Miscellaneous
By Rhiannonw
What doesn't fit into the others
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- 3387 reads
Ugh! a slug!
Click on the kitchen light in dark of night; – a rude awakening, such a sight: upon the tile a big brown slug: ugh!! Don’t touch! remove with card or glove or plastic bag, or rag –
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- 1931 reads
"It's just coming out as doggerel …"
A ‘not-quite-right’ verse can seem much worse than doggerel, just terrible…
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- 2589 reads
"Priorities" Interrupt, Interfere … (IP)
‘Julie, I’m phoning to say_ ’ ‘Ooh, hang on a minute, I don’t want to miss the end of this play I’ll ring you back.’ CLUNK ‘Julie, please listen, you must_ ’
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- 5137 reads
"The Shard" — by London Bridge
Sharp shard of glistening glass … an icy thorn
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- 2379 reads
'It's time to complete your tax return...' (IP)
… make you feel that you’re ever so dim, and your eyes glaze over, and start to skim, the meaning is lost, and your mind goes blank and you wonder if this will soon empty the bank …
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- 1884 reads
'Let's Start Again'
Competition Entry
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- 2346 reads
A Frenzy of Envy (IP)
I envied one who drew a bow and made exquisite music flow …
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- 2405 reads
A glimpse of life in the fast-lane
An urban shopping-complex where the shops along the road and square have grown and multiplied, and there I wander in the crowds to stare – and opportunity quite rare
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- 2213 reads
At motorway services (IP)
Passing through from far and wide, parking neatly side by side, no-one knows from where you’ve come, no-one caring where you’ve gone. Glossy shop, expensive ‘tack’,
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- 1813 reads
Backing up!
Typing, tapping, click, click, Just a moment, in a tick all my story in my memory; safe and sound, easily found; but … there can be mistake when quick fingers flick,
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- 2425 reads
Central London
(unaccustomed as I am …)
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- 1571 reads
Chosen Isolation
You have two arms to hug, or push off everyone, in fear they’ll crush, embarrass you, or hurt, – to spare yourself the pain, commotion of all their troubles and emotion;
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- 2552 reads
Cloudy Issues (IP)
Some smoke to shock, against parental pleasure kick, (own-goal, strong stick upon their back?) a habit hard to kick or lick; a calming crutch when life is such a struggle;
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- 3654 reads
Cloudy Word-play (IP)
Wandering in cloud-cuckoo land, buzzing, on cloud 9, head in the clouds, with visions grand assuming all is fine; but someone clouds the issue, your eyes cloud over, frown,
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- 2060 reads
Communication overload
(twittering, chattering, and information overload)
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- 3081 reads
Communication – thoughtful language, not just words (IP)
A pattern of sounds, a chosen word, by which a thought can be transferred from my head to yours, or yours to mine; but when it’s a complex, but useful idea,
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- 1919 reads
Dreams into … Rising from the … (IP)
A sports-car that crashes … From flame and from ash …
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- 2752 reads
Take A Step Back … but (IP)
Take a step back the better to see, take a step back, look up at the whole, take a step back – eye the wood, not each tree: but …
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- 2496 reads
Painting with a,b,c, …
Arranging letters , weaving sound … Well that’s the aim, we can but try, and hope that what is in the frame be understood, pleasure supply.
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- 1386 reads
The poor, happy goblin
A goblin found an elixir, and drank it in a trice; – it changed his spiteful core, and made him really rather nice. Unshakeable his knowledge now that he would truly never
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- 3100 reads
Is verse a ‘pretty’ thing …
Is verse a ‘pretty’ thing, to fancy or despise, or, communication ‘at-a-glance’ that’s clear, succinct, concise?
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- 2355 reads
You can’t recall gossip
Accusations made, unchecked …
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- 2121 reads
Welsh prounciation, simplified?
Are you scared of words like Llŷn, Llanelli, or Llandrindon? …
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- 2442 reads
Trumpkin meets Aslan (from Prince Caspian)
With hint of roar, ‘Now, where’s that one who has so firmly said, he hasn’t seen, does not believe in lions – I must be dead!’ Devoid of speech, with trembling knees,
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- 2652 reads
Power can corrupt (IP?)
and so many see, and are tempted to feel sure that they would do better …
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- 1372 reads
Martin Chuzzlewit
character and book by Charles Dickens, acted by Paul Scofield in BBC series
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- 1119 reads
‘Rhiannon’ (IP)
(what’s in a name?)
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What if love was banned … ? (IP)
What if love was banned? … and hatred had the upper hand (and selfishness – the love of self allowed! with greed, each one self-focussed, proud): no neutral ground between the two,
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- 2683 reads
Springing Back To Life, so (IP)
for what? (not about the countryside)
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- 974 reads
Mma Ramotswe’s Little White Van (IP)
(with apologies to Alexander McCall Smith) No one can ever love you like I do. I couldn’t love that van reliable, and new, so comfortable, smoothly humming, shiny blue,
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- 2432 reads
Duty and pleasure
When is a duty a pleasure, a delightful endeavour? When the recipient’s a treasure, loving, and kind, and you gain such a warm overflowing rich measure of encouragements, joys that remain.
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- 2031 reads
The Celts are used to it! (IP)
When you’re used to the wet, you don’t tend to let it stop you much, just put on your mack, and wellies, and pack your things in a plastic bag, or sack,
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- 2042 reads
I’m no good at cooking while talking (IP)
A widow with a nervous disposition, oppressed with loneliness, depression, accepting proffered invitation to come to have some lunch with me. Hard work to keep up conversation
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- 2177 reads
I’m Bertie the bus! (IP)
Twenty past nine, at the village green, the forthcoming happenings as yet unseen. Who would be coming along to pay and purchase a ticket for town today?
