No Escape!

IMAGINARY GARDEN
http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com.au/
The theme is Halloween; I chose Witches

NO ESCAPE!

How terrible to be a witch
In the days of the ducking stool!
Say something out-of-line
And a swift death was the rule.
When one was strapped in the ducking-stool
It was only a matter of time
Before one died a dreadful  death,
Whatever was the crime.

The stool was held out over water
And the witch was dunked right in.
If she died that was certain proof
That she'd committed a sin.
But, if she lived, it was equal proof
That witchcraft had saved the day,
So the 'witch' was taken and burnt at the stake
In a truly horrible way!
'The good old days' ? I think not.
Nowadays were much more free
And you can cast your witchy spells
With equanimity.

*

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                                          Newcastle; NSW

BULGING WITH BLUES

Sailing into my home port after a week on the ocean,

I felt an unexpected joy that was sentimental emotion.

Newcastle isn't fashionable, it's full of industry,

And it's really quite peculiar that it means so much to me.

Growing-up in English prettiness, then living in London Town,

With a stint in glorious Cape Town, truly South Africa's crown,

A middle-sized city Down Under, designed for hard work and trade,

Surely can't compete with Sydney, which wins every accolade!

But sailing into the harbour, I rejoiced in the pleasant views,

And, most of all, in the blues and blues and blues and blues and blues.

*

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PS

Nearly all my pee-esses seem to involve food! Yesterday a group of us met to celebrate The Fifth Monday. I have instigated this, being President of the Probus. We normally do things on Mondays, but a few times a year there's a left-over Monday, a fifth one in the month, so I thought we could meet for lunch that day. We went to The Burwood Inn on this occasion and we enjoyed the fod and the company.

Whew!

THREE WORD WEDNESDAY

WHEW!

You expected me to be miserable when you gave back the ring.

Instead a lark hopped into my heart and it began to sing!

For weeks I'd nursed a worry, inside my turmoiled brain;

Our romance wasn't working, but I couldn't snap the chain.

When first we'd met we'd been so good that we'd even set the date.

We knew we were meant for each other and we could hardly wait.

But, recently, a shard of ice had inhabited my heart;

I knew I no longer loved you, but it was too hard to part.

Your dress was made, the cake prepared, the relatives invited,

Everyone spoke in glowing terms of the day we'd be united.

And so, today, when you blurted out that the love you'd felt had died,

And that you felt just terrible but you couldn't be my bride, 

I immediately felt detached, and sort of floating free.

I was no longer 'the partner'; I was completely me!

A great weight lifted from me; I was light as air;

I was my own person, not one half of a pair.

Of course, I was a gentleman; I didn't let you know

That I was really over the moon and you hadn't laid me low!

'You've broken my heart!'......yes, I said it, but my tongue was in my cheek.

'I'm sorry!'.......yes, you said it, and a tear ran down your cheek.

And then then we simply parted, regret was not a risk.

And my step as I walked down the street was brave and bright and brisk.

*
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                                       Cockle Creek Australia

NOT THE DANUBE

I saw the Danube one fine day

When I chanced to be on a holiday.

Dreams of romance were in my mind;

Who knew what I would chance to find

Strolling along by the river-side

Blue and sparkling, clear and wide?

'The Blue Danube' echoed in my heart

And strains of Strauss began to start.

I knew that I'd be swept away

To another age, another day.

*

Now, maybe the dull day was to blame,

But the river did not live up to its name.

I apologise to my Austrian friends

But I feel that they should make amends.

All that publicity led me to

A river which was quite un-blue!

Donkey-brown and not a glimmer

Of sparkles that could have made it shimmer!

Strauss cancelled his concert in my brain

When he saw the Danube was under rain.

*

Now, please take note of the illustration

With which I began this conversation.

Here is a river that makes no claim

To having a world-wide remembered name.

Here is a modest little stream

That meanders on and would never dream

Of dabbling in publicity

Or of being more than it's meant to be.

Behold the Blue River of which I speak.

Here, on the map, is Cockle Creek!

*

From Dapper to Rapper!

FROM DAPPER TO RAPPER!

'Dapper' and 'natty',

So top-hatty!

Words from the past

That didn't last.

'Spiffy', as well

Along with 'swell',

Slicked-back hair

With Brylcream care,

Neat bow-tie

And 'roving eye'!

Cigarette holder

Allowed to smoulder.

A different breed?

Yes, indeed!

*

Nowadays.....

Altered ways.

Not Errol Flynn

But a stubbly chin.

Young men choose

Huge tattoos!

Who'd have drempt

Of hair unkempt!

And nasal rings!

Such nasty things!

Nothing matters!

Shirts in tatters!

The rule, no doubt,

'Let it all hang out!'

*

That word 'dapper'

Doesn't suit a Rapper!

*

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BEAUT FRUIT!

A popular word in Oz is 'beaut'.

It certainly applies to fruit!

