

Orl werds were invented!

So wigh am I privented

From making up mi oan!

I'm shor I'm not aloan

In longing to bee free

And rit ecsentrikly!

I think I'l rit this way

For eva and a day!

Feeling Blue

2012-01-21T07:33:00.001+11:00

BLUE MONDAY

http://smilingsally.blogspot.com

FEELING BLUE
(After Patience Strong)

It's only by feeling blue,

As most of us sometimes do,

That we can comprehend

The joy when the blue days end.

If we were always glad,

And never, never sad,

Being 'over the moon'

Would get quite boring, soon.

If we were always cheerful,

And never, never tearful,

Never, never the least bit glum,

How boring happy would become!

It's only when the blueness shifts,

And the cloud of sadness lifts,

That we can shout aloud and say

'I am feeling great today!'

If every day were yellow and red,

And never, never blue instead,

Comparisons could not be made

And the vividness would seem to fade.

So please enjoy a miserable day.

Life was meant to be lived this way.

--------------------------------------------------------

TO BE OR NOT TO BE!

We hear each plausible theory and believe each one at the time.

Climate Change is real..... or not; it's natural or a human crime.

Each expert speaks with conviction, and has the charts to display,

Proving one case or another in a very convincing way.

For sure we humans taint the earth with our fossil fuels and such;

We seem to make an awful mess of everything we touch.

But temperatures have fallen or risen, as the case may be,

Ever since the dawning of humanity's history!

I would willingly change my ways if everyone agreed;

Then, united, we could achieve the outcome that we really need.

But do we really need it? Another Ice Age is due!

Surely warming the planet is something we should do!

I won't be around to witness the result of my lack of will;

The blazing eternal deserts, or the bitter eternal chill,

But I'd like to know the answer and even do my bit,

Even though I'll never live to see the truth of it.

Photographic Memory

2012-01-21T06:38:00.001+11:00

WEEKEND WRITERS' RETREAT
http://grandmas-goulash.info

PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY

Sort them, label them, pin them down, the photographs of the past.

Those little scraps of ink and card that help our memories last.

They say the camera cannot lie, but, by some alchemy,

A photograph can capture so much more than we can see.

I may be smiling broadly but I know that was the day

When someone came to say goodbye and I begged them to stay.

I may be looking solemn, but, as far as I recall,

That was taken at a party where I really had a ball.

And there I am with Ena, who was someone I couldn't stand!

Yet there we look so friendly, why we're almost hand-in-hand!

'Something' rises from the paper and the dim days of our youth

That insists on complete veracity.

Lies defeated by the truth.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

BANTLING

Poor little bantling, without a Father's name!
Always to know his wretched Mother's shame!
A bastard! What a cruel word! And what an innocent child!
By the actions of others, evermore defiled!
Today we tend to overlook the torments of the past,
The youthful mothers castigated, spat-on and out-cast.
And we forget that, often, they were 'thrown out in the snow'
To wander along the highway, with nowhere else to go.
It's not a joke of melodrama, the fate of girls back then;
It happened in an unfair world, dominated by men.
Servant girls were often 'used' and then were cast away,
Their masters just forgetting them in less than half a day.
As for the little bantling, it was evermore derided
As someone less than human, to be sneered at, to be chided.
*
Yet 'bantling' is a gentle word, unlike its counterpart;
'Bastard' is much crueler; it could strike one to the heart.
'Bantling' comes from the German; it means 'bench', a sort of seat,
On which a person can relax to rest their weary feet.
Well, it doesn't come from any old bench.....I swear that this is true!
It means a bench ....wait for it..... capable of holding two!
*
A little bit of history, with some nudge and wink thrown in!
Who knows where memes will lead us..... often into sin!'
*

The Dark Velvet Voice

2012-01-20T16:03:00.000+11:00

WRITING IN THE BUFF

http://www.writinginthebuff.net

has supplied this 'book cover'

Would this blurb encourage you to read this book?

THE DARK VELVET VOICE

Jemima Coddingly-Whirtle

Because she is blind

Sophie has always set great store

Voices.

Many a suitor

Has questioned her rejection,

Not realising that his voice

Squeaks,

Hisses,

Croaks

Or merely

'Isn't right'.

Sophie can afford to pick and choose.

After all she is

Beautiful,

Talented

And Rich.

Very rich.

She once dated

A middle-aged man

Who was balding

And growing grey at the temples,

Because he sounded like

Richard Burton.

Friends alerted her

Before she made a Big Mistake.

Now she is listening on the phone

To the most glorious male voice

She has ever heard!