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- 2294 reads
Free Speech – annoying, hurting?
A law against offending speech, and written words, but aren’t we each offended every day by this, or that, or in some other way? Where draw the line, resort to law?
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- 1346 reads
of armchair maps, pocket maps, and sat-navs (IP)
Contemplative leisure, cartographic pleasure, armchair navigation, bird’s-eye-view of woods and hills … but when on foot, or bike, in car …
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- 2206 reads
That early morning cup of tea
Sip the nectar, savour, drain; feel it seeping through the brain – mist dispersing, movement oiling, focussing for fun and toiling. Diffusing through to every part,
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- 2232 reads
The Hare and the Tortoise (IP*)
A student of great aptitude – he quickly hared ahead until, the deadline now so close for handing in, instead of working hard he thought he would take ease and have some fun –
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- 2324 reads
When they wanted to drown the Ceiriog valley
Taking ‘W’ ater out of W ales, to make Warrington Ales ?
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- 1556 reads
Hey diddle diddle … (IP)
Hey diddle diddle, a pig in the middle …
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Poignant ice tribute to Titanic victims (Belfast, 21/10/12)
Pentathlon Current Affairs 'Fib' poem Ice men, women and children sitting on the steps: fifteen hundred and seventeen: many watch the weeping, melting Titanic tribute disappear:
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- 2395 reads
Pride and Prejudice (IP)
Five daughters of age to be married …
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The tangible, and the intangible (IP)
Fire … air … water … earth . ' Ether ’ used for the intangible … star movements, light, cyberspace … ?
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- 2489 reads
Operation Sat-Nav
My SatNav sends its message out to satellites in the sky, and they can tell, without a doubt, its source, as overhead they fly. They then ‘speak’...
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- 1381 reads
A Big Idea (IP)
It had its inception in self-deception, but self-conceit wouldn’t concede defeat, mistake, from assumptions fake. Shame feared to admit, the heart...
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- 2978 reads
Looking out to look inward (IP)
[inspired by the amount of time Colin Firth’s Mr Darcy spent looking out of windows in the BBC production of some years ago] From out of a window he...
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- 3590 reads
Extreme nights (IP)
The night is long, three months* so dark, so cold, no air to fire a spark, though million stars shine sharp and bright undulled by artificial light;...
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- 3771 reads
The Clever Little Bike (IP)
There was a thief who stole a bike – the little bike he did not like the thief who pedalled him away – determined that he would not stay upon his...
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- 2175 reads
Rise and Fall, Fall and Rise (IP)
Babylon grew on fertile plain … its buildings … now, ruined, lie beneath the sand … one king … wisdom learned …
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A Rubik’s Cube, and like it
[rearranging words]
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A skeuomorphic diet for a trip to Mars (IP)
Food building blocks extracted by a process long, protracted – all the fuel chemicals, vitamins and minerals: and so was made nutritious goo in tubes...
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- 3592 reads
Seasons of Human Migration (IP)
Waves of migration from persecution: hard adaptation, deep appreciation of freedom, protection; or short-term incursion for paid occupation, hard...
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“Cool” or warm?
or, are teens really serious about their concerns about fossil fuels/emission/pollution? “Jumpers aren’t ‘cool’”; but they’re warm – fleece or wool,...
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- 3066 reads
Looking Ahead, Looking Back
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1914 "100 years on what will have become of our heirs, if the Kaiser’s troops overrun? … 2014 100 years gone: we look at the war at mistakes and such loss and with hindsight see more, appalled at the gore …
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- 2399 reads
London, then and now (IP)
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Crowdy, rowdy, slums and wealth, costers, brewers, fresh-dug sewers (– somewhat improving smells and health), opulence and poverty, kindness and...
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- 3239 reads
Hot Air, Cold Showers (IP)
… In the sky we paint a picture, no principles of architecture, its airy-fairy mist foundation comes down to earth: precipitation.
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- 1243 reads
Indian summer …
… spread-out dewy cobwebs glitter in the nippy, sparkling morning; shining, baking day, glowing sunset; firelit evening, thicker duvet, central...
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- 3313 reads
The strangest night ...
of my life … but who am I?
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- 1727 reads
Universal motion
Rustling trees, whispering breeze, migrating swallows fly high over thundering billows … a mobile face … mountains quake
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- 2557 reads
We passed through …
Some people leave a work of art when they depart this earth; some people leave a legacy of quite substantial worth. Some actors leave …
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- 1937 reads
Servant or Tyrant (IP)
Rapid chemical reactions, exothermic oxidations … valued highly when a servant … terribly destructive tyrant …
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- 1729 reads
Cash in the Attic (IP)
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Sing a song of old coins, a pocket full of change – ten times four and twenty old pence (look so strange) but when the bank was open they gave me in...
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- 1285 reads
Gloom’s End
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Drizzle-drenched decaying day murky dawn to washed-out grey … … deep darkness pleases: contrasting lights now dazzle … … – drizzle, mizzle seems to disappear — invisible, rubbed out by black.
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- 2915 reads
… and Proud Middles … (IP)
"When I was young I had just begun and was glad to learn from my ‘betters’; but when I knew more than I had before I thought I’d shake off the...
