Tittle-Tattle

FASCINATING BOOK COVERS
http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/2011/04/fascinating-book-covers.html

TITTLE-TATTLE

'Ooooh! What a saucy title!' I hear the young girl cry!

'Mama says I mustn't read it! Oh dear! I wonder why!

I saw  her take a peek inside when she thought I couldn't see!

I wonder why it's alright for her but not alright for me!

Does it mention flirting? I've tried that once or twice,

But Mama is quite insistent that it isn't very nice!

Does it go as far as .....kissing? There! I've said that naughty word!

That's the most.....suggestive....... word I think I've ever heard!

I go quite pink when I think about the......things......inside those covers!

Holding Hands! And Valentines! And Courting! And ......yes.....Lovers!

I'm being prepared for marriage! I wonder who it will be!

I'm sixteen now and that's the future that's mapped-out for me.

I wonder if husbands kiss their wives! Oh, what a naughty thought!

I know it involves having babies; ladies talk about 'getting caught'!

I've no idea what they mean by that! But I find it quite exciting!

If only I could read the book! It looks terribly inviting!

They say, in a century or so, the sexes will be equal!

This book looks terribly thrilling! I'd love to read the sequel!

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HUNTER HEAVEN!

The gently-rolling countryside we find in New South Wales

Always captivates me! I would say it never fails.

And that's because, before we came, I visualised this land

As being beach and desert, and predominantly sand.

I'd heard about the Outback, and I'd heard of Manly Beach,

I'd thought there might be 'pretty bits' but not within my reach.

So, when we drive out of the city and we find, almost at once,

The most delightful places, I know I was a dunce.

The vineyards, farms and villages, under a brilliant sky,

Make me love the Hunter Valley and it's easy to see why.
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Posh Made Easy

FASCINATING BOOK COVERS
http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/2011/02/fascinating-book-covers.html


POSH MADE EASY!

People who're posh always have big brains,

Or so they like to think.

They can go to Eton and schools like that,

If they happen to own a mink!

The most difficult crosswords devised by man

The posh can do with ease,

Because they're so terribly upper-class.....

We only come up to their knees!

So why this crossword collection?

Maybe it's full of 'posh' words.

Like 'mater' and 'pater' and things like that.

*

Seems it's only for the birds!

*
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WALKING ON EGGSHELLS

(An Acrostic)

Why is it, when you speak to me

Always I feel some timidity.

Looking for right words to choose,

Knowing that I am going to loose.

I want to feel at ease and free

Not suffering this rigidity!

Goodness knows I do my best!

*

Only I never pass your test.

Numerous times I've thought 'Don't care!'

*

Every time the tension's there!

Guessing what I've said to cause

Glazed expression and pregnant pause!

Should I treat you casually?

Heavens! That's how you treat me!

'Eggshell walking'! My description!

Less anxiety! My prescription!

Let me not be the one who squirms!

So we can meet on equal terms!

*

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PS

It seems almost obscene for me to be writing about trivia when Queensland is facing yet another disaster; this time a cyclone, the biggest ever recorded! It is said that the energy of it could power the whole world for a year! Of course, Queensland has a definite Cyclone Season, so they're accustomed to it, but large towns and big populations have sprung up since the last big one, so who knows what effect this will have. The storm surge is going to cause flooding again! Queensland's motto is 'Beautiful one day; perfect the next'!!!!!!

However, I will tell you about my Birthday Bash because, as the saying goes, 'life goes on'. In the first place, it wasn't really a Birthday Bash; it just happened that our annual Family and Friends concert for the Merry Mellows fell on my 80th birthday so I was only too pleased to kill two birds with one stone.

In the morning I went to Malcolm's Probus meeting, so that was an un-birthday affair, and we followed this with a light lunch at a Club.

Then the evening shenanigens started badly, as the heat was deadly; while we were preparing, moving furniture etc, we were all so hot that everyone appeared to have washed their hair! And an altercation with the Chef cast a slight cloud. However, the actual play was a huge success, because the audience entered into the spirit of things and hissed and booed and cheered in all the right places. It really was the best sort of birthday experience I could have had. And (for Ruth) Mike was invaluable as background music organiser and photographer. The photos aren't great as we decided to take them without a flash so as not to disturb the audience. So they're grainy, but they capture the atmosphere.

 The poster of last year's show, 'Jewelled Jeopardy'.

 This year's cast. The play is called 'Tiddly Pom'.

Most of the cast, with Hacker, the wicked landowner to the fore.

The Wedding Scene, during which the Vicar (and most of the audience) have too much to drink. How do you like my natty head-dress?

Now what shall I do for my 90th?

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Pink Perfidy

FASCINATING BOOK COVERS

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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!

*

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FLYING FREE!

 My World is scattered with Playgrounds where the little children play.

We see them roughing-and-tumbling on any sunny day.

They're up and down and round about, they're running free and wild

Enjoying life as, we would hope, can any little child.

But there are Special children whose lives are more constrained,

Whose childish minds are fuddled or whose little limbs are chained,

Chained by the power of illness, or an accident of birth.

