tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53876672386879754672024-03-18T16:50:02.776+00:00magpie bridgePaul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.comBlogger745125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-86454031997378087402024-03-15T08:30:00.001+00:002024-03-15T08:30:00.230+00:00ENERGY TRANSFORMS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGdAwcKu-9m0crvyYZj8iAwzUtJ1Q8NtiN1kX4oFnL5tRpFw1-8fQCkMIMTmMJmPsQEM09RdRgrjkRkmIf6CFMnA1aW4VWhyP3UjRQN-vm6aaTdo5Ga7nMe2ek0NUl0SMXrflyy60L6T2xrMiEFt9PBtvTYaaNRsPs7dmvHaiGJomnb07qRy8jwi2ScQ/s4032/IMG_8344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGdAwcKu-9m0crvyYZj8iAwzUtJ1Q8NtiN1kX4oFnL5tRpFw1-8fQCkMIMTmMJmPsQEM09RdRgrjkRkmIf6CFMnA1aW4VWhyP3UjRQN-vm6aaTdo5Ga7nMe2ek0NUl0SMXrflyy60L6T2xrMiEFt9PBtvTYaaNRsPs7dmvHaiGJomnb07qRy8jwi2ScQ/s320/IMG_8344.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a revised poem and it owes much to the input of the <i>Secret Poets</i>. Once again thank you chaps. You can read the last version <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2024/02/with-looking-glass-steps.html">here</a>.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">FINALS</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">with mirrored steps</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">we walk side by side </span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">turn in slow motion</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">this dialogue of movement offers</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">a split second vision</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">of all the rehearsals to come</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">the walls will hold our sound</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">the floor our footfalls</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">the air our breath</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">we will never fade</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">though all come to stillness</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">energy
transforms</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">how fragile is the house of now</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">a time of endings</span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">our finals farewell</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxwUDRzVbziinBvGJMlY6qZcYK8PyS6-kDOXAO_w0YPNP1QP8qwq8udiB9c1LFOtPyBcevjKICDKMbNCO5TQ18OdPHvDvz7nxUB1CxK2dd893dayjzoLtbgdz3eYS5Kipdotsw75GhnU8UCkcSHHaLP5aZfs4hRhqJ08Cn94E1kLf4iGCFg3WRBoJTQE/s4032/IMG_8342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxwUDRzVbziinBvGJMlY6qZcYK8PyS6-kDOXAO_w0YPNP1QP8qwq8udiB9c1LFOtPyBcevjKICDKMbNCO5TQ18OdPHvDvz7nxUB1CxK2dd893dayjzoLtbgdz3eYS5Kipdotsw75GhnU8UCkcSHHaLP5aZfs4hRhqJ08Cn94E1kLf4iGCFg3WRBoJTQE/s320/IMG_8342.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was not happy with the poem and discussing with the <i>Secrets</i> clarified the structure of the poem and exactly what I wanted to say. Thank you once more. The looking glass steps had to go for clarity, you cannot hold on to those words which obscure.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uw7wcFnwxrax-wJeCEvVoIsEAyTfvjpBNyacjWoKDa6y_QnwfDG15IFHgfJMMsoWjtOQP_MzL7r73aN-ntdBzxgBaK1OF3dFbwn68jrqGjdF3tX-eHLvK5CChkCZpxuvpcvFJQ8f0RQybWFhmiTmmq_DvZ8u8NLNntynaGs7jrWEQv4LxgR3IEELiRw/s4032/IMG_5933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uw7wcFnwxrax-wJeCEvVoIsEAyTfvjpBNyacjWoKDa6y_QnwfDG15IFHgfJMMsoWjtOQP_MzL7r73aN-ntdBzxgBaK1OF3dFbwn68jrqGjdF3tX-eHLvK5CChkCZpxuvpcvFJQ8f0RQybWFhmiTmmq_DvZ8u8NLNntynaGs7jrWEQv4LxgR3IEELiRw/s320/IMG_5933.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This second poem has had the lines tightened up and I think works the better for it. You can read the earlier version <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2024/03/yawns-to-stop.html">here</a>.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">TAUNTON STATION ONE MIDNIGHT</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">we three strangers could be the last people on this earth</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">cold to the bone in the post midnight chill</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">the silence of the station is as deep as sleep we miss</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">individual in our anticipation we wait for the last train anticipating the last trainas we wait</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">then the light</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">rounds the bend</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">yawns to a stop</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">is this the carriage door</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">the one you will explode out of</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">telling tales of jostling platform changes</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">that lead to cheek by jowl overcrowding</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">no seat until well after Bristol</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">of course it isn’t</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">you walk up to me</span></p><p></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">we hug and walk home</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1aYobdXzgiQQk98be-HxfyNs-1z8KE3Oh5sjpwyNQ7Gw-Iv_1yF1X-A3RG9fetbt8ZQujxq-RsGiMj4tfRDEb3cT9LqLVxqqZ2gsNw8If1Bco-3XvI60-t3j-HtLRWDiFvyF60OoYwhoFh6vtFy6vEO78GU4RGQHHx719qCYlZQGfZ-tlbFypW7GWL0/s4032/IMG_4332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1aYobdXzgiQQk98be-HxfyNs-1z8KE3Oh5sjpwyNQ7Gw-Iv_1yF1X-A3RG9fetbt8ZQujxq-RsGiMj4tfRDEb3cT9LqLVxqqZ2gsNw8If1Bco-3XvI60-t3j-HtLRWDiFvyF60OoYwhoFh6vtFy6vEO78GU4RGQHHx719qCYlZQGfZ-tlbFypW7GWL0/s320/IMG_4332.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've been playing the American Dreamer box set a lot. Laura Nyro has been someone who I have listened to since I was a child. Here's some footage of Laura at Monetary I've just come across.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/raxswPy0bW4" width="320" youtube-src-id="raxswPy0bW4"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time. </span><p></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-60043906423176567442024-03-08T08:30:00.001+00:002024-03-08T08:30:00.237+00:00JUST TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFSRS3wh8XF3AnPmXSflINNyKnI6kHR0-PeUTRRpfZHcDyUmLNpcyZnXfdmWbHlo_RFBZd-6luYiFW5Emc7dw6tm1EwkzNy8yv9UIV0IB7eqBrFKfrYlsEDi3UXVdI4il1Xn-7fbLLl4EIBOtPvFXwjMyG4ULiGu9grYk9ELVwBchVwW4suY9i5tSJ6g/s4272/2012%20barca%20269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFSRS3wh8XF3AnPmXSflINNyKnI6kHR0-PeUTRRpfZHcDyUmLNpcyZnXfdmWbHlo_RFBZd-6luYiFW5Emc7dw6tm1EwkzNy8yv9UIV0IB7eqBrFKfrYlsEDi3UXVdI4il1Xn-7fbLLl4EIBOtPvFXwjMyG4ULiGu9grYk9ELVwBchVwW4suY9i5tSJ6g/s320/2012%20barca%20269.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was looking at an old poem the other day and thinking I could do better. I'll let you decide. You can read the earlier version <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2016/09/two-train-poems.html">here</a>. </span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">LET
THE TRAIN TAKE THE STRAIN</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">it
is clear the train company worries about me</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">this
is why they advised [twice] me to hold the handrail</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">at
all times </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">when</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
I climb the </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">station
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">stairs </span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">counselled
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">that
I must</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
carry water on my journey</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">as
th</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">is</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
weekend’</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">s</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
weather will be unseasonably hot</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
suggest should I feel unwell</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">then
I must disembark at the next station</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">as
this will make it easier for them to aid me</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">obviously
they have heard that I forget things these days</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
so repeatedly remind me </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">in
these times of heightened tension</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">not
to leave my luggage unattended </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">because
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">if
I do </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
security service may damage </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">or
blow my case to smithereens </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">just
to be on the safe side</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">it
is also pointed out that I should stand behind the yellow line </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">let
people exit </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
train </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">before
attempt</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">ing</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
to enter </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
to mind the gap </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">at
all times</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">as I
am </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">now
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">in
the quiet carriage I must not play my music </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">talk
on my phone or annoy the other passengers</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">it
is a shame the railway company </span></span>
</p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">does
not practice what it preaches</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZmhtRQqU0z-zPM1qErXq_NFjak7l2AHP6CXIb_o8gd0DnlkkFLFCvfkrmkrWid_pZ7wApTzRECHIHxuy_m6smjKOmkiEeYAhxQ1z1X2QbbxEQCaX_B5SGRrL6KzXVIBznIn7J_dE3h7KfxakJbnU8rHfO9nlS7loa6f1GA7uxhWs4MQO_W9ByLcAq4I/s4272/IMG_3732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZmhtRQqU0z-zPM1qErXq_NFjak7l2AHP6CXIb_o8gd0DnlkkFLFCvfkrmkrWid_pZ7wApTzRECHIHxuy_m6smjKOmkiEeYAhxQ1z1X2QbbxEQCaX_B5SGRrL6KzXVIBznIn7J_dE3h7KfxakJbnU8rHfO9nlS7loa6f1GA7uxhWs4MQO_W9ByLcAq4I/s320/IMG_3732.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I remember the circumstances in which I wrote it clearly. I was travelling to Swanage in Dorset one summer's day on the train and was struck by just how many announcements were made. I hope the poem is rather tongue in cheek. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">What have I done? Well, I think I've clarified the ideas more fully than in the last version. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVozZTmwXfisVkZonbJPHePgnCiABQXXR9ou73Z4_6Tf5fRpnC4ow4psFKe-OojYMvIIW1XB67Rnwe48W-U9EdZw4PQ8ExOAEKKoXUhxx77Xfo2jZoI-VCnbywALqBd9Gs7SxjC79VRYDvvZXujFcrDaqod0IcZiQSBfqxapNFE280-fOJv5KjFUSQpM/s4272/IMG_6726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVozZTmwXfisVkZonbJPHePgnCiABQXXR9ou73Z4_6Tf5fRpnC4ow4psFKe-OojYMvIIW1XB67Rnwe48W-U9EdZw4PQ8ExOAEKKoXUhxx77Xfo2jZoI-VCnbywALqBd9Gs7SxjC79VRYDvvZXujFcrDaqod0IcZiQSBfqxapNFE280-fOJv5KjFUSQpM/s320/IMG_6726.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've been listening to <a href="https://breatheowlbreathe.com/store">Breathe Owl Breathe</a> recently. They've always been a band I've enjoyed and I've found this video you may like.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UpiHJm93fTA" width="320" youtube-src-id="UpiHJm93fTA"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-3536198031705666912024-03-01T08:30:00.001+00:002024-03-01T08:30:00.130+00:00YAWNS TO A STOP<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rPC2oIsr8np5T_vsBHDpHC6dpXaUBxMVcUq7YAkAun8k8jem10nwXG4Py5lHTYVK_Geb_P73fLe0xRr5Zc3eUktyb2NoAjZUZrJtZQXBPIYipVPxEHCP_zmd9ZHxKpUjunf-Vf1OQmaGoyyo8zwuggAKkRMTVabOeHuzbbgR0cxChnfnmcWVvwNZYc4/s4032/IMG_8315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rPC2oIsr8np5T_vsBHDpHC6dpXaUBxMVcUq7YAkAun8k8jem10nwXG4Py5lHTYVK_Geb_P73fLe0xRr5Zc3eUktyb2NoAjZUZrJtZQXBPIYipVPxEHCP_zmd9ZHxKpUjunf-Vf1OQmaGoyyo8zwuggAKkRMTVabOeHuzbbgR0cxChnfnmcWVvwNZYc4/s320/IMG_8315.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's a poem about meeting someone off the train late at night. I attended a workshop about trains last week ran by The Write Box poetry group. Thank you Bob and Sue.</span><p></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">we could be the three last people on
this earth</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">cold as the bone in this post midnight
chill</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the station is as silent as sleep</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">then the light </span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">rounds the bend</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">yawns to a stop</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">is this the carriage door</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the one you will explode out of</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">telling tales of cheek by jowl
overcrowding</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">no seat until well after Bristol</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">of course it isn’t</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">we hug and walk home</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26MjoUlhuKIzrdWjMUhOxaire8GPWGiCzHIJtO9J_wMiBptFWXMASfBky0IgNTpVDkHC8DBJ4xvikzLTvR2CsbqrPjeVUUAzU0iiskuyWqVTZQ-zL-imokNXal2GbORLlGLbAeObbf8SSGyHUkRsGmXwcFqnREeDUFTzL_F1ry-hmm3NAkQB6gfontn8/s4032/IMG_8310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26MjoUlhuKIzrdWjMUhOxaire8GPWGiCzHIJtO9J_wMiBptFWXMASfBky0IgNTpVDkHC8DBJ4xvikzLTvR2CsbqrPjeVUUAzU0iiskuyWqVTZQ-zL-imokNXal2GbORLlGLbAeObbf8SSGyHUkRsGmXwcFqnREeDUFTzL_F1ry-hmm3NAkQB6gfontn8/s320/IMG_8310.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The poem is pretty straight forward [aren't they all]. It is based on a real incident of collecting my eldest daughter from the station. She arrived on the last train and the place was deserted. It's not complete yet, needs a rewrite or two. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtM-kjAxqGMQvw4UlARvdvkTLNsCPl2cmqTGICBB4u7V7Lp2aS8rvcy02zDmNcTCCC8C1lnqmFyaL-jfBU2DeSLHcqVFYykafYAOzCzxvXAV2Sn7dlsTgNBhEUa87o06NYKXve7aHpAFRNh58K740X_p8pUj4VkfT1AA8PQmpBJPgESsiCWEGw6zUgBYk/s4032/IMG_8314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtM-kjAxqGMQvw4UlARvdvkTLNsCPl2cmqTGICBB4u7V7Lp2aS8rvcy02zDmNcTCCC8C1lnqmFyaL-jfBU2DeSLHcqVFYykafYAOzCzxvXAV2Sn7dlsTgNBhEUa87o06NYKXve7aHpAFRNh58K740X_p8pUj4VkfT1AA8PQmpBJPgESsiCWEGw6zUgBYk/s320/IMG_8314.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's <a href="https://www.hurrayfortheriffraff.com/tour/">Hurray For The Riff Raff</a>. The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/feb/20/hurray-for-the-riff-raff-life-on-earth-review-songs-of-survival-from-alynda-segarra">new album</a> is excellent.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z5K2YWULGb0" width="320" youtube-src-id="Z5K2YWULGb0"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time. </span><p></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-74193845997563471452024-02-23T08:30:00.005+00:002024-02-23T08:30:00.129+00:00WITH LOOKING GLASS STEPS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70zDEJfPtrpqXon2FaC2wtg8oeSYRNAjZ10OynpN7VQmo_nU7AeVtPTi6wrs70UiQY9X5NfiSjQF-nDsRiTBjyjrM3vVEJIBsuktDREgE09GH8S92Y5sB-ng1AbEiFIeJ-z_Nk3qRUMvV0-CksL3S02ZKYMwPrrRz6flk7tWnTIJyS-66hPHjrmd9Gjc/s4032/IMG_7864.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70zDEJfPtrpqXon2FaC2wtg8oeSYRNAjZ10OynpN7VQmo_nU7AeVtPTi6wrs70UiQY9X5NfiSjQF-nDsRiTBjyjrM3vVEJIBsuktDREgE09GH8S92Y5sB-ng1AbEiFIeJ-z_Nk3qRUMvV0-CksL3S02ZKYMwPrrRz6flk7tWnTIJyS-66hPHjrmd9Gjc/s320/IMG_7864.