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- 2734 reads
Of gods out of machines (IP)
thinking about the original usage* of the phrase (that I suppose led to the usage for plot devices), and some other possibilities *The acting ‘gods’ brought up, or down by some contraption like a crane …
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- 2311 reads
Consequences (IP)
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I don't know if this is what is being suggested? No school today! …
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- 2417 reads
Halfway Through the Night
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inspired by A A Milne’s ‘Halfway down the stairs… there isn't any other stair quite like it. ' with Christopher Robin and Pooh Bear http://allpoetry.com/Halfway-Down Halfway through the night …
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- 4495 reads
A Very Welsh Thing (IP)
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‘Y Gymanfa Ganu’ [Pronunciation: ‘Uh Gum- ann -va Gann -ee’ *= The Singing Festival (of Hymns )] … The chapels emptied, as they found the ‘singing clubs’ preferred the pubs, and fervour in a rugby ground …
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- 2793 reads
The sweet can turn sour!
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He wished he’d win the lottery … Some wished for cherries, red or gold, and popularity, but found they turned to sour grapes …
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- 1878 reads
Spoilt (IP)
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Drink … Computer … Death … Conscience
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- 1975 reads
Grimm Fun (Poetry Monthly)
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golden haired lasses whose beauty surpasses … the hero was snared, set impossible feat … dare they trust this odd creature who’s leading? …
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- 3200 reads
Contemplation … (Poetry Monthly)
From prison bars we see them gaze …
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- 1932 reads
Welsh/English Waters Mix
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Forecast: heavy precipitation across Wales and the midlands: [of cats and dogs and old ladies and sticks …]
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- 3483 reads
Sweet Bun Hidden Fruit Puzzle! (IP)
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[which three where?]
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- 4373 reads
Loo Tool (Poetry Monthly)
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… meditating on advertisment and instructions …
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- 3192 reads
'Mourning Orders …' (Poetry Monthly)
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… attended to on receipt of Telegram …’*
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- 3310 reads
Tell-tale Tit!
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'A little bird told me …’ … for secrets may come out whenever.
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- 7392 reads
People Smugglers
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‘Can you take me away from the bombs and mess? And can you be trusted? – unlikely, I guess. ‘How much must I pay you? It’s all that I own. Dare I pay...
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- 7150 reads
My Rise and Fall (I am a road) (Poetry Monthly)
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…to signal direction, and make a connection … I came and I go
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- 2384 reads
A skeuomorphic diet for … (Poetry Monthly)
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This is an old IP-poem, but while I was recording the other day, I thought it might come down well as a perfomance piece. https://soundcloud.com/rhiannon-weber/marsdiet
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- 3749 reads
Thoughts bubble up …
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… where’s paper and pen ? Driving along – in the back of my mind rise ideas that find words that are neat and seem to complete a tentative verse –...
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- 3437 reads
Semi-nonsense Consonance
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A tribute to the attributes attributed that day to the tribune, in the tribunal which studied the affray of tribulation, trouble in the tribe that...
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- 2816 reads
Around the Round
Spinning on its axis, around to face the sun – back to face the darkness ‘til another day’s begun. Round and round we orbit, every year the same,...
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- 1615 reads
According to the Birdie
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O little birdie on the tree, what are you watching, what d’you see? ‘Someone swinging with his pole to push a ball towards a hole …
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- 3822 reads
Fair’s fare
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A bit of fun with homonyms of two homophones – I’ve just been reading what those words mean! I think some of the homonyms have similarity of meanings.
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- 3311 reads
Convoluted Grammar
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Students, this is how one ought to write when making each report – make constant use throughout the project, of the ‘passive voice’ so that an object...
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- 3631 reads
Beacons
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optical telegraphy to signal overland … wreckers …
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- 1699 reads
What would you like me to say?
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my tongue’s for sale …
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- 2190 reads
Askew
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distortions … nightmaresque … stilled
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- 1434 reads
Media Circus
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Events serious or silly, popular, or thrilly, draw media milling, the streets quickly filling with cameras, lorries, cables, and flurries of...
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- 1405 reads
Thinking Time
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His deviousness discovered – transactions ‘all in white’ that should have been invisible, they’d coloured into sight. He’d tried to pass the blame...
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- 6 comments
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- 1480 reads
Down by the river-side
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(growth of a capital)
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- 2939 reads
Arborglyphs
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Lonely shepherds carved on aspen ******* A young US man called to war promised his new bride as he went he’d carve their names upon a tree at every place that he was sent … 60 years later …
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- 1462 reads
London Street Music
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Inspired by my son’s musical interpretation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ5-0f_bEnY&index=5&list=PLTX-lLNb4O9THo...
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- 10 comments
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- 5774 reads
The Busy Middle
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(Central London) Hustle, bustle, rush and crush, busy people pushing past want to reach their ‘somewhere’ fast; hoping they will soon have quitted...
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- 8140 reads
Between here and there
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what’s behind that next corner, around the far bend … step back into life with its many dimensions
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- 937 reads
Of ABC IPs and Comps. – and shallots!
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There once was a person in Devon who entered a veg. competition, he said it was not for a winning shallot, but encouraged more …
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- 3471 reads
The Composer
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Grand opening bars, then fingers stop, thoughts fizzle out, ideas flop …
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- 2383 reads
Job description
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Who dare apply?
