The Avalanche

The Wordle

THE SUNDAY WHIRL

http://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/

asks us to use all the words in the Wordle

THE AVALANCHE 

It just seemed like a snowball falling,

That first intimation of attack.

Just the first boulder rolling

With a frenzy of snow on its back.

Then the white hill cracked with a loud roar

And a channel split open wide.

It was strange, the way it grew monstrous;

Sublime how it seemed to glide.

There was nothing wayward nor wilful;

Nothing rough or robust.

The great white shape settled gently

In a cloud of silvery dust.

Then all was still in the valley

On a blue and glittering day.

It was only then I discovered

It had taken your life away.

*

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ZERO GRAVITY

Up I go! And up and over!

Floating up in space.

A creature of another world, 

Exhibiting  airy grace.

I stretch myself along the ceiling, 

Gazing at the floor!

Normal standing, normal sitting?

 Nothing but a bore.

A nudge and I float down again,

With my arms out wide.

I twist, I twirl, I writhe, I squirm;

I push from side to side.

Normal standing, normal sitting?

Nothing but a drag.

*

But oops! Here comes motion sickness!

Where's that paper bag?

*

A Question

POETIC BLOOMINGS
http://poeticbloomings.com/
asks

A QUESTION

And the question is......

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, BRENDA?

(To be answered as an acrostic!)

What an unusual question?
Horribly tricky, I'd say.
Oh dear! I'd better get started.....

*
Don't want to sit here all day!

Often I've asked the same question

*
Yet never received a reply.

Only vague hints at an answer,
Usually just a bit wry.

*

The fact is, I haven't a notion;

How can I have any idea?
I'm too close to the subject, for certain.
Near, and yes, more than just near.
Knowing oneself isn't easy

*
Yearning for truth wastes my day.
Outward appearances don't help;

Useless to say yea or nay.
*

Am I good, am I bad, am I middling?
Reality says I'm all three.
Each one of us is such a mixture!

*

Besides, I'm too near me to see.
Regarding myself in the mirror
Each day is a bit of a bore
Now you ask me this difficult question!
Don't think I can take any more.
And, with that, she refused an encore!

*

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WAKE-UP CALL!

On his death-bed Arthur lay, all still and white

And they doubted if he'd even last the night.

Neighbour, Family and Friend

Said 'Poor Arthur! It's the end!'

For his chances of recovery were slight.

Then he smelt a quite familar kitchen-smell!

It was something he remembered very well!

A cookie smell for sure!

It came wafting through the door!

A smell that all through life had rung a bell!

Arthur stirred himself and rose up in his bed;

'I must eat a final cookie!' Arthur said,

And he shuffled down the hall

Keeping steady by the wall,

Hanging on to life by just the merest thread!

In the kitchen, though his hand began to shake,

He decided which hot cookie he would take;

But his wife's voice rent the air.....

'Arthur Hudson! Don't you dare!

Don't you think of touching those! They're for the wake!'

*

Please Remit Your Payment Promptly!

SATURDAY CENTUS

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com.au/

chose a very unusual prompt

PLEASE REMIT YOUR PAYMENT PROMPTLY

(This became a rather ambitious Acrostic and a Victorian homily at the same time!)

People like to pay their bills
Late or not at all
Easy come and easy go
And they don't heed this call!
Several days or weeks may pass
Even months before they pay!

*

Retailers get mad as hell

Expecting cash each day!
'Money doesn't grow on trees',
I have heard this said;
Tardy payments must annoy
*
You can give joy instead!
On the appointed payment day
Undo your purse in haste!
Regular payments are the thing!
*
Poor payers have no taste.
All those 'must have' things you've bought
You didn't really need
Misery comes from being in debt,
Even giving-in to greed.
No good will come of it, my friend,
Take heed of what I say.

*
Penury is the end result;
Regret is on its way.
Only the foolish get in debt,
Make sure you pay your bills!
Putting-off the evil day......
That leads to other ills.
Learn to budget! You will see
You can live more happily.

*
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                         People of Chilmark; Benton

A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!

The people of Chilmark were called together

(Because of the beautiful summer weather)

To demonstrate how they passed their time,

In an ideal place in an ideal clime.

'All look joyful!' the artist said.......

But they all look terribly grim, instead!