Think treacle,

Think doves,

Think velvet.

'My name is Dominic'

Says the Voice.

Dominic is a villain,

And Dominic has plans for Sophie

That do not include

Love.

Read how Sophie is

Seduced by The Voice.

Learn about Dominic's evil plans.

Meet his wicked companions.

Struggle with Sophie

Through days and nights

Of terror.

Only Fergus can save her.

But Fergus has a voice like

A rusty hinge...............

The Elocution Teachers' Manual; Read this wonderful book to learn about the part played by elocution in matters of seduction; Signed Henry Higgins.

-------------------------------------------------------

PORTRAIT OF AN UNKNOWN GIRL

She looked a nice young kid, fresh-faced, with a sunny smile.

She was sitting in the sunshine, entirely without guile.

I was photographing scenery down there beside the sea,

And she looked up and laughed and said 'I dare you to take me!'

It was such an innocent request, made with a little laugh,

So, there and then, I captured her in a seaside photograph.

Her face was scrubbed and shiny, her hair in a pony-tail;

An everyday girl, she seemed to me, a casual, passing male.

As I turned to leave I questioned her; 'What's your name?' I said.

And, suddenly, I was overwhelmed with a sense of future dread.....

'My name is Norma Jean' she replied 'I'm changing it, you know.

My new name will be so pretty........

It's Marilyn Munroe.'

White Australia

2012-01-20T06:26:00.000+11:00

WHITE AUSTRALIA

My mother was three years old when this poster first appeared.

So that's not terribly long ago, yet now it seems so weird.

Australia is 'Europe' and yet it's 'Asia' too;

And the country's multicultural, so many folk are new.

'The Yellow Peril' from China was feared in those old days;

We feared that we'd be over-run by folk with 'funny' ways.

Yet now our links with China grow steadily, year by year;

Every other day it seems enormous mines appear.

In the pictures in the poster we see sheep and we see cows;

Australia was a country of just farms and fields and ploughs.

Our country is now a quarry, which many folk lament,

But, in this age of Depression, our quarry is heaven-sent.

This is the Asian Century and we're in the right place,

Though no-one knows the future and what we all may face.

A hundred years go by so fast, and one day we'll seem strange;

One thing never seems to change and that is the fact of change.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE CIRCUS OF LIFE.

You, already, are a member of the circus,

For life is lived with sawdust and with paint,

Your ponies gallop round and round like crazy

As you pretend to be the things you aint!

You tackle great big lions in your dealings,

You juggle different balls up in the air,

You swing from high trapezes when you're happy

And do things that you never thought you'd dare.

But you're the Sad Clown when you lose your footing,

Although your nose may be a jolly red,

And it breaks your heart when people roar with laughter

Every time you fall and bang your stupid head!

Sometimes you chance to act as the Ringmaster,

In charge of everyone, top of your game!

At other times you're mucking-out the stables,

A thousand miles away from any fame.

Yes, Life's a Circus and we all are in it;

We live our lives beneath a huge Big Top.

We're dancing to the crazy blaring music

Hoping like mad that it will never stop.

-------------------------------------------------------------

I only have three cousins left so they're very special to me. Dick and Paul are from the maternal side and Peter from the paternal. Peter and his wife, Ursula, are in Sydney at the moment, staying with their son Stephen, who is married to a Sydney girl. We met them at Hornsby today. Hornsby is on the line between Newcastle and Sydney and it seemed a convenient place to meet. Here we are enjoying lunch; Peter is on the left and Ursula is on Malcolm's right. It was delightful seeing them again after several years.

Hallo, Laura!

2012-01-19T19:13:00.000+11:00

HALLO, LAURA!

Hallo, Laura! Little pet!

Though I haven't met you yet

I can see you're a gorgeous thing

For the Carey stork to bring.

Your Grandmother is quite a dish

So be like her! That is my wish.

Syl-la-bles

2012-01-19T19:02:00.000+11:00

THE PURPLE TREE-HOUSE
http://purpletreehouse.blogspot.com
wants us to work with syllables

SYLL-A-BLES

Let

Us try

To create

A line or two

Of new poetry.

Any old thing will do.

Syllables must be counted.

Allow me to start with a few.

Then let all the syllables increase.

And when I get to ten then I will cease!

----------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS FLASH!

PROBLEM GAMBLING

Poker machines are in the news.
Should people be allowed to lose
As much as they like? Or should there be
A curb on gambling insanity?
Children go hungry, so we're told
In the insatiable search for gold.
On the other hand, clubs do good, too,
With their tremendous revenue.
There are many varying views,
As Australians see on the TV News.
*

Contrast

2012-01-19T18:23:00.000+11:00

SEPIA SCENES

http://sepiascenes.blogspot.com/

CONTRAST

We are a lucky generation.

