tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83726978596808673832024-03-05T14:39:34.709+00:00Not Waving But DrowningFrustrated poet seeks a public
for his innermost thoughts and musingsFrustrated Poethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104556641651653476noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372697859680867383.post-16486265638934658642010-09-27T01:45:00.000+01:002010-09-27T01:45:20.083+01:00The Norse MysteryThe Swedish bloodline passes down<br />
Each man is his father's son.<br />
Anders, Lars, Erik, Karl <br />
Where have all the Vikings gone?<br />
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Your forbears' longships ploughed the sea<br />
Importing death to Saxon shores<br />
Today you send us Volvos, Saabs<br />
Billy bookshelves, hardwood floors.<br />
<br />
Raiding parties, rape and pillage, <br />
Axes that cleft skulls in two<br />
Replaced by mild mannered Borg<br />
And Abba singing Waterloo.<br />
<br />
Where's the Viking spirit gone?<br />
Does time dilute your bloodline Sven?<br />
Ikea, Abba, Volvo, Saab<br />
Are all that's left of Viking men.Frustrated Poethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104556641651653476noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372697859680867383.post-37856906060823550372010-02-13T16:11:00.003+00:002010-11-23T00:55:40.395+00:00The Funeral<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DMD4jBx3zUciGwsK54GcS9mgyr3oQclNl05NEgnoUuAPuGmnt9hzdU4tYDXNyCNv9wg3Z7KyxhjVuGQp39k0zJxeg-bLdCLRzkhWC4hTcug90nLC239F2w40Si8gJJiF3Uy36miXrXo/s1600-h/68498147_9556b11a04_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DMD4jBx3zUciGwsK54GcS9mgyr3oQclNl05NEgnoUuAPuGmnt9hzdU4tYDXNyCNv9wg3Z7KyxhjVuGQp39k0zJxeg-bLdCLRzkhWC4hTcug90nLC239F2w40Si8gJJiF3Uy36miXrXo/s320/68498147_9556b11a04_b.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The Funeral<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“'Crossing is not as hard as you might think.'</span></i><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I had not thought that it would be like this.”</span></i><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I waited outside the Norman country church<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">with the pallbearers, standing under the yew trees<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">unwarmed by the low sun, chilled by the hoar frost.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Stamping their feet on the frozen ground<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">their breath hanging on the wintry breeze,<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">they paid me no attention; I ached with cold.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">They shouldered the heavy, oak coffin<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">slow marched step by deliberate step, knees<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">bent to enter under the ancient stone arch. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I went with them, hoping to slip in<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">but as they paused in the doorway<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">the crowd of heads turned to stare,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Reproachful, tearful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made slow process <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Down the aisle to the sole empty place<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Reserved for me. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Words of welcome from the priest; a hymn <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">half-sung half-mumbled, a poem, a eulogy<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">from a friend described a man I did not know.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Another mangled hymn, the blessing,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">we filed out into the bitter morning gathered<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">in supportive groups around the grave.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I watched from afar. I had already departed.</span></div><!--EndFragment--> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Frustrated Poethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104556641651653476noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372697859680867383.post-24172921185527802752009-11-08T17:10:00.010+00:002010-02-13T16:30:18.232+00:00Metamorphosis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWI9ZHU0Cu08seGLStOLeplQl825Wl7DStDAJy03qvuJpTiEEYZVdatvVuRB5dsA8VehGBwmc519hXk0OkV04KMZxGz9XZtrAfeQ1E4-JB0tpbUaf-3VKyCt8__mssq0_TfzfpTECTxcg/s1600-h/3470438271_50b32e153c_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWI9ZHU0Cu08seGLStOLeplQl825Wl7DStDAJy03qvuJpTiEEYZVdatvVuRB5dsA8VehGBwmc519hXk0OkV04KMZxGz9XZtrAfeQ1E4-JB0tpbUaf-3VKyCt8__mssq0_TfzfpTECTxcg/s320/3470438271_50b32e153c_b.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rasec/3470438271/sizes/l/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Cesar S</span></a><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Metamorphosis </span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">I am the same person now as I was at 18</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">In name only.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">Every single cell has died and been renewed.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">Each hair, once black now grey, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">Has grown, been cut, and grown again.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">Nails too. Bitten. Cut. Blackened. Regenerated.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">Emotionally weathered by time.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">More confident, but less certain. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">Outlooks broadened. Waistline too.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">Taller. Older. More experienced. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">But wiser?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">Only the name remains the same.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">And the eyes.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">The eyes never change.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">A thread through time.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">Linking two different people</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">Who share my name.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment--> <br />