'Your oar is sticking into my breast!'

Yelled Mavis, who had quite a big chest!

'Let me out!' cried Fred, who was clutching a ball;

'You wont let me do the Australian Crawl!'

Timmy, the little boy in brown

Shouted 'Let me on! I'm going to drown!'

Not one of the crowd could raise a smile;

They kept on scowling all the while;

Writhing, bumping, churning, splashing,

Shouting, snarling, seething, crashing.

'Have fun!' cried the painter, 'Demonstrate

The ideal summer-holiday state!

Simply take off most of your clothes

And wallow about in a carefree pose!

My picture will be so free and active

That Chilmark will appear attractive!

Folk will flock to holiday

In your delightful sandy bay!'

But it will come as no surprise

That it didn't pay to advertise!

*

The Little Ice Age

THE LITTLE ICE AGE

About five hundred years ago Climate Change was rife.

Very chilling temperatures dislocated life.

Skating on the local pond may have been great fun

But people went for weeks and weeks without a sign of sun.

This Climate Change continued for over two hundred years

But, in 1800, the climate warmed, or so it now appears.

What we consider 'normal' has never really been so,

Although we are so used to things it's forgiveable that it's seen so.

Below you'll read of the miseries caused by too much ice,

And let me tell you in advance, life wasn't very nice.

Now, I am not a scientist, my views just vaguely forming,

And I do believe humanity is part-cause of Global Warming,

But it seems to me, taking a long view, that a bit of extra heat

Might be a very good antidote to the perils we may meet

From another Little Ice Age, which may be on its way!

The people of the future may look back to us today

And thank us for the extra heat that's there in the atmosphere!

Maybe we're being really kind to our little twirling sphere.

From the studies of Prof. Scott Mandia

Western Europe experienced a general cooling of the climate between the years 1150 and 1460 and a very cold climate between 1560 and 1850 that brought dire consequences to its peoples. The colder weather impacted agriculture, health, economics, social strife, emigration, and even art and literature. Increased glaciation and storms also had a devastating affect on those that lived near glaciers and the sea. Due to the cooler climate, snow covered the ground deep into spring. A parasite which thrives under snow cover, devastated crops. Additionally, due to the increased number of days of snow cover, the stocks of hay for the animals ran out so livestock were fed on straw and pine branches. Many cows had to be slaughtered.The cooler climate during had a huge impact on the health of Europeans. Famine killed millions and poor nutrition decreased the stature of the Vikings in Greenland and Iceland. Cool, wet summers led to outbreaks of an illness called St. Anthony's Fire. Whole villages would suffer convulsions, hallucinations, gangrenous rotting of the extremities, and even death.

And a personal quote from the time........ "The crops that had been sown were all completely destroyed.... Most of the hens had died of cold, as had the beasts in the stables. When any poultry did survive the cold, their combs were seen to freeze and fall off. Many birds, ducks, partidges, woodcock, and blackbirds died and were found on the roads and on the thick ice and frequent snow. Oaks, ashes, and other valley trees split with cold. Two thirds of the vines died.... No grape harvest was gathered at all .... I myself did not get enough wine from my vineyard to fill a nutshell." 

*

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COVER UP!

(From a Mad Kane first line)

A gal who was lovely and fair

Went around with her top half all bare.

She was grabbed by police

Who said 'This stunt must cease!

You really should grow longer hair.'

*

At The Crossroads

CARRY ON TUESDAY
http://carryontuesdayprompt.blogspot.com.au/


The words in blue are from the Eric Clapton song 'Let It Grow'


AT THE CROSSROADS

Standing at the crossroads

I look to left and right.

Is the one road shadowy,

The other bathed in light?

Is the one road pitted

And do rocks bar the way,

While the other is as smooth as silk

Not hinting at delay?

Choosing the easiest of roads

May not always be right;

Sometimes an easy highway

Can lead into the night.

Sometimes, when there are obstacles

Triumph lies ahead;

Think of the ending of the road

Not just the start instead.

*

___________________________________________________

BEFORE THE AFTER

Before the dinner-party

It looked all a-la-carty,

 Everything smart and neat

Placed before each seat.

Not a splash or drip

From any careless lip,

Not a  smudge of gravy,

Or a napkin gone all wavy.