I say that without hesitation.

My grandmother, in the hat,

Was only seventy, if that,

When someone took this family shot

(It was me as like as not.

I've always had a reputation

For documenting a situation.)

Left and right are Dad and Mum,

Unmarked by all the years to come.

'Grandma' and I weren't at all close;

She found me much too verbose.

Not only that but my sister, Mollee,

Was always sweet and always jolly,

Whereas I had a waspish tongue,

Even when I was very young.

Forget about that; what I want to say

Is 'Old ladies were old in Grandma's day'.

Look at her dress compared with my Mothers!

Old lady dresses weren't like others.

They had to be dark with a touch of lace,

Meant to soften a wrinkly face.

And she was a drudge; all the household chores

Fell to the lot of 'her indoors.'

The odd little afternoon of whist

Was the only thing on her hobby list.

And my mother, with a bit of luck,

Might buy her one drink at the 'Dog and Duck'.

Was it any wonder, looking ahead,

That I viewed old age with dread?

I am now older than she was then;

And having more fun than I don't know when!

'Count your blessings'? Indeed I do.

And so, my friends, I hope, do you.

------------------------------------------------------------

THE QUEEN OF THE BATS

A poem for children

The Queen of the Bats in her dark, dark tower,

Was watching the moon at the midnight hour.

She let out a shriek that pierced the night...

'That wretched moon is far too bright!'

The moon just smiled in its appointed place,

With a look of benevolence on its face.

'Switch off the moon!' she screamed again

'The night is the Queen of the Bat's domain!'

But still the moon sailed by on on high,

Bringing its light to the midnight sky.

'Though you may shine as white as milk,

I'll capture you in my gown of silk!'

So saying, she sprang from the parapet,

With her bat-like wings as black as jet.

She aimed for the moon with all her might,

Swooping up to a dangerous height.

Up, up she went, still shouting out

'I'm coming, old moon, to put you out!'

But, just as she reached the stratosphere,

A cloud, that had just been hovering near,

Covered the moon! It was very weird........

The great big moon quite disappeared!

'I've won! I've won!' cried the wicked Queen;

'The moon will nevermore be seen!

All nights from now on with be black as pitch!

It all went off without a hitch!'

She flew back home feeling mightily glad

Because of the great success she'd had.

But her satisfaction was ended soon!

On the following evening............

There was the moon!

Burnished

2012-01-19T06:50:00.001+11:00

Brenda Bryant

WATERY WEDNESDAY

BURNISHED

(A Haiku)

The first sun of day

Softens the dull works of man,

Burnishes the sea.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

'No more talk of darkness, forget those wide-eyed fears'

NOUGHTS AND CROSSES!

In the game of noughts and crosses that we classify as 'life',

With the noughts as golden circles and the crosses marking strife,

It's up to us to choose the symbol that we speak about.....

Some choose golden circles and some choose strife and doubt.

For sure they figure equally upon each drawn-up board,

Although, at certain times, it seems our lives are dark and flawed.

If we let those days predominate and forget the days that shine,

We may start believing that life is never fine.

And if our conversations are littered with despair,

Others too will start to think that jewelled days are rare.

No more talk of darkness, for what good does it do?

Wide eyed fears exist, of course; they are nothing new.

Death, destruction, bitterness...... these we cannot forget,

But constant reiteration simply adds to the regret.

'Look for the silver lining'..... certainly that's trite,

But, in a way, the old-time lyric-writers got it right.

Freestyle

2012-01-18T19:00:00.001+11:00

SENSATIONAL HAIKU WEDNESDAY

http://youknowthatblog.com

FREESTYLE

Living like the birds

According to our own rules.

Freestyle in the trees.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

COMPATABILITY

4. ARIES with CANCER

Cancerians are loyal, but they're very needy too.

While Aries is hot-tempered and impatient, through and through.

Aries hurts Cancer's feelings, time and time again,

Never really understanding why Cancer feels such pain!

Cancer is 'deep' and sensitive, attractive at the start,

Obviously emotional, displaying the softest heart.

But need can turn to nagging; you must always be assured

That your love is reciprocated; this cannot be endured.

Cancer longs for creature comforts; Aries yearns for space.

Aries gets unpleasant and says 'Just get off my case!'

Jealousy is a danger, since Aries always flirts,

While Cancer is devoted and each new attraction hurts.

Cancer can be moody, always 'suffering' the past,

While Aries can't abide this! (Do you think you two will last?)

