Ethnicity

BLUE MONDAY

ETHNICITY

I described a show as 'Ethnic'

And I thought I knew what I meant.

Somehow I saw someone 'Ethnic'

As living in a tent,

Wearing lots of gaudy beads,

Dancing to exotic beats,

Dressed in brilliant colours

And eating strange sugary sweets.

'Ethnic' meant speaking a language

That was gibberish to me,

'Ethnic' meant having different ideas

Of home and family.

Then I looked the word up on 'Google'

And found, to my surprise,

That 'Ethnic' doesn't mean 'darker-skinned'

Or 'having oval eyes'!

'Ethnic' means 'Belonging

To a group in a foreign land'.

So here was an explanation

That I could understand.

I belong to a cohort

Of 'English living in Oz',

Held together by memories

Of our Homeland that once was.

I don't wear brilliant colours,

My skin is a boring beige,

But I, too, could do an 'Ethnic' dance,

If I chose to, on Life's stage!

*

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THOROUGHLY MODERN GHOST

If there were ghosts in this modern age

They'd inhabit technology.

They'd hide in the corners of computers

And haunt creatively.

They'd be very poltergistic

In very modern ways;

They'd send us curious messages

And cause untold delays.

They'd do spirity things in the keyboard

Causing mis-hits and mistakes;

They'd make curious tingaling noises

And send us email fakes.

They'd make us lose our programs;

They'd make the screen go blank.

Forget about gloomy corridors

And dungeons dark and dank.

These modern ghosts would never stoop

To just saying 'Whee!' or 'Boo!'.

They'd live inside our computers.

 In fact, I think they do!

*

Aftermath

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

BLUE MONDAY

AFTERMATH

How quickly the excitement passed.

Now all is drab again.

With London approaching winter,

When it will, most likely, rain.

I remember when it was Sydney

And we were on a high.

How soon it slipped into the past,

Into the 'days gone by'.

This picture captured the magic

A pink moon in a sky of blue,

When London was showing the Universe

All the things that it could do.

'The dust cart follows the Lord Mayor's Show'

My mother used to say.

'To travel is better than arriving'...

Be that as it may.

We live on anticipation,

We feed on memory,

And in between there's a moment

Of breathless history.
*
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Mad Kane gave us the first line.

JUST WAIT!

A woman who just let it slip

That she didn't give waiters a tip,

Got a hot coffee (large)

Down her decolletage

And was crowned by a great big egg-flip!

*
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Puzzlement

BLUE MONDAY

PUZZLEMENT

So China sets about making things

And does it with a will!

But I've a funny feeling

There's been a bit of over-kill!

By manufacturing everything

And paying workers poorly

China's affected other countries

And they've suffered sorely.

Factories have closed down

In countries in the West.

'Let's leave it all to the Chinese

Because they do it best.'

But all the millions of unemployed

Have little money to spend!

And that is bound to hurt 

The Chinese people in the end.

If noone buys the Chinese goods

Exports will simply stop

And then the Chinese wages

Will drop and drop and drop.

We sink or swim together,

Co-operation's best.

It's no good being self-centred

And ruining all the rest.

I know nothing of finance;

My case may not be strong.

But it seems to me that, somewhere,

We've got the whole thing wrong!

*

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

                                                           Brenda Bryant     

PROMISE

(A Haiku)

Now we see the sky

And the green grace of the leaves.

Soon will come the grapes.

*

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

PS

Rebecca and her husband and son spent a lovely day at Jimmy's Beach earlier in the week. She took a lovely set of photos, which it is a joy to share.

Brian's private Paradise

Good to be alive.

Sand between Blake's toes.

Breeze-blown Rebecca.

Playing porpoises.

Bliss for Banjo.
(Becca AND the beach!)

A Good Idea

BLUE MONDAY

A GOOD IDEA

Idealism at its most ideal.

Some would say utterly unreal.

And yet this long verbal recital

Does say something really vital.

Progress is worshipped far and wide

As though this old world can provide

More and more for more and more.

Was that what it was created for?

I pay you and you pay me;

Money circling eternally.

Everyone must have employment. 

Whatever happened to enjoyment?

Some love to work. Well, let them do it.

They think that there is nothing to it.

But other people like to dream,

Not get involved in a get-rich scheme.

Why can't the poor Greeks be applauded,

Congratulated and, yes, lauded?

They have the sun and the olive trees,

And other delights designed to please.

All they need is their daily bread.

Why can't they get that into their head?