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A poem about partings. The air feels filled with farewells at the moment. It's dissertation time and final exams loom. </span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">THE SECOND REHEARSAL OF THE LAST PRODUCTION</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">we walk side by side </span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">with looking glass steps</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">turn in slow motion</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">this moving dialogue offers</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">a split second view</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">of all the rehearsal halls to come</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">how fragile is the house of now</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">a time of endings</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">our finals farewell</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">the walls will hold our sound</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">the floor our footfalls</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">the air our breath</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">we will never end</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">though all come to stillness</span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;">energy translates</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuws3K70-fTf8NxkDy-noZ1dmtc2jOdcmQhaxwpUSUgRknmiJGSXohUSmTfuMzGrPkdeD1jNE9uL6RmseCPuElfE_MdCKZn_7ZfB4QyFFXdQ3EBjz3E6PlR3j5eic682wLvJlcRP2UR_95d3XBPJ6ZhvFVH7CaAs8tzJuDuhqbUgLP-Kxg-NC9uUn9pbQ/s4032/IMG_6923.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuws3K70-fTf8NxkDy-noZ1dmtc2jOdcmQhaxwpUSUgRknmiJGSXohUSmTfuMzGrPkdeD1jNE9uL6RmseCPuElfE_MdCKZn_7ZfB4QyFFXdQ3EBjz3E6PlR3j5eic682wLvJlcRP2UR_95d3XBPJ6ZhvFVH7CaAs8tzJuDuhqbUgLP-Kxg-NC9uUn9pbQ/s320/IMG_6923.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was attempting to capture endings and beginnings, that point when something is stopping but other things wait in the wings. This is definitely a work in progress. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51fBzMikNPKhDOu0BrJgEfq-s0riV38Jk4NUclSavRwlC7oydPxEMsGn1K_4PRBuRqAgyIlqwqFTEMnfsEVUImBRd4m28WMyS2MDqpfEUknNxZ6BsSaqkf4S9P4aM2hj61VMcuDOmHqwIXGp8NzWh-U6idHV7YltNvukTNN9PeKxuCPuVSJ32CVLTzZY/s4032/IMG_8256.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51fBzMikNPKhDOu0BrJgEfq-s0riV38Jk4NUclSavRwlC7oydPxEMsGn1K_4PRBuRqAgyIlqwqFTEMnfsEVUImBRd4m28WMyS2MDqpfEUknNxZ6BsSaqkf4S9P4aM2hj61VMcuDOmHqwIXGp8NzWh-U6idHV7YltNvukTNN9PeKxuCPuVSJ32CVLTzZY/s320/IMG_8256.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's a lovely video of Paul Simon with a beautiful arrangement of one of my favourite songs.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-lj5RgpgfPE" width="320" youtube-src-id="-lj5RgpgfPE"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time.</span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-37162109796457416972024-02-16T08:30:00.001+00:002024-02-16T08:30:00.133+00:00SILK FLOWERS IN THE RAIN<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53WsF05tq6FdZi_BWnyxOXOlOYp2L6BPJ40uqspTIelvHhmC4sxJhjiOPZFzyE0_eILAfNKZBjfzHEDDcWk3rqMlpuFFDP6M9JSFSyRLa_-A1CXLbXNpwi21hgTUQmjBZuPELPYSWZywYbyL6JoTFwOWb4VblIhoucw0yrfdjF9wSMHGnhFOzFlL-9qA/s4032/IMG_8149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53WsF05tq6FdZi_BWnyxOXOlOYp2L6BPJ40uqspTIelvHhmC4sxJhjiOPZFzyE0_eILAfNKZBjfzHEDDcWk3rqMlpuFFDP6M9JSFSyRLa_-A1CXLbXNpwi21hgTUQmjBZuPELPYSWZywYbyL6JoTFwOWb4VblIhoucw0yrfdjF9wSMHGnhFOzFlL-9qA/s320/IMG_8149.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This first poem would benefit from a photograph of the scene it describes but I didn't think to take one at the time. So you will have to make do with this word picture.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="break-before: page; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">rows
of silk flowers in the rain</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">outside
the bargain centre</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">they
gift larger than life colours to the day</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">multiplied
reflections in the pavement pools</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">and
we who hurry by with heads bowed</span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">break
into a smile to see such brightness</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3lxzxdKMRz0m3Nk0AJi44i4ogbfiETRv8QQjRcrmIESfG5m5Vl0karQzr3yzPmh0znFmB6IVS4n1svHIeRR8u4-0hpxWtvVJvcFOTyH3pP815yJ1dZ3USro8D0vY2hmLgxrk06kdKbIP5OBHppA0RHJuaKrijyx1cM1MDsuYpEejzwpkN6K6UZ5lYGk/s4032/IMG_8217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3lxzxdKMRz0m3Nk0AJi44i4ogbfiETRv8QQjRcrmIESfG5m5Vl0karQzr3yzPmh0znFmB6IVS4n1svHIeRR8u4-0hpxWtvVJvcFOTyH3pP815yJ1dZ3USro8D0vY2hmLgxrk06kdKbIP5OBHppA0RHJuaKrijyx1cM1MDsuYpEejzwpkN6K6UZ5lYGk/s320/IMG_8217.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was not until after I had passed the shop that the line <i>silk flowers in the rain do not need water</i> popped into my head. It was such a dismal afternoon I did not think to go back and take a photograph. This next poem is self explanatory.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">faced
with writing a eulogy</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
paragraph their experience</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">make
sense of their happen chance</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">chart
the voyage of their life</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">that
I watched from the sidelines</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">a
bit player in their grand narrative</span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">my
pen describes the new made void in all our lives</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiF6ZZxP_40NaQLxM1KrJVFd4rRdfRV6V0b3oePjtoSq35tP27pvez0jBYLqTSOy6NiDTKsg9bLhMAqIBzH2XxYpk6SgxVFxn-VEMo_KGj_paEVImydbIQysf1EuPhz-63psgnawIMmY0O9eOAQIOCCJExJ4X8UJ2UDCGnSUHP9c_CHclRsFcoO49qfJc/s4032/IMG_8201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiF6ZZxP_40NaQLxM1KrJVFd4rRdfRV6V0b3oePjtoSq35tP27pvez0jBYLqTSOy6NiDTKsg9bLhMAqIBzH2XxYpk6SgxVFxn-VEMo_KGj_paEVImydbIQysf1EuPhz-63psgnawIMmY0O9eOAQIOCCJExJ4X8UJ2UDCGnSUHP9c_CHclRsFcoO49qfJc/s320/IMG_8201.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is a work in progress. It isn't complete. Watch this space. It's strange how some poems you want to make work never quite do. Let's hope this one will land safely.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-DDkgVmspzAQg6-Nl5_CzFSB9xSatTiz28uVMal6LQUH3tcoC7bKOR5K7IiXkfAnc9kwFt_1zyPB4MD_C2QE6PDIMY3hnDOOqipdyh8zZ1OEcaCg54pmuibS80xvN0-U4VLT0278p-ZepXoDppDpOByBoDrJH6oLrudIolrJjmLYu1uNRugzSfFDIhY/s4032/IMG_8210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-DDkgVmspzAQg6-Nl5_CzFSB9xSatTiz28uVMal6LQUH3tcoC7bKOR5K7IiXkfAnc9kwFt_1zyPB4MD_C2QE6PDIMY3hnDOOqipdyh8zZ1OEcaCg54pmuibS80xvN0-U4VLT0278p-ZepXoDppDpOByBoDrJH6oLrudIolrJjmLYu1uNRugzSfFDIhY/s320/IMG_8210.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've been listening to <a href="https://naissamjalal.com/">Naissan Jala</a>l's latest cd <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/may/19/naissam-jalal-healing-rituals-review-cinematic-album-salutes-the-natural-world">Rituals</a> and it is quietly beautiful. Well worth <a href="https://naissamjalal.bandcamp.com/">looking out</a>.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LHm0JeGWWeY" width="320" youtube-src-id="LHm0JeGWWeY"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time. </span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-32512029361808611432024-02-09T08:30:00.001+00:002024-02-09T08:30:00.136+00:00 A FISH YOU COULD NEVER MAKE SWIM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8BFwoWSvj5VNsfpVK3c7ftOMlG778pLVYPdqU6tNTIfpj4-4HQJ3TyR-VNPTh7pLRjTJZk9jIZC93v04p6UXxniVrT0ZMZo-q4gqU08aYhyggyiPOXRG4xaJW-JmAvCzrHo3Pi-CMZCel-sJRDqpFS_cr2MxuXUvTSWKr-yRzlZ7CPyk4P36-ydqrmg/s3168/IMG_8177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="3021" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8BFwoWSvj5VNsfpVK3c7ftOMlG778pLVYPdqU6tNTIfpj4-4HQJ3TyR-VNPTh7pLRjTJZk9jIZC93v04p6UXxniVrT0ZMZo-q4gqU08aYhyggyiPOXRG4xaJW-JmAvCzrHo3Pi-CMZCel-sJRDqpFS_cr2MxuXUvTSWKr-yRzlZ7CPyk4P36-ydqrmg/s320/IMG_8177.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">I watched a French film recently <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e78wNtnZl0w">The Green Perfume</a>. It was fun in a Hitchcock-like way. But from the start I had a feeling of Deja Vu, that I had seen the film before, I realised that I had not because it was only released in 2022. Yet each new scene seemed familiar. In the end I gave up worrying and just watched the film. It led to this poem.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="break-before: page; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">just
as the lights dimmed</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">deja
vu wandered in</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">occupied
the seat next to his</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">and
from the opening credits</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">provoked
split second echoes from the future</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">playing
his emotional responses like a kipper</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">[a
fish you could never make swim]</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">how
he worried about these instant memories</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">that
he could not place in the fabric of his life</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">eventually
he gave up trying to </span></span>
</p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">and
just let the film roll over him</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVzxbFvs8Q3phbdxt2S1ef2ukl1LboPO4-D3QfzFafNMkt6XuOUBoJNglFWrV9qc_Q1AktAl3yZxUVB4_EFehuGay4RCbeTD2ZrZuIWbQJNNA5C04JiOnFaNGo08AbyOFGlVCc0QGI03E_2cOVvTVrilBWX3Js1CJFf9xIrLpcAq0Hjr3vaFZAa-zzVc/s3795/IMG_8176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3795" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVzxbFvs8Q3phbdxt2S1ef2ukl1LboPO4-D3QfzFafNMkt6XuOUBoJNglFWrV9qc_Q1AktAl3yZxUVB4_EFehuGay4RCbeTD2ZrZuIWbQJNNA5C04JiOnFaNGo08AbyOFGlVCc0QGI03E_2cOVvTVrilBWX3Js1CJFf9xIrLpcAq0Hjr3vaFZAa-zzVc/s320/IMG_8176.jpg" width="255" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is one of the poems I've been working on lately and I am not sure it's the definitive version. I'm attempting to get that feeling of rolling with the flow in response to events beyond control. Watch this space.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPqV2vxYyvFewD98JLsB3iHx2hGA0s8tFVqNsbTHDGLWx1fwPSitvMHaKClarLiKDIuYOt_1ntyVCcpVPxZDw56-bb9VVkm0UeQyFg6e1JBpSAKoUhAnBQAa-n8etWKZILOF3yNK_maPl5H_-buTzp32sgce_O5_7KR-Co_dx5_PjF9MxWBIOFTHtd-o/s4032/IMG_8178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPqV2vxYyvFewD98JLsB3iHx2hGA0s8tFVqNsbTHDGLWx1fwPSitvMHaKClarLiKDIuYOt_1ntyVCcpVPxZDw56-bb9VVkm0UeQyFg6e1JBpSAKoUhAnBQAa-n8etWKZILOF3yNK_maPl5H_-buTzp32sgce_O5_7KR-Co_dx5_PjF9MxWBIOFTHtd-o/s320/IMG_8178.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just before Christmas I got a couple of cds by <a href="https://sachalvasandani.bandcamp.com/album/still-life">Sachal Vasandani and Romain Collin</a> and I can't stop playing them. The interplay between the voice and the piano is exquisite. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C6FtEzoRNTQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="C6FtEzoRNTQ"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time.</span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-55515219170428171172024-02-02T08:30:00.002+00:002024-02-02T08:30:00.128+00:00THE BUBBLES FLED<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwz7f1S6frE6UcP23-rxmdAyNlpV3zf02sG10vlvpFe8jthJK2FNXyyNJpLgv5pjF9s-Vqu0nvIP6G32HeR2IovS5P_7RxilR-HJhXXtLpe9np8ZhctdzBhsoic2z3mv6uDYCLlWOd4xro_QkymQRVOsztaz_LePwVOw2d96nE0TSpaVzZl-ZN93khKAY/s4032/IMG_7943.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwz7f1S6frE6UcP23-rxmdAyNlpV3zf02sG10vlvpFe8jthJK2FNXyyNJpLgv5pjF9s-Vqu0nvIP6G32HeR2IovS5P_7RxilR-HJhXXtLpe9np8ZhctdzBhsoic2z3mv6uDYCLlWOd4xro_QkymQRVOsztaz_LePwVOw2d96nE0TSpaVzZl-ZN93khKAY/s320/IMG_7943.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's a couple of revised poems. You can read the previous version of this first one <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2023/12/their-names-in-book.html">here</a>. I've changed the ending as I was not happy with the poem, to be honest after the first line I didn't think it flowed. Hopefully this is smoother.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="break-before: page; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">just
like that the champagne went flat </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">we
were in the presence of a bigger mystery</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">one
that would carry us to a place of metaphor </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
consume a whole twelve hours </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">we
had been there before and would visit again</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">so I
watched as the bubbles fled from the pale liquid</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">sometimes
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">all</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
you </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">can
do is</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
trust </span></span>
</p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
watch the</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
seconds as they uniquely unravel</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgase8rJnFBjiusfQT55QTaAkKHtazsdjvIUX7nipKY98iRFuhM7DgDxMX01cvUZI-qyIFgQsNPygRp2RU6MgTw6G1ZYvfxtarShlyWhqhTbXfCJUpDUEszUixUguoL1G723joc0e63jWqBbUJGvE7nfjpf68OK3fBonI2EiohQimdNVinnCYyDpoFnQxU/s4032/IMG_7862.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgase8rJnFBjiusfQT55QTaAkKHtazsdjvIUX7nipKY98iRFuhM7DgDxMX01cvUZI-qyIFgQsNPygRp2RU6MgTw6G1ZYvfxtarShlyWhqhTbXfCJUpDUEszUixUguoL1G723joc0e63jWqBbUJGvE7nfjpf68OK3fBonI2EiohQimdNVinnCYyDpoFnQxU/s320/IMG_7862.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I wanted to project tranquillity, that a loss of ego can lead us to something wonderful. That there is no need for fear. This second poem is hopefully more show than tell. </span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="break-before: page; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">the
anchoress dreams</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">sap
green spring leaf</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">her time again would be </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">to
sail as a dandelion seed </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">over
all man made enclosures</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">but
the bell’s toll wakes her</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">in
the half light same four walls </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">as
it has been these past ten years</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">the
sun takes its time</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">to
rise above the barred window</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">and
where she wonders</span></span></span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">is
