Follow the Leader

SUNDAY SCRIBBLINGS suggests FOLLOW as a topic this week.

http://www.sundayscribblings.blogspot.com/

FOLLOW THE LEADER

See my grandsons stepping out.

One's the leader without a doubt.

Harry, so very sure and steady;

Max a toddler, a mite unready.

The future seems to lie ahead

With Max to follow Harry's tread.

But will things change as years go on

And these lovely 'baby' days have gone?

When they're grown-up will they find

That Harry's the one who walks behind?

Oh to be around and see

How the future years will be!

Find another poem about Harry and Max  here:

http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2008/06/tree-is-tree.html

Two-Up

This is one aspect of ANZAC Day. See

http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2009/01/274pilgrimage.html

for a more heartfelt rendition.

This blog is also on Allvoices
http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2009/04/two-up.html

Visit for interesting articles.

TWO UP!

Most people will not understand this curious little phrase

But Australia and New Zealand know 'It's just one of those days'.

Today we celebrate ANZAC, Gallipoli and 'mates',

Recalling fallen heroes and other wartime greats.

The dawn will find us standing all reverently, heads bowed,

But, when that time is over, guess where you'll find the crowd!

They'll be off to the nearest 'boozer', downing a pint or two,

And playing 'Two Up' madly with others of their crew.

In 'Two Up' you toss a coin and guess the heads or tails,

But it's a gambling pastime, and you know what that entails.

It was played by prisoners of war in prison camps  they say,

But it was banned when peace arrived and still it's banned today.

Except on ANZAC DAY! Yippee! How all the coins are tossed!

And that is how we celebrate a battle that we lost!

Playing Two-Up on ANZAC Day in the Antarctic!

Protect Me!

PHOTOHUNT 
http://tnchick.com/
suggests the theme 'PROTECT'


PROTECT ME!

Two burly men in red and yellow;

Each one, I'm sure, a handsome fellow,

Though they are turned away from me,

Gazing out at the surf and sea.

I'll never need their ministrations!

 I'm averse to tricky situations.

Why risk rip-tides; why risk sharks?

It's safer in the shops and parks!

But, if they glanced in my direction,

I'd probably ask for their protection!

Here is my 'Triangles' Photohunt entry
http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2009/04/lucky-escape.html

Light and Shade.

Shadows plus reflections for SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY
http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/


LIGHT AND SHADE

Shadow showing and reflection

Almost in the same direction.

Here, my back is to the glass

And the little tugs that pass.

Yet we see a shadow spread

From a roof-truss overhead.

Different angles, different lines,

And a sun that hides but shines.

Shimmer up and shadow down

All on a day in Sydney Town.


More interesting shadows here:
http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2009/03/plusmystic-mosaic.html
http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2009/03/lazy-ladder.html

To Stand And Stare

TO STAND AND STARE.

An old-world fence that speaks of farms;

We half-expect sheep bleating,

But here we have some beach-side charms,

The sand and ocean meeting.

The Autumn calm is moving in,

Mellow the sun is growing,

The drifting clouds are white and thin,

And soft the breeze is blowing.

I love these gentle Autumn days;

The Summer heat is tiring.

I'll revel in the soft grey haze.

I'll lean on the fence, admiring.
*

The Nuclear Family

Written for

EASYSTREET PROMPTS.

http://easystreetprompts.blogspot.com/2009/04/prompt-519-nuclear-family.html

And also to be found at
ALLVOICES
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/3053515-nuclear-family

THE NUCLEAR FAMILY!

All right! I'm an old granny and I'm probably naive,

But I have to speak out forthrightly and say what I believe.

I don't refer to Mum and Dad, two kids and pussy-cat.

No, the Family I speak of is much more grim than that!

I speak of the 'Nuclear Family' as all those great World Powers

That blithely say to others 'Hands off! The bomb is ours!'

Iran and North Korea may be an awful worry

But they won't discard their nuclear plans, not in any hurry.

But, dare I say it? Silly me! Couldn't the USA

Decide to get rid of all its bombs, yes, throw them all away?

(Well, maybe keep just one in case the others played unfair!)

Surely they cannot need the awful pile that they have there!

Then others with their stock-piles would want to play the game!

And surely those Rogue Nations would want to do the same!

The Bomb has loomed for my whole life (and that is pretty long!)

Will someone please explain to me why this idea is wrong!

HOORAY!
They listened to me!
From the BBC April 24th!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8015897.stm

Quotes:

US and Russian negotiators have begun to work on a new treaty aimed at reducing the number of nuclear weapons.

"We are sure that this treaty could promote confidence and predictability in the world."

The US in particular believes it will give them greater moral and political force against countries with nuclear ambitions such as Iran and North Korea, our correspondent adds.

A Convict's Ghost!

                                                                                                       Cheney

 

MEME EXPRESS

http://memeexpress.blogspot.com/2009/04/comedy-history-or-tragedy.html

calls for a tragic  tale.

Here's mine.

(The above illustration is something of a mystery. When I was looking for a picture to illustrate my account of a convict's death on the Hawkesbury River, near here, I came across this depiction entitled 

'Ghost of a Convict; Hawkesbury River' It cried out to be used but I'm not sure what lies behind it! )

Solomon Wiseman was an early 'settler' in Australia.
His complete story can be read in an earlier blog entry here:
http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2008/11/192solomons-wisdom.html



A CONVICT'S GHOST!

Solomon Wiseman was a rogue, working for him was stressful,

Though you find yourself admiring him for being so successful.

Many convicts worked for him, often for seven years,

Having to cope with the lashings, the insults and the jeers.

One man, let's call him William, had completed four years at last,

Four years of deprivation were, happily, in the past.

A remark about 'good behaviour' was noted on his report,

So a ticket-of-leave was justified and a ticket-of-leave was sought.

William wanted to see his sweetheart, who lived in Sydney Town,

So he plucked up courage to ask for it and Solomon turned him down!

He not only rejected his pleading but punished him as well

By putting him under an overseer whose methods were pure hell.

William was put on a road gang, with leg-irons to hold him fast.

But against all odds William got away. Though I fear the die was cast.

He tried to swim the river, but the leg-irons with which he was bound

Were much too weighty for swimming and William, young William, drowned.

Those leg-irons are still heard clanking, or so the locals say,

A message from young William, who failed to get away.