The Germans are made of sterner stuff;

They very rarely run out of puff.

Their national product gets bigger, bigger,

Rising to an enormous figure.

But if they carry on that way

They will, possibly, rue the day

When work for work's sake rules the land

And nothing goes quite as they planned.

They'll reach a time when there's no more money......

And Germany isn't all that sunny.

They'll envy the Greeks who take their ease

Lying beneath the olive trees.

Buckminster Fuller, clever old chap,

Says 'Greeks! Don't fall into that trap!

What matters it if your coffers shrink?

Lie in the sun, my friends, and........think'.

*

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FREE-WHEELING!

Angeline was an awful prude,

She never showed her skin.

She was always covered from head to foot

And was very aware of sin.

Her mother had said she must keep herself

Away from the common gaze;

'Ladies' she'd said ' Are fully-clothed

And always wear their stays.'

Angelina was well-behaved

And did as she was told,

And throughout the years of her girlhood

She was as good as gold.

However, her beauty was so great

That the men became aware

And fantasised about the body

That lay under the outerwear.

On her eighteenth birthday

She received gifts galore.

Most of them were ordinary,

Bought from the local store.

But Ben Balonky gave her a bike

With a little silver bell.

But he thought he wouldn't tell her

That the bike was under a spell.

'It's called 'The Lady Godiva'

Said Ben, with obvious pride;

'Why don't you jump on it right now

And go for a little ride?'

Excitedly Angeline mounted

Fully clad, of course,

And the magic made her fantasise

That she was riding a horse!

Off came her thick wool stockings!

Off came her blouse and stays!

Very soon her nudity

Was revealed to the public gaze!

'Tally Ho!' shouted Angeline

'This is the life for me!

Mother! You didn't tell me

About the joys of nudity!'

What happened to Angeline after that

The history books don't teach,

But I bet that she spent her holidays

On the nearest Nudist Beach!

*

Time Traveller

BLUE MONDAY

http://smilingsally.blogspot.com.au/

TIME TRAVELLER

Next time you go to London,

Make sure that you're aware

Of this celebrated gentleman;

You'll find him everywhere.

He's lived before; he's living now;

He'll be living when you're gone.

His immortal life-span 

Goes on and on and on!

The plaques look very authentic,

But that is just a rumour.

They're here to show you that the Brits

Still have a sense of humour.

But wait! There's more! Why, here he is!

On the cover of a book!

That proves the gentleman exists.

Go to London! Take a look!

*

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WHEN I AM OLD

'When I am old' said Daisy,

'I'll sit beneath a tree

And I'll be wise and clever;

People will visit me.

I'll sit there in my rocking-chair

With a shawl around my shoulder

And everyone will look-up to me

Because I'm so much older.

The tree will be big and shady

To shelter me from the sun,

And I'll be a sweet old lady,

Welcoming everyone.'

' But' said Mother, 'How do you know

The right tree will be growing?

There may not be a handy tree.

There's just no way of knowing.'

'Then I'll plant a tree!' said Daisy,

'A big tree of my own!

When I am old, the tree will be big!

Both of us will have grown!'

*

Blue Bonnets

BLUE MONDAY
http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

BLUE BONNETS

Life today is regulated,

Thought about and litigated.

Should these youngsters chance to fall,

From the tree-tops, waving tall,

As they swing from limb to limb,

'Authority' would look quite grim.

True, there's danger, but that's life.

They could, indeed, get into strife.

Hence the 'bonnets', of bright blue,

No doubt called Hard Hats by you.

Harnesses as well there are

So they can't fall very far.

They'll have a great time, there's no doubt,

Learning what height is all about.

But, in my youth, when life was freer,

We didn't have an overseer.

'Go and play' the parents said

And we'd return in time for bed!

I didn't climb; I wasn't tough,

Never adventurous enough.

But I knew boys who'd climb up trees

Easily as high as these!

There'd be falls and cut and gashes,

Bruises, stinging-nettle rashes...

No-one died, as I recall

And everybody had a ball!

What intrigues me, in this regard,

Is, though we labour, very hard,

To keep our children safe and well,

Inside a little protective shell,

We'll be sending them out into 'real life'

Ill-equipped for coming strife!

The crashing cars, the drug addictions,

The many other world afflictions!

When all the supervision's gone

Let's hope they keep their Hard Hats on!

*
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JUST A CREEK

When we speak of waterways,

We know that we are blessed

With ocean, river and the lake.