Cancer longs to cherish, but the feelings are too strong;

There's attraction at the outset, but quite soon, things go wrong.

Overwhelming love's attractive, but not to a Grizzly Bear!

Avoid a life of misery.

Just have a great affair!

Estuary

2012-01-18T18:28:00.002+11:00

IMAGINARY GARDEN

http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com

asks us to attempt a tanaga

ESTUARY

Time, like rivers , flows away,

What became of yesterday?

Is it out there, shining, free,

In the past's eternal sea?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PUSH-OVER!

Microfiction

I saw you push her in the drink!

So quickly I didn't have time to blink!

No! It was you! I'm glad you came!

Now someone else can take the blame!

Cleft Stick

2012-01-18T06:57:00.000+11:00

POETS UNITED

http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com

chose the words in blue

CLEFT STICK

We're in a cleft stick. How can we get out?

We're all puzzled and racked with doubt.

If we consume as we have for years

We know that it will all end in tears.

We'll pollute like mad and deplete the earth

Of everything giving life its worth.

If we stop buying how will it be,

To live in a stagnant economy?

One way we'll ruin our big blue ball;

The other way leads to nothing at all

With people starving and sure to die,

With nothing to sell and nothing to buy.

We should speak with a united voice,

But we don't know how to make a choice.

And so we fall silent and hope for the best

Just hoping humanity passes the test.

------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS FLASH!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!

Now that you are seventy.

You 'floated like a butterfly, stung like a bee'

And wrote the most awful poetry.

I'm not a boxer as anyone can see

But when it comes to writing doggerel you're very much like me!

Apodyopsis

2012-01-18T00:12:00.000+11:00

ABC WEDNESDAY

APODYOPSIS

All men spend a year of their lives doing this!

Yes, Google assures me it's so.

That is, eyeing-up ladies all over the place,

Imagining what's not on show.

But it isn't a simple as having a look,

And to save you the trouble of guessing

I'll tell you the word means much more than a glance;
They're involved in a spot of undressing!

Not really, you understand, nothing so gross;

It's all in the mind, so they say.

They're taking off garments, imaginary ones,
In an underhand sort of a way.
Now they don't choose old grannies or ladies who're plump,
It's always the young and the pretty;
And it's going on every day, in every place,
Just think how many times in a city!
If we could split open those addled young pates
We would see such a boring array!
Young ladies' bodies all blatantly bare!
Well, I think that's enough for today.
*
----------------------------------------------------------------------

SKINFLINT!

'Otto is rather tight-fisted', said Rita to her friend;
'He hates me asking for money. He hates being asked to spend.
But at last I've cracked the problem! The last time we had a row
I said 'Otto! I'm leaving! I'm going home to Mother right now!'
And Otto didn't argue; he didn't even turn a hair!
Without a word of argument he handed me the fare!
*
----------------------------------------------------------------------
PS

Last evening was a happy/sad occasion. Happy because we enjoyed our usual companionable discussion (films this time) and enjoyed good food as well. Sad because Pat, who has been a member for about ten years, is returning to live in Sydney and we're not likely to see much of her in the future.

Pat is seated at the front, wearing a brick-red top.

Full Throttle

2012-01-17T12:18:00.001+11:00

OUR WORLD TUESDAY

http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

FULL THROTTLE!

A calm and sunny afternoon was spent at King Edward Park;

Malcolm and I were taking-in the view.

It was all so peaceful there, except for the dancing waves,

And all the seagulls, screeching as they flew.

When, suddenly, up from the sea-front, came a revving motor-bike,

Roaring towards us up the steep incline!

He was soon gone, but, for a while, he ruined the atmosphere!

Motor-cyclist!

You were out of line!

------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS FLASH

NO BANK YOU

So far, so good in Australia

But now things are looking black.

Many thousands of bank employees

Are going to get the sack!

Our dollar value's soaring,

Exports are expensive too!

Buck your ideas up, Europe!

We blame it all on you!

Steam Dream

2012-01-17T09:10:00.001+11:00

BIFOCAL UNIVISION
http://bifocalunivision.blogspot.com
supplied the illustration

STEAM DREAM

Wishing idly, as in a dream,

I wished all smoke were turned to steam.

Steam from chimneys gets the blame,

But smoke and steam are not the same.

Steam is seen on the television,

Belching forth! But our derision

Is uncalled for. Steam, on high,

Goes off into the azure sky,

Hangs all puffy as clouds do,

Then fades away into the blue.

Smoke, on the other hand, hangs about

And it's something we can do without!

