False Start

                                            Brenda Bryant

SKYWATCH

FALSE START

The Spring arrived with great to-do,

Skies without a cloud, and blue.

The gardens put on fine array

And birds sang, greeting every day.

The smell of jasmine filled the air

And kids chose sleeveless shirts to wear.

'The Spring is sprung!' we all agreed ;

'It's early too! Just what we need!'

But, suddenly, the clouds rolled in;

Our summery clothes felt light and thin.

The birds clung on to wind-tossed trees

And new green leaves shrank from the breeze.

The thunder roared, the lightning flashed;

All at once our wild hopes crashed!

Spring, which had proved itself a hit,

Decided we must wait a bit.

*

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RAIN ON DEMAND

Rain is very tricky stuff.

We want it, yes, but just enough!

We want it when we're tucked indoors;

 Outside it's drippy when it pours.

We want it raining in the night;

So that our days dawn clear and bright.

We want it on a ho-hum date,

Not on the day of the Village Fete.

We want a lot to swell the buds,

But not a downpour so it floods.

We want a little there's no doubt,

But not so little we get a drought!

Oh if it only could be planned

That we got rainfall on demand!

*

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PS

I had a very busy day yesterday. I chaired the monthly Probus Meeting in the morning. Our speaker came from the Jane Austin society and she spoke very lovingly about all the books. I was reminded of my dear friend, Althea, who loved the novels and who, sadly, is no longer with us. Then I went to the Mary Ellen to have lunch with friends. And, finally, three of us visited the hospital, where Yvonne has just had a knee replacement. After only four days she is managing to walk with a stick! We complain about modern life but we are so lucky to be the beneficiaries of medical advances!

Pam, Yvonne and me.

Borrowed Beauty

                                                                                                                              Nigel Stainforth

SKYWATCH
http://skyley.blogspot.com/

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS
http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

BORROWED BEAUTY

Deserving of a wider viewing!

A friend sent this today.

He was sailing in the Pacific

And he took this on his way.

Want scenery? You have it,

Perfection, so it seems;

The sort of scene that

Normally is just seen in our dreams.

Want a sky-scape? Look at that one!

A sunset without peer.

A second like this soon passes,

But Nigel caught it here.

Want reflections? These are perfect;

The sky part of the sea;

A still and glassy reflection

That hints at poetry.

Want shadows? Cloud formations,

Gently drifting by,

Also drift on the water,

Linking sea and sky.

And how about serendipity?

The sailing boat .... just right.

And everything is captured

Just as day turns into night.

A gift that cost Nigel nothing.....

He clicked and it was mine.

But a pleasure worth more than money...........

*

Choose your own ending.....

1. It's really very fine.

2. It's better than vintage wine.

3. Nigel, you really shine!

4. Nigel! You're divine!

(I told you I wrote doggerel, didn't I?)

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THE COLONNADE OF TIME

We move along a colonnade.

Sometimes we are in shadow.

Sometimes the full sun

Blazes on us

And illuminates our path.

We look out between the columns

To see others perambulating.

Some may run, some may dawdle,

Some may falter and

Some may fall.

We wave to them

But we can never know them

Because we do not really

Know ourselves.

We look back and see ourselves

Pint-sized,

Starting out.

We look forward and see.....

But we cannot see.

There is a vague outline

Of what is to come;

A misty semblance

Of the colonnade's ending.

Is that a rock-face

Or is it a shining cloud

Beyond?

This is where we stand on the colonnade......

Here,

Now......

Let us stand and admire.....

But we have already moved on.

Other shadows,

Other flashes of glory

Await us.

*

Off we go!

*

White Heat

SKYWATCH
http://skyley.blogspot.com/

WHITE HEAT

I'm just about to dazzle you!

Sizzle you!

Frazzle you!

Just about to blind you with my glorious light!

In a second I'll be glimmering!

Shattering!

Shimmering!

How lucky you could catch me looking calm and white!

*

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GREY BEAUTY

Were this flower red we would gaze at its redness,
Viewing its colour with wonder and awe.
Were this flower gold we would gaze at its goldness
Describing as 'brilliant' the colour we saw.
But this flower is grey so we notice its pattern,
The curves of the petals, the stripes and the shade,
The jewel at the centre, the sheen and the shimmer!
Colourless, what a design it has made!
*

In Perspective!

SKYWATCH
http://skyley.blogspot.com/

IN PERSPECTVE

 

Consider size if you will.