God in all of this?</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3L_M4iTCN0eydDWGDZLF7hpyKHd1wiFBJzvQC4av0R5Ah_VBjg2pSGXb8VFlc3r8HaUqjsDUzHTpNWmx5s9yJNEqNuLEX2blOIZwDpfO8FzYHxw3Z15T4bKpJ3L952nF3bP5Y2vF3M8V1iJcSXVDoLiUFLsk55eWVBX3z7K2RfJa8ToPwWXSGlxn2Mcg/s4032/IMG_7863.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3L_M4iTCN0eydDWGDZLF7hpyKHd1wiFBJzvQC4av0R5Ah_VBjg2pSGXb8VFlc3r8HaUqjsDUzHTpNWmx5s9yJNEqNuLEX2blOIZwDpfO8FzYHxw3Z15T4bKpJ3L952nF3bP5Y2vF3M8V1iJcSXVDoLiUFLsk55eWVBX3z7K2RfJa8ToPwWXSGlxn2Mcg/s320/IMG_7863.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think the last version was an information dump. What I have tried to do is lead the reader to the same conclusion, but I am not sure that the final two lines are needed? At the moment I am working on a number of poems that are slowly coming together, they will appear in due time.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYYalg0fD6hS8GBeRtqak4hDBC1gQ8OJIOeXVrHEn1H49NmIwZt-yvp3PdGcr0SMrJR8KA2CYXx8C1pC_UdHg8iVBIrtXnAPJHUpLFK_jvc0hFHeYyF3GGyG_J_b0oE0KUgn8xAlbVUtbXd9bAJYTO4zcLWfRrJDGf-Npa_QAqkDi8yaNPKD4RFkqULE/s4032/IMG_8099.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYYalg0fD6hS8GBeRtqak4hDBC1gQ8OJIOeXVrHEn1H49NmIwZt-yvp3PdGcr0SMrJR8KA2CYXx8C1pC_UdHg8iVBIrtXnAPJHUpLFK_jvc0hFHeYyF3GGyG_J_b0oE0KUgn8xAlbVUtbXd9bAJYTO4zcLWfRrJDGf-Npa_QAqkDi8yaNPKD4RFkqULE/s320/IMG_8099.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://shop.merchcentral.com/collections/hurray-for-the-riff-raff">Hurray For The Riff Raff</a> has a new album out, you can order it <a href="https://www.hurrayfortheriffraff.com/">here</a>. I leave you with a track.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0eGwEtDAVx0" width="320" youtube-src-id="0eGwEtDAVx0"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time.</span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-80440057197350237632024-01-26T08:30:00.002+00:002024-02-12T15:04:23.217+00:00LIKE A DANDELION SEED<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_I-kNk4tXxfdUyTz7lnH-Zd87l-7YZn-gm8yDvvx9OlSdS0ApS86s0Lvfmd_0c_Lz79sm1TlN2JscEPrJe1BNhA5dDCnaC2XV6U0vWJ6jItdvZbFZOJSPNfdSoX658BNen7n2xh5eM-zJy-WjuUYsS5lO7ifc7BAIoKPnuco6F1gaz-LxIaIXUy16i4/s2302/IMG_7981.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2302" data-original-width="1900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_I-kNk4tXxfdUyTz7lnH-Zd87l-7YZn-gm8yDvvx9OlSdS0ApS86s0Lvfmd_0c_Lz79sm1TlN2JscEPrJe1BNhA5dDCnaC2XV6U0vWJ6jItdvZbFZOJSPNfdSoX658BNen7n2xh5eM-zJy-WjuUYsS5lO7ifc7BAIoKPnuco6F1gaz-LxIaIXUy16i4/s320/IMG_7981.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was in Wolverhampton last weekend and I visited the <a href="https://www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk/visit/wolves/">Art Gallery</a>. It was excellent. If you get the chance to look at the art you won't be disapionted. It houses the largest collection of Pop Art outside of London, and the <a href="https://edisaacs.com/">Ed Isaacs</a> exhibition was worth the journey in itself. I had an idea for a poem while I walked about the streets, though I do not know where it came from. An <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchorite">anchoress</a> was a woman who was confined within a cell in a church in medieval times. Once consecrated they remained in their cell until death. it was not unusual for them to dig their own grave and be interned within the church. </span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="break-before: page; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">the
anchoress dreams</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">sap
green spring leaf</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">her time again would be </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">like
a dandelion seed </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">to
sail over all man made enclosures</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">but
the bell’s toll wakes her</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">in
the half light </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">on
the floor of the cell</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">the
trench that is her grave </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">looks
like black velvet amid the grey</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">the
sun will take its time</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">to
rise above the barred window</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">she
gets on her knees to pray</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">on
the cold stone</span></span></span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">to
a god she has never really known</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FjmRxVWUTPkgDWRPB2XXY6rE7VK2B5HcD_5b9cImSLAi9D3Jf0aJSUpOotd-mUN69zEdC9ZNAyVnWbO6S37jdbY8LUScsqsSURuJGXY6gxJjmvArXSNBinhJJkih7Y_Biy73imgMGo99-o79HdOeGElOlpVtLxgZi3OSNtcaLDSaJ-Ly3Xv8dA_fFjU/s4032/IMG_7975.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FjmRxVWUTPkgDWRPB2XXY6rE7VK2B5HcD_5b9cImSLAi9D3Jf0aJSUpOotd-mUN69zEdC9ZNAyVnWbO6S37jdbY8LUScsqsSURuJGXY6gxJjmvArXSNBinhJJkih7Y_Biy73imgMGo99-o79HdOeGElOlpVtLxgZi3OSNtcaLDSaJ-Ly3Xv8dA_fFjU/s320/IMG_7975.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am not sure the final stanza works. I spent most of my time attempting to imagine what it must feel like to be confined to one room for the rest of your life, never to feel the sun's rays or the rain on your skin. I still can't quite get my head around it.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKn7OoUKTDpMmB13-yDitRQoFOEME0GcCIys3HUdVQv4QEnGH8czgWFSFCWUaRlgl5iZ9YCCVY3Lz5cyx4Hf13aRD6YoIRNfKornvqa8rUYBuSwh8sh4mkoxshUsCG1Zt7wrji5QH8myCfE4HqIY39kjGmQT0mfcftuaIli8DY5TTx5Z67XpwxRhq2R3Q/s4032/IMG_8036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKn7OoUKTDpMmB13-yDitRQoFOEME0GcCIys3HUdVQv4QEnGH8czgWFSFCWUaRlgl5iZ9YCCVY3Lz5cyx4Hf13aRD6YoIRNfKornvqa8rUYBuSwh8sh4mkoxshUsCG1Zt7wrji5QH8myCfE4HqIY39kjGmQT0mfcftuaIli8DY5TTx5Z67XpwxRhq2R3Q/s320/IMG_8036.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's <a href="https://editionrecords.com/releases/gretchen-parlato-lionel-loueke-lean-in/">Gretchen Parlato & Lionel Loueke.</a> Their album <i>Lean In</i> is superb. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8gRyJ3cIuEw" width="320" youtube-src-id="8gRyJ3cIuEw"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time.</span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-90946705743794701502024-01-19T08:30:00.001+00:002024-01-19T08:30:00.125+00:00ASSEMBLY LINE HACK WORK<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxifJp73Dg_tnxf4tGnC8LDpralrpxQFFETmDSOXdi89wYB3uBEmZ6sevJTAK7i4lQmuG0kYzGC1nNwxZghvM3yumnhRi0038OyP_mfuJe6wRsGBQowUKZWTZNM1Sd5IqUaze3y7yrCmoiH5eZrCN0_2SeAG45Q0S7dFPF9uRwENf3d8zY6wX6niJrbg/s4032/IMG_7851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxifJp73Dg_tnxf4tGnC8LDpralrpxQFFETmDSOXdi89wYB3uBEmZ6sevJTAK7i4lQmuG0kYzGC1nNwxZghvM3yumnhRi0038OyP_mfuJe6wRsGBQowUKZWTZNM1Sd5IqUaze3y7yrCmoiH5eZrCN0_2SeAG45Q0S7dFPF9uRwENf3d8zY6wX6niJrbg/s320/IMG_7851.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My creative fallow period continues. These things happen. I tell myself you have to take in before you can give out, experience before description or synthesis of events. I was looking for a poem for this week's post and I was reminded of a memory from childhood of going to the barbers. It prompted this.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A
MEMORY </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
choice of haircuts</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">in
that small northern town </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">was
either short back and sides </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">or
if common and prone to violence</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">a
crew-cut</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">neither
held grace</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">nor
needed skill to reproduce</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">it
was just assembly line hack work</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on
the last day of the school holidays</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">in
and out of the barbers in ten minutes flat</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">my
reluctant footsteps took me there</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
embarrassment reddened </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">my
newly exposed neck and ears</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">as I
trudged back home</span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">wondering
where the summer had fled</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_UD4qaEwif2wOj_Bxe_veX8B7w_tRrGtyHc0UCKztZJHjXmSKdPWFZtt17C5O99-GIboQeNd9LgnSZMt18Er6sc6ZWxe1JAJPCF4NCRbjIUjmWTvQafu_1e5VcxnCQ8c_lYOHNRQEYbVeiQa8X6DE2WZMPP-5MR9KKjYV6uYsFInZETqkrxN0xZuFQc/s4032/IMG_7730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_UD4qaEwif2wOj_Bxe_veX8B7w_tRrGtyHc0UCKztZJHjXmSKdPWFZtt17C5O99-GIboQeNd9LgnSZMt18Er6sc6ZWxe1JAJPCF4NCRbjIUjmWTvQafu_1e5VcxnCQ8c_lYOHNRQEYbVeiQa8X6DE2WZMPP-5MR9KKjYV6uYsFInZETqkrxN0xZuFQc/s320/IMG_7730.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A minor poem at best, with echoes of a much earlier <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-fall-apart.html">work</a>. Back in the early 60s there were only two haircuts, it was something else The Beatles changed. Think yourself lucky if you did not have to live in such strictures. Here's a very old jotting.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">in
this new city</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I
hunt for poems</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on
the faces </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">of
the people </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">walking
purposefully</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">watching
the traffic</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">crossing
roads</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">carrying
shopping bags</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">or
sipping coffee</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on
this terrace</span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">that
overlooks the square</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6l5Vl8XUTqMH2QSdEqfRiJ7iPU08yWyFZFKiz435W2H0TVhFh5_EE4pEgvaD4ayTeVq_GQAyJwxFVBeDmec1zMXOz2DZff9_cOkFpjPzalHE8iBr17YWqse-4jreAGDSpRbZhz_ipvp1TCuz6CxPCjw9jgqFoFWbFG_KYyKOr1K6Sqeoa0OUWZvGj0o/s4032/IMG_7845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6l5Vl8XUTqMH2QSdEqfRiJ7iPU08yWyFZFKiz435W2H0TVhFh5_EE4pEgvaD4ayTeVq_GQAyJwxFVBeDmec1zMXOz2DZff9_cOkFpjPzalHE8iBr17YWqse-4jreAGDSpRbZhz_ipvp1TCuz6CxPCjw9jgqFoFWbFG_KYyKOr1K6Sqeoa0OUWZvGj0o/s320/IMG_7845.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I like to sit in sunny squares and watch the big parade of life flow by around me. It is good writing practice to try and capture the scene. Here's to warmer days.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRuQCbWkeKpo4pVXyhQQdvQBd-EK8DqRbUU5_mp4ssYff95ljduGBMQ7vZomlknsbsP_mMR1ScE9T7AnEioz49rt6PNNcvjJhDlqbZDBONgZ3WHdNWmTTpDbP7m1w15BKFtlU4I9VaeJSJlwBaDnXQzq3ajXznskJHmzxDHPnxP82swlwhtIjlsXrq3w/s4032/IMG_7609%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRuQCbWkeKpo4pVXyhQQdvQBd-EK8DqRbUU5_mp4ssYff95ljduGBMQ7vZomlknsbsP_mMR1ScE9T7AnEioz49rt6PNNcvjJhDlqbZDBONgZ3WHdNWmTTpDbP7m1w15BKFtlU4I9VaeJSJlwBaDnXQzq3ajXznskJHmzxDHPnxP82swlwhtIjlsXrq3w/s320/IMG_7609%20(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's a video by the sublime <a href="https://www.nunnerynorheim.com/">Lizzy Nunnery & Vidar Norhiem</a>. You can get their latest album <a href="https://www.nunnerynorheim.com/shop--cart">here</a>, it's excellent.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wye-RF7Z3T4" width="320" youtube-src-id="wye-RF7Z3T4"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time. </span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-25416937183843976472024-01-12T08:30:00.001+00:002024-01-12T08:30:00.147+00:00ENOUGH ROOM FOR EVERYONE<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-coJ8KvCvtnEtNuYWbgVYsF1fv4n0f8k5InqVFDGdaj7Kw79rkjC9a07FREqFzZSUw-q9vlQI58KSofKD36fNXRpoXcayyJ6Z8D5wXNAXPJSbABuHfn6Xmh7tVR72yKv12IQoWA1Ud4M1BWwXq1QXgcTyDt2SbmJVpskrgbcelHV4KMUaq49LbgFt2M/s4032/IMG_7608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-coJ8KvCvtnEtNuYWbgVYsF1fv4n0f8k5InqVFDGdaj7Kw79rkjC9a07FREqFzZSUw-q9vlQI58KSofKD36fNXRpoXcayyJ6Z8D5wXNAXPJSbABuHfn6Xmh7tVR72yKv12IQoWA1Ud4M1BWwXq1QXgcTyDt2SbmJVpskrgbcelHV4KMUaq49LbgFt2M/s320/IMG_7608.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yesterday I met with the <i>Secret Poets</i> for the first time in a while. As usual they were able to help me improve my work. I cannot stress the value of finding a supportive writing group. I am very lucky, we have been together for many years now and their aid is inestimable. Look, for example, how their suggestions have improved this poem. You can see the last version <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2023/12/their-names-in-book.html">here</a>. </span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">my
grandfather walked out of Eden</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">just
as the trouble kicked off</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
they were all cast out of paradise</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">by
that angel with the flaming sword</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">grandfather
said it looked the business</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">impressive
in a peevish kind of way</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
trouble with that sort of history</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">he
told us </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">is
the</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
focus on </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">those
with their names in the book</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
not the likes of him </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">offspring
of Lilith the first wife </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
one who is never spoken of</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">nor
of all the others lost to time now</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">who
were quietly getting on with their lives</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">while
this angry god psychodrama </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">was
acted out around them </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">my
grandfather walked out of Eden</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
world is large as he discovered</span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">there is
