Sunshine

THEME THURSDAY
http://www.theme-thursday.com/

SUNSHINE

                                                                     (An Acrostic)

Summer, and the skies are blue,

Unless, of course, it rains on you!

Never mind, tomorrow's skies

Surely will bring a nice surprise.

Heavenly weather soothes the mind;

It helps a lot when life's unkind.

Nature blossoms in the sun

Energy floods through everyone.

*

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WRITER'S BLOCK

It's happened to me in the past......

The ideas hit me thick and fast

When I am walking down the street

Or at the butcher's buying meat

Or giving pots and pans a scour

Or even soaking in the shower!

These are times I would not choose

To receive a visit from my Muse!

Sometimes it happens to me when

I haven't even got a pen,

Or even paper! Not a scrap.

And then my Muse, the poor old chap,

Decides, right there, that he's had enough

And leaves my brain in an awful huff.

Some time later, at my ease,

I'm at the computer saying 'Please!

Please return, beloved Muse!'

And, blow me, if he doesn't refuse!

I find he's given me the slip.

A very awkward relationship.

A thought-recorder's what I need.

And here and now I plant the seed,

Suggesting to technology

That it creates one just for me.

A thought-recorder would be new....

(No! Voice-recorders just wont do;

They're hard to activate I think

When ones hands are deep in the kitchen-sink!)

But the neatest invention of them all

Would be a service called 'Muse-On-Call.'

*

Flutterers

THEME THURSDAY

http://www.theme-thursday.com/

'Angels'

FLUTTERERS

Show me an angel and I'll believe

That angels do exist.

That would be proof positive

That I could not resist.

And I don't mean that 'little angel',

That toddler in your street;

She is just a human child

Pretty, warm and sweet.

And I don't mean that angelic nurse

That 'angel' by your bed,

Without whose dedication

You, most likely, would be dead.

I mean an angel from above,

With wide, expansive wings,

Who flutters up above you

And likes to take care of things.

These angels  are like fairies,

Just in a longer dress,

The reason for their existence

Is our need for happiness.

They are imaginary friends,

Harmless but quite unreal,

Although they have, I must agree,

A picture-book appeal.

I don't believe in Santa Claus,

And Ghosts I tend to mock,

And if I saw a Yeti

It would give me quite a shock.

We've got to cope all on our own;

Angels? I simply doubt them.

Although we wish that they were true

We've got to cope without them.

*

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IN THE PINK

Maxine! You look in the pink!

Why ever is it that you think

That you need so much medication

To prolong your healthy situation?

Worrying about ill-health I'm sure

Invites the doctor to your door.

My attitude is very simple....

If you consider every pimple

To be a dire and ghastly threat

You'll toss and turn and fume and fret

And think yourself into malaise!

Too much worrying never pays.

If every little ache and pain,

Bruise and rash and stress and strain

Makes you rush for another pill,

You'll be thinking yourself ill.

Get up from that cosy bed;

Go for a good long walk instead.

Maxine, heed my salutations.

*

I'm off to swallow my medications.

*

Nanny-Nap

THEME THURSDAY

http://www.theme-thursday.com/

asks us to write about Afternoon Delights.

NANNY-NAP

'I'm not going to sleep my life away'......

These are words my Mother would often say.

Even when she was ninety-four

She made absolutely sure

That she didn't waste a single minute

And all the wonder that was in it.

Though she was just sitting in a chair

She chose to be utterly aware.

I am not made of such stern stuff;

I often feel I've had enough

Of all the to-ing and the fro-ing;

That's when I feel my pace is slowing.

It's after lunch I take my ease,

Recharging all my batteries.

Just the briefest half an hour

Revives the sense of life and power.

I really enjoy my nanny-nap......... but

I can hear my Mother saying 'Tut-tut!'

*

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BLUE HEELERS

Though not, in reality, blue, these dogs display a tone

Which has a certain blueness showing through.