It's dirty, polluting and unpleasant,

And a great threat at the present.

Climate Change is just no joke

And much of it is caused by smoke.

But TV presenters like to show

Factory chimneys for they know

Belching chimneys demonstrate

Smoke pollution, which we hate.

Belching smoke? That is a sin,

But, viewers, don't be taken in....

Steam is pretty, steam is good.

Turn smoke to steam? I wish we could.

The scene above shows no pollution.

Swap smoke for steam.

There's a solution.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE LITTLE MATTER OF ETERNITY

So you fancy living for ever........ well, doesn't everyone?

We hate the thought that our little lives will be suddenly be done.

There are some who believe we never die, but float around somewhere,

In some sort of improved life way up in the sky.

I don't subscribe to this theory, and I ask those with these views

' If you'll be one age for eternity, which age will you choose?'

Babyhood may look very cute, but there is no denying

That 'forever', as one, would be rather dull........ all that dribbling and crying!

And would you like to be a teen, with all that that entails;

All that body-image angst, all that teetering on the scales?

How about all eternity as someone of middle age?

I've yet to hear anybody say that that's the perfect stage!

As to being, for ever, all elderly and tottery......

That doesn't strike me as much of a prize for winning the final lottery!

And so I'm sure that you will say you'd like to be twenty-one,

Now that's something to look forward to when your days on earth are done.

But wait! What about your children? They're not yet on the scene!

You'll have to go through eternity as though they had never been!

The whole thing's rather complicated. I can't make up my mind.

I think I'll just turn out the light when I leave this life behind!

Lady In Red

2012-01-17T06:41:00.001+11:00

Kaemerer

RUBY TUESDAY
http://rubytuesday2.blogspot.com/

LADY IN RED

This painting is enchanting and completely new to me.

(Why are some things well-known, and some we never see?)

I've never heard of the artist, but he may well be famous.

When it comes to painters I'm almost an ignoramus.

The internet has allowed me to enjoy works such as this,

Which, in an earlier era, I'd have been sure to miss.

I love the graceful figure, the hand touching the face,

The pose, half-turned, flirtatiously and yet with consummate grace.

Most of all I love the material, which falls with a lovely drape,

Hiding and yet exposing the young girl's perfect shape.

I feel I could reach and touch it; the texture is so real.

I know, with absolute certainty, how the folds of it would feel.

Of course, there's a little story; her beau looks second-rate;

She's open to all offers, and she can hardly wait.

Finally, look at that 'modern' shoe with its height-of-fashion heel!

What a celebration of timeless sex-appeal!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PAYMENT IN ADVANCE

She was gorgeous! She was lovely! She was sweet as apple pie!
And I told her that I'd love her till the two of us should die.
But she was a special lady and she only liked the best
And, on my meagre pittance, I couldn't pass the test.
So I told her, in all honesty, that one day I'd be wealthy;
That my father was quite elderly and really quite unhealthy.
I said that if she married me we'd manage for a while
On a promise for the future…… and she smiled that lovely smile.
She made me very happy. She made me very glad.
She kissed me very gently,
And went off and married Dad!
*

Produce

2012-01-16T22:17:00.000+11:00

THEME THURSDAY

http://www.theme-thursday.com

chose the theme

PRODUCE

Producing produce, I have found,

Really makes the world go round.

Opportunities for wealth

Definitely do not come by stealth.

Use your time and industry

Creating products carefully.

Every successful enterprise

Has filled the world with more supplies.

---------------------------------------------------------------

VITAL SKILL!

(And quite a production!)

There are many things in life I cannot do!

Many, many more than one or two!

So here's a certain skill

I'm attacking with a will;

It's something quite unusual and new!

Radish to toadstool! Everyone should know

How to include this in a magic show!

It's something that, frequently,

Others will ask to see!

Your popularity certainly will grow!

This world has need of many little ruses!

And now we see a radish has its uses!

It surely wins the title

Of something really vital!

Learn how today! I won't allow excuses!

Secrets in Stone

2012-01-16T08:44:00.002+11:00

MAGPIE TALES

http://magpietales.blogspot.com

supplied the illustration

SECRETS IN STONE

Your secret died when you died too, Girolamo.

The knowledge that was yours and yours alone.

Only you could take the bodies of dead people

And turn them, just like statues, into stone.

They lie, we know not where, and they are waiting

For another miracle-worker to arrive,

To breathe life into their cold, unfeeling bodies,

And let them, warm and moving, come alive.

