Wednesday, 31 August 2016
The road less traveled
Many years ago after a long road trip across Australia we thought we'd take a scenic route back through the Snowy mountains on our way home.
Winters are not that severe in Australia and the worst we had encountered were a few showers of rain visiting friends in the capital Canberra. When we left we made our way out through the hills through winding roads and forests by scenic lakes until we saw the sign "Snowy Mountains Highway" which would take us quickly through to the Victorian state border.
We drove speedily on the highway for a few miles until we approached a sign blocking our path "Vehicles must have chains beyond this point" the sky was overcast and snow was falling lightly but clearly it was heavier ahead.
We had to turn around to find an alternative route and luckily there was one going miles out of our way on a narrow winding valley road with eucalyptus trees bent right overhead dripping with recent rain
As we drove slowly along in drizzling weather wild animals shuffled about in the undergrowth and as we went deeper in the valley and rounded yet another hairpin a Lyrebird which we had never seen in the wild before appeared walking purposefully at the side of the road and weren't we glad we had taken the road less traveled.
Image found at www.backwardinsights.blogspot.com
How lucky I am
I was overrun
Taken into slavery
Ba greater force
How cunning you were
All sweet smiles and enchantment
Crept under my guard
How blind I have been
Resistance winnowed away
I'm abashed with shame
I fell for your charms
Beguiled by sweetest kisses
Now shackled in love
You conquered my heart
I have come to adore you
How lucky I am
Image found at www.pinterest.com
Labels:
Conquest,
Haiku,
Poetry,
Poets United,
Three Word Wednesday
Sunday, 28 August 2016
Let's hope you find love
Who could wish for more
What better life can there be
Serene in the womb
So harsh the world's light
Cry cry now little infant
Your dreams are all gone
Mama will sing songs
As the sun smites you so bright
Grow old in its light
This silly old world
Cruel and scornful you'll find
Is senseless you'll see
It's fun while it lasts
Absolutely all for you
Let's hope you find love
Image found at www.kidshealth.org.nz
Saturday, 27 August 2016
Our paths crossed that day
I took a wrong turn soon after I entered the forest. I could almost hear the birds twitter with laughter and an owl hooted with glee. The branches brushed against me as I struggled to find the signpost that I had left only minutes before. I tried to retrace my footsteps counting the minutes I had been there but all I found was a gurgling stream and you sitting there barefoot splashing in the water. You turned around with no surprise and sized me up and down then patted the ground by your side inviting me to do the same. What were you, a woodland sprite or a rambler just like me? Either way I was hypnotized and not counting the consequences of my actions I sat by your side. What a blessed day to find someone so beautiful whose laugh was like a tinkling stream, whose sweet voice beguiled me just like the breeze whispering in the trees and whose touch as soft as down, freeing me of all doubts that I should be part of her. Nor did I question that plate of sweet treats she shared saying "You'll never be free of me now my love".
Our paths crossed that day
You've made me so tall and strong
Just like a pine tree
Image 2 found at www.shutterstock.com
Labels:
Fantasy,
Haibun,
Poetry,
Poets United,
The Sunday Whirl,
Trees
By hell or high water
Perseus saving Andromeda from hell
With the prompt word "hell" and knowing that "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" I am making sure I write a piece for this weeks Scribblings.
With the prompt word "hell" and knowing that "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" I am making sure I write a piece for this weeks Scribblings.
I’ll write something
So by hell or high water
I can, I oughta
Come ring a bell
You’ve a snowball’s chance in hell
Pig’s chance, you’ll say
All hell will break loose
I’ll get the hell out of here
I am well aware
A cold day in hell
Now have I written enough
Bat out of hell ….poof!