So who needs all the rest?

But here I show you Throsby Creek,

Just a little waterway

That ambles on towards the sea

And beautifies our day.

We wander, picnic, take our time

Any day of the week,

Enjoying the simple pleasures

That we find at Throsby Creek.

*

Hard Times

HARD TIMES

This is a poster, one of three,

Issued at a time of adversity.

At the time of their printing the British Isles

Were only a matter of a few short miles

From devastation and despair.

Hitler was in France 'just over there',

And he was viewing the other side

Over the Channel, which was hardly wide!

From near where I lived I could view the sight

Of French headlights flashing in the night!

With many others I was sent

To safety far away from Kent.

Then Britain waited for the War

To reach the step of its own front door.

France had been conquored by 'the Hun'

And we knew we were the following one!

*

The posters lay ready to be displayed

And preparations were quickly made.

Then, quite surprisingly, it started......,

The Battle of Britain! The Lion-Hearted

Young men gave their lives on high,

Sweeping Hitler from the sky.

The War still had many years to go

Before we saw the last of the foe,

But the fear of invasion never returned,

And Hitler's plans had been truly spurned.

*

So this blue poster was never needed!

It's cheerful message never heeded!

The posters slowly moulded away,

And it seems that none are left today.

And yet I think it was rather fine!

A lovely crisp and clear design.
The repeated use of the little word 'your',
Would have made one feel one could cope with War.
It's a little piece of history
That could have worked, so it seems to me.
*
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LOOMING.

One little man and so many dangers

Shadowing his life and making me afraid!

I know he'll survive them yet I can't help worrying

About the life my generation's made!

I survived Hitler so he may be fortunate

And come, unscathed, through life's shadowed days.

And, for now, he's a little man who thinks life's perfect

As he laughs and giggles and runs and plays.

*

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PS

The cruise is fading into a blurred memory already! I've been busy slotting back into the old, so very pleasant, routine. Here I play catch-up. Frequent visitors (you, Mike?) will recognise a lot of the old faces! Here are a few highlights of my week.

Ros and Loretta prepared the Merry Mellows annual party while I was away. Luckily, we had enough money in the kitty to cover it.

We watched a video of 'Tiddly Pom'. I think this was the final number. We all look a bit hazy and gob-smacked but we enjoyed watching our February antics 'from the front'.

Also this week I went to a meeting of the local Federation of Australian Writers to give a talk on last year's Short and Sweet program. We acted my three entries, and discussed the relative merits (or otherwise). I received a handsome cheque and this very nice certificate.

Next day I got all political and went to a meeting of the local women's lobby group where my friend, Gwenda, speaking, roused us all on the subject of Violence Against the Elderly. What a dreadful thing that is!

Finally, we had our usual Friday Merry Mellows meeting to discuss our program and to run through the next two stagings. Here are a few of us having coffee after lunch. Again..... the old familiar faces. It's good to be back.

*

Feet First

FEET FIRST

I've reached the age for carpet slippers,

Sad though that may be,

And I've never worn a pair of flippers

For flipping in the sea.

But this jolly craft, so blue-and-white,

With its man in red, mid-leap,

Was a very appealing jaunty sight,

As he headed for the deep.

As craft were jostling side by side,

On the waters of the Bay

I almost hankered for a ride,

And a flippered leap that day.

*

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RED SHOES RUSE.

Remember Moira Shearer? Remember 'The Red Shoes'?

(In an era when the main film followed the 'Pathe News')

I remember it clearly, because of vanity;

When I was young it mattered what people thought of me!

And I was a girl who wore spectacles! Could anything be worse?

'Boys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses.'....the message was very terse!

I was asked out to the cinema (by whom I can't recall);

I only know I felt that I was heading for a fall!

I'd never get a cuddle in the back row of 'the flicks',

No-one would ever 'insult' me or get up to 'funny tricks'!

I had a choice ...'see or be seen'; it wasn't hard to choose.

I'd go un-specked and trust to luck I could pick up some clues!

So I saw the film as a whirling mist, although the tunes were pretty.

And I never saw the 'shoes' at all, which was really quite a pity!

As to the reason for my ruse, 'he' can't have been too thrilling!

I can't recall 'fulfillment' even though I was so willing!

So I never saw Moira Shearer; I never saw her dance.

But I still equate 'The Red Shoes' with that magic word 'Romance'.

*

Manipulated Minds!

MANIPULATED MINDS!

I remember this advertisement from way, way, way, way back!