Girolamo Segato (1792 – 1836) was an Italian naturalist, cartographer, Egyptologist, and anatomist.He participated in several archaeological expeditions to Egypt, where he became an expert in the techniques of mummification; however, most of his studies undertaken during these trips were lost. Upon his return to Florence in 1823, Segato developed a technique similar to mummification, but unique: rather than simply removing water from cadavers, Segato's method consisted of what appears to be mineralization or "petrification". He, virtually, turned corpses into stone! Segato took to the grave the secret of technique he developed, which despite numerous studies and attempts to imitate, remains mysterious. He died in 1836 at only 44 years, and was buried, along with his secret, in the Basilica of Santa Croce.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QUAGMIRE!

Old, old words...... 'quag' and 'mire';

One of these has been forced to retire.

'Mire' on its own is 'to be held fast';

We use it still so its day's not passed.

'Quag', on the other hand, meaning 'bog'

Is a place of mud and slop and sog.

I must say I've never heard it said

And it seems to me the word is dead.

Put them together, you get 'quagmire',

A place of danger dark and dire.

A place where one 'is held fast by mud'....

And that's enough to chill the blood!

The lady above may not survive!

The mud may gobble her up alive!

Politicians get 'mired' in debate;

Unable to move; in a parlous state.

And a 'quagmire' can be of a mental kind,

When we're in a 'bogged down' state of mind.

But 'quag' on its own, I'm afraid, is dead!

Just an old word that once was said.

Just Jesting

2012-01-16T06:32:00.001+11:00

MELLOW YELLOW

http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com

JUST JESTING

When would you wear shoes like these?

(If you wore them at all!)

Maybe in a Fashion Show

Or at a Fancy Dress Ball.

They don't look very comfortable,

But they'd certainly cause a stir.

( A brand of shoe called a 'Hush Puppy'

Is something I'd prefer.)

I think they're really clever;

I particularly like the heel,

But I have a very strong feeling that

They'd make my bunions squeal!

I'm reminded of Court Jesters;

They, too, wore 'curly' shoes

Cavorting round the banqueting hall

And proclaiming humorous views.

Shoes shaped like bananas!

There's a comical wheeze.

But if I wore these shoes on my feet

I'd soon crash to my knees.

------------------------------------------------------------------

BLOG!

I've always longed to swear but been too scared to,

I've longed to spit and snarl but never dared to.

Though I've been consumed with wrath

Like some elemental Goth

To lose my gentle image I've not cared to.

But I've become a Blogger only lately,

I'm no longer calm and ladylike and stately.

If I'm bitten by a dog

I scream 'Blog! You Blogging Blog!'

My frustrations have all gone, quite consumately!

So, all you Bloggers, learn to swear unfettered

For BLOG's a word that simply can't be bettered;

It's explosive, it has punch

And I've got a kind of hunch

That it sounds like something worse to the unlettered!

Don't offer any grovelling apology

You haven't voiced some hint of rude biology.

And they'll never hear you utter

Those expletives from the gutter.

Now I'll close before I eat my own tautology!

*
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
PS

I have my two youngest grandsons for individual lessons on Sundays now. We're no longer going to be picking them up at school during the week, so seeing them on Sundays instead will be great. After the lessons yesterday we went over to the park next-door for Harry to try out his new (larger) bike and Max to try out his new sports shoes. They both took it all quite seriously!

Harry

Max

Flop in the Kitchen

2012-01-15T22:39:00.000+11:00

POETIC BLOOMINGS
http://poeticbloomings.com
asks us to use a line from a the poem immediately previous to ours on her blog

FLOP IN THE KITCHEN

I long to see you rising

Reacting to the yeast;

I long to make

The sort of cake

That others think a feast.

But there you lie, inactive,

Just a great big soggy blob;

I have no power

Over fat and flour.

I'm no good at this job.

While friends of mine are bakers

Who bake with great panache,

And sell their wares

At local fairs

To make a bit of cash,

I'm just a hopeless failure!

My drop-scones simply drop.

So I'll never make

Another cake.

You, like me, are just a flop!

*
----------------------------------------------------------

ARE WE THERE YET?