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- 2046 reads
1) 'On yer bike'
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Sir Christopher Hoy 'caught the bug' as a boy – broke records with medals as he pushed on his pedals! [IP: clerihews]
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- 1631 reads
2) Ringo
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Beatle Ringo Starr played drum kits, not guitar; famous to children later as the “Thomas and Friends”’ narrator. [IP: clerihews]
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- 2524 reads
3) William Wilberforce
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William Wilberforce worked hard to enforce full emancipation from slave degradation. [IP: clerihews]
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- 1683 reads
4) Yes Minister!
![](https://www.abctales.com/sites/abctales.com/files/styles/cover/public/covers/TVWestminsterYM.jpg?itok=pgoA1klV)
of Jim, Humphrey and Bernard
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- 4 comments
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- 1483 reads
The Land of the Grumblies
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The leaves were nipped, the light was dim, the faces jaded, eyes glazed, lips grim, grumblies and glumbles, the gamblies, and grimbles cackled,...
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- 3056 reads
One small change … ? (a:general)
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If he hadn’t said that word, or she hadn’t told of what she’d heard, there might have never been that revolution, there might have been an amiable...
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- 498 reads
Digispeak
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that youth with his trendy bluetooth …
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- 8 comments
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- 2304 reads
Troubled Flufferlumps
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With a whuffle shift and huffle snort and a strankle of kerfuffle, the baafluffs stirred and …
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- 908 reads
Little Irritants
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You part your socks to find the plastic thread-like clip …
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- 839 reads
Good government?
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A revolution to remove a ruler dicatatorial: new leaders lording with no love oppress by law tyrannical. … But we are glad we still have right to argue or accuse …
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- 504 reads
Bugs, bugs, and more bugs
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of computing code snags, bacteria, small critters, enthuiasms and spies …
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- 4 comments
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- 1483 reads
Terminological Inexactitudes
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If facts are facts, not fiction for a faction …
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- 4 comments
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- 1880 reads
Heat or Warm
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Love was hurt and turned to hate … malice melted …
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- 4 comments
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- 1664 reads
Commemorating what never was
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Made in advance …
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- 761 reads
Hydra
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The many snaky hydra heads had evil stench and bite; when necks were slashed, more heads re-grew to rape, enslave and fight; and only when no further...
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- 9 comments
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- 2965 reads
A stitch in time …
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… (and of horse-shoes etc)
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- 1559 reads
Swallowed up?
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The ball of fire sinks into the blue …
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- 12 comments
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- 4645 reads
Dreamy …
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A thoughtful tale, a pleasant book, the mind in daydream drifts … book shut, eyes close, into, and out of sleep, consciousness slips: distorted mixed...
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- 4 comments
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- 1740 reads
Unjust Infamy
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He came so near to fame – his name was tossed about, fair game for those who sought in vain someone to quickly blame and shame for fault that brought...
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- 742 reads
Written Where?
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Scattered scraps of scribbles, swimming, corner notes on lists of shopping, ‘Boggle’ words with interloping sentence bursts scrawled, interspersed,...
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- 2811 reads
Bins
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A house, like ourselves, must ingest and excrete, rejected things placed in receptacles discrete: moulded of plastic by bathroom sink (blending with...
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- 1093 reads
Watch your back!
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(owlish metaphor) “Tu -whit, tu-woo” “I keep a good view, and you, you too what will you do? “To look back behind me my feet needn’t turn, I soundlessly swivel my head to discern what is to the rear…
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- 2632 reads
Do-it-[all]-yourself?
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Self-reliance (juche?) – man* is the master of his own destiny – is he? a master of his own ascent, or expert at mistakes, stupidity, unplanned...
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- 743 reads
Sixpence
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Sing a song of sixpence … I’ve got sixpence, I’ve got tuppence to spend, and tuppence to lend and …
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- 1172 reads
Shade
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Shade in the shadow of the old oak tree, shielded from the dazzle of the shining noonday sun, for the brassy dome of the sky beats down as the...
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- 7 comments
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- 1895 reads
What I don’t understand is …
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… newspaper comments shot off without thought on articles improperly read; accusations without humility, pleasure in others’ exposure with no thought...
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- 395 reads
Last year’s ‘next year’
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Last year’s ‘next year’ now is ‘this year’, yesterday’s become today …
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- 2012 reads
Next 365 puzzles!
![](https://www.abctales.com/sites/abctales.com/files/styles/cover/public/covers/puzzlecalendars.jpg?itok=jTiYviy2)
A puzzle a day, brain workout by play … may choose to think of clues which may confuse …
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- 1228 reads
A bit of IP nonsense
The grand old duke of York …
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- 1728 reads
English Englyn*??
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[*pronounced Eng -linn, with the E like in ‘men’ not as in English!] Noo suggested using the ‘Risk’ prompt to try a risky form … The ‘englyn’ traditionally is a very brief, compact verse, and uses ‘cynghanedd’ and set lengths of lines …
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- 2387 reads
When 'blue'?
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‘once in a blue moon’ … there is a ‘blue’ moon …
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- 10 comments
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- 2275 reads
English lesson rules for writing postcards
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(A tale of two postcards – before the days of electronic communication) Teacher says “A postcard … restrained – it might be read by the postman on his round.” …
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- 2466 reads
String Jungle
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It’s an extraordinary thing that a length of string or thinnish flex that‘s tumbled around …
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- 17 comments
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- 3740 reads
Twister
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Funnel swirling winds whirling twirling twister reaching down, sucking up dust and debris, buildings’ buster, chucking pieces further, rushing fast,...
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- 1319 reads
Helping Recall?
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Some have strong eidetic memory (photographic) – useful for Kim’s game and for ‘ Where is my key?’ (viewing detail of places seen); some use mnemonic...