enough room for everyone</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikts77g7opaQHItKLLBmUQBgvxZkxva7g3TWX0-dl1XRTpw4flZMPvC19JVaGqTMuZVq52eSUpnUGiPMIJrOTivfl91eCo_xTyxNOLuExFrhrNjnGNa-BXXT9BkBrT3GKNXPJNK_gsoNE6aOTZPqmPP-OtwBZbHMEWnUtnyrcFygoUqIneMLqwmqA7VOI/s4032/IMG_7707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikts77g7opaQHItKLLBmUQBgvxZkxva7g3TWX0-dl1XRTpw4flZMPvC19JVaGqTMuZVq52eSUpnUGiPMIJrOTivfl91eCo_xTyxNOLuExFrhrNjnGNa-BXXT9BkBrT3GKNXPJNK_gsoNE6aOTZPqmPP-OtwBZbHMEWnUtnyrcFygoUqIneMLqwmqA7VOI/s320/IMG_7707.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You may think that there are only minor changes, a word here, a word there, or the odd line break. Such details improve the poem immensely. Anyway I think this poem has reached its final form. Thanks <i>Secrets</i>.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnvGZPtwiro8nIpwAl9qrKNi9CHUHVa0fRvO5ESykhkaPwxP0b5cMXlu4oBWIamLRWXwkjPho_DI7qjLB5Kz3rYBX2SWVEwZlwWtwh3zIITDL5OeNQe3lFdpbD-GNR2Hf0BK4TwWZubrjWXhyGVb37KetJ8ShPIPFQVe_unktprIQTyY9_6nZznRKHXU/s3088/IMG_4350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnvGZPtwiro8nIpwAl9qrKNi9CHUHVa0fRvO5ESykhkaPwxP0b5cMXlu4oBWIamLRWXwkjPho_DI7qjLB5Kz3rYBX2SWVEwZlwWtwh3zIITDL5OeNQe3lFdpbD-GNR2Hf0BK4TwWZubrjWXhyGVb37KetJ8ShPIPFQVe_unktprIQTyY9_6nZznRKHXU/s320/IMG_4350.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's a new song from Anna Ternheim. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3ZotNNjjekM" width="320" youtube-src-id="3ZotNNjjekM"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time.</span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-67841885471497282352024-01-05T08:30:00.001+00:002024-01-05T08:30:00.128+00:00RENEGADE SINE WAVE<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Greetings for the start of the calendar year. I am preoccupied at the moment with compiling a new collection. More on that in the near future. Here is a revised poem.</span> <span style="font-family: verdana;">You can read the original <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2012/09/its-all-just-question-of-balance.html">here</a>.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirukbUAcyO2KLvj1Ikjb3PE4O7sw0aPDlZD4tLIWOX2fiLhtsg_EZyPAY6UZzX8eNUqWr1jQ_XEMXGEcIS9YLF_KYBEC96St4U4fOmrhxi4VxuW-DrR_deEnulPzC16I2hrhiRnpDECL6-WocVRbnbY4CWwogsSoRcRlSJ28xo3Taj2sDRxul5_jzn3rA/s4032/IMG_7694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirukbUAcyO2KLvj1Ikjb3PE4O7sw0aPDlZD4tLIWOX2fiLhtsg_EZyPAY6UZzX8eNUqWr1jQ_XEMXGEcIS9YLF_KYBEC96St4U4fOmrhxi4VxuW-DrR_deEnulPzC16I2hrhiRnpDECL6-WocVRbnbY4CWwogsSoRcRlSJ28xo3Taj2sDRxul5_jzn3rA/s320/IMG_7694.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">SLACK LINE BLUES</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">bright orange</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">synthetic</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">stretched between two trees</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">this ordinary haulage strap</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">simply is</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">and oh how it attracts</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">you feel you must walk the length</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">of this renegade sine wave</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">it oscillates</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">bucks</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">like life</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">you can only learn as you go</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">only realising your mistake</span></p><p></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">at the end as you fall</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I just happened to be looking at it the other day and I thought it could be better. It has changed quite radically. It was inspired by a low line at a festival and how everyone that passed by it felt the need to attempt to walk its length. </span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u2PuWOVzt9Pv22i5EmyZtCtiMQ4Irg90fOdLT2jaWlW1GScTJwsfxLJoMM_474LP60k3bxpTVHEQwMtAk8wr4ICRes_h4WhrLzFK0X7VZ2wpbWToajYo6Trqjfoy3aH9nY0hoqMBg7L2611PwoVXrCtVgs1DEKFv91J2EfWv6VOkvsfxUklHCSwSyn4/s4032/IMG_7692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u2PuWOVzt9Pv22i5EmyZtCtiMQ4Irg90fOdLT2jaWlW1GScTJwsfxLJoMM_474LP60k3bxpTVHEQwMtAk8wr4ICRes_h4WhrLzFK0X7VZ2wpbWToajYo6Trqjfoy3aH9nY0hoqMBg7L2611PwoVXrCtVgs1DEKFv91J2EfWv6VOkvsfxUklHCSwSyn4/s320/IMG_7692.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">this week monday </span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">arrived on tuesday</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">outstayed wednesday</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">tripped up thursday</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">flattened friday</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">put the mockers on the weekend</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">and then it was monday again</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The above piece of nonsense just popped into my head the other day so I thought I would share it.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuLTazgRCh59he50Ho1JCe7hx6-1Q3iHImpT0eFsOv9419REwibrwv4ZW-YUjHgdN96L3pRETcr8SYOaznRM5Q84r3mVSjeHHiVRWN9-HRmWmxJjI2JBdnmJLfTJluoKKcqSh93uKLyhQrLJEodUzAxHJMFiRtJqDPFKPi8Sb7mxAOiG47-zyKzWT68k/s4032/IMG_7609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuLTazgRCh59he50Ho1JCe7hx6-1Q3iHImpT0eFsOv9419REwibrwv4ZW-YUjHgdN96L3pRETcr8SYOaznRM5Q84r3mVSjeHHiVRWN9-HRmWmxJjI2JBdnmJLfTJluoKKcqSh93uKLyhQrLJEodUzAxHJMFiRtJqDPFKPi8Sb7mxAOiG47-zyKzWT68k/s320/IMG_7609.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's Sufjan Stevens from his new album.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7q6EHqYM2Zw" width="320" youtube-src-id="7q6EHqYM2Zw"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time. </span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-29173820566751715192023-12-29T08:30:00.001+00:002023-12-29T08:30:00.260+00:00OPTOMISTIC STARTS THAT JUST STOP<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCZZ1cjgctu9HlRazJQlUDpZRy-q8KVynPnXzbll5FgAZh67plHRRDVNEF5thE7ZwuIdPjCjPufKUdaE4zZUagbdSkqBuNdm4VzHTwqK60OY2BoyWbsYbOgngXdTejXS5jw2JgQoJVHnfzW4bK6sinMWWA6YTn2Fea4ndaPpBQ3yQZQlO34I1jvA9Q0Y/s4032/IMG_7661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCZZ1cjgctu9HlRazJQlUDpZRy-q8KVynPnXzbll5FgAZh67plHRRDVNEF5thE7ZwuIdPjCjPufKUdaE4zZUagbdSkqBuNdm4VzHTwqK60OY2BoyWbsYbOgngXdTejXS5jw2JgQoJVHnfzW4bK6sinMWWA6YTn2Fea4ndaPpBQ3yQZQlO34I1jvA9Q0Y/s320/IMG_7661.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Seasons greetings to you and yours. I have been ill and so missed my weekly post. Here's a memory from forty plus years ago. It has taken a while to get it on the page.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">1979 </span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">for this birthday she rented him a VHS
video recorder</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">we all marvelled at the squat black
rectangle </span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">she had to set it up because he was
rubbish at that sort of thing</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">it was timed to record Casablanca
while we went to the pub</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">then began to watch this film we’d
all seen many times before</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">feeling free agents now adrift form
the tv schedule </span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">but it stopped as they sang La
Marseillaise abruptly a screen of white noise</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">because we’d turned it on before the
end of the transmission</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I moved to Plymouth so didn’t see
them for a year</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">and when I did they were no longer a
couple</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">she’d met a man had was having a
baby</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">he was drinking with a serious I had
never seen before</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">she told me their life together</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">could have been summed up by that
afternoon</span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">optimistic starts that abruptly
stopped</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTseh3FKAJHSy5gyyeNs2dRsdlD3z5WNfpEpcU3g3FFPi_RdamVQ3v-lIMAENYNIYaJPav1U5Ze4ahpx9hxw7dHnSdiqx95gCFUf8trD-Z7Av-HYvTbEkQb0t99f1MAROcdPQ7EhuifQUGwbSe-9ZvHOzKpb_-JJC6sCH8uum3tFQd_mJhRVOd6X6EUA/s4032/IMG_7660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTseh3FKAJHSy5gyyeNs2dRsdlD3z5WNfpEpcU3g3FFPi_RdamVQ3v-lIMAENYNIYaJPav1U5Ze4ahpx9hxw7dHnSdiqx95gCFUf8trD-Z7Av-HYvTbEkQb0t99f1MAROcdPQ7EhuifQUGwbSe-9ZvHOzKpb_-JJC6sCH8uum3tFQd_mJhRVOd6X6EUA/s320/IMG_7660.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was nearly a prose poem but I thought the long lines could carry the story. It is mostly true. It revolved around abrupt endings. How things never turn out as you think they will. I think it needs to go away for a while now and when it returns I shall see all the errors.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1pVSH98mrWxygAphexQOWx4Z437ZE6HlxICd2M8EeIwOn6bI0xHZg7P9jvdAZKwem4JvGqgiodcxtNUFaYrEg0r65oa-IBS2QMdeiOkyj2VvzG9TTHZhR5EpphmevtvfY2UrSmUSz2bZ8SwUR4ErU6EdB58T2yBy5kXM6zKvd7wUhrDHWP3d6-KRqp0/s4032/IMG_7617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1pVSH98mrWxygAphexQOWx4Z437ZE6HlxICd2M8EeIwOn6bI0xHZg7P9jvdAZKwem4JvGqgiodcxtNUFaYrEg0r65oa-IBS2QMdeiOkyj2VvzG9TTHZhR5EpphmevtvfY2UrSmUSz2bZ8SwUR4ErU6EdB58T2yBy5kXM6zKvd7wUhrDHWP3d6-KRqp0/s320/IMG_7617.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've been taken by </span><a href="https://naissamjalal.com/" style="font-family: verdana;">Naissam Jalal</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">'s new album </span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://naissamjalal.bandcamp.com/">Healing Rituals</a></i><span style="font-family: verdana;">. It is a work of beauty.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://naissamjalal.com/"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1q6PXU_4m8g" width="320" youtube-src-id="1q6PXU_4m8g"></iframe></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time.</span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-83593478979026822172023-12-15T08:30:00.001+00:002023-12-15T08:30:00.125+00:00IT'S SO OLD HAT<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nuFzAZcr0kloNaizSCTpI-VMdddIWY_zfQNGTGpjIcLQ6eQa-pjLehL6tsPZEIATVdcFNh_21lqMlJgeVPU6G-1qf5bllgsAtvLNwOLR0HRp226l0nVij6Aou08z6G9pqkpPHMJuuCxJa0B1iG_FLwMTTVfOKxfDFtyp7KDRmTG3tw9d796mInTVkl0/s4032/IMG_7561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nuFzAZcr0kloNaizSCTpI-VMdddIWY_zfQNGTGpjIcLQ6eQa-pjLehL6tsPZEIATVdcFNh_21lqMlJgeVPU6G-1qf5bllgsAtvLNwOLR0HRp226l0nVij6Aou08z6G9pqkpPHMJuuCxJa0B1iG_FLwMTTVfOKxfDFtyp7KDRmTG3tw9d796mInTVkl0/s320/IMG_7561.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I wonder why I return to some poems and not others. Today, a couple of examples of poems that haven't quite worked, revised drafts. This first poem can be read <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2022/05/through-secret-eyeholes.html">here</a> and <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2022/08/my-outlandish-confession.html">here</a>. </span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The
Classic Murder Mystery Continues To Disappoint</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">my
book is read once again</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I
must walk through the head of the reader</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
overhear their thoughts</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>the
author may deploy </i></span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>sleight
of hand</i></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>far
fetched coincidences</i></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>then
withhold vital information </i></span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>until
the final chapter</i></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">so
we gather in the library</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I
know it’s so old hat</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">positively
groans with theatricality</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">yet
here we are again</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
once more I am shamed </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">my
weaknesses uncovered</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
other characters look away</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">make
their own sordid confessions</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">while
you dear reader sigh</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">think
how trite the ending is</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">but
is your life really any better constructed?</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5Zdd9nDfp4eVLQFxliPaowMH0eFF6a0fPaVkcvRip-gM1ebf_FuuQ428xa_ymMcdkTiNdd_iCUdm_QlA7naZ3LpK9HQb2SdRH5Dyheg7R3Bub62zsQmoddaeuT9isd7fIkX5s9ttqDWAuJ-8CoCCy6spOK1nKqy0dgkJHjLA52Ruzlc9NGEQZuhr_xo/s4032/IMG_7571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5Zdd9nDfp4eVLQFxliPaowMH0eFF6a0fPaVkcvRip-gM1ebf_FuuQ428xa_ymMcdkTiNdd_iCUdm_QlA7naZ3LpK9HQb2SdRH5Dyheg7R3Bub62zsQmoddaeuT9isd7fIkX5s9ttqDWAuJ-8CoCCy6spOK1nKqy0dgkJHjLA52Ruzlc9NGEQZuhr_xo/s320/IMG_7571.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The ending has changed once again and I've tried to tighten up the middle. I think it needs to be put away for some time to allow the flaws to show.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaUWhoAYOPDbLGm61Rty-bH6NAyDFxhn9YgDx3YVjW2DaLlBg_xRb-tAvxGUBGDmW9F_ULplTWWSFR39YHVRmakq4iwEArxapdxTxKnJipql3-nL_ZuWYNuQbYZwNV4yxMGqmvj_jX84dc_Nrd_q4nhMdAN0GZOSgA6-O3lcpOHdEmDtv6fePC0XEJm0/s4032/IMG_7569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaUWhoAYOPDbLGm61Rty-bH6NAyDFxhn9YgDx3YVjW2DaLlBg_xRb-tAvxGUBGDmW9F_ULplTWWSFR39YHVRmakq4iwEArxapdxTxKnJipql3-nL_ZuWYNuQbYZwNV4yxMGqmvj_jX84dc_Nrd_q4nhMdAN0GZOSgA6-O3lcpOHdEmDtv6fePC0XEJm0/s320/IMG_7569.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This second poem I just came across and thought that I could make more succinct. You can read the previous version <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2022/06/the-world-needs-more-violins.html">here</a>.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
world needs violins more than ever </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">bow
and bone to dance over the strings</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">positive
vibrations to inspire us all on</span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">change
is possible start today</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have I succeeded? I leave that to you to decide.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjW6TvRvUZPEYZ-aZb98f5jUjOSH0Iaaux3ypTDO769u25ShS53eBiXhPe4ytTu-aiOqKIELeJyEemScsJQmlsbLKFmeAgEyqzFuJ2jU278cCc7xzWqQFbxArEWllu8w4r6riphgvHQ_I60GPeYAKoJ6nSQcD2NFOfdyWEXuo8aKm1yAkMBt6G1XzwnM/s4032/IMG_7572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjW6TvRvUZPEYZ-aZb98f5jUjOSH0Iaaux3ypTDO769u25ShS53eBiXhPe4ytTu-aiOqKIELeJyEemScsJQmlsbLKFmeAgEyqzFuJ2jU278cCc7xzWqQFbxArEWllu8w4r6riphgvHQ_I60GPeYAKoJ6nSQcD2NFOfdyWEXuo8aKm1yAkMBt6G1XzwnM/s320/IMG_7572.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's <a href="https://www.sachalvasandani.com/">Sachal Vasandani</a> with <i>No More Tears</i>. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/boZloe6Equ8" width="320" youtube-src-id="boZloe6Equ8"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time. </span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-21264522422153767202023-12-08T08:30:00.001+00:002023-12-08T08:30:00.126+00:00ALL YOU OBSERVE IS YOUR OWN REFLECTION<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2pxz8F-rtoNYbmf40BrpO_fcvpaytngq_DH50AsiDHPx8XYOfUhrZL-1kpsN0RRn5C3fTyW2F0umTWTrMS-VzjsIZxyKQ8kwdpmqoAYn-Jbubc4JDPhyphenhyphen9_D2VeuxUUY6p7pIMpb9FW0Ri2DRu0SznfarbjQX1iSn_QecNKTz4TtpnPkk8EqTua7hFqw/s4032/IMG_7085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2pxz8F-rtoNYbmf40BrpO_fcvpaytngq_DH50AsiDHPx8XYOfUhrZL-1kpsN0RRn5C3fTyW2F0umTWTrMS-VzjsIZxyKQ8kwdpmqoAYn-Jbubc4JDPhyphenhyphen9_D2VeuxUUY6p7pIMpb9FW0Ri2DRu0SznfarbjQX1iSn_QecNKTz4TtpnPkk8EqTua7hFqw/s320/IMG_7085.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Here's a poem that I calculate to be nearly a quarter of a century old. It has its origins in a real event, inspired by an evening spent watching the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonids">Leonids</a>, one November. You can read the last draft <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2011/10/national-poetry-day.html">here</a>.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Waiting
For Shooting Stars</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">all
the downstairs lights are on</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">luminous
beams that cover the garden</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">cause
its contours to hide </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">in
pools of thick darkness</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">you
stand at the window </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">gaze
outwards </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">but
all you observe is your own reflection</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
wonder if you have ever seen anything else</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">so
in the dips and hollows</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
try to find a place</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">unimpeded
</span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">to
look at the sky</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">but
the clouds reflect the town</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">crowd
out the few stars</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">glow
the dirty pink of squandered energy</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">then
the clouds thin </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">and
meteors flash </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">exhausted
rock ignites </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">on
contact with unrelenting atmosphere</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">burns
bright then is gone</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">the
night becomes colder</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">reluctantly</span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