Not a lipstick smear

On a glass that once was clear.

I thought I'd better plan,

Before the meal began,

To take a speedy shot

Before we messed the lot!

*

Unfinished

 alabaster shadow apples aloof symmetry immense jade falling intrinsic

KELLIE ELMORE
http://kellieelmore.com/


Asks us to use all the words.

UNFINISHED

A vase, before it's decorated

Is not , by me, appreciated.

Its lines, though pleasing they may be

Expressing perfect symmetry,

And having an intrinsic worth,

Casting a shadow on the earth

That is both pleasing and unique,

Are not revealed quite at their peak.

The patterns of apples and falling stars

Don't stand-out on unfinished jars.

Alabaster and glorious jade

May shine when they are just half-made,

But pottery requires more proof

That it's not cold and quite aloof.

The difference colour makes is immense!

Suddenly it all makes sense!

Having been colourless and quiet

The vases now are a noisy riot

Of flowers and faces and fantasy!

Yes! A colourful vase for me!

*

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THE BILLIONAIRE'S LAMENT

Little I ask, my wants are few,

Just a Cadillac or two,

Just a pad at Malibu.

That's all I need.

I'm quite abstemious as you know,

I don't need a lot of dough.

Just a trip to Jericho.

And that's not greed.

Of course a heated swimming-pool,

Children at a top-notch school,

All to make the neighbours drool.

Why not, I say.

Outfits coming from Dior

Persian carpets on my floor,

Why shouldn't I have more and more,

When I can pay?

The proletariat may whine

About these luxuries of mine,

But I continue doing fine

I make a splash.

Let them whinge and let them bleat,

Let them sleep out in the street;

Luxury is hard to beat.

And I've got cash!

*

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

Dear Little Weed

PINK SATURDAY

We are asked to include yellow with the pink this week.

DEAR LITTLE WEED!

Oh mourn for the little lantana, for it is noxious weed,

And though it tries to spread around we don't let it succeed!

We dig it out! We poison it! We treat it with revulsion!

And all we hope for, hereabouts, it's it's imminent expulsion!

Maybe in some parts of the world it's treated with respect,

But here, in the land Down-Under, death is all it can expect.

And yet lantana's little flowers are jewels of delight,

In pinks and yellows, every flower is delicate, yet bright.

The little florets in each flower are perfect in design.

Look at it under a microscope! It's a favourite flower of mine!

So, think, you may not care for yourself too much at all, indeed

You may consider that, compared to some, you're nothing but a weed,

And yet, to some admirers, you're more lovely than a rose!

Concentrate on your lovers and strike a cheerful pose!

*

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PIANO GLOW

Sweet, sweet dreams of long ago,

Bathed in a golden piano glow.

Memories of days long past

Which went too fast, which went too fast.

My mother spoke of them with yearning,

Longing for them to be returning.

Families gathered in the gloom

Of a well-upholstered Victorian room,

Listening to Alice playing

While, with hushed voices, they were saying

'Alice  plays so very well

And she's grown into quite a belle.

Soon a husband must be found.

Everyone must look around.'

Ah yes, the scene is sweet, no doubt,

But Alice had to do without

Freedom of choice, which we enjoy,

Just because she wasn't born a boy.

I sometimes think of days gone by

And give a sentimental sigh,

But then I recall the price they paid!

Give me today!

 Girls have it made!

*

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PS

This has been quite a week, socially. Not only did we see the film mentioned yesterday, but we enjoyed a Xmas-in-July lunch with friends as well. This is a nostalgic celebration in Australia, paying homage to cold Christmases overseas. Xmas is normally celebrated with cold food or a barbecue here, as the weather is normally hot, so the July meal is always a hot one.Here is Malcolm looking mellow.

Then our choir gave a concert at a local retirement village. Here are some of the choristers waiting to line-up.

Barbara B, Betty B, Barbara F, Dawn and Jan.

Betty D, Vi, Pam and Bev.

To close the week we put-on a performance of 'Cindy Eller' at a local Day Care hall, called The Coffee Pot. *

The cast surrounding a gentleman who was celebrating his 90th birthday.

* Our beach area was once heavily mined and a special little engine was created to traverse some of the narrow tunnels leading from the mine. This was nick-named The Coffee Pot, and the name has lingered in different guises.

*