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- 1425 reads
Heart songs …
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… find music to wing right words to express soul joy or distress –
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- 7 comments
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- 2167 reads
What Dreams?
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His megalomanic dreams of power … Her dreams of fame … He dreamed of usefulness … they softly trod
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- 396 reads
Transcription Squiggles
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I have a thought, and into speech I speak my thought but want to reach a far-flung audience with my thought – how can its words be truly caught,...
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- 1924 reads
Concealing
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(of presents, and human and computer memory vaults)
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- 1484 reads
Return to Sender
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I typed my email and addressed it, and sent it on its way but very soon, into my Inbox it bounced back there to stay – by “Mailer-daemon”: no such...
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- 4 comments
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- 888 reads
Time Flies
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May is past, June’s ahead – last week’s Radio Times is dead –(or maybe not quite, somethings there still are catchable on air in the stores of...
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- 1851 reads
I’d fill your shoes better than you do!
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“If I were in your shoes, I’d be more kind to me (this ‘me’) I would be kind to everyone not ‘me-absorbed’ as you are now with you, I see. I would...
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- 1534 reads
Reach in … reach out …
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A smile of peace, a heart of hurts … Is there a balm resentment, spite to penetrate and ease? reach in, reach out …
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- 380 reads
The five doorways
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Three tales …
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- 9 comments
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- 2149 reads
Poirot meets Miss Marple, Lord Caterham and his daughter, Bundle
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Poirot met Miss Marple in the little shop for tea. ‘Mon ami, Oh, I am distressed at these recent movies on TV supposedly of me! They change my...
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- 9 comments
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- 1665 reads
Lust Loses All
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A goose a golden egg had laid, and so the farmer’s bills were paid and every day he’d gold to trade, but then for greed, the goose he slayed – of...
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- 2461 reads
Sharing
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Stresses stretch the nerves and pressures push to crush and trap …
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- 9 comments
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- 1879 reads
Healing or Provoking
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Impetuous words flung out to hurt can’t be recalled like hoovering dirt; internet reader rushing to blurt …
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- 8 comments
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- 1961 reads
“good poetry objectifies feeling”
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Comments welcomed as I’m not sure I’ve got this concept clear!
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- 1036 reads
pice ar y maen*
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* Welsh cakes [ pronounced pick-eh ahr uh mine: the meaning seems to be little Welsh cakes on the stone ie bakestone ie griddle ]
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- 1692 reads
Foot or Dagger?
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Better someone foolishly imprudent, foot in mouth, even impudent (though much trouble then consequent, and apologies should be frequent) but still an...
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- 1072 reads
A Perfect (Political) Storm
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attacked from all sides …
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- 4 comments
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- 1025 reads
Entangled Objects
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She objects to the object of the exercise. The object of the exercise is to move the object objected to from the objectionable place to another space...
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- 14 comments
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- 2790 reads
Will you give me a fresh start?
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He wanted to have a fresh start They wouldn’t accept he’d a change of heart, unwilling to give him a chance to prove he’d a different stance,...
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- 2353 reads
Banksy Prank?
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She said she’d pay one million pounds … and then … she didn't sign up for that!
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- 7 comments
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- 1637 reads
Rocking Power, Beaming Power!
Rocking and swaying, pounding tree tops – powerful wind, whose blast nothing stops. Sometimes its force can make the bough crack – energy free to try...
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- 1765 reads
Junk Mail
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An irritating scheme or scam– the emails wind up regularly in my ‘Spam’ – another name, not mine appears, though my address is hijacked. I haven’t signed up …
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- 18 comments
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- 7223 reads
Argument or War?
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She had a concern and joined the lobby; her concern was deep, not just a hobby; but she found herself out of her depth – so angry were some – no...
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- 654 reads
Poppy Tanka
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Acrostic – Appreciation of sacrificial service, peace-seeking, -keeping; protectors from evil, harm – young men and women defend.
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- 697 reads
A Gentleman’s (?) Word
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His bid was higher – accepted, of course, though he’d soon prove a liar, and worse, with unanswered calls, and no replies, pressing for extras –...
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- 5 comments
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- 1505 reads
To be lost in space?
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Apollo 13, April 1970
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- 862 reads
Actual Action
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To see a need is not enough …
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- 1955 reads
the art of … listening
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The art of compromise must gain more insight … negotiating must begin with silent, patient listening.
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- 9 comments
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- 2263 reads
10 things Before you Drown …
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Your ship is going down, and soon you all may drown, first shoot a flare, or send a text … [ 1.] and then what next? …
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- 2131 reads
Meaningless?
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The protraction of the interaction saw little satisfaction but detraction and distraction brought abstraction, and subtraction to a fraction of the...
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- 3032 reads
Looking out, glimpsing in
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I look out, they look in – my eyes are windows, transparent skin …
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- 1271 reads
Uncovering
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They want to winkle out the secrets of long ago; but when some facts they then discover, will they really know its meaning, context, circumstances,...
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- 1117 reads
In Troubadouric Tradition?
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It seems that Rimas Dissolutas [Poetry Monthly March] fits best to troubadouric verse – does anyone else find it fits other content well?
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- 3633 reads
European Friendship
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1) Post-war peace and peaceful ties, treaties, trade co-operation, mustn’t quarrel, friendly gestures, no more wars, don’t want to risk it; but...