turn for the house</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5e8W0tdtuIIUx9nMW7psKLaoLauf19EBCws84k-z0BBR6KZ_M4_YOhMvjMCR2skx6zDnBouX1sMku4srgIZb_zllBSF2leWuVFA-3K5oSOCFEk957F_lxUT3L9CeWKxoQy6M_DXXc-0gmdCaxZOk3VdFwB8MgVGl1QR1ofMN0nAGLGikfwyl23pXUxsQ/s4032/IMG_7083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5e8W0tdtuIIUx9nMW7psKLaoLauf19EBCws84k-z0BBR6KZ_M4_YOhMvjMCR2skx6zDnBouX1sMku4srgIZb_zllBSF2leWuVFA-3K5oSOCFEk957F_lxUT3L9CeWKxoQy6M_DXXc-0gmdCaxZOk3VdFwB8MgVGl1QR1ofMN0nAGLGikfwyl23pXUxsQ/s320/IMG_7083.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It was, in my early days of reading, a poem I liked to give voice too. However, I looked at it the other day and thought that the compressed layout let down the essence of the poem. To be honest, I am not sure if I have made this version too obvious, too telling. That I think is up to the reader to decide. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8Yui8ncLC5W0URilcdZy0uRV3Z4lfwdA6C48A0gFSjtTJKVYfDjFqajkmkhiyXwbTMM73ePy8eSzyW1B8h5sTLIBS3Ir3lBobQd-U6yKFm5vclEf-9malv90zz52gz-qwXWt1CGzLaMOBUohYFcBfyuAsa_HddnSOL6qboAUMqhLhqY9TTZOf2y1k8c/s4032/IMG_7121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8Yui8ncLC5W0URilcdZy0uRV3Z4lfwdA6C48A0gFSjtTJKVYfDjFqajkmkhiyXwbTMM73ePy8eSzyW1B8h5sTLIBS3Ir3lBobQd-U6yKFm5vclEf-9malv90zz52gz-qwXWt1CGzLaMOBUohYFcBfyuAsa_HddnSOL6qboAUMqhLhqY9TTZOf2y1k8c/s320/IMG_7121.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As the winter seems to be setting in, there was even sleet the other day here in balmy Torquay, here's <a href="https://eliza-carthy.com/store">Eliza Carthy</a> with <i>The Snow It Melts The Soonest</i>. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T7vPB8ObGkk" width="320" youtube-src-id="T7vPB8ObGkk"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Until next time. </span><p></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-24107409700432407122023-12-01T08:30:00.001+00:002023-12-01T08:30:00.148+00:00THEIR NAMES IN THE BOOK<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXgF3gHwWeTRzcbz9La9xJmq_weMW9V-zWMnikiSfN0aZ0TSAEP-bMGHuXgKlEz04AbmKn_WwY-DcB8-i6GiNfr1dP39naPN3YudCCZw1IrlB5pdlb4-SjfuK-SLrETmtJVDw6iUhSNLRF3QxqGksrGLG1p4lpa-uVf2-J6WH1f3BkP8_OAOas0HSx5w/s4032/IMG_7425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXgF3gHwWeTRzcbz9La9xJmq_weMW9V-zWMnikiSfN0aZ0TSAEP-bMGHuXgKlEz04AbmKn_WwY-DcB8-i6GiNfr1dP39naPN3YudCCZw1IrlB5pdlb4-SjfuK-SLrETmtJVDw6iUhSNLRF3QxqGksrGLG1p4lpa-uVf2-J6WH1f3BkP8_OAOas0HSx5w/s320/IMG_7425.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I find the whole tory rhetoric offensive and wish they would have the guts to call an election before they can damage the fabric of this country anymore than they all ready have. I think these thoughts were the prompt for this poem that I've just revised. What exactly is wrong with people moving from one country to another? I don't get it? If they were half decent and honourable they would go, but they cling on to their delusions and fail to aid the majority. Enough!</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">my
grandfather walked out of Eden</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">just
as </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
trouble</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
kicked off</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">a</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">nd
they were all</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
cast out of paradise</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">by
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">that
angel with </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
flaming sword</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">grandfather
said it looked </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
business</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">impressive
in a peevish kind of way</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
trouble with that sort of history</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">he
told us </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">was
the tendency to focus </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on
</span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">those
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">with
their names in the book</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
not </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
likes of </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">him
</span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">offspring
of </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lilith</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
the first wife </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
one who is </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">n</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">ever</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
sp</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">oken</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
of</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">n</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">or
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">of</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
all the others lost to time now</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">who
were quietly getting on with their lives</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">while
this angry god psychodrama </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">was
acted</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
out around them </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">my
grandfather walked out of Eden</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
world is large </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">as
he discovered</span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">with</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">enough
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">room
for </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">everyone</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3n2TA6rbBvwUHSgS1rjMNBQnDmtwFQYQyVUp22Uz7RaL9YoXTfftdjgyunKgGGl4rhGHgpHoGuv-iWBMsELzUWP2ODfm7r5OpV_DOGDv6sn6ec0_sQXgd2sPoT0Wn9hXVv8E-7xzYlMEamYSC84_UD1nQJnzeoYYYha-uvKEDHlAw0SnhHp4luuVmoI/s4032/IMG_7407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3n2TA6rbBvwUHSgS1rjMNBQnDmtwFQYQyVUp22Uz7RaL9YoXTfftdjgyunKgGGl4rhGHgpHoGuv-iWBMsELzUWP2ODfm7r5OpV_DOGDv6sn6ec0_sQXgd2sPoT0Wn9hXVv8E-7xzYlMEamYSC84_UD1nQJnzeoYYYha-uvKEDHlAw0SnhHp4luuVmoI/s320/IMG_7407.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So what has changed since the last post? Essentially I've tied it up and hopefully made it easier to understand. I think at times my dyslexia means I see differently and I hope this version is more understandable. Now for a little psychedelic poem.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">just
like that the champagne went flat</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">we
were in the presence of a bigger mystery</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">that
would carry us to a place of metaphor </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
would swallow a whole twelve hours </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">we
had been here before and would visit again</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">as I
watched the bubbles fled from the pale liquid</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">sometimes
that’s exactly what you must do</span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">trust
in the seconds to reap the unexpected</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdQn_qd3mQ5-Uk3ZqZcEWVG0t0MceyGp4BJWaV0qrJJEProNvsEIqGYbbFoeRfs9hQNINa1b39H-cnQAtw1N-CqUrZALJmhQlN3NUXSatbBQEhG83FppTYr7KjkSStHwk9WXnp0XskywZLam_ev_FuGNVTdnyjWPtlAo7OZfapJghHHXUxRoG6qA1iWE/s4032/IMG_7332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdQn_qd3mQ5-Uk3ZqZcEWVG0t0MceyGp4BJWaV0qrJJEProNvsEIqGYbbFoeRfs9hQNINa1b39H-cnQAtw1N-CqUrZALJmhQlN3NUXSatbBQEhG83FppTYr7KjkSStHwk9WXnp0XskywZLam_ev_FuGNVTdnyjWPtlAo7OZfapJghHHXUxRoG6qA1iWE/s320/IMG_7332.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This poem is what it is, a simple tale of an experience, and yes, the champagne did go flat.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWWpkSxMkjRHhyphenhyphenHU9N4GLrLnTlspnwWlvLjv3K6e95RAHmFIEQaZtogvdI73Jo6oV2rdUVXBkHiy_jGORrtV5mZQ_iA7KGf5esxWtYWxsEF7qyyz2l85txl8MnGE0-H4bCo02kwyLTUG4P2DQZYF7WxAHkFbpKYhUreTQQ0s-CB-XyAHGa-H6wrdy-5o/s4032/IMG_7328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWWpkSxMkjRHhyphenhyphenHU9N4GLrLnTlspnwWlvLjv3K6e95RAHmFIEQaZtogvdI73Jo6oV2rdUVXBkHiy_jGORrtV5mZQ_iA7KGf5esxWtYWxsEF7qyyz2l85txl8MnGE0-H4bCo02kwyLTUG4P2DQZYF7WxAHkFbpKYhUreTQQ0s-CB-XyAHGa-H6wrdy-5o/s320/IMG_7328.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The news is not all bad, this morning I received through the post the new Tim Smith album. Yes, after ten years, the wait is over <a href="https://harpband.com/"><i>Harp</i> </a>is with us. Go and do yourself a favour and buy it today. Sadly there are no new videos so here is the <a href="https://annabellemusic.com/music">wondrous</a> <a href="https://annabellemusic.com/">Annabelle Chvostek</a>.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P4rbDDlDuok" width="320" youtube-src-id="P4rbDDlDuok"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-63900065433020348092023-11-24T08:30:00.005+00:002023-11-24T08:30:00.135+00:00WALKED OUT OF EDEN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEhkV1sheuUcqijeIhwVC1QQrFL0KB6XJ68_YPy3-lezEiI2svi6S3Fqg_ssYzQ4qAzg_D1vijwWISAXu5yboDzh-Puk89l3PCms-K8VkA4I98xnNRqfMWylUKidtWrfttcHLjv6LqcTjop6QvCfz5H8eI6eiCBhi9QQhduEqfgjEX-yng5yIuFihChA/s4032/IMG_7277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEhkV1sheuUcqijeIhwVC1QQrFL0KB6XJ68_YPy3-lezEiI2svi6S3Fqg_ssYzQ4qAzg_D1vijwWISAXu5yboDzh-Puk89l3PCms-K8VkA4I98xnNRqfMWylUKidtWrfttcHLjv6LqcTjop6QvCfz5H8eI6eiCBhi9QQhduEqfgjEX-yng5yIuFihChA/s320/IMG_7277.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">I seem drawn to <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2021/04/moses-downed-tools.html">Old</a> <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2020/10/on-road-to-jericho.html">Testament</a> stories, so here's another one.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">my
grandfather walked out of Eden</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">just
as it kicked off</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">all
that casting out of paradise</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">that
angel with a flaming sword</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">grandfather
said it looked impressive</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">in a
peevish kind of way</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">he
always claimed </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
trouble with that sort of history</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">was
the tendency to focus on the famous</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">those
they had the skinny on</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
not him offspring of Lilith</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
first wife</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
one no one speaks of</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">or
all the others </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">lost
to time now</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">who
were quietly getting on with their lives</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">while
this angry god psychodrama </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">played
out around them </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">my
grandfather walked out of Eden</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">we
are still walking </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
world is large </span></span>
</p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">there
is room for all </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTz3EsuaTVEM5-m-yjxmHnabJX9-gDAe-PbfFJZz16mZri8Y2M7CM69Gj4AqYiw_h6WAs7rR56iXLyqHK1ohWvD7xdN3Lu6V7B_vzEBJver5IfTmrVfy43wVpQjcy53t3o2kFR4SgMvUWLtOfNmW2NcEPZTqtK7EKdzjeVDzqWiRxLZH37wd70Y6cYTVw/s4032/IMG_6721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTz3EsuaTVEM5-m-yjxmHnabJX9-gDAe-PbfFJZz16mZri8Y2M7CM69Gj4AqYiw_h6WAs7rR56iXLyqHK1ohWvD7xdN3Lu6V7B_vzEBJver5IfTmrVfy43wVpQjcy53t3o2kFR4SgMvUWLtOfNmW2NcEPZTqtK7EKdzjeVDzqWiRxLZH37wd70Y6cYTVw/s320/IMG_6721.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It came from the first line which bounced about my head for a couple of days before it wrote the poem. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilith">Lilith</a> is, according to some sources, the first wife of Adam. When I was at school I could never get my head around the idea that we all came from Eve and Adam. Later I realised that myths, like metaphor, wilt under close scrutiny. I still don't like the idea of casting people out. There's too much of it going on today.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aYwbV9y8_gts1NeCH3Ou4hkdUZ4cq2iIBnwOgmNHhFIBQczDZqgdXMrfTDnTvzZkoh6nh5k64RL6US81jkIBL3vTTlwag_11Ky4qrNdPzy3A2dS9o49D8v5CMX_2qswfW_hnaaW3w_DetjI8BcfZaq4UbgmCkOK60jT5tBmPGGM2DMykNJprJiXwJkM/s4032/IMG_7275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aYwbV9y8_gts1NeCH3Ou4hkdUZ4cq2iIBnwOgmNHhFIBQczDZqgdXMrfTDnTvzZkoh6nh5k64RL6US81jkIBL3vTTlwag_11Ky4qrNdPzy3A2dS9o49D8v5CMX_2qswfW_hnaaW3w_DetjI8BcfZaq4UbgmCkOK60jT5tBmPGGM2DMykNJprJiXwJkM/s320/IMG_7275.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I leave you with <i>Jezebel</i> by <a href="https://ironandwine.com/wcsf/">Iron and Wine</a>. Another much maligned woman.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/990kOZxIOKw" width="320" youtube-src-id="990kOZxIOKw"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time.</span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-26388013806846616072023-11-17T08:30:00.001+00:002023-11-17T08:30:00.133+00:00FALSE FLAGGED <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLY-iM5h2Xva6fVOHDYbBTxAeUxVJ7eqB60h5rWR7wI55GPoSyONgGjez2_R9lNnc1quGOmvKvOSq3zgAOk3awf7nNmDNuysxMGNuj6NWIVJ9A3ZhJKf17clXBpnZ2POnjolVYlak9LuIZfbtIfr0nkWcDtVnXDI6vw-nGK2w68D5gp8OFy_dvaa7Qjc/s4030/IMG_4324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="4030" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLY-iM5h2Xva6fVOHDYbBTxAeUxVJ7eqB60h5rWR7wI55GPoSyONgGjez2_R9lNnc1quGOmvKvOSq3zgAOk3awf7nNmDNuysxMGNuj6NWIVJ9A3ZhJKf17clXBpnZ2POnjolVYlak9LuIZfbtIfr0nkWcDtVnXDI6vw-nGK2w68D5gp8OFy_dvaa7Qjc/s320/IMG_4324.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A poem that came to me in a dream this post. It was the kind of avalanche of words that makes you get out of bed and write them all down. It doesn't happen that often but when it does I obey. </span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="break-before: page; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">HID
IN PLAIN SIGHT </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">false
flagged</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
car moved through the ranks of the oppressors </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
not one of them thought to check the identities</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">of
the smiling people who waved at their enemies</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
so did not discover the wounded man in the back </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">night
would fall in an hour</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">sanctuary
lay in the hills</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
demonstration had failed this time</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">but
nothing lasts forever</span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">some