*

That great moon

That illuminated

All your youthful follies;

That ballooned over you in majesty

And filled your sky;

That squeezed the blackness of night

Into the dusty corners

Of the universe.....

*

Is a speck!

*

Against the azure firmament

It is a mere morsel,

A pea,

A pin-head

A little dot of dust.

Easily lost.

Easily overlooked.

*

Compared to a planet

It is nothing!

So what are we?

We who gasp at the 'huge' moon,

Who bathe in its harvest splendour,

Who are certain it fills the sky?

*

We are less than

A pea,

A pin-head

Or a dot of dust!

*

Why!

It is almost Biblical!

*

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GILDING THE LILY

I won it in a raffle, this delicious fruity cake.

To win anything at all was a surprise!

It lay there in it's glory and I said 'For goodness sake!

That cake itself is quite sufficient prize!'

But the Lily had been Gilded, with these lovely yellow flowers,

Frangipani blossoms, seeming to belong!

Both cake and frangipani should have lasted days, not hours,

But neither goody lasted very long!

*

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PS 

Yesterday was Australia Day. Not that we did anything particularly Australian, but we had a celebratory day anyway. The temperature soared to 38 degrees celsius, so it was fortunate that we had been invited to friend Vera's cool house! She and Angus were keen to re-meet Mike, our overseas visitor, and Allan, the genial next-door-neighbour we know well, was there as well. Vera produced a delicious meal in her usual capable manner.

  

Snacks in the lovely poolside room. 

With Alfie, the dog, who, incidentally, chewed up a shoe of mine! I'd kicked my shoes off under the table (I know our hosts very well!) and Alfie ran off with one and destroyed it! Fortunately, it was an old shoe!

*   

The Long White Cloud

SKYWATCH

THE LONG WHITE CLOUD

(Written before Australia's terrible floods!)

We visited the Land of the Long White Cloud about a year ago;

New Zealand, a land of plenty, where everything seems to grow.

Australia is often a golden brown, when drought  is holding sway,

And so we love to visit that green haven 'across the way'.

A quick flight over the Tasman and we find ourselves surrounded

By fertile acres, rolling streams and fecundity unbounded.

But the Kiwis have to pay a price for all their moisty mist;

They get an awful lot of rain while we are so sun-kissed!
Here you see The Long White Cloud, which looks distinctly grey!
I'll visit that South Seas Paradise, but I don't intend to stay!
*

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               Margaret Gosden

FOOT WHERE?

Oh dear!......Oh my head!
What am I doing here in bed?
Let's look at the clock! My God! Past noon!
Is that the sun? Is that the moon?
I'll put one foot out on the floor.
Ouch! That hurts! My head is sore!
Everything's swimming round and round.
No, I can't put my foot down on the ground.
I'll lie back a little bit longer, yes.
There, that's better.....more or less.
My mouth tastes awful! What did I eat?
I vaguely remember it was Dougie's treat.
He bought a round, then I bought mine.....
Did I drink too much red wine?
Red wine! Ugh! The very thought!
What was the name of that girl Jack brought?
Maybe I'll just sit up in bed;
I'll sort of pander to my head.
If I can sit I'll try the standing.
What's that pile out on the landing?
Oh! It's my clothes; they look a mess!
But why can I see a sort of dress?
I don't wear dresses!..... Maybe I do!
Golly! I think I'm going to ........
There! That's better! But I feel weak.
Is that lipstick on my cheek?
I thought it was me and Dougie and Jack!
Surely I didn't bring someone back!
Now the mirror! Oh! What a sight!
Enough to give a cat a fright!
I must sit down, I feel like jelly!
Why is a bra on top of my telly?
I must get dressed! T-shirt, I think.
Maybe I need another drink.
Pants! Which leg? Is it left or right?
Are these the ones I wore last night?
It must have been a rowdy caper!
I'll stagger out and buy a paper.
Shoes! Where are they? Oh, in bed!
Here's one. It's such a pretty red.
I bought these shoes only yesterday;
They're Berluti. What did I pay?
I seem to remember they cost the earth.
Surprising what good shoes are worth.
Now where's the other, I'll dig down deep,
Did I take them off while I was asleep?
Oh my head! I mustn't bend!
Where's that shoe? Right down the end?
What's this?......... It doesn't belong to me!
No shoe! Wherever can it be?
I think I must lie down again.
It all comes back to me now and then!
Not a very edifying night!
As for the sun, it's far too bright!
Oh dear, parting is such sweet sorrow.
I think I'll look for my shoe tomorrow!
*

Forecast Foul!