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- 3196 reads
Going Down Below
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[This short poem was written, at request, for the Thanksgiving Service for a dear very elderly man who had had a working life as a skilful and dedicated mining engineer, though when asked of his occupation he would simply say ‘A miner’. I remembered Ewan’s writing on a colliery disaster in the 19th century, and thought it good to remember those who worked hard to improve and keep safety in industry.] Deep shafts, black gold, dark collier shifts …
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- 2130 reads
Pride and Prejudice
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Pride begets prejudice, assumes others antagonistic, proud and prejudiced, so incites prejudice, provokes enmity aggravating their pride, justifying...
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- 1045 reads
I wish you were here … or do I?
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I wish you were with me to cheer. … But I’m glad you’re not here when we see…
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- 1484 reads
Change of Scene
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Fine droplets of water make fogs in the sky …
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- 1347 reads
The Story of Beddgelert (in Snowdonia)
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A prince and his dog and his darling son … shaking tails? – a story beloved by the children in Wales.
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- 603 reads
Keep Out! Schooling’s ‘Out’!
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School’s out, terrorists about: buildings alight igniting fright, no education, child exploitation – teach them shooting, bloodshed, looting … ‘Even when there are no guns …
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- 413 reads
Hyped up
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Is hype hyper, hyper-critical or hypo-critical? or hypocritical? hypnotizing, mesmerising, flattery to fascinate (faults 'photo-shopped' out),...
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- 1697 reads
Isn’t it amazing what a cup of tea can do?
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Birds brighten, and so does my brain … : morning chorus?
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- 967 reads
That’s where I was when I wrote it down …!
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When you read a verse or song you once composed, maybe so long a time ago, does it bring back the scene described, or sometimes have a knack to...
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- 1826 reads
and each morning a …
![](https://www.abctales.com/sites/abctales.com/files/styles/cover/public/covers/sleeping.jpg?itok=qA85DMgu)
See films in my head in the catch-up land … refresh-mode’s ‘go-slow’, prepared for the forthcoming ‘Rise-up-and-go’ …
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- 446 reads
Incendiary
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There once was a man in a hurry, who bolted a …
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- 940 reads
Covet Contentment
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Warm weather gives pleasure while …but weather extremes … remind us … what we have got for a while.
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- 917 reads
Fast Forward …
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Dashing through the countryside, fastest laid-back earth-bound ride, closing up the gaps between towns far-flung from where it’s been …
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- 1152 reads
Muck-raking, digging
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Self-gratifying, partying … but casual, thoughtless follies can rebound … stones thrown to shame, by those uninnocent … enjoy humiliation of another?
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- 319 reads
Aquaintanceship
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Are they as you think – are you as they imagine? …
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- 1479 reads
From winter to …
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Gloved and capped, fingers chapped … dreary, weary … turn a key to …
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- 1148 reads
Whispered Infection
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Whispers insinuate, slither in, infecting dripping twisted truth, injecting – subtly …
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- 518 reads
Revisiting 'The Hush of the Snow'
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This is just a link to what I posted last time we had this IP. Picture: “The Hush of the Snow” by James Forsyth https://www.abctales.com/story/...
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- 249 reads
Is this what Prince Llywelyn thought?
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“In grief I tell of my temper’s haste – the tale of such tragic canine waste: my dog I left to guard my infant son, returned to find his cradle...
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- 1174 reads
on the brighter side …
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Murder, lawlessness and pain, the strong abuse the weak again, warfare, rape and earthquake, flood; — but now we’ve news of …
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- 1573 reads
The camera doesn’t lie
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The camera doesn't lie, but …
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- 428 reads
… but it can deceive
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A scene set-up with ‘paper’ fairies*, or tricks of lighting implying mysteries, and plates corrupted (before our day of digital manipulation, to...
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- 678 reads
Breakout!
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Tired of lockdown, hundreds flock down … others bitter… lock-up … divisions … locked in
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- 1214 reads
Warm Greeting!
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A handshake … a hug … keep apart! … warm smile — wear a mask! … Locked eyes (only) muffled words … lonesomeness spreads.
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- 1085 reads
“Let’s Party!”
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“Let’s drink and be merry – who cares if we carry a virus – we’re well but bored, want a …"
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- 395 reads
Labyrinthine Hierarchy
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Layers of authority, avoid responsibility, the ‘buck’ lands nowhere, no-one knows the whole, no-one knows the enquirer, ‘chinese whispers’ muddle all...
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- 558 reads
Keeping things nice
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Not personal! “Sugar and spice and all things nice”. – that’s the life for me! nothing unpleasant, all my own choice, no heeding of any authority …...
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- 501 reads
Jobs
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Some bring riches … some easy … exciting … wearisome and undervalued … cries for extra workers … to earn enough … support family … discreet charity … unappreciated and labour arduous, tough.
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- 902 reads
A mischievous little bird called …
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A little bird ‘IwanTit’* around my eyes will flit and perch …
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- 366 reads
Holidays
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With thought of the Fry’s chocolate five boys … and memories of an eccentric old lady and her enjoyment of unpractical plans and dreams
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- 551 reads
Observing
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Look through any window of the train … passing … glimpse of lives, then all their faces gone.