Image found at www.fanpop.com
Friday, 26 August 2016
Time travel
She is beautiful, her age is 29 and she has just lost her husband and now has their daughter (my paternal grandmother) to care for by herself. Looking at the picture I see that I have her nose and maybe her eyes and lips too (when I was younger). She died before I was born yet here (and at such a young age) she is faced with a bleak future for there is no widows pension, no family to support her or her 10 year old daughter. Her husband Frederick was an insurance agent when few people could afford to think of a future without a partner. I hope he did so but she still needed security so later married a man who managed a public house (or tavern) for a local brewery. Her daughter Maud married and their first child was my father and as a child he used to visit them then finally lived with his grandmother and his new step-grandfather and they helped to bring him up in the 1920's. I wish I had met her for I would loved to thank her for being part of me.
I see me in her
In overcoming sadness
Never giving up
Note that in her hand there is the traditional mourning card and that her clothes are typical of funeral wear of the period which she would have worn for some time.
Image of Sarah Ann Harvey (nee Hipwell) 1893
Thursday, 25 August 2016
The cat at the window
The cat sat at the window sill looking out at the watching the birds at feeder eyes darting from one to the other.
“Do you want to go out?” she asked the cat who glared back in disgust that such a stupid question should be asked, then stared out the window again.
She went to the kitchen to give her some food and the cat turned her
head and glaring at he watched her go.
“Kitty, kitty, come on its ready now” and the cat ran out to her but
instead of eating her food stood yowling by the back door.
“Oh you want to go out first do you Kitty? she said opening the door as
the cat dashed off in the garden scattering the birds at the feeder who then
looked down squawking a warning from the trees.
She then began to tidy the house and found that her sewing basket had
been tipped over and all the bits and bobs had been scattered over the floor,
“Now who could have done that” she asked.
Image found at www.photos-public-domain.com
Wednesday, 24 August 2016
I walked into town
I walked into town
Our shopping is now all done
Plenty in the fridge
I have stretched my legs
The garden bursts with colour
Tea and biscuit time
Our dog grins at us
Clearly suggesting a walk
To the park we go
You are by my side
I sneak one sweet tender kiss
We laugh together
How simple it is
Counting our blessings each day
Basking in your warmth
Image found at www.123rf.com
Saturday, 20 August 2016
Was I dreaming?
Was I dreaming?
Hearing children's laughter
The lap of water on the shore
Seagulls hovering overhead
Or unwinding?
From Morpheus's cruel spell
Splash of anchor, rattle of chain
Now rushing, gushing through my mind
Clear blue skies
You leaning against me
We're both relaxed and contented
Now wrapped up in each others arms
Was it all real?
I fear it's but a dream
Our love story is now over
For you've left me all by myself
Image fond at www.janbirdingblog.blogspot.com
Labels:
Birds,
Loss,
Love,
Poetry,
Poets United,
Sadness,
Sunday Whirligig
She'd disappeared
He lifted his head
A noise was heard
So cringed as usual
Lest a boot be used
Now master was home
Dutifully he rose
A small wag of tail
Then he spun around
His duty performed
Imprinted on his brain
For he knew his job
Always bark and snarl
When he heard a noise
Keep out of the way
At all other times
He dreamed many things
Howling at the moon
Running in the mist
Being free of ticks
Living far from him
Licking friendly hands
Being trim and brushed
Being petted by
That lady who came
Who stroked his fur
Who'd gave him a chip
She'd disappeared
The man had fought her
It all stemmed from that
He'll shoot me next
Image found at www.littlethings.com
You are the one
In that one instant
I looked in your eyes
And breathed you in
I then realised
Yes, you are the one
For me
Then when I touched you
Oh how soft you were
That sweetest smile
Shone on you cute face
Yes, you are the one
For me
Image found at www.india-forums.com
Friday, 19 August 2016
He woke with a start
He woke with a start
As Sue murmured in her sleep
He reached to touch her
But she wasn't there
He was all alone in bed
Lonely widower
She'd done this before
As she kept on coming back
To lie by his side
He could breathe her in
Feel the warmth of her presence
And hear her whispers
By morn she was gone
So should he find someone else
To stop her coming?