SKYWATCH

http://skyley.blogspot.com/2010/12/skywatch-friday-season-4-episode-25.html

FORECAST FOUL!

(This does not refer to 2011!)

Look your last on the bright blue sky!(Well, for today, at least!)

A dense and ragged blanket approaches from the East!

The smaller clouds are scurrying in front of the monstrous grey.

One doesn't have to be an expert to foretell a rainy day!

*

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BURNT OUT
(An Acrostic)

Blogging can be quite exhausting
Unless one takes regular breaks.
Remember! Keep stretching your muscles!
Never mind all the time that it takes!
Though typing seems fairly relaxing,
*

Our bodies need exercise too.

Undertake frequent slow stretching,
To see what some movement can do.
*

The Golden Fleece

SKYWATCH

THE GOLDEN FLEECE

Nothing was further from my thoughts

Than Jason and his Argonauts

But, suddenly, without a lot of warning,

Their story sprang into my mind!

I saw these clouds with the sun behind

When I woke up in bed the other morning.

Surely that was the Golden Fleece

From the magical Ram of Ancient Greece!

I knew that I must set-out on a quest.

And so I lay there and began

To make an Argonaut's master-plan;

I felt that it would be life's greatest test.

But organising ships and stores

To journey to far-distant shores

Was harder than just going on a cruise!

So, though the day'd already dawned,

I blinked a little bit and yawned

And closed my eyes and had another snooze.

*

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 CLINGING!

Goodness me! There's Father!

Whatever will he say,

When he sees us being shameless,

Acting in this way?

Mother's more broadminded.

She made these swimming things.

But even she might blush a bit

If she saw how the fabric clings!

It was pleasant in the water

Though it was a new sensation!

I felt the way Eve must have felt

At the dawning of creation!

My limbs felt free and blissful,

Not corseted and confined;

I felt all curved and feminine

And delightfully designed!

The seaweed clung around my thighs!

It felt like utter bliss!

But now we have to face Papa!

And admit we've been remiss!

We've come out of the water,

Our figures are revealed!

Whatever will dear Father say

When nothing is concealed?

Maybe he hasn't seen us!

I'll give a little wave.

Maybe we'll get away with it

And just have a close shave.

Keep close to me, Lucinda!

We have to hold our nerve.

Bend over, dear, and crouch a bit:

That'll help disguise each curve.

I'm glad Mama made little caps

To cover up our hair!

And our gauzy little trousers

Stop our legs from looking bare.

But nothing can disguise the fact

That our bosoms are on show!

Let's head for the bathing-hut, dear,

Come on now, don't be slow!

Too late! I think he's seen us!

He's coming over, too!

This is our fatal moment!

There's nothing we can do!

*

But I have to say there's one thing

I just don't understand.

Why is father walking on the beach

With a spy-glass in his hand?

*

The Boiling Sky

SKYWATCH

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

THE BOILING SKY

It is easy to believe in Thor, that great god in the sky,

Beating on his anvil, as the clouds go boiling by!

We, brought up in a plastic world, with information on tap,

May still feel some slight tremor when we hear a thunder clap.

How much more must our ancestors have feared the wrath on high;

Personally threatened by the great gods passing by!

It is easy to imagine personages roaring round,

Aiming flashing thunderbolts at the mere men on the ground.

We have many things to fear; we are mortal, you and I,

But at least there's nothing personal about a boiling sky!

*

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                                                                                              C. Snyder

SUMMER RAIN

Still lie the paddocks, harsh and brown,

Until the Summer Rain falls down.

Making the countryside glow green

Mellowing all the country scene.

Every stream holds out its arms

Rejoicing in the water's charms.

*

Ripples dance on the rain-drenched river

All the flowers shake and shiver.

It washes the paddock and the plain.

Now give thanks for Summer Rain.

*

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PS

We performed one of our Christmas melodramas yesterday. The audience was only small and there were fewer of us than usual, as the other half of our group was performing in a different venue. I roped in Malcolm and friend, Alf, to boost the singing. For our mini-melodramas we don't learn any words; we just read. And we don't wear costumes, just symbolic hats or whatnot. Here you see Macolm in a coronet as Prince Charming in 'Cinderella'. He's very good natured about it, considering it's not his 'scene'! I wrote parodies around Xmas songs (not carols) and they went down well.