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- 1261 reads
Packing
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As you move on into this journey, future, this new year, abandon … acquire …
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- 642 reads
Getting thoughts onto paper
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blended sounds … grouped symbols … words
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- 1114 reads
Locked-Down Opposition
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[and locked-down lockers-up] Locked down in prison – they cannot fly, cannot scan the internet a luxury to buy …
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- 629 reads
Looking down on the city’s departures …
![](https://www.abctales.com/sites/abctales.com/files/styles/cover/public/covers/cars%26trains.jpg?itok=K0MkySj4)
Like spokes on a wheel they travel out far in all directions, by train or car. Going where? and Why? … When weary of going will they be knowing …
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- 956 reads
Roaming the world, and beyond
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I’d like to go to deserts and see the sand dunes shift. I’d like to visit jungles, and on the ocean drift. I’d love to see an iceberg, and polar bears – not near! …
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- 2141 reads
Elusive Silver
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An enigmatic colour this on the scales of a herring or a ‘silverfish,’ and the reflecting sheen of a mirror’s screen, greyer than white, whiter than...
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- 1744 reads
Masks
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Masks to keep your germs in, or germs of others out will also hide your cheeky grin – your friendship some may doubt. but when those masks we can...
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- 857 reads
Where the lie leads
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There once was a lady who swallowed a lie, I don’t know why she swallowed the lie, but by and by …
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- 1098 reads
Storm, no rain!
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air … water … earth … fire!
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- 1261 reads
Seeing the end from the …
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Composing … Exciting beginning – but where is it going?t Is the goal in view, the end, the conclusion? Can you follow it through, keep the attention...
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- 1848 reads
From dawn ’til …
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The country sleeps … the beginning and ending of another day.
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- 867 reads
Repatriation
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Coming home from war: Will things be as before? will Nellie be waiting? will the country be grateful for what we have done – has freedom been won...
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- 550 reads
Fork Ahead!
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DANGER! NO ENTRY! …Desire to peek … dabble and paddle … get back on the other track.
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- 1006 reads
Caution!
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Sly and wily, slick and slippery, shrewd and shifty, slinky, stealthy, snaky, sneaky, cunning, canny, conniving, contriving, artful, astute,...
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- 756 reads
Subtle ‘normalisings’
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Dark times of much uncaring callousness replaced by real compassion … but now? … Dark times when mouths were sealed by dictate of the few … but now the ‘normalising’ is woked …
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- 691 reads
The Fat Controller appreciated useful, helpful engines
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Snowflakes … bulldozers … treasures …
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- 756 reads
A Winning Handshake
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Always in trouble, mischievous, gullible, embittered, a rebel – but sport brought a medal; in a dream he went forward to receive the award, extended his arm for the usual handshake …
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- 1181 reads
Simple things
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Busy, busy working frenzy … no time to spare to stop for simple things …
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- 15 comments
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- 1468 reads
Star Wars
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Fame breeds jealousies … tongues claw and fight.
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- 498 reads
Disinterested
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"I like to sit on the fence agree with all supporting none – it’s an awkward perch, for with a thoughltess lurch I can fall on my nose and my...
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- 839 reads
No longer gold
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Coal has been gold in winter’s cold: red flames to warm in chill of storm. In cities smoke collected to choke, so coal that was mined was mostly...
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- 612 reads
Spaceship Food
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a rework of a piece for an IP a long time ago on ‘Skeuomorphism'*
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- 20 comments
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- 1888 reads
Harness!
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Friction heats to spark a light … but confine! …
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- 838 reads
Ins and outs of politics
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Flawed voters want flawless leaders faultless, biddable no apologies acceptable; our voting makes you disposable, expendable, riddable – you are rejected – a new hero will be projected – …
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- 528 reads
Character Masks
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? Are you straightforward or … or … even if you mess-up sometimes, put your foot in it … ?
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- 835 reads
Resistant to benefit or harm?
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But I don’t want to … from terrible two all life through … resistant … Attractive bribes, lures, enticement hidden hook … resist!
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- 477 reads
Corrupting Power
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He broke the yoke of tyranny, imposed himself as ruler, “Benevolent to all”, he said, but soon humility had fled. The syndrome of corrupting power...
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- 497 reads
When again …?
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Hiding from bombs, … dreaming … kindness brings tears – hearts warmed and stilled. Strengthening hope, faith – war now on earth but halcyon days will come again …
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- 436 reads
Reliable Friends
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Support that is bought can never be relied upon but … solid friendships forge …loyalties reliable ….
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- 891 reads
War Confined?
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If there were no bombs or dynamite, no nukes or WMDs men still would war, dispute and fight, but maybe more confined to battlefields – no missiles...
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- 670 reads
Felonious Tongue-Twister
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First and fleetest ran the fleecers as the sheriff’s ambush fell flushing gamblers from false gaming – fake their loaded dice, the fleeced now...
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- 928 reads
Illumination leaking in …
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Confined to bed, an open window, a far-away hoot …
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- 918 reads
Happy Weary Industry
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Labourers wearily industrious in farm, field and hill - will they more leisure gain if machines take the strain? Industrial revolution. Folks flock...
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- 737 reads
Appreciated
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… not 'PUT-IN' power … 70 years of caring, gracious smile …
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- 622 reads
Unfair (?)
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“If I were in her shoes how good I would be. If I had his money I’d give generously presents, all lavish … and look after me, of course! … just so I...
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- 9 comments
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- 710 reads
Ouch!
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Don’t touch! It’s hot! … Ouch! …
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- 683 reads
Any Hard Task
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It was still an up-hill pull with determined will to fully fulfil the task undertaken and reach the top not stop or flop or trip or slip or sleep,...
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- 1876 reads
19 paper cranes
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19 paper cranes (origami) remembering 19 deaths by a deceived and distorted mind determined the disabled must find unhappiness and prefer to die, no...