Their fate is the most difficult of any child on earth.

Speers Point Children's Playground is designed for such as these.

Everything's created to put young ones at their ease.

Special swings and seesaws, special ways to play

When seeing may be difficult or chairs get in the way.

Nor is this park restricted to problem clientele;

Healthy little children are welcomed there as well.

They learn to play together and co-operation rules.

Surely this Special Playground is the very best of schools.

How wonderful a thing it is for us, the visitors, who see

Children who might be tethered, experiencing 'free'.

*

False Indeed!

FALSE INDEED!

A clever ruse! To trick the brain

Into consideration

Of all the falsity involved

In this strange publication!

'That's not purple!' the brain cries out,

'I must take a closer look!'

And, thus, the smart designer

Makes us open-up the book!

My guess is the subject's 'Royalty'

Or something of the sort,

For isn't purple a colour

They use a lot in court?

The crown, of course, is a give-away,

But see the little figure!

See how he is tiny

But the crown is a great deal bigger!

Someone who aspires, maybe,

And is then cut down to size?

Someone who ends diminished

Although he longs to rise?

The falsity of the colour

Is absolutely vital,

Because it fills us with intrigue......

'What's behind that title?'

*
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DEMOLITION

The young man returned

After long years away.

His parents

Were going to be delighted!

He ran up the old familiar steps.

And then he stopped!

*

Light

Where there should have been 

Solidity.

Space 

Where there should have been

Density.

Strangeness

Where there should have been

Familiarity.

*

For a moment he stood nonplussed,

Not daring to go further.

*

A passer-by called out

'Pulled down five year ago, mate.

The owners died.'

*

The young man returned to his car

And drove away.

*

Help at Hand!

FASCINATING BOOK COVERS
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 HELP AT HAND!

Such a simple cover and yet it says it all!

We're certain that this pencil has been guilty of some scrawl.

We see the writer writing, then binning the result,

Lapsing into lachrymose, when he's longing to exult!

We see him grip the pencil hard, until it snaps in two;

No doubt he first attacked it with an agonising chew!

We see the eraser on the end! It's nearly worn away.

The wretched scribbler cannot find the perfect words to say! 

Is it an apology that occupies his mind?

Is it a guilty conscience that makes words  hard to find?

Is it a declaration of undying, endless love?

Is he requesting money? Is that what he's thinking of?

Is he intent on telling lies about some situation?

Is he involved in two-timing or some other complication?

Whatever occupies his mind this book will help him out.

He'll find the very words to write, of that I have no doubt.

'Words to the Rescue'! Yes, indeed! And he need search no more!

Inside the cover 'the answer' lies! Isn't that what books are for?

*

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PEOPLE-WATCHING!

Are you a People Watcher? It's one of my favourite hobbies.

I keep watching, waiting, wondering in streets and shops and lobbies.

I wonder 'Are they married?' or 'What did she see in him?'

Or 'I think she must be thirty' or 'He looks rather grim.'

I wonder where folk come from and where  they're going to.

I guess their nationalities and their marital status too.

Sitting idly at a bus stop I can have the greatest time;

Thinking rude, but private, thoughts has never been a crime.

I can pass a happy hour or two drinking just one cup of tea,

For in every local restaurant there's food for thought for me.

Should I overhear some chat I'm in a private state of bliss!

'Why is that one saying that and this one saying this?'

It isn't that I'm nosey! (Well, alright, I am, a bit)

It's just that life's a puzzle and I make the pieces fit.

*

'Take these three gentlemen above..... they seem to fit the bill!

A fascinating trio and they're all grist to my mill.

(I'm the lady in the corner... you can't see me but I'm there;

In my shawl and bonnet on a little wooden chair!

With eyes downcast demurely I look modest and polite

But I am People Watching in a frenzy of delight!)

'Did they all arrive together or have they met by chance?

It's rather hard to gauge it with a surreptitious glance.

The bearded one looks worried. Is the hatted one his brother?

And is the letter that he reads a worrying one from Mother?

I wonder what's the matter. Should they return post haste?

Is there some awful tragedy at home that must be faced?

Then there's that other fellow; the dark glasses mean he's blind.

And yet he reads the paper! That so excites my mind!

Does he know the seated brothers?  Have they all met here by chance?

No! I'm sure I overheard their destination! Paris! France!

Oh now the plot is thickening! The 'blind' one is a spy!

( I am a nice Victorian girl but I am inclined to pry!)

They're going to catch the packet! The letter is a clue!

Is it from their bosses telling them what to do?

Are they looking at the paper for news about their crime?

Oh! If it were a murder! Wouldn't that be just sublime!

And what about that Gladstone bag? It looks a mite suspicious!

There might be a skull inside it! That would be delicious!

*

The stage-coach has arrived you say! And they're not getting on!

Something exciting will happen

The minute that I've gone!'

*

People Watching! What a hobby! Even way back then.

I'm off to Watch some People!

 People Watching once again!

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