Below see Bev and Olwyn, the Ugly Sisters! 

*

The Elements

SKYWATCH

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

THE ELEMENTS
 

Tumbling waves and churning clouds vying with each other

Ships sailing steadily, slowly passing through.

A lonely surfer pits his strength against the boiling elements,

Rejoicing to be elemental too.

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FACES IN THE CROWD.

As I sat drinking iced coffee I watched the passers-by,
With a critical and, shall we say, a sharp sardonic eye.
Malcolm was stuck in a man-style shop, seeking a 'crimping' tool,
And he takes his time about such things, I can tell you, as a rule!
So I thought I'd play a private game, related to 'I Spy.'
As I watched the throng of variegated people passing by.
'Would I swap with you....or you....or you....or you?' I pondered,
As they scuttled, drifted, hung-around or just, without aim, wandered.
Here was one so old and bent by comparison I felt youthful!
And here was one all angular; I like 'plump', to be truthful!
Here was one weighed down with cares, her mouth a downward arc.
Here was one who probably earned her living after dark!
Here was a schoolgirl, blithe and gay, with all her life before her;
With all those examinations; I was certain they would bore her.
Here was a mother and screaming kids! I couldn't live that again!
And here was a suffering creature, hobbling in great pain.
I'm an ordinary woman, approaching the end of life;
An ordinary mother and an ordinary wife.
And I sometimes feel downhearted when I think I've been deceived,
Reaching this stage and finding very little's been achieved.
But a little self-analysis works wonders, I have found.
So, if you ever get the blues, simply look around.
*

Without Fire!

SKYWATCH
http://skyley.blogspot.com/2010/10/skywatch-friday-season-4-episode-15.html

WITHOUT FIRE!

'No smoke without fire' you say,

Well, here I prove you wrong.

Judging by the 'smoke' we see,

The fire should be hot and strong!

*

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FRUITCAKE!

I'd rather BE a Fruitcake, than just eat one.
You can recognise a Fruitcake when you meet one.
A Fruitcake's slightly dotty,
In fact a Fruitcake's potty,
Even though you very often meet a sweet one!
*
A human Fruitcake sees life slightly dented,
Sort of curly at the edges and fermented.
A Fruitcake is quite loopy,
But rarely sad and droopy,
And it's odd the way a Fruitcake seems contented.
*
So spurn those fruitcakes filled with nuts and butter,
Though they make your greedy heart go all a-flutter.
Concentrate on human kind
And I'm certain that you'll find,
Life's better with a crazy human Nutter!
*

Emblems

EMBLEMS

Posing for visitors.

Pirouetting against the azure sky.

Australia personified.

*

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THE KNACK

I love myself, I must admit;

I'm happy inside my head,

And I really hate the awful thought

That, one day, I'll be dead!

I didn't always love myself.

I remember, as a teen,

I felt one was no good at all

If one wasn't a Beauty Queen.

And I was plumpish, rather short,

Bespectacled to boot,

And every other girl at school

Seemed so petite and cute.

Not that 'cute' was a word we used

Way back in '49,

Never mind, I knew that I

Wouldn't get a Valentine.

One evening, on a well-lit bus,

When all was dark outside,

I studied my reflection,

And very nearly cried.

'I'm stuck with it' I muttered;

'It'll always be the same!'

My face would always be that way!

There was nobody to blame.

And then a thought occurred to me;

This need not be the end.

I might not be a Beauty Queen

But I could still pretend!

I could pretend I liked myself,

And no-one else would know

That my thrown-together features

Had brought me down so low.

I'd smile at everyone I met

And they would be deceived;

I'd tell the world I liked myself

And I would be believed!

I stood up, then, to leave the bus

And I saw, across the aisle,

A lone boy sitting by himself

And I flashed him my first smile!

It took some time to learn the art,

The unselfconscious knack,

But life took on a different hue

The moment he smiled back!

And the most amazing thing of all

Is although I was pretending,

This little story from my life

Has a very happy ending.

Because, while fooling others,

I tricked my simple mind,

When I looked into the mirror

I saw that Love is blind.

The face, of course, remained the same,

That couldn't be denied,

But suddenly I found that I

Was on that person's side!

I loved her, and I loved the world,

More, minute upon minute,

And I could take the whole world on

And everybody in it!

It doesn't always work, of course,

Sometimes I face the truth,

That I am really rather plain

As I was in my youth.

But it doesn't matter anymore,

My trick has seen me through.