day one day they would win </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyGgA_1lHdawW0h0dNHZ2RBkb_Dr1Cl4nQ5zgcsZ8mkNp2-GAGzTuH-jr-rlK2eyaE2g1JmdNVrnSpSuYSRPJUDqcMT_y4sxSARKA8SfEUjMa_N5gtpX9xB3dUHE9MA4TT8VlQJQDXaSJGcaxd9GnPv1HsYxhY6q3fLn3z8iJjoqnkrGa0Uszd3zU8yU/s4032/IMG_6771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyGgA_1lHdawW0h0dNHZ2RBkb_Dr1Cl4nQ5zgcsZ8mkNp2-GAGzTuH-jr-rlK2eyaE2g1JmdNVrnSpSuYSRPJUDqcMT_y4sxSARKA8SfEUjMa_N5gtpX9xB3dUHE9MA4TT8VlQJQDXaSJGcaxd9GnPv1HsYxhY6q3fLn3z8iJjoqnkrGa0Uszd3zU8yU/s320/IMG_6771.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So what's it all about? I'm not sure. The term false flag I suspect comes from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey%E2%80%93Maturin_series">Patrick O'Brien</a>'s series of novels. The poem seems to be about hiding in plain sight as the title states and escaping to fight again. Seems a positive poem. Your thoughts on this one are more than welcomed. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaT42M41PiQbAyMM0rYVr52TCTfkRkEpelmfxkow02kRc4QeWgg2U7nb8M2Z38lxeOeFjCIa7lGL83HlZtbARDPWngWaIpjEr1ejYA3JRTEkUN40oGplc_lwLNJoU7ro57aCYwDzABtI0NVeBjkTH6qhzarTCQCr4OCukfW1BiX-z1HDwNwo4n9JZ0Ho/s4032/IMG_4361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaT42M41PiQbAyMM0rYVr52TCTfkRkEpelmfxkow02kRc4QeWgg2U7nb8M2Z38lxeOeFjCIa7lGL83HlZtbARDPWngWaIpjEr1ejYA3JRTEkUN40oGplc_lwLNJoU7ro57aCYwDzABtI0NVeBjkTH6qhzarTCQCr4OCukfW1BiX-z1HDwNwo4n9JZ0Ho/s320/IMG_4361.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I always feel blessed when a poem arrives as I sleep, though I have no idea why one should turn up this night and not another. The muse must be acknowledged. Thinking back to that specific night I cannot remember anything but holding the words in my head while I searched for pen and paper. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00tVubB1oydnXrsJHaxfZa5HqRUCNQ0NHrSMT1JsGYEp891wz3k76sf18wQXmbOO_1NIjbQ-qjEuYI4wKB1o73-hPl1GeD0kaPnqTo_G-B6Dy-u3_5nGLY5qWTitM1GKFQPg4jwA0MnDvKcBekVCSf3KbuK2GflrXZlOBGnOcTyuVtNb7InlO1p5C7Es/s4032/IMG_5955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00tVubB1oydnXrsJHaxfZa5HqRUCNQ0NHrSMT1JsGYEp891wz3k76sf18wQXmbOO_1NIjbQ-qjEuYI4wKB1o73-hPl1GeD0kaPnqTo_G-B6Dy-u3_5nGLY5qWTitM1GKFQPg4jwA0MnDvKcBekVCSf3KbuK2GflrXZlOBGnOcTyuVtNb7InlO1p5C7Es/s320/IMG_5955.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurray_for_the_Riff_Raff">Hurray For The Riff Raff</a> has a new album out soon. Here's the first track, apparently it's about her father. <a href="http://www.hurrayfortheriffraff.com/">You can order the new LP here</a>. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QXHWxHUiJCc" width="320" youtube-src-id="QXHWxHUiJCc"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time. </span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-42218538120346749112023-11-10T08:30:00.001+00:002023-11-10T08:30:00.136+00:00THEIR OWN PLACE IN THE COSMOS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPyettnaeek5xpzJwfQ2eITTqMLLvtUBbuzNcFZJrJ_AQEsgZwPmJ-g_G8EGCaj8YoSY_gh_VU0h_VPfy5foFvtEH1he6TQoA7u_q8VsC0gZ5EpRVosyGg733A8oBtwrKV5mf1MicvB5T5nqOt3CH5njY-XbmetPSKLn2uDR6AFbLO8AuSnYxsolfEUo/s3780/0A7982B7-F006-4BAE-94C5-7B92C89BDCC9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPyettnaeek5xpzJwfQ2eITTqMLLvtUBbuzNcFZJrJ_AQEsgZwPmJ-g_G8EGCaj8YoSY_gh_VU0h_VPfy5foFvtEH1he6TQoA7u_q8VsC0gZ5EpRVosyGg733A8oBtwrKV5mf1MicvB5T5nqOt3CH5njY-XbmetPSKLn2uDR6AFbLO8AuSnYxsolfEUo/s320/0A7982B7-F006-4BAE-94C5-7B92C89BDCC9.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am revisiting a poem I have never been satified with this post. You can read the other versions <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2018/03/unwrapping-mummy.html">here</a> and <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2018/07/high-priest-professor.html">here</a>. I have never been happy with the third stanza. <i>The Secret Poets</i> felt I had not got the tone consistent and this led me to put the poem away for five years. It occasionally came to mind and I worried at that stanza. Recently I decided to overhaul the whole poem.</span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">THE UNWRAPPING PARTY</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">when
I lay on my back not one day dead</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">having
my brain extracted through my nose</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">while
my guts were pulled out by the handful</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">and
dumped into the jars at my feet</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">I
did not foresee that my sleep would be disturbed</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">by
anyone less than a God</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">I
could even put up with the French interrupting my twilight</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">but
to be labelled a minor figure</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">in
the political structure of the Lower Kingdom</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">while
accurate could have been phrased with more respect</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">this
social event at which I am the reluctant centre piece</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">makes
no pretence at science that has come to replace religion </span></span>
</p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">for
these shallow individuals who do not know their own place in the
cosmos</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">I
am simply a sideshow that allows the good matrons of Paris to gasp in
awe</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">as
their high priest professor holds aloft each wrapping</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">as
if he was revealing a universal truth</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">such
enlightenment is beyond the banality of his words</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">which
reveal more the short comings of this time than my</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">
life</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">afterwards
I will be consigned lie under glass naked</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">having
seen too much and in my second cycle of waiting </span></span>
</p><p>
</p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span lang="en-GB">be
ignored by the passers-by making their way to the gift shop</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPt3fTSGgoA99IjVb7qeJM7IB-nwsO_2AmcCfxXN3kROfwDbnpLd2rp2lqml_GyWhMs9OIgWXug26j7opjnqy4p13DwUUoG8iEG2c3oF2400hMmDWivdLQ2TT0sWxsF2I-uhU92DJxsXt-MaWzTP7NS_LNlBPdHuY_cVfqmNnrj9rFuzCZk52nv7AVb8/s3608/0582A27B-8FE1-47BB-86FD-B074FF51FC23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3608" data-original-width="2887" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPt3fTSGgoA99IjVb7qeJM7IB-nwsO_2AmcCfxXN3kROfwDbnpLd2rp2lqml_GyWhMs9OIgWXug26j7opjnqy4p13DwUUoG8iEG2c3oF2400hMmDWivdLQ2TT0sWxsF2I-uhU92DJxsXt-MaWzTP7NS_LNlBPdHuY_cVfqmNnrj9rFuzCZk52nv7AVb8/s320/0582A27B-8FE1-47BB-86FD-B074FF51FC23.JPG" width="256" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first stanza, I felt, was arresting enough but the others I have worked on. I think it could nearly be there. All that remains is to discuss it with the Secrets at our next meeting, having trusted collaborators is a priceless gift.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCr1LGirWIk1iVDX6u2IgiosQjJrGz2z2R3gi9Bme7aimFV09gLzvKZ_Zx6M6LQlaU4bXRZfxT4pvzQQTfkh8od1CJql2qXNeE8VXgk9b40e9akiSdqm2-1iBurWZO4kpHo64pshXmCb3LG9sZyxLGE294WtyQWkS-sDaS6O0QiJzSv7WgSaVnNL-KO28/s4032/IMG_4518%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCr1LGirWIk1iVDX6u2IgiosQjJrGz2z2R3gi9Bme7aimFV09gLzvKZ_Zx6M6LQlaU4bXRZfxT4pvzQQTfkh8od1CJql2qXNeE8VXgk9b40e9akiSdqm2-1iBurWZO4kpHo64pshXmCb3LG9sZyxLGE294WtyQWkS-sDaS6O0QiJzSv7WgSaVnNL-KO28/s320/IMG_4518%20(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/apr/18/natalie-merchant-on-returning-to-music-after-losing-her-voice-10000-maniacs">Natalie Merchant</a> was superb when I saw her last week. It was good to see her after all these years. She was in fine voice and the supporting musicians were excellent. I leave you with a recent live recording.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rmQmqS2koo8" width="320" youtube-src-id="rmQmqS2koo8"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time.</span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-21471607612389750292023-11-03T08:30:00.001+00:002023-11-03T08:30:00.130+00:00AND I AM AN IMPOSTER<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpH-A3X-uWqxZBe_t61KwxdQzXhzqDAOwHZrRJ9dJ5ptfOEgsbcybG3fVaBeah9F0Yq_GcD_mZUOVtnW9VAEYXlb3TT4rE1Erifbcnx5fP5rkC0FLPnEIYd0MHrZJealVWI9MS7kxg27Zg4h11xaosN6KbMW_fgPUiY7ojs11V1DZm7AXQ14U-7fe2RTc/s1800/B65B1FE1-A932-47F0-9E3B-C2C68320FBE7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpH-A3X-uWqxZBe_t61KwxdQzXhzqDAOwHZrRJ9dJ5ptfOEgsbcybG3fVaBeah9F0Yq_GcD_mZUOVtnW9VAEYXlb3TT4rE1Erifbcnx5fP5rkC0FLPnEIYd0MHrZJealVWI9MS7kxg27Zg4h11xaosN6KbMW_fgPUiY7ojs11V1DZm7AXQ14U-7fe2RTc/s320/B65B1FE1-A932-47F0-9E3B-C2C68320FBE7.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I went to a 21st birthday last weekend, it was held in a pub and the rugby was on, needless to say the majority of the people present were transfixed by the match. I wasn't, sadly I know nothing about rugby and am happy to be ignorant. It did, however, inspire this week's poem.</span><div><p align="left" class="western" style="break-before: page; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">for
whatever reason I am in a pub</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
rugby is on</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">its
a mystery to me</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">who
doesn’t know what off side means</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
has little interest in finding out </span></span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">so I
watch the men </span></span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">watch the ball move </span></span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">who
sigh shake their heads</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">or
punch the air in triumph</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">high
five their neighbours</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">its
all dynamic kinetic</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">so
so serious</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
I am am imposter </span></span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">back in the schoolyard</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
last to be picked</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hBU9MHYMwbrHzmwXNfTt2puY8STq_nG_ikp1aj3EdgrjNqaF0nOc4_0dv3V0oVddZLRUVMdpQzWM2Mxyu3684uepCiKNpcQqy1pROqqokZzS2QGkwPbvcbNUUFaraqxDGz3KGEhhrwHWaID6hjZpE8mN8yzA6zgapyB1NlXIiXEOS2EyyDCCMN309vU/s1800/D3E6B52E-EE5A-44B7-88D6-C5A4D27ADAA5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hBU9MHYMwbrHzmwXNfTt2puY8STq_nG_ikp1aj3EdgrjNqaF0nOc4_0dv3V0oVddZLRUVMdpQzWM2Mxyu3684uepCiKNpcQqy1pROqqokZzS2QGkwPbvcbNUUFaraqxDGz3KGEhhrwHWaID6hjZpE8mN8yzA6zgapyB1NlXIiXEOS2EyyDCCMN309vU/s320/D3E6B52E-EE5A-44B7-88D6-C5A4D27ADAA5.JPG" width="256" /></a></span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">As you can see the outcome is me being rubber banded back to school days and that feeling of exclusion, when you're the last to be chosen for a football game. I wrote the first draft at the time. When the muse whispers, you listen and write.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrkG3b9lJC1K3g5FO5obY4RY26-HPG1OYQNshN6U2I09yqb16g3cZSDNahBx7fXpslYB6FR_N_nGiT1PEvK4ZuGgztwymSJb8kNmdRXa8FXH_ygqjysX8nivgW8dcqRQyXDg885h74JwEBLF-HGan0chkpZGl4_4BE3O1BZ-JIvDmuLLWo9KpJNxkrpE/s4032/IMG_6795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrkG3b9lJC1K3g5FO5obY4RY26-HPG1OYQNshN6U2I09yqb16g3cZSDNahBx7fXpslYB6FR_N_nGiT1PEvK4ZuGgztwymSJb8kNmdRXa8FXH_ygqjysX8nivgW8dcqRQyXDg885h74JwEBLF-HGan0chkpZGl4_4BE3O1BZ-JIvDmuLLWo9KpJNxkrpE/s320/IMG_6795.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's an old song by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.C._Marias">A. C. Marias</a> that I'd almost forgotten about. There's a timelessness about it, even though the images are early 80's, <i>One of Our Girls Is Missing</i>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/28Iu7HdFg6I" width="320" youtube-src-id="28Iu7HdFg6I"></iframe></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time.</span></div></div>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-63747807668297289482023-10-27T08:30:00.001+01:002023-10-27T08:30:00.149+01:00THE LONG FINISH<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSTBoLh41nVAaJGSGrPynZ0Ei8-NOfy8EgiONasmdTKhGXijrvDtZTlbkhDSua-Jg8V5gHlAmpcDXfPwfnsT21BxpDRqhwilXdjLQXsALWWq9VVMIV9lSi-o5Xcr7QILawBYsUx2bQc9Il3fvldrdCvl3lsuHs0snGs2VXFJgEtNtYBMLmIozTuR8v9s/s4032/IMG_6382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSTBoLh41nVAaJGSGrPynZ0Ei8-NOfy8EgiONasmdTKhGXijrvDtZTlbkhDSua-Jg8V5gHlAmpcDXfPwfnsT21BxpDRqhwilXdjLQXsALWWq9VVMIV9lSi-o5Xcr7QILawBYsUx2bQc9Il3fvldrdCvl3lsuHs0snGs2VXFJgEtNtYBMLmIozTuR8v9s/s320/IMG_6382.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am writing this post eight days in advance, though I'll just be back from France when it is published. I've nothing new to show but I have been looking at old poems, partly with a view to reprinting a selection of them. I've been asked a number of times recently about the availability of my books and all I have been able to say is that I have a new collection out in January. Next year will also see the publication of a greatest hits selection. Now a revised poem, you can read the original <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2011/06/cabbage-water.html">here</a>. </span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="break-before: page; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">CABBAGE
WATER</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I
can still see that steaming water</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">murky
with suspended goodness</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">carefully
my mother divided it</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">between
me and my brother </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The
unique aroma</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
comforting warmth</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
long finish</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Drink
it all up</i></span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>it
will keep you well</i></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyU8HJ-QCjrz0YBZlr8IZ_YOFBKMz4jbC37xz-e05eteZAJAiNRlq5uZ5G9u7NLUZRPkUHEV6Y53YZx3RYz6F0aAmLsadofXKs4yuUz1V5H9j8GmOZn-o8IxOot7kw2K3CLWlKb7wzJoYQ53ZhsB97MIhhfGZZePNQdgzRtbM0hHVuEt_P_KPXNeyW32E/s4032/IMG_4811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyU8HJ-QCjrz0YBZlr8IZ_YOFBKMz4jbC37xz-e05eteZAJAiNRlq5uZ5G9u7NLUZRPkUHEV6Y53YZx3RYz6F0aAmLsadofXKs4yuUz1V5H9j8GmOZn-o8IxOot7kw2K3CLWlKb7wzJoYQ53ZhsB97MIhhfGZZePNQdgzRtbM0hHVuEt_P_KPXNeyW32E/s320/IMG_4811.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I thought the first two lines could go as they were frame, more tell than show. I think it breathes easier now. This second one is also from <i>Burning Music</i>, my first collection. You can read the original <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2011/06/new-worlds-and-old-paint.html">here</a>.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">STRIPPING
WOODCHIP</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Even
with an industrial strength steamer</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
paper will bubble and blister</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">before
stretching under scraper blade</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It
will take longer to remove than to fit</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Heavy
paste</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">no
worries if the paper stretched</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">it
will cover many things</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In
this case institutional green walls</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
shade of urinals and forgotten wards</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">it
seems the whole house was this colour</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Did
it comfort the painter</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">knowing
every room was identical?</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Was
the woodchip a stop gap</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">or
an illustration of limited thinking?</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">No
pencilled signatures are revealed</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">no