Some made eyes at him
He even dated one or two
It didn't feel right
Happier this way
He knew it was not the same
Without Sue in bed
Image found at www.womenshealthmag.com
Wednesday, 17 August 2016
Chalk and cheese
They knew their place with us
The dog faithful servant
The cat a picky distant cousin
For whom nothing was quite good enough
So they ignored each other
The dog had pleading eager eyes
Cat scowled with disdain and disgust
For we were only her underlings
They were like chalk and cheese
Cat just stared, dog just wagged
Dog always eager for a walk
Cat thankful to be left all alone
They were both keen hunters
Dog found and killed slippers
Cat put mouse carcasses on mat
But winter put and end to all that
Both their eyes would light up
As lounge room fire was lit
First dog then cat would get near
Supplanting the other there in front
Until the kids would call
"The cat's fur is singeing
There's an awful stink in here, Mum"
As the dog gave his usual happy grin
Image found at www.pinterest.com
This is a true story and with 6 verses I found would fit very nicely into Six Sentence Stories this week too with the prompt 'Fire'.
Labels:
Cat,
Dogs,
Poetry,
Poets United,
Six Sentence Stories
Sunday, 14 August 2016
The younger sister
Tanning on the shoreline
Paddling a babbling brook
Lazing in the sunshine
Reading a children's book
Learning her Italian
Correcting misspelled words
Walking in the garden
Watching soaring birds
Crying at a bird's corpse
Found in the garden bed
We make a tiny casket
So she knows it is dead
That's my baby daughter
Who's growing up so fast
Pushing eight already
That leave's me so aghast
Clashing with her brothers
She has a dour expression
That's come in recent times
She's hewn them down again
Image found at www.aliexpress.com
Saturday, 13 August 2016
In a muddy creek
We discovered it
In a muddy creek
Off the main river
A sad slimy ship
That once sailed the seas
Abandoned alone
We were delighted
Finding it stand in
That stretch of river
We waded over
Through shallow water
Just the four of us
I was first aboard
To take charge of it
“C’mon my hearties
We’ll sail afore noon”
The others climbed up
To travel abroad
To the seven seas
Young Jim was nervous
Didn’t want to stay
“Bite the bullet, lad
To the brig you’ll go
If we can’t trust you”
The others nodded
“We’ve burnt our bridges
By hook or by crook
Were renegades now”
So then we cast off
And played at pirates
Until the sunset
Then hunger set in
We abandoned ship
And all raced off home
To eat fish and chips
With our Mum and Dad
Image found at www.dailymail.co.uk
Labels:
Children,
Imagination,
Pirates,
Poetry,
Poets United,
The Sunday Whirl
Poet's purpose
"Next! How can I help you sir, just what is the purpose of your visit?"
"I have no idea, for I have just been directed to your counter."
“Name please so, I can see if you are expected.”
“Old Egg”
“Hmm! No, I don’t see your name down here. (Then whispering) Perhaps you should try down below?”
“Please don't berate me for I’ve already been down there and they didn’t want me either. I just
write poetry.”
He stared at me carefully then asked “You’ve not been involved in any of those
conflicts on Earth at the moment and all those crazy politicians down there
have you? We don’t brook any of them up here.”
“No of course not, But that question was a test wasn’t it? You used the
word brook alluding to the poet Rupert Brook who died during the Great War way
back in 1915, didn’t you?”
“OK, son you can come in Poets are always welcome.”
"Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace,under an English heaven."
from The Solder, Rupert Brook 1887-1915
Image found at www.blog.lifeassuranceeministries.org
Friday, 12 August 2016
The girl with green eyes
I knew she was the right one for me
For it was the look in her green eyes
And the way she flicked her long brown hair
I saw her at first across the street
And I so liked her sweet turned up nose
As she clutched her handbag by her side
She chatted with a girlfriend from work
They laughed a lot then walked off alone
Tomorrow hoped I’d see her again
“Oh you are him” her friend said next day
“We noticed you stare at us last night”
As I walked up to chat with them both
This other girl thought she was so cute
Started grinning like a Cheshire cat
My girl with green eyes said not a word
She nodded when I asked for a date
As we swapped numbers I touched her hand
My heart soared to a magical place
Her eyes said it all, heaven was ours
I’m still with her today holding tight
We both knew it was right from the start
Image found at www.quotesgram.com
Wednesday, 10 August 2016
Duplicity
At the drink fountain
We devour one another
With hungry eyes
What message is there?