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</div>Frustrated Poethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104556641651653476noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372697859680867383.post-14704757015381397352009-10-17T17:51:00.011+01:002010-11-23T01:00:40.306+00:00The Passenger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qwLaVF7lEEd7B5CLZnBS1yGLJ_hSgGsiD1HOrT6E6pCKP9vEqS668ia3ssumUiegW-Wfpt5beEpPJ0g8n6NRUR0AJxma78ttyNbOnOMvB9We6NQW5MwCvOaz_E54-XPrBvDcqVM-CXk/s1600-h/2618726658_c04e8de19a_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qwLaVF7lEEd7B5CLZnBS1yGLJ_hSgGsiD1HOrT6E6pCKP9vEqS668ia3ssumUiegW-Wfpt5beEpPJ0g8n6NRUR0AJxma78ttyNbOnOMvB9We6NQW5MwCvOaz_E54-XPrBvDcqVM-CXk/s320/2618726658_c04e8de19a_b.jpg" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1d3b68; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1d3b68; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">The Passenger</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1d3b68; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3f4d1c; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: lines-together; page-break-after: avoid; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: lines-together; page-break-after: avoid; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1d3b68; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1d3b68; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">Driving at night</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1d3b68; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">down a country lane</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1d3b68; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">no moon, no stars, clouds<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">darkness,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1d3b68; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">mile after mile after mile</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1d3b68; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">only my thoughts <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">and the radio for company.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">Suddenly I feel your presence<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Next to me, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">As real as the rain <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">the road, the wind.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1d3b68; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">I turn to see your smile,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">the light in your eyes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">And am alone again <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #192f53; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">With thoughts of you.<o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment--> </span></div></span></div></span></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</span>Frustrated Poethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104556641651653476noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372697859680867383.post-41293455099729830992009-08-25T18:48:00.013+01:002010-11-23T01:06:47.210+00:00Not A Patch<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFSQT-qH1D3NpjqttcfU6jHRkJO0E7ywHj0N2MTCta7Nq8CpjV33sVZj1VUeSYQe03YKLddReIG2osPW8sJQ4FYfWSkmMT9m6D_YonEiVh2LdlqPU7M5k5OPpTIWYfKuKQPwOJwwHvh0/s1600-h/patch.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373966364747202146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFSQT-qH1D3NpjqttcfU6jHRkJO0E7ywHj0N2MTCta7Nq8CpjV33sVZj1VUeSYQe03YKLddReIG2osPW8sJQ4FYfWSkmMT9m6D_YonEiVh2LdlqPU7M5k5OPpTIWYfKuKQPwOJwwHvh0/s400/patch.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 257px;" /></a><br />
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</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> <!--StartFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Not a Patch</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">The anthem of today’s bored youth<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">pulsates to the beat of disco drums.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Boy soldiers slouch in silence before<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">the salient of the computer screen,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">fighting online battles<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">with comrades in armchairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Enlivened by this false adrenaline<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">their roll of honour the high score board.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">In their busy lives they have no time<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">for the straight backed old men<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">at the thousand cenotaphs<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">with medals, berets, wreaths<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">and memories of last moments, vivid as yesterday, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">of comrades who died in arms and lived real lives,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">their anthem the Last Post<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">played to the beat of the funeral drum.