Tahitian Conversion

                        Gaugin

THE MAG

http://magpietales.blogspot.com.au/

supplied the pictorial prompt

TAHITIAN CONVERSION

We were having the usual argument when this artist man walked in.

My two brothers sat at the table; the meal was about to begin.

I'd cut the yams and the breadfruit; I'd mixed the maize in the pot;

All my brothers had to do was sit and scoff the lot.

'We had this for dinner yesterday' said Brother Number One;

'I always feel very hungry when I've been sitting in the sun'

'You're supposed to look after us!' said Brother Number Two;

'Girls have to do the minding; that's all they're fit to do!'

'Father will probably beat you if we tell him!' both of them said!

'We wanted a meal of sucking pig and you've given us this instead!'

The artist man said 'Hold it! Those expressions I must get!'

And that was how he captured me becoming a Suffragette!

*

P.S. I have no idea what Tahitians actually eat!

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



                                                                   Tournier

THE MERRY MAKERS

'Let us make merry' said Pierre to Henri;

'Let us visit the local hostelry;

Let us find a wench who'll do us proud;

Wenching's something a man's allowed.

We'll hire a musician, and order food,

And get the young lady in the mood.

The younger the better, it seems to me,

When it comes to a night of debauchery.'

They found a wench in need of a shilling,

One who pretended to be quite willing.

They rented a room, the music played,

And, on the table, food was laid.

Claudette was pale and unprepared,

Scarcely formed and mute and scared.

In came Gaston, a slip of a lad,

Expressionless and plainly clad;

A village boy just earning a sou,

A boy whose heart was strong and true.

Pierre and Henri were steeped in wine;

They didn't see the girl's eyes shine.

They didn't see the look of love......

Love wasn't wasn't what they were thinking of.

The waiter fumbled  and hesitated

Serving two men he already hated.

What had she whispered into his ear?

'It's a way of making money, my dear.

Think! We can name our wedding day!

These are rich men! They will pay!'

The food was gone, the musician departed.

And Gaston withdrew,

Broken-hearted.

*

Soil

JP AT OLIVE GARDEN

http://gooseberrygoespoetic.blogspot.com.au/

suggests the topic 'soil'

SOIL

What an unfortunate name for something so loving and giving,

For something so very essential to all that is growing and living!

The very word 'soil' means 'dirt'; something that's filthy is 'soiled';

It has to be scrubbed to be cleansed; it has to be soaked, maybe boiled!

Yet a rich soil is full of goodness. Just see how a little seed grows!

And out of the dun brown grubbiness rises the bloom of the rose.

Without soil we all would go hungry; without soil we'd live without shade;

Without soil the earth would be barren rock and we would have never been made.

And if it gets under our finger-nails, and sometimes puts stains on our clothes

Remember......out of the  grubbiness rises the bloom of the rose.

*

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

ANNIVERSARY!

My friend Mr Tang (in the centre, second row)

Sent me this pleasant photograph, not too long ago.

His Class of 1950 is shown as they are now,

And I feel the Chinese system should really take a bow!

Everyone depicted here must be getting old,

And yet their physical condition is a wonder to behold!

All must be at least seventy, yet all are so erect!

Not one walking-stick or crooked knee or stoop can I detect!

There may be one or two grey-haired (I can see some at the back)

But most of them have hair that's thick and uniformly black!

I've looked for some obesity, but all of them are trim!

Maybe a Chinese diet keeps everybody slim!

When they were young their lives were hard, at least that's what we're told,

Yet now they've come into their own and look great when they're old!

Maybe Tai Chi's the answer. Maybe the answer's rice.

Maybe we've  all been over-indulged and now must pay the price.

The Chinese system seems to work; maybe we should comply.

So that we can look like this as future years go by!

*

The Story-Teller

The Wordle

THE SUNDAY WHIRL

http://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/

we have to use all the words in blue

THE STORY-TELLER

I wish I'd been a story-teller in ancient days of yore,

When people begged to hear a tale that they had heard before.

I'd sit on a mountain summit while people gathered round,

Not in the least complaining as they sat on stony ground.

I'd talk of a sacred goddess and her rituals and stuff

And all the indigenous listeners would never get enough.

So then I'd speak of demons and their horrible intentions

And, after I'd elaborated they'd shout their apprehensions!

The significance of my visit would spread throughout the land

And I would be invited back and always in demand.

They'd string up flags to welcome me, they'd raise a mighty cheer,

Saying 'Here comes the Teller of Stories. He's always welcome here!'