records of identity or belonging</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
job expands and takes forever</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvsYJKJ-zQyQnPp2lTLIgF5BeHkKAuhcDYuPFaoAYzoQqlovViFEXInVH5lDNbd61JOwu-UchzJPjEpYMqWDQaoQSZ2QeAc0gH9NcswLXIaGE5hcRJH4YvYSLJf5qc23Rg-8iWeAkEHhrXTlK6qJFtmaqz9YvCTxh2_jGYfdLSILITE46cI9jaQD_oV4/s4032/IMG_4815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvsYJKJ-zQyQnPp2lTLIgF5BeHkKAuhcDYuPFaoAYzoQqlovViFEXInVH5lDNbd61JOwu-UchzJPjEpYMqWDQaoQSZ2QeAc0gH9NcswLXIaGE5hcRJH4YvYSLJf5qc23Rg-8iWeAkEHhrXTlK6qJFtmaqz9YvCTxh2_jGYfdLSILITE46cI9jaQD_oV4/s320/IMG_4815.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Again I've changed the spacing and the punctuation. I was far more formal in those days. I don't know why I've chosen these two poems. They were favourites to read and they seem to have withstood the passage of time.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-veQHgVtpCnRCx4NFOkhIVB9akJaHWKPR469iDgo2Tj2BeTtwS9gTCPkWIbJtdqMdnQnYjcm6qMGkHCjbK1VawragWWh5CnO2tkRtlpUFfSCEHCwFYw4ugSBNUsXWpMW_bTh1vnk2xYjQB5dX3AN88oTQ163YveWelNN2NPa1RwEeaxMUKsLQHJW454A/s4032/IMG_5452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-veQHgVtpCnRCx4NFOkhIVB9akJaHWKPR469iDgo2Tj2BeTtwS9gTCPkWIbJtdqMdnQnYjcm6qMGkHCjbK1VawragWWh5CnO2tkRtlpUFfSCEHCwFYw4ugSBNUsXWpMW_bTh1vnk2xYjQB5dX3AN88oTQ163YveWelNN2NPa1RwEeaxMUKsLQHJW454A/s320/IMG_5452.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Talking of old favourites, here's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nits_(band)">The Nits</a>, or just Nits, I'm never sure when they adopted/dropped the The. Anyway this is <i>The Train</i>.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xCuA-JZdMDM" width="320" youtube-src-id="xCuA-JZdMDM"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time.</span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-56642605188731573632023-10-20T08:30:00.001+01:002023-10-20T08:30:00.141+01:00FABRIC CREDIBILITY<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwknyeKq4ypxBambQSLQXm2YDmYCPkSXf8C0-wwlA5JmD4RxGOvlpX7xDnAMFweOE3KCHeqYqGyw7hDl-n-ByrLfzQKVgfatLY-Z1t3pOxj-VE44MAez6us8XV8h8Vs-DG19w76_ZmBJio2EaS2ZeFeG-n445WoAW23sISEv1f7U8L9gAJCfVgaWosB8w/s4032/IMG_6595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwknyeKq4ypxBambQSLQXm2YDmYCPkSXf8C0-wwlA5JmD4RxGOvlpX7xDnAMFweOE3KCHeqYqGyw7hDl-n-ByrLfzQKVgfatLY-Z1t3pOxj-VE44MAez6us8XV8h8Vs-DG19w76_ZmBJio2EaS2ZeFeG-n445WoAW23sISEv1f7U8L9gAJCfVgaWosB8w/s320/IMG_6595.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sometimes memories surface and who knows why? Events that I have given no thought to for decades pop up and sometimes I think that might make a poem. This is the story of a crime I committed over forty years ago.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="break-before: page; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">CHAMELEON</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">my
camouflage that year was</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">a
marjons football club jumper</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
stole from the Student Union shop</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">the
time I volunteered to accompany</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Heather
who was intermitting to </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">join
Operation Raleigh for six moths</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">the
Deputy President was anxious that</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">everyone
should know exactly where</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">she
had just come from</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
simply picked up my prize </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">and
failed to add it to the list </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">of
clothing she had chosen</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">in
the outside world</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
wore it sparingly and only</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">when
I needed fabric credibility</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">not
that anyone ever commented </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">or
bothered to admit they had</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">taken
in the embroidery on my left breast</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">but
it gave me comfort </span></span>
</p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">as
I navigated my new reality</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpS-SKykA6BL8Qt-CzV1hQgCjuNz0f9az8whjq79C86SWgv-oive3BzxZZoePrTn77CHMt4EKs1J0XIUKTAeM7mQnToox51LVomplbKpaa5kYQnEiwZFuQ6Vzt35R_mjENXSsoSLZYqd1hqzWOQ8DAm1Ek9v-Yl9AWpPgs5PXvZbALSw3uB8T7CAeMDY0/s4032/IMG_6568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpS-SKykA6BL8Qt-CzV1hQgCjuNz0f9az8whjq79C86SWgv-oive3BzxZZoePrTn77CHMt4EKs1J0XIUKTAeM7mQnToox51LVomplbKpaa5kYQnEiwZFuQ6Vzt35R_mjENXSsoSLZYqd1hqzWOQ8DAm1Ek9v-Yl9AWpPgs5PXvZbALSw3uB8T7CAeMDY0/s320/IMG_6568.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The lines wrote themselves and the breaks seemed to fit. I've polished it up a little but essentially this is how the poem arrived. <a href="https://operationraleighseram.com/about/operationraleigh10f/">Operation Raleigh</a> was a opportunity for young people to participate in a scientific adventure. I had the jumper for a number of years, it was quite well made I seem to remember. Marjons still has a football club and I still have never played football. Though I am happy to pay for my jumper should anyone wish me to.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRxTqP-CL1Y9dhPqvefkHQX1TkT4YCf81OOF5dqp-4xYODzD_lBdweNLJHSP9StZdACOf01HZzACOSO6rdBrH-KmpuXg-_CJKxzoehJZ8A3F1E-3lLYGi8W4gEMCiv56eOK2QTssILSM_gOqw2OYXkg4WUwUbMNv8Qs2J8bsvgW7dvUQgGER2aWIRizk/s4032/IMG_6556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRxTqP-CL1Y9dhPqvefkHQX1TkT4YCf81OOF5dqp-4xYODzD_lBdweNLJHSP9StZdACOf01HZzACOSO6rdBrH-KmpuXg-_CJKxzoehJZ8A3F1E-3lLYGi8W4gEMCiv56eOK2QTssILSM_gOqw2OYXkg4WUwUbMNv8Qs2J8bsvgW7dvUQgGER2aWIRizk/s320/IMG_6556.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The photographs this post are all from Wednesday. The sea at Meadfoot was choppy. Here's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirogyra_(band)#External_links">Spirogyra</a> with <i>Captain's Log</i>. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dhaXPfRjgCk" width="320" youtube-src-id="dhaXPfRjgCk"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time.<br /></span><p></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-42926459875205673842023-10-13T08:30:00.001+01:002023-10-13T08:30:00.140+01:00ASBESTOS EYES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfaCotbg8Du592QnMoh5tpAvOyYCd287iwj-7A2gC-uZ1xD9QmHvqraxwK3SEb9_wMSajxNY9_uIXuEUpNx_jWA4fl23WzUC3WPFk7oa1eJ9qqzb2KXy4BKQOZ9CyhSa0DTPSq7nQfSLE9uy3ew2K42k3Kd2mo9YP5qkOkuIQfeoBGZJH4rTrYyMbg-s/s3088/IMG_4115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfaCotbg8Du592QnMoh5tpAvOyYCd287iwj-7A2gC-uZ1xD9QmHvqraxwK3SEb9_wMSajxNY9_uIXuEUpNx_jWA4fl23WzUC3WPFk7oa1eJ9qqzb2KXy4BKQOZ9CyhSa0DTPSq7nQfSLE9uy3ew2K42k3Kd2mo9YP5qkOkuIQfeoBGZJH4rTrYyMbg-s/s320/IMG_4115.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">A rewrite this post. I was looking over some poems from last year and I saw how I could improve this poem. You can read the earlier version <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2021/09/hydrogen-become-helium.html">here</a>. </span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">the
secrets of the sun</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">hide
in plain sight</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">but
you need asbestos eyes</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">to
clock the beauty</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">of
hydrogen becoming helium</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">some
have tried</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Milton
for example went blind</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">hunting
solar flares at noon</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">through
a borrowed telescope</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">but
all you have to do </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">is
accept what you are given</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">welcome
the sun’s light on your skin</span></span></span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">it really is as simple as that</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 0.34cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YJ6maqwBQxnSRxe4lAg2_VLwLWrFS8soKlu1PgLFjvEafo6QF10t_tJdk5oTAGECqAXK81ladHmRr6j_U0TLAQRa0pLyvYg7xQTRXcjU8sf1zoEQmeh6dxnEOrZzorMZ-PRFNEYTkEnT2mCDVFEVsHU8njv4pfFAAfiCrS25Kp0swIj6e_VRRlIC80c/s4032/IMG_5208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YJ6maqwBQxnSRxe4lAg2_VLwLWrFS8soKlu1PgLFjvEafo6QF10t_tJdk5oTAGECqAXK81ladHmRr6j_U0TLAQRa0pLyvYg7xQTRXcjU8sf1zoEQmeh6dxnEOrZzorMZ-PRFNEYTkEnT2mCDVFEVsHU8njv4pfFAAfiCrS25Kp0swIj6e_VRRlIC80c/s320/IMG_5208.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, the last line of the first stanza stood out as being rather ungainly. Plus the conclusion seemed clunky. I think it reads better now and it may be there!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxNG-IqLfQg_4zUJw0HgokwlDp6dHhP5pw93sd5J27NUeHaHjrScjY3jxySVII-EcWfAzC1csyvD1y3MFWzF7oAquI6RYJc7mhkH18y2gQMjORx86SCza8_mwTWmbY6r-SBlYuC65N0gL7TlAnKOlA3QR-ocAYq6G4_WEeFto0QiYlnmUzyvJRMKyPMQ/s4032/IMG_6008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxNG-IqLfQg_4zUJw0HgokwlDp6dHhP5pw93sd5J27NUeHaHjrScjY3jxySVII-EcWfAzC1csyvD1y3MFWzF7oAquI6RYJc7mhkH18y2gQMjORx86SCza8_mwTWmbY6r-SBlYuC65N0gL7TlAnKOlA3QR-ocAYq6G4_WEeFto0QiYlnmUzyvJRMKyPMQ/s320/IMG_6008.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.nunnerynorheim.com/">Lizzie Nunnery and Vidar Norheim</a> have a new video out. The <a href="https://nunnerynorheim.bandcamp.com/">new album</a> is excellent. I shall review it soon but here is <i>Magical Times</i>.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8UWDFJ4yMnI" width="320" youtube-src-id="8UWDFJ4yMnI"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time. </span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-7331319249585910952023-10-06T08:30:00.014+01:002023-10-06T08:30:00.135+01:00SWIMMING WTH THE SUPER MOON<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZU_5KL8vv2ayffCP3OmyRt9zMIFdCYdNpc4HVHoOXKYeCnDGU_OeWsZhOlPgvG5M15nEc6K7QxkvfJ3TalKVb1dGQvEtpFSlOS3_Dvde6BrHq_UScKnMZWvkM7lofrP1rVjbcZ402e8dKz5PT_DeO9X7Emnv20oyg_dA8qMgHb_rAn0jyIQA3TBYwsY/s4032/IMG_6435.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZU_5KL8vv2ayffCP3OmyRt9zMIFdCYdNpc4HVHoOXKYeCnDGU_OeWsZhOlPgvG5M15nEc6K7QxkvfJ3TalKVb1dGQvEtpFSlOS3_Dvde6BrHq_UScKnMZWvkM7lofrP1rVjbcZ402e8dKz5PT_DeO9X7Emnv20oyg_dA8qMgHb_rAn0jyIQA3TBYwsY/s320/IMG_6435.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I confess the title of this post is a lie. I did not go swimming and the moon looked its normal size to me. However, the event did prompt this poem.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="break-before: page; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">SWIMMING
WITH THE SUPER MOON</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">She
asks me if I can see it from where I am</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">a
balcony overlooking Meadfoot Beach</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I
confess my ignorance of the whole event </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
no it is not visible from up here</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">She
walks to the tideline with her friends</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
they best foot it into the bay</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">their
laughter carries on the air</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">we
resume our conversation sip cava</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Until
the pink speckled tardy moon</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">arises
from a bank of cloud</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">it
looks the usual size to me </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the
water reflects its beauty</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
life does not get much better</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZY53T-8u4hTT3jqaniav_p6KScn0mNuetxgbdyPBsUgfOkYymki4ks7VSl5-AFeHjShXr8qq7dNvOeuoWhHEQBPGvmGdZ83djNlTJoUQxWLrUt6RpxIBv3meFaDos7ktsCVYiB3s7_uPzrRPBsehpA91mmjRhu-Q08e4h0V-g7m7GPKYN0sFyseGZeGw/s4032/IMG_6438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZY53T-8u4hTT3jqaniav_p6KScn0mNuetxgbdyPBsUgfOkYymki4ks7VSl5-AFeHjShXr8qq7dNvOeuoWhHEQBPGvmGdZ83djNlTJoUQxWLrUt6RpxIBv3meFaDos7ktsCVYiB3s7_uPzrRPBsehpA91mmjRhu-Q08e4h0V-g7m7GPKYN0sFyseGZeGw/s320/IMG_6438.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some poems, I think, are more like sketches of memories. That is certainly the case with this. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">An opportunity to celebrate something beautiful. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, cava [pronounced Ka-ba] is a sparkling wine from Catalunya , I am assured by Catalan friends that it at least rivals a good champagne. Here's a revision of one of the poems from last post.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">listen,
I’m not maudlin</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">ever</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
since you ghosted me</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I
don’t think of you that much</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">but
I thought I saw you today</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">by
where your office used to be</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">when
the sun was in my eyes</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">it
was only when they spoke </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I
realised I was mistaken</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">that
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">it
was some other clown</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">in
last year’s suit</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">attempting
to be </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">authentic</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">which
was a whole lot more</span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">than
you’d ever done</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LMXzJNax4XDwexsItdbCTFNB0Cn2mzGvJk0RAcbhA2Lt9LS3ezhAOVmTqhY7Gvn1p4CjXKj7MlmZWT4l2kCrMfnLv35SIjpWo9UIAGTBWQ_bOm02rLMGzoCpBhBdprm0yrQcUBaLu4ag-acjdji1cMtxR1GHYwwy9zXnI_VJrzJXhpYu7DeV-gMow1I/s4032/IMG_6419.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LMXzJNax4XDwexsItdbCTFNB0Cn2mzGvJk0RAcbhA2Lt9LS3ezhAOVmTqhY7Gvn1p4CjXKj7MlmZWT4l2kCrMfnLv35SIjpWo9UIAGTBWQ_bOm02rLMGzoCpBhBdprm0yrQcUBaLu4ag-acjdji1cMtxR1GHYwwy9zXnI_VJrzJXhpYu7DeV-gMow1I/s320/IMG_6419.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's still not there yet and quite frankly it may never arrive. Away it can go for a <i>long</i> while.</span> </p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2023/04/yahia-lababidi-poet-of-hope.html">Yahia Lababidi </a>has just started a new Youtube channel full of good poetry and recipes! You can watch it <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Yahia.Lababidi">here</a>.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8_WdCjCbDYIFyEE6jpvK7nSp588SE7wxvL3q4OlOjhQVnOkdlMg5eGXeDfxn0K5_sCfet_r3xd1o1eTxhK5ZHvVJDlXVo4wxs-s9VrsLDrWQ2phN59K5FozgnMXAd2LYf-KTbOyGCq8de_bWrKo5Z5IJnoEB5xLThE6R44GxbIR2jIe3e3EqqTqwHz0/s4032/IMG_6424.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8_WdCjCbDYIFyEE6jpvK7nSp588SE7wxvL3q4OlOjhQVnOkdlMg5eGXeDfxn0K5_sCfet_r3xd1o1eTxhK5ZHvVJDlXVo4wxs-s9VrsLDrWQ2phN59K5FozgnMXAd2LYf-KTbOyGCq8de_bWrKo5Z5IJnoEB5xLThE6R44GxbIR2jIe3e3EqqTqwHz0/s320/IMG_6424.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am ashamed to admit I missed the release of a new album by </span><a href="https://www.nunnerynorheim.com/" style="font-family: verdana;">Lizzie Nunnery</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> and </span><a href="https://www.nunnerynorheim.com/gigs" style="font-family: verdana;">Vidar Norheim</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">. It sounds amazing. you can order it </span><a href="https://nunnerynorheim.bandcamp.com/album/i-saw-the-city" style="font-family: verdana;">here</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W0yFP3Xg5uY" width="320" youtube-src-id="W0yFP3Xg5uY"></iframe></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time.</span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-36685901320022335872023-09-29T08:30:00.001+01:002023-09-29T08:30:00.143+01:00ALL THE BEAUTY DRAINS AWAY<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJBO-kU1lH1nXbfKW4oUjvAHFxRrvFaNUL5bV0GxcBD8EWT8X6QO16oFA04_yv0tgwHWnJwRYyWWAXbCBXcfC3SW1Axe8HKMYQRQZjotJ0H3BuSY6MTpn_W0D_iKDi9FT8zLxksEszUg2J-jDXPa4nnLL-wkbFw0870SvVFUrNI1SNwBQdJP1Pbj8AGw/s4032/IMG_6320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJBO-kU1lH1nXbfKW4oUjvAHFxRrvFaNUL5bV0GxcBD8EWT8X6QO16oFA04_yv0tgwHWnJwRYyWWAXbCBXcfC3SW1Axe8HKMYQRQZjotJ0H3BuSY6MTpn_W0D_iKDi9FT8zLxksEszUg2J-jDXPa4nnLL-wkbFw0870SvVFUrNI1SNwBQdJP1Pbj8AGw/s320/IMG_6320.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">History has a habit of repeating itself. That which is of worth goes unrecognised and is side lined, while the banal is given centre stage. I have seen this a number of times over the years and that is what this poem is all about.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">here