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Wilfred, Siegfried, Rupert<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Wrote the poetry and died.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">But late in life Harry spoke the truth<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b4562; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">“Too many died. War isn’t worth one life”.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment--> </b></span>Frustrated Poethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104556641651653476noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372697859680867383.post-4323825324668965322009-06-10T08:56:00.012+01:002009-08-25T19:06:10.389+01:00Streets of Berlin<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30-rfT7zdjF4Ov7axxPMZsSESOYZGV81PJEpYgHZhZTiH82rKZN2kUUkpJGHLH_-6gofSbqklbYpA8WX8Erj_xi0U6iS9bO76TSK3_eRa2c52fRX5R9PtuEFLs18ppPYNilc09kn3pSo/s1600-h/DSC01597.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345605010867450210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30-rfT7zdjF4Ov7axxPMZsSESOYZGV81PJEpYgHZhZTiH82rKZN2kUUkpJGHLH_-6gofSbqklbYpA8WX8Erj_xi0U6iS9bO76TSK3_eRa2c52fRX5R9PtuEFLs18ppPYNilc09kn3pSo/s400/DSC01597.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Streets of Berlin</span><br /></strong><br />No matter how hard you scrub<br />Some stains cannot be removed.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">The pavements are immaculately clean.<br />Litter is not tolerated. The parks are<br />Carefully manicured. The public buildings<br />Rebuilt, modelled in the modern style.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">A memorial marks the place where books<br />Were burnt. The Gestapo headquarters<br />Are now a museum. The flags of Europe<br />Hang where Swastikas once flew.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Cars throng the wide open boulevards<br />Where endless ranks of soldiers marched<br />And row after row after row of<br />Tanks rolled past the silent and awestruck.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">But the dead still twitch the curtains<br />At their apartment windows and peer<br />Nervously into the street. They wait<br />For the knock on the door.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">They stand, unseen, in long shuffling<br />Lines at railway stations to board<br />Trains clutching their suitcases and<br />Their children's hands and one-way tickets.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The Wall is down and fragments sold<br />To eager tourists. But a scar runs across<br />The city's memory and white crosses<br />Mark where hope died in search of freedom.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Berlin. A living memorial to men's inhumanity<br />To Man. The cross still glistens on the radio tower.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">But some stains cannot be removed<br />No matter how hard you scrub. </span></div><div></div>Frustrated Poethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104556641651653476noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372697859680867383.post-48495743900043738792009-04-05T08:00:00.001+01:002009-08-21T00:39:05.822+01:00The London Tourist Guide<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVy4mRIwkqQTd_WiT_8Kqcv7AdEXMNkqa-h01ml0vuXpbg1KxvyVniI5nk3Q2CH-1qdxRkS0rKu1RRECMhdGgkCrLaITwpIaWpw8LwYGDrPXGoPtPBE7d-Nsv5fqghXAB3EppyCDg4hRU/s1600-h/Harry+Sisley.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVy4mRIwkqQTd_WiT_8Kqcv7AdEXMNkqa-h01ml0vuXpbg1KxvyVniI5nk3Q2CH-1qdxRkS0rKu1RRECMhdGgkCrLaITwpIaWpw8LwYGDrPXGoPtPBE7d-Nsv5fqghXAB3EppyCDg4hRU/s400/Harry+Sisley.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321271534933666050" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Picture by </span><a href="http://carolineld.blogspot.com/search/label/postman's%20park"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Caroline</span></a></div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Calibri;font-size:15px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latinfont-family:Calibri;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">I have been fascinated by Postman’s Park which is a memorial tucked away in the heart of the City of London.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">There is an excellent blog describing it <a href="http://carolineld.blogspot.com/search/label/postman's%20park">here</a>.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);"> There are also interesting pieces on it <a href="http://www.nothingtoseehere.net/2008/08/postmans_park_london.html">here</a> and <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/16/AR2005121600679.html">here</a>. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">This is my attempt to describe it, written (with apologies) in the style of one of my favourite poems. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latinfont-family:Calibri;font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latinfont-family:Calibri;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">The London Tourist Guide</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latinfont-family:Calibri;font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“And here, ladies and gentlemen, only a stone’s throw from St. Paul’s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Is Postman’s Park. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">On two sides of this grassy strip the towering walls</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Of City offices eclipse the sun. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The winding path, the ferns and trees,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Stray tombstones like scattered rocks, echo a silent valley floor.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Please</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shall we sit and rest a moment?