It wasn't a case of 'Are we there yet?'
It was a case of 'Here we are!'
The problem was we were far from there yet,
And Greg was cooped up in the car.
We'd only just arrived in Australia;
It was 1974,
And a long, long drive through the open bush
Was, for him, an awful bore.
He was only four and too restricted,
The journey was way, way, way too long,
Though we tried to shorten it with stories
And, now and then, a little song.
We were on our way to the town of Orange
In New South Wales but way inland,
And the journey seemed to go on for ever.......
This was Australia, understand.
The name Orange was linked with the Netherlands,
'The House of Orange' and history.
Orange itself was a centre for cherries
(As it is to this day, quite famously.)
The trouble was we kept seeing oranges,
Groves of them growing on every side,
Gorgeous fruit hanging in the sunshine,
And whenever we saw them Gregory cried
'Here we are! This is Orange! Stop the car!
Let's get out! Don't keep on driving!
Look! This is Orange! See the Oranges!'
He was obsessed with arriving!
Hour after hour we drove through the countryside;
Poor little Greg was pinned to his seat!
But oh what joy when Orange came into view
And we all had great bowls of cherries to eat!
*

Tough Luck

2012-01-15T22:04:00.000+11:00

MAD KANE

http://www.madkane.com

gave us the first line

TOUGH LUCK!

A fellow was trying to hide

From his overly amorous bride.

He said 'Wait a bit!

It's time to admit

I got sea-sick the last time I tried!'

-------------------------------------------------------------

ON PARADE

(And now he's five and off to Big School!)

It's fantastic being four!

I've never been this big before!

Yesterday when I was three

I wasn't half as big as me!

See my birthday presents here!

Meant for a Big Boy, that's quite clear!

I've spread them out across the floor

So you can tell that I am four!

All For Show?

2012-01-15T19:26:00.002+11:00

Wordle

SUNDAY WHIRL
http://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com

We are asked to use all the words in the wordle

ALL FOR SHOW?

I contemplate the anchored yachts

As they're lying in the bay.

A charming spectacle they make

But they rarely sail away.

They lie dormant and at ease,

Almost still, just slightly rocking,

As little surface wavelets

Against the sides are knocking.

The harbour's dotted with such craft

But I look for crew in vain

There's no-one reeling in a rope

Or kneeling to scrub a stain.

There's no broad-shouldered sailor-boy

Looking crisply smart

Sniffing eagerly at the breeze

And looking about to start.

The depth of boating expertise,

Is something that I doubt.

A yacht is a status symbol

No rich man can do without!

Their playthings lie in the harbour

And never take to sea.

At least, from observation,

That's how it seems to me.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

RESOLUTION

This is a poster, one of three,

Issued at a time of adversity.

At the time of their printing the British Isles

Were only a matter of a few short miles

From devastation and despair.

Hitler was in France 'just over there',

And he was viewing the other side

Over the Channel, which was hardly wide!

From near where I lived I could view the sight

Of French headlights flashing in the night!

With many others I was sent

To safety far away from Kent.

Then Britain waited for the War

To reach the step of its own front door.

France had been conquored by 'the Hun'

And we knew we were the following one!

The posters lay ready to be displayed

And preparations were quickly made.

Then, quite surprisingly, it started......,

The Battle of Britain! The Lion-Hearted

Young men gave their lives on high,

Sweeping Hitler from the sky.

The War still had many years to go

Before we saw the last of the foe,

But the fear of invasion never returned,

And Hitler's plans had been truly spurned.

So this blue poster was never needed!

It's cheerful message never heeded!

The posters slowly moulded away,

And it seems that none are left today.

And yet I think it was rather fine!

A lovely crisp and clear design.

The repeated use of the little word 'your',

Would have made one feel one could cope with War.

It's a little piece of history

That could have worked, so it seems to me.

Looking Back

2012-01-15T14:04:00.001+11:00

I SAW SUNDAY

http://isawsunday.blogspot.com

LOOKING BACK

From the vantage-point of Sunday

I look back at my week.

These photos haven't much to say,

But, at least, they speak.

They speak of a friendly lunchtime break

In a restaurant by the beach;

Only a short way from our house

And so within easy reach.

The 'at the table' photos

Were really rather poor,

But I rather liked this shot,

Looking out of the restaurant door.

And here's a rather quirky shot

Of Malcolm leaving the place.

He looks suitably well-fed,

With a smile upon his face.

But glance down at his trousers

And there you will surely see

The funny old photographer

Who was, you've guessed it, me.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OUT OF SYNC

Carl was over sixty and in a rather desperate state.

For many months he'd trawled the bars, looking for a mate.

At last he saw a likely lass, looking rather cool,

Perched in a provocative pose, up at the bar, on a stool.

He sidled up, gave her the eye and said his opening line;

'I see you are the girl of my dreams! You're utterly divine!

So where have you been all my life?'

Her answer set him seething.

'A lot of the time' she answered him 'I was busy teething!'

The Model

2012-01-15T13:12:00.000+11:00

Isadora Gruye

IMAGINARY GARDEN

http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/

supplied the image

THE MODEL

Luigi was a family friend.