Kid yourself you love yourself

And you'll see what it can do.

* 

Spring Simplicity

SKYWATCH
http://skyley.blogspot.com/

SPRING SIMPLICITY

A simple blue and a simple green,

With a little woodiness in between;

They hardly make a dramatic scene!

Is it really worth recording?

Ah yes! For here is the majesty

Of Nature's sappiness set free,

The buds of Spring on a wintry tree!

What could be more rewarding?

*

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A BASKET CASE!

I was visiting a monastery up on a mountain top

With a sheer cliff face below it and a truly awesome drop.

The way up was by basket........ the drop was an awful sight

And only a rope was holding us as we swayed at that great height!

I became terribly nervous as the basket turned and swayed;

It would be putting it mildly to say I was afraid!

A monk was traveling with me so, seeing how we were placed,

I said to him 'How often is the monastery rope replaced?'

When he gave me his reply I really got the shakes!

'Oh we replace it frequently......

Every time it breaks!'

*

Seeing Is.....

SEEING IS.......

I don't believe in witches that ride the sky on brooms!

I don't believe in ghosts that rise from sepulchres and tombs!

And yet I swear I saw today the ghost of a witch ride by!

Tomorrow I fully expect to see a pig that's learned to fly!

*

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JINXED!

It was a touching moment.
The sick man lay in his bed.
His faithful wife
Who had shared his life,
Hovered near his head.

He looked up at her features
And then she heard him say
'You've been grand;
You've held my hand
Every step of the way.

When the house burnt down, you were there, dear.
You were there when I hurt my knee.
You were at my side
When my old dog died,
And when I fell out of that tree.

You were there when I lost my money,
You were there when I crashed my car;
When I looked around
You were always found!
What a faithful old girl you are!

Yes, now that I've caught a virus
You're hovering as before.
Never far away.
And every day
I see you come through the door.

Whenever I've been in trouble
Been foolish or run amok,
You've been involved.
Now the riddle's solved.........!

You keep bringing me Bad Luck!'
*

Fading Light

SKYWATCH
http://skyley.blogspot.com/

FADING LIGHT

Darkness had already crept into the house;

The sky had just a tender glow of pink.

There, from the landing window, I saw the final glow

Before the sun made up its mind to sink.

*

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

Young women were once advised to gather…….'a key, a ring, a flower, a sprig of willow, a small piece of cake, a crust of bread, 10 of clubs, 9 of hearts, ace of spades, and ace of diamonds.' They were told to wrap these in a handkerchief and place it under their pillow, and to say, upon going to bed, the opening lines of my poem.

LUNATIC HARVEST

"Luna, every woman's friend,
To me thy goodness condescend.
Let me this night in visions see,
Emblems of my destiny."
*
Me speaking:
I have gathered the gifts required.
They will lie, when I've retired,
Under my pillow safe and sure
Held in a handkerchief, secure.
The Harvest Moon will float above
Bringing glorious dreams of love.
The ace of Diamonds or the Ring
Are sure romantic thoughts to bring.
But if I dream of Cake or Bread
There'll be successful work instead.
Flowers portend domestic joys.
Birds? Many children, girls and boys.
Diamonds mean money, Keys great power.
Dream of Storms? A torrential shower.
The ten of Clubs means life abroad,
Willow means love goes overboard.
Dream of Geese I'll marry twice.
But the ace of Spades is not too nice!
It stands for Death so I fear the warning:
I may not be alive by morning!
*
All this leads me a merry dance!
I'd rather leave the lot to chance!"
*

Anything You Can Do!

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO!

(Sing to the tune of the 'Annie Get Your Gun' song!)

Anything that is white, I can be whiter!

I can be whiter than anything here!

Than the snow!

That is so!

Than a pearl?

Atta girl!

I'm the whitest of all that is clear!

*

Anything that is black, I can be blacker!

I can be blacker than all that you see.

Than a coal?

Bless my soul!

Than some tar?

There you are!

Though I'm only a shadowy tree!

*

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

ON THE TIP OF HIS TONGUE!