They are Australian cattle-dogs, bred to keep the cows in check,

And they are named for the useful job they do.

They are called 'Blue Heelers' because they nip at heels,

Something  cows make sure that they avoid.

They are tough, reliable and fast and very easily groomed

And they show their feelings when they're overjoyed.

And here are Blue Heeler puppies, with Red Heelers alongside,

All of them so eager for a feed.

Cute when they are babies, hard-working when full-grown.....

All in all a very worthwhile breed.

*

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PS

A no-hoper in America produces a very tacky video and it results in this terrifying image in Australia, on the other side of the world! I very much doubt if the Prophet would have approved! 

Ageing Gracefully

THEME THURSDAY

http://themethursday.blogspot.com/

chose the illustration.

AGEING GRACEFULLY

Few things age as gracefully as books;

Though worn they still retain appealing looks.

Though their spines become more tattered,

And they're sometimes coffee-splattered

Or grease-stained by enthusiastic cooks.

*

I speak of books with character, of course;

Such as 'Fairy Tales Translated from the Norse',

Or 'Traveling in Persia',

'How to Overcome Inertia',

Or 'How To Send Your Messages by Morse.'

*

I don't include the modern paper-back,

Which may be written by a passing hack,

But books of ancient leather

Lined up on shelves together,

Alongside some historic Almanac.

*

I sometimes wish that I were such a book

And I could show that aged-but-lovely look;

That my wrinkles could prove charming,

And not quite so alarming!

But I'm the girl the book-look quite forsook!

*

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I'M BY THE FROZEN PEAS!

How did we do our shopping before the mobile phone?
(Yes, 'you' call it something different, that I know.)
But, how did we do our shopping without a dialling-tone,
In those dark, dark ages not so long ago?
I pass them in the aisles with 'something' glued on to their ears,
A look of strain upon their youthful features,
And I hear them snarling ' Make your mind up! Lemonade or beers?'
And my heart goes out to these poor anguished creatures.

'They haven't got the small size!'

'No! It's quite another brand!'

'Well, how am I to know your Mother hates it!'

'They've got tomato-flavour!'

'Hell's Teeth! Can't you understand?'

'Who cares how highly Uncle Freddy rates it!'

'The round one or the square one?'

' Well, you bought that sort last week!'

'Check in the kitchen cupboard, on the shelf!'

'Well, strawberry's my favourite'.

'Do you only want one leek?'

'To hell with that! You do the job yourself!'
*
In the days before technology we sort of worked it out.
When we shopped, there wasn't one thing that we missed.
Life was simpler, faster, neater, and more restful, without doubt,
In the days when Mother had a SHOPPING LIST!
*

Fate

THEME THURSDAY
http://themethursday.blogspot.com/
supplied the prompt

FATE

An ant may crawl across the ground

Full of joi de vivre

Until he's stamped on by a boot

And has to take his leave.

Fate plays some nasty tricks sometimes,

Whether we're ants or men,

We know a boot may stomp on us,

Though we're not certain when.

Just take this egg, so cruelly cracked,

With its yolk all unprotected,

Fate surely played a trick on it,

When it was least suspected.

While other eggs in ordered rows,

Look brown and porcelain-ish,

Ready to serve as all eggs must,

Whether they're Dutch or Danish,

Our broken egg's a useless thing,

Maybe already smelly,

Destined for a garbage bin,

Not some up-market deli.

Did someone drop a rock on it?

Did a bird fly down and peck?

What form did Fate take in this case,

Creating a total wreck?

It's Mother Hen was oh so proud

When this little egg appeared;

After all the strain of pushing

She, with a cackle, cheered.

To think that all her effort

Has been wasted after all!

When she so hoped that it would be

The pride of the shopping mall!

The other eggs look smug I think,

They think they have fooled Fate,

But it will get them in the end,

When they're dished-up on a plate.

*

The moral of this story is

'Fate always wins the fight.' 