My Mama was delighted

To have a friend like Luigi.

'My friend, Luigi, the Sculptor'

She liked to say.

I visited him one day, with Mama.

I was six years old.

She held my hand.

'This is my son, Bertrand'

Said Mama.

Luigi looked at me closely.

'He shall be my model'

Said Luigi.

'He is a beautiful child.'

Mama glowed at the praise.

'He must come to me every day

At noon'

Said Luigi.

'And he must sit completely still

As I create my statue.'

And so it was

That I visited Luigi every day.

I had to sit on a hard seat

With my right arm

Stretched across my chest.

'Don't move a muscle!'

Said Luigi.

I began to fidget and fret.

'Be still!'

Shouted Luigi.

'Have you no feeling for art!'

I wept bitterly at home.

'Please don't send me back!'

I pleaded with Mama.

I told her how I could hear the other boys

Playing in the street

As I sat..... and sat....... and sat.

'Silly boy!'

Said Mama.

'One day you will be famous!

Your statue will be on display

In the Sistine Chapel!

People will look at you,

Admire you,

Talk about you!

Think how happy you will be then!'

So I sat.....and sat....and sat some more.

Then it was finished.

I came upon my statue in a junk-yard recently.

Luigi, it seemed,

Had never become famous.

He had died a pauper.

My statue was dirty,

Chipped,

Unloved.

But it was beautiful.

------------------------------------------------------------

PINK PERFIDY!

Pretty in pink? All soft and girlie!

Aha! Not this time! Shane, not Shirley!

The touches of red add a violent touch,

A fashion-statement? No! Not much!

A Drag Queen, Audrey Hepburn style!

A vicious look, not a gentle smile.

Bony knees are a giveaway.

The wary look has a lot to say.

The title, including the soft word 'kiss',

Gives a hint of Nemesis!

I imagine the 'dame' is really a cop,

Dressed to the nines and over the top!

I imagine experience is nil;

That's why 'he' doesn't quite fit the bill!

'He' looks slightly awkward, playing a part;

Rather new to the drag-queen art!

The wary look is directed at

A criminal, a dirty rat,

And one of the Underworld's 'ladies' too!

To catch 'him' who knows what he'll have to do!

The plot is thickening in my mind!

I'll read the book!

Wonder what I'll find!

The Always Never

2012-01-15T10:03:00.000+11:00

CARRY ON TUESDAY

http://carryontuesdayprompt.blogspot.com

we are asked to use the words from

'Unnameable' by Samuel Becket.

'Where now? Who now? When now?'

THE ALWAYS NEVER

The Now is always with us, a constant, never changing.

Never being otherwise, never rearranging.

For it is always Now right now, whatever the time or place;

The Now remains firm and steady, impervious to pace.

It is the one great certainty; Now will always exist.

It is an element of Time, not shown on a wrist.

So Who can grab a hold on Now and domesticate it?

No-one, for you see we can't anticipate it.

We anticipate the future, we nostalgicise* the past;

But the Now we cannot pin down! It's not that it goes fast,

It's just that it does not exist! It isn't part of When.

You cannot ask 'Where has it gone?' It is beyond our ken.

We're living in a nothing that isn't really here;

We can't associate the Now with Tomorrow or Last Year.

As soon as you have said the word it's gone, to be replaced

By another non-existent that's completely nothing-based.

So if you say you're living Now, think that, perhaps, instead

You're living in a nothing, so it could be that you're dead!

* Please don't tell me it doesn't exist! I like it!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS FLASH

SAFE AS HOUSES!

I'm nervous on the open road and even on a train;

I'm absolutely terrified when travelling in a plane.

But on a cruise-ship I feel safe because, well, after all,

Nothing bad can happen to something so wide and tall.

'It's safe as houses'....I hear those words ringing in my ears!

Oh dear! Another prospect to add to my list of fears!

Blue Days

2012-01-15T07:27:00.000+11:00

BLUE DAYS

I can't believe a year's gone by

Since Michael came to stay

To soak up the Australian sun

Growing more tanned each day.

Here he is in Greg's swimming-pool,

With Harry and little Max;

A very good place to have some fun

And simply just relax.

This year he's stayed in England,

And, at the moment,it isn't clear

Whether he'll visit us again.

Maybe he will next year.

(He says he reads my blog a lot,

Much to my satisfaction.

If he reads this personal note

I should get a reaction!)

------------------------------------------------------

ACCIDENTAL GRACE

(On a more serious note)

The enormity created elegance

The bare bones back-lit

Brought grace to the aftermath.

And so we see the monument

Rising of its own volition.