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Over to your right you’ll see</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The memorial for which this place is known. Fifty three </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Victorian ceramic tablets, crafted by Royal Doulton, plain in design,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Immortalising forgotten acts of self-sacrifice. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">They combine</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">To tell stories of selfless courage, a registry of heroic acts,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Each plaque detailing with brutal simplicity the facts</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Of how one person gave their life to save another. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Harry Sisley of Kilburn, aged 10, drowned in attempting to save his brother</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">After he himself had just been rescued</span></span></i><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.” In those few words one cannot tell</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The full story of the tragedy, the living hell</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Of parents who on the same day lost two small boys </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Drowned in each other’s arms.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But Harry Sisley’s name lives on</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Fired in clay for all to see, and still will be, when you and I are gone</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And forgotten. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Where are our modern heroes?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The ice still cracks.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The fires still burn.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Deep water still claims young lives. But would we act?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Or in our indecision simply call for help if faced with tragedy?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Enough. We must move on. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Next on our tour we’ll discover the Old Bailey ….”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Frustrated Poethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104556641651653476noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372697859680867383.post-29261699431084691922009-02-02T14:47:00.001+00:002009-04-05T19:44:25.964+01:00Fromage to John Hegley<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxDLYJe6t6KleENAbhWT0MNGx0jm1Xg8Xl69S5dQCzTpzCk1LPKrw1mZTzWctyNieHwLExLLjrZdUHj5aNbJwqMmRHocMZv6wSQsSIN0JxTqOzYgxXb98Wo0u2t47PFohiUjtBJkhfXY/s1600-h/John+Hegley.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298211810184812706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxDLYJe6t6KleENAbhWT0MNGx0jm1Xg8Xl69S5dQCzTpzCk1LPKrw1mZTzWctyNieHwLExLLjrZdUHj5aNbJwqMmRHocMZv6wSQsSIN0JxTqOzYgxXb98Wo0u2t47PFohiUjtBJkhfXY/s400/John+Hegley.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />John Hegley is one of my favourite poets. I had the pleasure of seeing him live at the Edinburgh Festival this year.<br /><br />If you have never read any of his poems, then click <a href="http://www.johnhegley.co.uk/"><span style="color:#cc0000;">here</span></a> and see what you are missing.<br /><br />In the meantime, here is my inadequate cheesy homage to Luton's finest poet, from Preston's least acclaimed.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Fromage to John Hegley</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><br />I often think of Preston<br />As I pull my old string vest on<br /><br />But I rarely think of Luton<br />When I'm lounging on my futon</span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Frustrated Poethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104556641651653476noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372697859680867383.post-19594424058654481002009-01-27T07:03:00.001+00:002009-08-25T19:12:31.966+01:00How Do We Measure Time?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BEJFz80IRvhWDQHTA6vV15KsexqZbsGtJW58KVu6dEr4_RHUnXkbhGtckOTSNEos57qHF6pJgv8pywTwNDU_tPu4npdAX60uHsqE_0czDHkYk3iewo8ttFS9nJvDfCvi-pXWV33XfR8/s1600-h/Clock.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295885615719821714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BEJFz80IRvhWDQHTA6vV15KsexqZbsGtJW58KVu6dEr4_RHUnXkbhGtckOTSNEos57qHF6pJgv8pywTwNDU_tPu4npdAX60uHsqE_0czDHkYk3iewo8ttFS9nJvDfCvi-pXWV33XfR8/s400/Clock.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKGxV9IQOIGEy9YqmPNcfpL6hdfds6aPWOcW0x5A32tiVgbPKf2BG99qhg61P3Dj4IFJoPzYSjsf2jl7_yb4l4i-My4D5PLSXyxTuyyD5c8ywTkKfj1jDe0915hqOLZkaXK-6LK1Ocug/s1600-h/2326413906_ced2659384_b.jpg"></a><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Picture by </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobesh14/422942365/sizes/o/"><span style="font-size:78%;">Bobesh</span></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">How do we measure time?</span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">By the revolution<br />Of a rock shooting<br />Through a black eternity<br />Pulled by a burning ball of gas.<br />And one more candle on a cake.<br /><br />By the ebb and flow<br />Of white water on a beach<br />Hauling the oceans<br />Dragged by an ever changing moon.<br />And a new picture on the calendar.<br /><br />By the mass migration from home<br />To work and school, and back again<br />Until the sound of football crowds and<br />Church bells place a full stop.<br />And another roast lunch on the table.<br /><br />By a long shadow moving<br />Round the house and garden<br />Sun-blinding the windows<br />From dark to bright to dark.<br />And the shipping forecast to "Sailing By".<br /><br />By the lazy sweep of a large hand<br />Edging too slow to notice<br />Round a giant Roman face<br />Until the chimes ring out.<br />And the radio updates the news.