But alas, alack, those days have gone! There's nothing left for me

But to join the other goggle-eyes and simply watch TV.

*

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

SILVER TAILS

When your hair has turned to silver

And the summer breezes blow

Off you float on the summer air!

What a way to go! 

Glinting in the sunbeams,

Fading out of sight,

Twinkling, even as you fade

Into never-ending night.

*

Minus Plus

MINUS PLUS

I stood before this window and marvelled at the tints,

The glorious shades of colour, the design.

But I've turned it into monochrome in the days that have passed since

And I now appreciate the lovely form and line.

The clouds seem much more cloudy, the trees seem sturdier too,

The filtered light like moonlight seems to glow.

'Monochrome' your favourites and you'll see something new,

For what was hidden will, most surely, show.

*

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

DUAL DAZZLE

Dazzle still and dazzle dancing,
Dazzle off hot metal glancing,
Dazzle wet and dazzle dry,
Dazzle calm or dazzle spry.
Unseen, above, the dazzling sun
Razzle-dazzles everyone.
*

Gucci Glam

MAD KANE

GUCCI GLAM

A girl in an overpriced store

Said 'I know just what I'm looking for....

When a label's impressive,

No cost is excessive,

And 'Gucci' proclaims I'm not poor.'

*

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

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!'

*

Time to Say Goodbye

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

This is the final presentation from this blog. It has been one of my favourites but, as I know, blogs come and go. The quote is from the famous Italian song 'Partiro'

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE
Are you sure it's time to say goodbye?

Some of us are wondering why.

Your prompts have given so much pleasure

Filling-up our hours of leisure.

So numbers dwindle! That is sad,

But think of the good times that we've had.

Quality over quantity counts

And we've got the former in large amounts.

I've seen other blogs fade and die,

Off to Dead-Blog Heaven in the sky.

But I thought yours' was more robust!

It seems that life is most unjust!

Of course, I know what you're going to say.......

'If you really feel that way

Start a similar meme yourself!

Take the books down off the shelf,

Pick a phrase and off you go!'

But there's more to it as you clearly know!

I could 'pick a phrase' quite easily;

It's the Linky business that stymies me!

So, because I am inept,

I feel must just accept

That this is 'Carry On's' last hurrah

And hitch myself to some other star.

All I can say is 'I wont forget you

And I am very glad I've met you.'

*

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

                                      Brenda Bryant

CRYSTALISED 

The quote;  A photograph is the pause button of life. 

A photograph can capture Time

And make it last for ever;

Making a link in the chain of life

That passing years can't sever.

It pauses life for an instant,

And captures ones emotion;

The smell, the feel, the memory

Of a ship sailing the ocean.

The sun goes down a billion times,

As year gives way to year,

But only this sun, this eventide

Is preserved for ever here.

'The pause-button of life', they say,

A blessed preservation,

A hint of immortality,

And crystalised creation.

*

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

PS

It's Mothers' Day here in Australia. My daughter sent me a greeting, and this old photo was attached. I'd forgotten all about it so it was a great thrill to get it. As Rebecca points out, Greg is also in the photo. He's the bulge!

1968

First Words

GRANDMA'S GOULASH
http://grandmas-goulash.info/
asks us to write a VERY short story about this picture


FIRST WORDS!

'Grandpa! When  I am old as you

Will I look very peculiar too?'

'You little brat! Suck on your dummy!
Or else I will hand you back to Mummy!'
(140 characters)
*
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMPATIBILITY CHECK

TAURUS with GEMINI  

A Free Spirit with a Limpit! I don't care for your chances!

Taurus wedded to the home while Gemini spins and dances!

Gemini is spontanious, Taurus likes routine.

Taurus loves the tried and true, Gemini a change of scene.

While Taurus yearns for hearth and home, and everything secure,

Gemini's galivanting! How can their love endure?

For sure it's love right at the start, in spite of differing modes;

Your love-life is tremendous! The energy explodes!

Taurus loves to flatter and Gemini loves flattery,

While Gemini's bubbly, flighty ways re-charge the Taurus battery.

But Taurus is a jealous beast, too soon the eyes turn green,

'Outgoing' now becomes 'untrue'. Where has Gemini been?

Taurus tries some pinning-down, with little gifts and things,

But Gemini is restless; 'Don't try to clip my wings!'

Offer Gemini possessions, and there wont be a reaction;

While Taurus feels that married life brings ultimate satisfaction.

Taurus offers life-long love. Gemini says 'What for?'

And before you can say 'Jack Robinson!'

Gemini's out the door!

*