And I remember never doubting it was true!

I knew that where my chocolate was made there was a girl

Who poured the milk, not one glassful, not two!

No one-and-a-half was the answer, a magical amount,

Which made the chocolate taste exactly right!

I could see her in my mind's eye, pouring it in each block,

With a look of very obvious delight!

I pictured her in the factory never tiring of her task,

Smiling sweetly as she measured-out each glass!

But that was in the days when I still had a childlike mind,

And childhood, as we know, soon has to pass.

*

Now I watch my little grandsons as they gaze at the TV,

Goggle-eyed at all the visions that they see;

'It's not real life' I tell them 'It's only make-believe'

But I get the feeling they're ignoring me!

I only hope the monsters and the dragons and the bats,

The ghosts and frightening aliens and their ilk

Affect their future lives no more than the little girl in blue

Affected me, when she was pouring out the milk!

*

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

 

IMMERSION!

One day in summer I espied this little girl at play,

Swimming in the shallows on a lovely sunny day.

She'd been told to keep her hat dry, of that I'm pretty sure,

For Australian children learn when young what a good sun-hat is for.

They're protected from the elements, and cosseted and cared-for

But I tremble when I think about what they must be prepared-for.

See! Out on the horizon, a coal-ship on its way

Carrying coal to China. We see them every day.

We export our pollution, the coal that others burn,

But maybe in the future all the problems will return;

When the seas invade our coastline and our heat becomes intense

We may regret our actions and then wish we'd had more sense!

So enjoy the happy life-style you've been born to little one!

I hope you're never threatened by the sea or by the sun!
*

Feeling Blue

BLUE MONDAY
http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/


FEELING BLUE

We feel 'blue'. But why 'blue'.

Surely any colour would do!

Why should such a peaceful colour

Be alluded to as duller,

Sadder, and more distressed

Than red or green or all the rest?

Big blue storm clouds come to mind;

They make us feel more tense, I find.

But is that just a sort of fear,

Brought on by danger lurking near?
*

Strangely enough, it's in the eye

That the answer's said to lie.

Depression causes the eye to see

Colours much less vividly!

Recovered depressives often say

Brighter colours have come their way!

They remark that the world seems brighter

Once their hearts are feeling lighter.
So, since shadows are often blue,
That must be what's alluded to.
Somewhere, someone, coined the phrase,
Describing one of his 'colourless' days,
When everything seemed dull and shaded,
Drab, depressing, and down-graded.
Maybe he said 'I'm feeling...............blue'.
And now the whole world says it too!
*

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THE BOX

Arthur was a miser and Daisy was his wife.

He'd counted every penny and she'd had an awful life.

He was a great deal older and getting short of breath

And it became quite obvious he was approaching death.

The thought of Daisy living on with all his wealth to spend

Really got to Arthur as his life drew to an end.

'You've always done as you've been told' Arthur gasped at last,

'Listen to me, my lady, for I am fading fast.

All my money, all my gold, my stocks, my bonds, the lot,

And every bit of jewelry that, thanks to me, you've got,

Are to go into my coffin in a box there at my feet!

Now, don't forget my orders now! And don't you dare to cheat!'

Submissively, with eyes downcast, then Daisy took her leave;

Saying 'I'll obey. I always have. And you know that I will grieve.'

In due course Arthur breathed his last and his funeral day arrived,

Daisy came in deepest black; the widow who'd survived.

A large box on a cushion lay; it was carried up the aisle

By Daisy who was weeping,( but wearing a tiny smile.)

The box was placed in the coffin down right by Arthur's feet;

The lid was screwed on tightly; the ceremony complete.

At the wake, a friend of Daisy's came up to her and said

'Don't tell me you're still obedient even though old Arthur's dead!

Whatever possessed you, Daisy, to give in to his demands,

When he's been a blackguard all your lives ! No-one understands!'

Then Daisy really smiled, she laughed, 'The truth can now be known!

All I've done is open up a bank account of my own.

I've transferred all his wordly goods into it in my name.

He's buried with a cheque, my dear! Isn't that a shame!'

*

Eucalytpus Haze

BLUE MONDAY

http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

EUCALYPTUS HAZE

The gum tree has painted Australia

In shades of glorious blue.

Wherever the eucalyptus grows

The colour of the sky breaks through.

This is the Hunter Valley,

Which is very near where I live.

It's an area of natural beauty,

But with something more to give.