Keep away I know your type
Or I dare you to
She is fairly new
Careful and so observant
I like how she looks
It took a fortnight
One day we were in the lift
She said "Perhaps"
So I just nodded
Said "I'll see you tomorrow"
She just grinned and laughed
We lunched out each day
Walked in the park linked fingers
Kissed in the arbour
I held her right hand
I knew she was married
Talked of other things
Surprised one Monday
I found out that she had quit
Never said a word
I felt like crying
But then I burst out laughing
With a wife at home
Image found at www.videoblocks.com
Sunday, 7 August 2016
On writing poetry
I am one of those
Who finds poems hard to compose
Sooner write in prose
So I cock my nose
And dance in my underclothes
Rules I will oppose
Image fouind at www.coub.com
Saturday, 6 August 2016
I almost caught a firefly once
I almost caught a firefly once
A good many years ago
Long before age made its mark
I'll sit not walk, in the park today
My voice is weak I cannot shout
Sometimes it's but a whisper
Time you're a hard taskmaster
How I wish it were yesterday
The sea's foam washes on the shore
Seagulls still hover overhead
Kids laughing race round me now
But crabs still scuttle out my way
An hour seems like a minute now
Even years skip by me too
Magazines use smaller type
I can't make out what people say
Clouds scurry in the sky above
Once they merely drifted by
The sun still smiles, raindrops fall
At least I'm still alive, hurray!
Image found at www.smithsonianmag.com
Emotive boyfriend
Crunch on the driveway
As I open the five bar gate
Call on the girlfriend
Before it's too late
She knows I'm coming
Her dad's an irascible man
Instills fear in me
For that is her plan
It's a sin I know
But her kisses are so sweet
The thrill of the chase
Rare times can we meet
We play for an hour
Her breath smells of mint
Has voice that trills like a bird
Now off I must sprint
I flee just in time
To hide in the trees
As I see the dust from his ute
I pray on my knees
Shiver my timbers
That's taken its toll
Although she has been all worth it
She is such a doll
Image found at www.quotesgram.com
Ute - Australian slang for Utility or Pick up truck
Labels:
Fear,
Girlfriend,
Kiss,
Poetry,
Romance,
The Sunday Whirl,
Youth
Friday, 5 August 2016
I laugh to myself
I laugh to myself
At the thought that tarot cards
Dictate my future
Like Alexander
I cut that Gordian knot
To make my own way
What is my fate?
Impotent devil is there
He's there in my past
What influence his
Greed, selfishness, no not that
Get back to the pit
Now Wheel of fortune
What have you in store for me?
Having come this far
You've favored me well
So why should I complain now
Others need your help
Ah here's the bright star
Telling an old man his future
My family's that
I have seen them thrive
So they walk forward not me
Peace be with you all
Image found at http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/meanings/star.shtml
Wednesday, 3 August 2016
Walking down the street
How I dreamed of her
I saw her every day
Walking down the street
Handbag and bangles
An occasional flick of hair
But no eyes for me
Oh to kiss those lips
Or whisper sweet words to her
Just to breathe her in
So I must be bold
One day I’ll walk towards her
Perhaps ask her out
Hello I will say
Would you like to go dancing
Perhaps the theatre?
Perhaps just a walk
And go for quick coffee
Would you care for that?
The next day I did
Hello I said giving my name
By a shop window
So smiling she said
The song of a single word
“Yes”, as our eyes met
Exchanging our names
While slowly walking along
Our eyes were transfixed
After work we met
Then I held her soft warm hand
We were together
Image found at www.bowsandsequins.com
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