And if we thought too much about it

We wouldn't sleep at night!

*

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COBBY CORN

Corn on the Cob? Could anything be blander?
But corn plus zing and nothing could be grander.
Easy as can be, tasty and hearty
With everybody chomping at that special party.
A dribbly success from the time you begin,
But you might need a napkin to wipe your chin!
My recipe's for four so make sure you multiply
If the whole of your local soccer team comes by.
Mix honey and mustard with that dash of margarine;
Go on! Splash out! Don't be mean!
Microwave on high for less than a minute,
Then get a dish and put your corn in it.
Pour over marinade and and let it sit a bit.
Already the smell says 'This is it!'!
Microwave for eight minutes, giving corn a turning
Halfway through; it'll cook without burning.
A great addition for any meal,
And for a barbecue, just ideal!
*

Ingredients
4 corn cobs, prepared. 2 tablespoons honey. 2 tablespoons wholegrain mustard.
4 teaspoons margarine
*

The Clattering

THEME THURSDAY

http://themethursday.blogspot.com/

supplied the prompt

THE CLATTERING

Surely you can hear them,

The footsteps on the stair!

The clattering, terrified footsteps,

The danger lurking there.

The looming figure behind him,

The endless flights below,

The breathing, sharp and rasping,

The speed that is oh so slow.

The eyes fixed on the glimmer,

The little spot of light.

The clattering of footsteps;

The eternity of flight.

The round and round of descending,

The feet that slip and slide.

The nakedness of discovery,

With nowhere left to hide.

Round again and round and round,

And yet again round and round,

And, echoing through the building,

That dreadful clattering sound.

*

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TWIN SOULS!

Two souls with but a single thought, two hearts that beat as one!

I just can't think of anything worse! There wouldn't be any fun!

Just imagine if your spouse thought just the same as you!

You'd just sit around in silence! There'd be nothing else to do!

What would be the point of speech if you knew in advance

Exactly what he was thinking! So much for pure romance!

No! Give me a relationship with differing points of view!

Give me lots of pleasant argument and a good row, maybe two!

I want to be stimulated, not buried in eiderdown!

Give me an 'opposite number' and I can go to town!

As for the 'heartbeat' business, who wants to act as one?

Hearts have different rhythms when all is said and done.

If my partner's out on a five-mile hike and I am sitting at ease

I don't want his palpitations! How ridiculous! Please!

No! I'm not one for 'mushy stuff'; as far as I'm concerned

People who look for twin souls often get their fingers burned!

Give me Friendship any day! Leave Romance on the shelf!

I'd rather keep my Heart and Soul entirely to myself!

*

Flip!

THEME THURSDAY
http://themethursday.blogspot.com/

FLIP!

Onamatapoeia! It plays such clever tricks!

By it our use of language is enriched.

We've been creating 'sound-like' words ever since the dawn of time,

And very, very few are ever ditched.

*

Take 'Crash' and 'Bang' and 'Plop' and 'Zoom',

Take 'Sizzle', 'Sniff' and 'Gurgle', 'Whack' and 'Screech'!

Such words are so descriptive, such inventions of the tongue,

Such wondeful embellishments of speech!

*

And 'Flip' is a great example! It really says it all!

Hear the coin as it's tossed and then it's turned!

*

Well, that's all for today, folks! I know you'll all say 'Wow!'

When you realise a lesson has been learned!

*
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A LOO WITH A VIEW!

I wonder who could possibly guess

This vantage point and its address!

A circular window designed for views:

A lake designed for an evening cruise!

Surely I must be somewhere smart

Where turrets and windows play a part!

There's not the slightest indication

That I'm in a room at the Woy Woy station!

And what a room! Just one of many

Where people go to 'spend a penny'!

Whatever epithets others choose,

Australians call such places loos!

One sits at one ease in this fair 'loo'

And they don't charge anything for the view!

*

Over She Goes!