<br /><br />And finally<br />By the swing of a pendulum<br />The click of a tiny cog driven by a tiny spring<br />A hangman's drop</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />A lover's final breath</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div>Frustrated Poethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104556641651653476noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372697859680867383.post-26183587936660732002009-01-02T12:10:00.000+00:002009-04-05T19:48:13.842+01:00Oxford, December 1980<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwDw5uXcCmHqoG2VOZgP6rCzVlIPam9EHayxJ6gDwbXb3Ion_NKMBLm6iMF_Uk2XKKp2sxs3AGwaD3uaForSC-ejhum3PRa3oEKSdVvS_jfEGkgCfkvq2bbpRR9mcMbRHTs1T8vQB2Mw/s1600-h/Oxford.JPG"><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286676496953666994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 176px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwDw5uXcCmHqoG2VOZgP6rCzVlIPam9EHayxJ6gDwbXb3Ion_NKMBLm6iMF_Uk2XKKp2sxs3AGwaD3uaForSC-ejhum3PRa3oEKSdVvS_jfEGkgCfkvq2bbpRR9mcMbRHTs1T8vQB2Mw/s320/Oxford.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBMCjogVOELYIVdOlSnKK05KuCW_QlS8SwOgoTb3doIn0zeBQVwdjrxe052T3OM7qO2KH6TnOeMSA3CSQXz-ujzNYaZ3yrAztycoJaJBrs4JYeTEtvO-aCT69DhuIMc7vl-kVYrtdajQ/s1600-h/Oxford.JPG"></a><div align="center"><span style="color:#006600;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Picture by Rose Davies</span><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="color:#006600;"></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><span><span><span><span><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Oxford, December 1980</span></span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">They say everyone knows<br /><br />Where they were<br /><br />When they heard JFK had been shot.<br /><br /><br /><br />I don't remember<br /><br />Where I was on 22 November<br /><br />1963<br /><br />Because I was only 6 months old.<br /><br /><br /><br />But I know where I was<br /><br />When Elvis Presley died<br /><br />On 16 August 1977.<br /><br />At my Auntie Clarice's<br /><br />in Lydney.<br /><br /><br /><br />And on 8 December 1980<br /><br />In Oxford<br /><br />Waiting to be interviewed<br /><br />When John Lennon</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Was assassinated.</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote></span></span></span></span><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div>Frustrated Poethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104556641651653476noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372697859680867383.post-19733817227453484152008-12-26T15:00:00.000+00:002009-05-28T23:09:25.955+01:00So Wrong<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIaAVpOFd8Mevk9smeartotTJnVtc6JBWN_AeGfBRjFCylQJVikPxc19F5mocFvrfmRearcmuktDK8WvrVA72qPwpi5dOqHIz4Cl_VB1qSG_HHmWAZYQrQyfxo1KMezzrh3eLYUfuhfU/s1600-h/92503019_08bfc4c450_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIaAVpOFd8Mevk9smeartotTJnVtc6JBWN_AeGfBRjFCylQJVikPxc19F5mocFvrfmRearcmuktDK8WvrVA72qPwpi5dOqHIz4Cl_VB1qSG_HHmWAZYQrQyfxo1KMezzrh3eLYUfuhfU/s320/92503019_08bfc4c450_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284119740565175186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznnxnBPALQDr2eJVzVE9eZh9_OWouFgwMdSvM4CVqT9p4NbY0fHJsFZw52laBi3C9hAXIBF2J3EufuFkDDxJLVInMJAymGjs624UoY1p42_4Nf2WgqhWIRYwBaDH7cNXAL6L4LadqFr8/s1600-h/92503162_2a57f3b775_o.jpg"><img style="text-align: right;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznnxnBPALQDr2eJVzVE9eZh9_OWouFgwMdSvM4CVqT9p4NbY0fHJsFZw52laBi3C9hAXIBF2J3EufuFkDDxJLVInMJAymGjs624UoY1p42_4Nf2WgqhWIRYwBaDH7cNXAL6L4LadqFr8/s320/92503162_2a57f3b775_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284119728013553122" /></a><i><div style="text-align: center;">pictures by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/lwr/sets/644012//"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Leo Reynolds</span></a><br /></div></i><div><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoBodyText"><br /></p></blockquote><blockquote><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">So Wrong</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi- mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">There's a florist's shop near us</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi- mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">That caters for all occasions</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi- mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Weddings, anniversaries, funerals</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi- mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi- mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">It rejoices in the name "BUTTON HOLES"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi- mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The sign sits large above the shop front</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi- mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Proud. For all to see.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi- mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi- mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Sadly, there is kleptomanic wit in our town</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi- mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Some arsehole keeps stealing</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi- mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The "O" and the "N" from the sign.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi- mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi- mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Wrong. So wr..g.</span></span></span><span style=" mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </blockquote><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span><!--EndFragment--> </div>Frustrated Poethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104556641651653476noreply@blogger.com0