Bill and Joe and Marmaduke were cursed with dreadful stuttering.
And every word they tried to say ended with grunts and spluttering.
They visited a therapist who worked with might and main
To make their speech intelligible, crystal clear and plain.
Millicent was beautiful and full of sex-appeal,
With attributes not from a jar but absolutely real.
So, when she said she'd set a test, all three of them agreed
And all responded with a 'Y-y-y-y-yes indeed!''
She said 'I'm going to ask each one to, slowly, say the name
Of the city, town or village, from which his family came.
If you can say the name of it without a single pause,
You'll be a very, very, very lucky man because
The best one will stay after lessons all alone with me!
Just think about that, gentlemen! Which one will it be?
I'm offering an afternoon of wild and glorious passion;
I bet no other therapist gives prizes in that fashion!'
Quickly, Bill stood up and spoke quite loud and clear, on cue.
'I come from B-b-birmingham.' Said his teacher 'That wont do!'
So Joe said 'I'm from P-p-perth!' and Millicent replied
'No good! No good! I fear you've failed, although you really tried.'
Finally Marmaduke spoke up and he was the clearest one.
'I come from London' he announced, knowing that he had won.
So Marmaduke and Millicent made love without delay.
(He didn't waste his time on talk, for that was not his way).
Then Millicent looked up at him with her gorgeous, bright, blue eyes
And said 'Well, Marmaduke, it seems to me that you enjoyed that prize!
And as a lover you're the best! You're quite extraordinary!'
And that's when Marmaduke got round to
'd-d-d-derry!'
*

Herringbone

                                                   Brenda Bryant

SKYWATCH

HERRINGBONE

A filleted sky!

Clouds streaming by

In order marching way up high!

Eddies of air

Way, way up there

Off to a parade somewhere.

*

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PRESIDENTIAL PINKNESS!


See the President's Palace, Taipai,
On some great ceremonious day!
The ladies in pink
Are making me think
That a festival's now underway.
*
Their pinkness just can't be denied!
Each one like a bright rosy bride!
'Does good luck?' I muse
'Favour these blushing hues?
Is that why they're full of Pink Pride?
*
Is the President's favourite shade
The colour of pink lemonade?
Or is it by chance
That the ladies who dance
Are so prettily, pinkly displayed?
*
Like roses they bloom in the sun
And it looks like a great deal of fun!
Whatever the cause
I like them because
They look happy, when all's said and done.
*

Pristine

                                              Brenda Bryant

SKYWATCH

PRISTINE

Rain-washed clouds and well-scrubbed sky.

The wet weather has departed.

Clouds now look feathery floating by

Now brighter weather's started.

But still there lurks a certain threat

A tinge of grey to remind us

That it may not be all over yet.

More black clouds may find us.

But palm trees pirouette and preen

In the chilly Winter weather,

Enjoying a climate that's pristine,

Now it's got its act together!

*

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RIPOSTE!

Maxine never suffers, like the rest of human kind
Wishing she'd responded with a quip.
She never thinks 'I could have told her......' this and this and this.
Maxine never deigns to lose her grip.
'The books on self help?' I'd have said, as I looked around the store,
'You'll find them on that top shelf over there.'
But Maxine finds the pithy words that leave us all dumb-struck;
She's wicked and she doesn't seem to care!
How often do the smart responses come into our minds
Only seconds after we have been polite!
We long to turn the clock back and re-run a little scene,
In order to inject a little spite.
But time, they say, just does not wait for feeble minds to work;
'The moving finger writes' and all that jazz.
How I'd love to be as devilish and witty as Maxine,
And have the savoir faire that Maxine has!
*

Rorschach View

SKYWATCH

RORSCHACH VIEW!

Herman Rorschach did you sail upon our local lake?

And did you  look across the bay and do a double-take?

Did you see a view that made you sit up at your oars

And there and then design the test that is uniquely yours?

A Rorschach Test uses a blot to delve into our minds.

Here is one, although, of course, there are lots of other kinds.

The idea is that when we look and think and cogitate

We'll say what we're reminded of! And, thereby, hangs our fate!

For if we see a demon it means that we're depressed

And if we see two bunnies we're not at all distressed.

(Of course I've made that nonsense up for I am no mind-reader!

Maybe, if you see bunnies it means you're a rabbit-breeder!)

*

I'll psychoanalyse myself with the picture of the clouds

Floating along in unison above the madding crowds;

Making patterns in the sky to soothe the troubled soul

And patching-up the tattered mind, and making half-hearts whole.

Maybe, when we think we need to try analysis

All we need is the calming touch of a vision such as this.

*

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ESCAPE!
An acrostic

Every door seems barred to me!
Seems I never will break free!
Caught in a trap! What a situation!
All I have is imagination!
Perched on the parapet! Brolly high!
Escaping means I have to fly!

*