THEME THURSDAY

http://themethursday.blogspot.com/
'Jump'

OVER SHE GOES!

What an athletic posture! What a gigantic leap!

Maybe, on the other side, she'll fall all in a heap!

Just watch Grandma jumping! See that enormous bound!

Maybe, on the other side, she'll crash down to the ground!

*
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RED BOOTS.

My friend, Roma, is over eighty

But, on her, the years aren't weighty!

Those ruby boots must surely say

'This lady's living for today!'

*

Looking Back!

THEME THURSDAY

http://themethursday.blogspot.com/

supplied the prompt

LOOKING BACK!

Cross out! Erase! Each awkward phase!

Each careless word! Each stupid phrase!

Banish for ever each worthless thought!

Block-out the blips of every sort!

Nullify each bad memory,

Slip of the tongue and banality!

Forget each silly painful scene!

Wipe the past completely clean!

See a life come into view

Pristine, noble, wise and true!

*

You'll find a life that's very fine!

But, certainly, it wasn't mine!

*

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COMPATABILITY!

It really takes another snail

To love that rather slimy tail.

It really takes another worm

To appreciate that special squirm.

It really takes another pug

To appreciate its ugly mug!

And only another porcupine

Can snuggle up to a spiky spine!

It really takes another eel

To feel the way an eel should feel.

It really takes another horse

To want romance to take its course.

It really takes another goat

To want to cuddle and emote.

*

And it takes someone as odd as you

To love you just the way I do!

At Last!

THEME THURSDAYhttp://themethursday.blogspot.com/2010/10/thursday-october-15-2010-knot.html

AT LAST!

I had loved her with a passion that could not be surpassed

But she was a highborn lady and I was of lower caste.

She never even glanced at me! Each day I shed a tear

For my love kept growing stronger year after year after year.

At first we were both children; I was her servant then.

If she dropped a little toy I would pick it up again.

And, sometimes, her fingers would brush my own, and I would feel a thrill;

I only stopped from declaring my love by an effort of great will.

Then we both grew into adults. And, oh, this was so hard!

Sometimes she passed close to me when I was sweeping the yard.

Her beautiful gowns dragged on the ground; their tracks like those of  snails!

I swept them, hardly daring to, those heavenly silver trails!
*

One night, in a dream, she came to me and 'What would you give?' she said,

'To be as close to my body as the hair upon my head?'

'Anything! Anything!' I cried out; 'No price is too much to pay!

Take my life! My soul! My heart! I give it all away!'

*

And here I am, a silver snake, like a knot above her heart.

I hear it beating constantly; I know we'll never part.

I lie here on her glorious tanned and perfect breast;

And I hear her say 'Of all my jewels, this is my very best.'

*

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This poem isn't about a dog at all! It's about the closure of our Steel Works ten years ago. 

GUARD DOG.

Splay-pawed, crouchful,
Head down but watchful,
You have sat at our gate for many a year,
Your immensity sprawled at the end of our garden.
Dark, canine,
Knowing your place;
Guarding us.
You have protected us,
Our dignity, our sense of worth,
Our livelihood and our pride.
True, you have been no beauty,
Your fur rust-stained,
Your teeth tarnished,
Your claws blunted by time.
Your breath has clouded our skies;
It has hung, like a malodorous curtain,
Veiling our horizons.
Our lives have been your diet.
Into that great mouth at morning,
Spewed out at sundown.
Your hunger has been insatiable.
Even at night you have demanded, constantly, to be fed.
Your stomach has rumbled;
Your eyes have gleamed watchfully.
There has been no let-up.
You have been both servant and master.
Yet such a comforting presence you were.
We listened to your breathing in the dark
And were secure.
Your kennel is shabby now.
Your garden worn and patched.
Your old bones scattered
By your old bones.
Now comes the end.
The kindly needle,
The last yawn.
You will be replaced,
But you will be missed.
Goodbye Guard Dog, Old Friend.
*