Red and orange, above all yellow,

Slightly tart but always mellow.

Laid in abundance on a platter

And nothing there to make us fatter!

These I came across on a cruise.

The problem was..... which one to choose.

*

Blue Moon

                                                Gerald Gee

BLUE MONDAYhttp://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

BLUE MOON

Another one from Gerald Gee, whose work I so admire.

He captures something in my past and builds a glowing fire

From a memory that has faded to a little flickering spark.

Somehow he lights on something and he always hits the mark.

I'd like to say I remember this very beachside scene;

I'd like to say the place-name and declare that's where I've been.

But it's not a concrete memory that Gerald paints for me;

It's a feeling...... of a memory........ of a place that used to be.

Somehow, somewhere, I saw that moon, and it was blue as blue;

And I saw that row of houses with the lamplights shining through.

I saw that lisping water and the little boats as well.

I saw my world in those colours, but where I cannot tell.

Gerald and I share memories, although we've never met.

 And I thank him for reviving dreams it's so easy to forget.

*

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UNFAIR DISMISSAL!

If God created everything,
Then he created me!
He gave me a slow, pedestrian brain
Bogged down in reality.
It was quite a different case with Saul,
For he was a Chosen One,
Though his youth was not propitious
When all is said and done.
It seems he viewed the Christians
As something less than dirt
And saw the followers of Christ
As people to convert.
However, the Road to Damascus
Was the site of his miracle cure,
And God created this famous scene,
Some people are quite sure.
Now, He either gave Saul the type of brain
To cope with things mysterious,
Or else He actually sent a Light,
Blinding and quite imperious.
In either case a change of heart
Was rapid and extreme;
Saul suddenly realised that Christ
Was God who reigned supreme.
He changed his name from Saul to Paul,
He threw off all his fetters,
And from henceforth he spread the Word
In deeds and speech and letters.
Fortunate Saul, to be picked-out
For this quite amazing act!
I'll never see a blinding light
And change! And that's a fact.
For God, if indeed he made my brain,
Has bogged it down in sludge;
Seeing both sides of questions
And disinclined to budge!
I'll never see a vision.
(Well, I haven't up to now).
Humdrum facts, it seems,
Are all that brains like mine allow!
When it comes to religious yearnings
I'm afraid my cupboard's bare!
So, if it's true God made my brain,
Is He completely fair?
*

This Takes the Cake!

BLUE MONDAY

THIS TAKES THE CAKE!

I hope no-one will scoff!

Least of all Van Gogh!

Will someone take a bite

Out of his 'Starry Night'?

*

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(Not Pam's house but very like.)

LADIES IN LAVENDER

'My favourite flowers? Well, I suppose........
Daisy, lavender and rose.'
Pamela speaking, and you deduce
That she's quaint and gentle, a quiet recluse.
But she's a feisty sort of dame,
A leading light, ahead of the game,
Very with-it and up-to-date.
She has arranged this special date.
Her cottage is such a romantic place
With wicker and pastel and cream and lace.
It seems she likes to set the stage
For an afternoon from a by-gone age.

An antique wash-stand, rose-trimmed pots
Blossoms from dainty garden plots.
A wedding photograph, sepia tinted,
That once was brilliant, newly-minted.
And round the corner another profusion,
Pale flowers in a tossed confusion,
Echoing the white of a clock nearby,
While creamy candles reach on high.
Seen through the window, the creek meanders
Past shady pathways and verandahs.
Hyacinths glow in the winter light
With the water beyond, a restful sight.
The feast is prepared, the table laid,
The cakes on dainty plates displayed.
Pam breathes a satisfied sort of sigh
'A tea-party! As in days gone by!'
Then twenty aging 'girls' rush in!
What a cacophany! What a din!
Each with a bottle of wine held high.
'Where's the corkscrew?' hear them cry!
In a second they ruin the restful mood!

All they can think about is food! ………. 

(And drink!)

*

Bending

BLUE MONDAY

http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/2010/08/blue-monday-blue-note-cards.html

 BENDING!

Albert Einstein said it, now others say it's true!

*

Here is our little planet! A bright little ball of blue.

It's floating in a universe which, seemingly, never ends,

But here's the really startling bit...... it's a universe which bends!

I find it hard to credit, and, for sure, the proofs seem few,

But people, cleverer than me, say that it is true!

However, they're not certain which way the bending goes.

There are several choices as the following image shows.

The opinions  at the moment seem to favour number one.

But no-one can really prove a thing when all is said and done!

Picture us in a large balloon, but one without an end...........

*

Sorry! Lesson over! I give-up, my friend!

*
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LAVENDER
(An Acrostic)

Like a lake of lavender
All the way to the sky.
Vast, vast swathes of lavender
Each way one casts ones eye.
Near to us and far away
Delighting heart and mind!
Ecstasy ! For all our senses!
Rapture, florally designed. 
*