Under these spreading vineyards,

In sight of the gum-tree blue,

Coal-mines spread their fingers

Sometimes spoiling the view.

Newcastle, my home city

Exports much more coal

Than any other port on earth,

But, of course, it takes its toll,

Not only on our countryside

But on the Earth at large;

We're adding to Global Warming....

That's the oft-heard charge.

I long for the day when Energy

Is something we can renew,

And the Hunter Valley is only known

For its vines and its gum-tree blue.

*

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

                   Margaret Gosden 

AWASH.

The red sun sinks as the white moon rises.

I stand ankle-deep in the silvered water

That washes over the paling-pierced sand.

*

What a Cheek!

BLUE MONDAY

http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/2011/02/blue-monday-presidents-day.html

 

WHAT A CHEEK!

This sort of 'naughty' illustration

Belongs to a certain age,

When 'saucy' was a much-used word,

And innuendo was the rage.

The pubescents of the present time

Would find this really boring,

And the thought of lobster involvement

Would surely set them snoring!

Now, when everything is 'out there'

And, also, 'anything goes'

They wouldn't see the purpose

Of this titillating pose.

But so much was forbidden

In the time of which I speak,

That the thought of a little waitress

'Turning the other cheek'

Would have sent boys into paroxisms

Of lascivious delight.

They'd have feasted on the memory

Way, way into the night!

When people are repressed,

(And I should know, for I was there,)

Silly little things like this......

Dainty underwear,

Accidental 'touchings'

A whiff of perfumed air,

The brushing up against one

Of a lock of wayward hair,

Are electrically exciting!

So don't pontificate

About the boring lives we led.

Leading them was great!

*
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PERFUMED LIGHT.
(Prompted by a hint in a Handy Hints book!)

Heading for a night of love

Or a passionate interlude?

Spray perfume on the light-bulbs

To get 'him' in the mood.

The heat that emanates therefrom

Will last the whole night through

And, best of all, he'll always think

The scent has come from you!

*
P.S. Please visit
http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2011/02/fanfare.html
for something extra!

Reverse Psychology

                            

REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY

The humour is somewhat macabre

But the message is quite crystal clear.

Don't be tempted to risk life and limb

For the sake of some wine or some beer!

But this sign doesn't tell the whole tale;

Drivers take many risks for a thrill;

But it isn't their own life at stake;

Other lives go if they kill.

And what of the medics and such

Who have to be first on the scene?

They're mentally scarred for all time

By the terrible carnage they've seen.

And families grieving for years

Are part of the price that is paid.

A skinful of drink for all this!

It doesn't seem much of a trade.

*

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USELESS LOOP

Where in the world is Useless Loop!

I've certainly never been there!

And with it having a name like that

I wouldn't want to be seen there!

It's over in Western Australia;

It looks an arid place,

But with a name like Useless Loop

It can't be commonplace!

In fact it's the home of salt ponds

So at least it has some worth!

And from those salt ponds comes, they say,

The purest sea-salt on earth.

*

Blue Water Boy

BLUE WATER BOY

Two weeks ago he couldn't swim!

We got quite tired of cajoling him.

He'd sit on the step and refuse to budge
Looking as stern as a High Court Judge!

'No I wont!' he'd frown and say;

'Not today! No, not today!'

Then, finally, in Daddy's arms

He tasted the water's cooling charms,

And then agreed to do his best

With a floaty jacket round his chest.

Then suddenly, he gave a shout......

'I think that I can swim without!'

So here is my Blue Water Boy.

Not an expression of great joy!

'Grim death' describes his stern expression!

It was worn throughout the swimming session.

And yet he swam with might and main

shouting 'Again! Again! Again!'

Once a baby looking on;

Now a 'boy' whose fear has gone!

All these stages flashing past!

Every one of them goes too fast!

*

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THE SEA HIS OYSTER!(A memory of a recent cruise.)

The rich man in his flashy yacht
Proud of all the things he's got
Doesn't understand the pleasure
Of Malcolm, seen here at his leisure.
A balcony (we were upgraded....
An offer, and we were persuaded!)
A cup of tea, a melody
(He's wearing earphones as you see.)
The view of the never-ending ocean
With its gentle heaving motion.
A pleasant day to contemplate,
Plus a delightful, charming mate......
(Sorry! I get in on the act,
But I am quite perfect, that's a fact!)
Some do this daily and live it up
(Maybe with champagne in the cup)
But, for Malcolm, all this was rare.
He enjoyed it more than a millionaire!
*