we are again- </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">redundancies
all round</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">here
comes the new one</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">desperate
to make their mark</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
fix what is not broken</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">quality
is neither here or there</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">to
people like these</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">intent
on their vision</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">so
something unique will go</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and the the vacuum filled</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">with
the second rate</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
we all are the poorer</span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">as
all the beauty drains away</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPVUHyKCkAZuRKc-Mx2YdNK_SIH3ot6dPOKMK7wV-d-KlHgJIVbAgwR-OACQVvmXerGWgbF8kgt0mT-Xf3nOrUo8sacdh_gmb2_u1bb52Li_ZF8e_63WFNDsdRZJ9H6pJQHeGaNvPpcFHbiQX79QRDEFZG2k_064tDliQxy2LswmUxa2THi7MQaP-7MjI/s4032/IMG_6178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPVUHyKCkAZuRKc-Mx2YdNK_SIH3ot6dPOKMK7wV-d-KlHgJIVbAgwR-OACQVvmXerGWgbF8kgt0mT-Xf3nOrUo8sacdh_gmb2_u1bb52Li_ZF8e_63WFNDsdRZJ9H6pJQHeGaNvPpcFHbiQX79QRDEFZG2k_064tDliQxy2LswmUxa2THi7MQaP-7MjI/s320/IMG_6178.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I agree it's a little too shouty, too much tell, not enough show. All I can say in my defence is that it comes from the heart.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HUF3WGKpHb9ot-qs_ntZ10ZkUtRl-l6kMCWsQdG8UL-0WxSFfd5XL2W3adQU6kRw2KMRwvqD2G5-5BPsAVFPmqXfpuajekJq8PSdGNpBJNJQcZzyJwNMcxDtr-tBTdp4Q57zMCbE9AG1M4vkhz-c0-G1hNXyDh5ZMIDGoXlqTj_-jaZToFQ_BnZNLEY/s4032/IMG_6309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HUF3WGKpHb9ot-qs_ntZ10ZkUtRl-l6kMCWsQdG8UL-0WxSFfd5XL2W3adQU6kRw2KMRwvqD2G5-5BPsAVFPmqXfpuajekJq8PSdGNpBJNJQcZzyJwNMcxDtr-tBTdp4Q57zMCbE9AG1M4vkhz-c0-G1hNXyDh5ZMIDGoXlqTj_-jaZToFQ_BnZNLEY/s320/IMG_6309.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I too close to this next poem to see it clearly, though I think it's some of the way there.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">listen,
I’m not maudlin</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I
don’t think of you that much</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">not
since you ghosted me</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">but
I thought I saw you today</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 16px;">by where your office used to be</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">when
the sun was in my eyes</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">it
was only when they spoke </span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I
realised I was mistaken</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
it was some other clown</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">in
last year’s suit</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">attempting
to be themselves</span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">which
was a whole lot more</span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">than
you’d ever done</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2gt9IWyf7wGSMgI-r2p765zIjAHvCL8t255HIfvNarMJ0XOvvHqyIH2ltW0rm_FwxUF_8paMs4rZ_lxoVkJkAu074EffaWUp-fsIqSmEfPMR0hESnkYdcDFIb6JxvJ6EJvFKciis2wrmjN4PyUwANsOxddVbby0h2fccDEVUioMMttid50vIVvysVSA/s4032/IMG_6306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2gt9IWyf7wGSMgI-r2p765zIjAHvCL8t255HIfvNarMJ0XOvvHqyIH2ltW0rm_FwxUF_8paMs4rZ_lxoVkJkAu074EffaWUp-fsIqSmEfPMR0hESnkYdcDFIb6JxvJ6EJvFKciis2wrmjN4PyUwANsOxddVbby0h2fccDEVUioMMttid50vIVvysVSA/s320/IMG_6306.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Watch this space. There is the kernel of a poem in there but at the present it isn't clear. It's definitely a case of <i>some days you eat the bear, some days the bear eats you and some days you both go hungry</i>. Wow! I was looking up the origin of the phrase when I came upon this long thread relating to <a href="https://movies.stackexchange.com/questions/49666/what-is-the-meaning-of-the-phrase-sometimes-the-bar-eats-you-in-the-big-lebows">The Great </a><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u>Lebowski</u></span>. I love the internet for this sort of thing!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrigXGXhANRZ9N6djbc75c6TIUFmezb3ukuBvmfP1ycpc2-_Df19W1o3LryTbrR3hBCLP8HDTkzr1dRB7qYPdRekpvnhXrl8F_Ytez0BMMdTnoAX1tOkv52sZNI9qSNWjRK_ui0MgnHjmYQeLmNfMG64zGIQmY0DWBatX_GMR5nnCClTdGb3yO6qZwcJ4/s4032/IMG_6324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrigXGXhANRZ9N6djbc75c6TIUFmezb3ukuBvmfP1ycpc2-_Df19W1o3LryTbrR3hBCLP8HDTkzr1dRB7qYPdRekpvnhXrl8F_Ytez0BMMdTnoAX1tOkv52sZNI9qSNWjRK_ui0MgnHjmYQeLmNfMG64zGIQmY0DWBatX_GMR5nnCClTdGb3yO6qZwcJ4/s320/IMG_6324.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've been listening to a lot of <a href="https://ironandwine.com/">Iron & Wine</a> recently and here is <i>Walking Far From Home</i>.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NLudb695Za8" width="320" youtube-src-id="NLudb695Za8"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time.</span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387667238687975467.post-15322355533407403612023-09-22T08:30:00.001+01:002023-09-22T08:30:00.139+01:00FALLS THROUGH FRANTIC AIR<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZQYuBLMRnsQ1Humog9p_DFXuJXl4KuQN6uppB4Jj2y-Hb50U2k-RMLePJYaR1-bRCWGEuf0CW-JhDfTWbDAAZdY2nkCSSxikQtNta3JxHdRg9Hy-gUduogXroGZgJkq3EojJ32a4y9XQ_G9o2wNSiiadl14AUqSUh6XOq-02NF4KMIJ7C1KeEAf5ID4/s4032/IMG_0527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZQYuBLMRnsQ1Humog9p_DFXuJXl4KuQN6uppB4Jj2y-Hb50U2k-RMLePJYaR1-bRCWGEuf0CW-JhDfTWbDAAZdY2nkCSSxikQtNta3JxHdRg9Hy-gUduogXroGZgJkq3EojJ32a4y9XQ_G9o2wNSiiadl14AUqSUh6XOq-02NF4KMIJ7C1KeEAf5ID4/s320/IMG_0527.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think I mentioned last post that I am not writing much at the moment. This is partly because I am focussed on compiling a new collection, one that will have illustrations by <a href="https://www.alison-wilson.com/about">Alison Wilson</a>. It should be out by Christmas. Watch this space, details to follow. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHVHsKUa2c3DIxeotzxQNecEykkdONZ_8sSHAon_ZJlRWQPicXMrHRJ7hQcI_SXZZaqpkU2h-Z5szXZcphL4NM0tlwV2cv6G4NLTQfAjpubuBqVZlTK4C5VX4btoHNK1OLyuQSISQCL0i7YfvDiCA0eGwcHGK2hlzWXS2Ag4G15OElKHg9E8V_2eMP0M/s4032/IMG_0568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHVHsKUa2c3DIxeotzxQNecEykkdONZ_8sSHAon_ZJlRWQPicXMrHRJ7hQcI_SXZZaqpkU2h-Z5szXZcphL4NM0tlwV2cv6G4NLTQfAjpubuBqVZlTK4C5VX4btoHNK1OLyuQSISQCL0i7YfvDiCA0eGwcHGK2hlzWXS2Ag4G15OElKHg9E8V_2eMP0M/s320/IMG_0568.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was looking at a couple of old poems the other day that were written fourteen years ago on a visit to Barcelona and decided to revise them. They are both incidents I saw on the Metro. In the first a woman dropped her wedding ring.</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">B</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">ARCELONA</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
2009</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">r</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">ing
around </span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">her</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
finger</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">a
circle she fiddles with </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">turn</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">s
this way that</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">slide</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">s</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
up </span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">and
it</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">f</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">all</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">s</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
through frantic air</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">b</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">ounces
on the carriage floor</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">t</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">he
man in the next seat</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">s</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">miles,
retrieves it</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">t</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">he
gold glints</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">b</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">etween
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">his
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">finger
and thumb</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">s</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">at
opposite I invent reasons</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">love
long gone</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">i</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">nfidelity</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">a</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">nger
or s</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">ome
s</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">ecret
regret?</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
ask what it means </span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">and</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">y</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">ou
tell me: Stuff happens</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">s</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">ometimes
there is no meaning</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">then
it</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
is our stop</span></span></span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">and
w</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">e
exit the Metro</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmr2fWQHxlFUXureUANLSIMYq3j3J19lP-UCXhxHNKQnVC0BnwB-IxjMzrht_CvjcarmWkzjs-zOV_cF0tE5B6_bVupOd2ERM8BhkJfaIKPmn1EHujOUYnIIPQLx78ybKnpOVlZA3LRjuSFczqvvEZVCojHs84K2Rju6ACLZPCdfmQYD44QqRnwtu1BE/s4032/IMG_0562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmr2fWQHxlFUXureUANLSIMYq3j3J19lP-UCXhxHNKQnVC0BnwB-IxjMzrht_CvjcarmWkzjs-zOV_cF0tE5B6_bVupOd2ERM8BhkJfaIKPmn1EHujOUYnIIPQLx78ybKnpOVlZA3LRjuSFczqvvEZVCojHs84K2Rju6ACLZPCdfmQYD44QqRnwtu1BE/s320/IMG_0562.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I thought the poem needed to breathe, it was too concentrated. [You can read the published version <a href="https://magpiebridge.blogspot.com/2011/09/barcelona.html">here</a>.] I always try to pare my work down to the bare essentials but I wondered if I had removed too much. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYZ11lOJ0zGhE0fSCfLODlxm0UXJRZdU013C9Fv0aib-JfNLE7BrxOibq3JCv3x2Gr-966tgSh8wmQLegXe4HQ0ztKMtaMYazcc6PtEyM-mUJQzb2cR1czGVxc0BOlmcYdJQVtDAdrQVjIlUKGHn1bS8GoGS6iDFmwrdSPu28cm1IiqUHVj3bePUeiGY/s4032/IMG_0576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYZ11lOJ0zGhE0fSCfLODlxm0UXJRZdU013C9Fv0aib-JfNLE7BrxOibq3JCv3x2Gr-966tgSh8wmQLegXe4HQ0ztKMtaMYazcc6PtEyM-mUJQzb2cR1czGVxc0BOlmcYdJQVtDAdrQVjIlUKGHn1bS8GoGS6iDFmwrdSPu28cm1IiqUHVj3bePUeiGY/s320/IMG_0576.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This second poem is from the same trip and again I thought it required space. Perhaps the location had influenced my lay out, the cramped tunnels of the Metro?</span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">6.
Road Poem</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">t</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">hey
kiss</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">h</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">e
boards the train</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">d</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">oes
not look back</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">a</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">t
her expectant face</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">a</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">n
almost sigh</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">s</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">plit
second space</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">t</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">hen
she walks</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">y</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">ou
tell me:</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">w</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">e
are observing a failed romance</span></span></span></span></i></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">w</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">e
walk </span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">along</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
the platform</span></span></span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
hope she does not speak English</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwkPGlayzZcujGiYmlDnZdHS6hRLbKPFRHc0KVMxEon7hbIOeyscP-NS9_zz-5orJ5sBJ6o-d2BpCWO7zNlR7aOSoeFXsOA4qJS-o_wZ1XRwBOsbpL_v1ZiatfJos6y0NPqa9oJjXeNKJo63-yL6d91jZMENmANI3RnMUIvKit-3cbn3t81_MdcXV1j4/s4032/IMG_0587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwkPGlayzZcujGiYmlDnZdHS6hRLbKPFRHc0KVMxEon7hbIOeyscP-NS9_zz-5orJ5sBJ6o-d2BpCWO7zNlR7aOSoeFXsOA4qJS-o_wZ1XRwBOsbpL_v1ZiatfJos6y0NPqa9oJjXeNKJo63-yL6d91jZMENmANI3RnMUIvKit-3cbn3t81_MdcXV1j4/s320/IMG_0587.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When I reread the poem what struck me was my embarrassment, I did not want the woman to overhear our conversation, as she seemed weighed down by her own circumstances. Sadly the book these poems are from is out of print.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HSni8jx4cIVKQOUPf26P6_6J5RTR-tWcP3hNcIOqOLqd7tAbJVwSTQ3427ieuiIZ7UUCuOvbMvCWnSZgsuOwIlFS6kVPF1aqZwb4FT9Nl7ml-1YMDipDLQwu6TeZ6VVVMrHz2aVChV3sdrJ5-v4K4MwilEOjkWs7RgSilC-D5klCDsJNjoHlSLVtAG8/s4032/IMG_0578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HSni8jx4cIVKQOUPf26P6_6J5RTR-tWcP3hNcIOqOLqd7tAbJVwSTQ3427ieuiIZ7UUCuOvbMvCWnSZgsuOwIlFS6kVPF1aqZwb4FT9Nl7ml-1YMDipDLQwu6TeZ6VVVMrHz2aVChV3sdrJ5-v4K4MwilEOjkWs7RgSilC-D5klCDsJNjoHlSLVtAG8/s320/IMG_0578.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The immensely talented <a href="https://pollyanna.bandcamp.com/music">Pollyanna</a> has just released a video for her song Brighton. Wonderful stuff, especially the line <i>I can feel the privilege of being a stranger</i>, pure poetry!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aqddKMnQOIE" width="320" youtube-src-id="aqddKMnQOIE"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Paul Tobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.com0