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- 745 reads
To Remember, or not …
I forgot. Did I give it a slot install it in memory’s vault, or not? or was the fault a failure to retrieve? Did I choose to leave it there to stay … some things ignored, not stored …
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- 12 comments
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- 961 reads
Justification?
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“It said, ‘Help Yourself’ “ said the burglar, “ – the sign said ‘Take away’, and nowhere, anywhere did it say to go to the cash-till to pay!” “I’m...
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- 8 comments
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- 539 reads
No Kidding!
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(follow-uo to https://www.abctales.com/story/rhiannonw/justification ) “You can help yourself by helping others,” the judge said to the thief … and so to keep out of my jail!”
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- 262 reads
Pressures
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Who’d be a politician? – reviled, however hard they tend to their constituents’ needs, and pompousness discard. … Would you have stood aright? …
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- 567 reads
Guard!!
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Fire, fire burning bright in the forest day and night damaging the national park – from where came igniting spark? … ( with apologies to William Blake)
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- 18 comments
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- 1416 reads
For whose benefit …?
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discreet … ostentatious … displays for praise … generous … parsimonious … discreet … to ease distress — which giver is blest more than the receiver?
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- 14 comments
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- 991 reads
Under his hat
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Culinary mixtures, and complementary flavours; anthropomorphical avant-garde creative creature: ‘hair-raising’ mentor (or ‘puppeteer’?) (look under...
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- 822 reads
Soothing green, or making you green with …
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Soothing to the eyes is the green of the springtime scene; but feeling green at …
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- 116 reads
Tarnished gods
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Mythological fabrications and fantasies, multifarious rulers of the cosmos blundering, dramatic mysteries to amuse, dreamy and steamy tales of...
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- 6 comments
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- 390 reads
Undervalued potato?
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Nutritious fruit (tomatoes, bananas, apples …) and valued veg: tubers and tap roots – like the humble spud, edible leaves (cabbage …) seeds (peas and...
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- 4 comments
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- 257 reads
The Mountain Code!
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This was insipired by memories of my father’s lusty singing of the humourous 'National Anthem of the Ancient Britons' or the 'Woad Ode' (to tune of Men of Harlech) I didn’t know it by that title but just by some of the words and tune (see links) I used to enjoy the fun, rhythm and fun rhymes. What I’ve written comes from thinking about it but is nothing like it.
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- 14 comments
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- 723 reads
The 15-minute city
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I don’t understand this concept of 15 min-cities. It seems to be proposing people should be able to find all they need: healthcare, schools, shops,...
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- 13 comments
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- 1324 reads
A king’s labour
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My primary allegiance is to the King of kings, but I will honour Charles as king and all those ‘in the wings’ willing to serve … And pray for … Our parliament is … can be foolish …Be glad we’ve no dictator…encourage good debate …not anarchic ferment …
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- 321 reads
Escape into dream jobs
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She dreamt she was an athlete coach … then woke up to her daily grind …. He dreamt himself the manager … But one night …
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- 7 comments
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- 361 reads
Word-music
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Patterns of sounds music of words pleasing the chime of rhythm and rhyme. Concisely composed a message that’s structured, subtle its echoes carefully...
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- 11 comments
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- 573 reads
‘As useful as a chocolate teapot!'
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I’m a chocolate teapot looking swell; but for tea I’m useless – heat will tell! Collapsing in hot water – I will keep cool and idle, or I’m soon a...
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- 439 reads
Mis(-chosen)chief
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What a responsibility to be a head of state … he morphs … alone … forgotten …
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- 6 comments
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- 383 reads
I was only joking!
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They thought it fun when they began to trick or tease but …
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- 12 comments
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- 709 reads
Heatwave
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Sticky, sweaty, humid, heat, ice-cold drinks and cotton sheet, garden sprinklers, fans just blow warm air flow … waiting, drooping … a draft of cool...
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- 11 comments
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- 645 reads
Fantastic Plastic!
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At first ‘plastic’ meant shoddy, cheap, weak and temporary, but they discovered how to make varieties that were stronger, lasting longer – fantastic...
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- 7 comments
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- 498 reads
One ray at a time
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Rays of light herald the rising sun: the night is passing, work to be done … Rays of love pierce … work to be done begun together – rays of light pierce the night.
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- 12 comments
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- 709 reads
In the middle of tonight!
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(UK local) “Where has that hour gone? …
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- 10 comments
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- 512 reads
P-p-planning
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Party planning, picking pals, piles of posting, phoning – purchasing plenty – pizzas, pittas, partly plain pâtés, pasties, pretty pastries, puddings...
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- 8 comments
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- 456 reads
Proactive
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Poppies remind of the slain and those of us who remain remember the past when evil deeds were unseen and many had not believed why the nations had...
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- 204 reads
A place for a snooze
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The door* is open, I’ll creep through … Quiet from childish rush and squeals … Meow-sobs
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- 8 comments
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- 555 reads
Alas! Alas!
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Alas! alas! why build your billets for bullets and missiles mixed with medics and mosques mingling …
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- 6 comments
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- 380 reads
Emerging treasures
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Buried seeds bring fields of poppies, wheat, potatoes – which rebound, yielding fields of buried treasure in the autumn, underground! ************...
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- 5 comments
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- 434 reads
Waiting, wanting
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Midnight chimes but hours of night still to come before … fresh …
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- 8 comments
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- 439 reads
Digging up dirt
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Many gladly dig, revealing others’ sins, their own concealing; don’t consider pressures past trivialising sins which now leave all aghast. But now,...
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- 6 comments
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- 490 reads
'A bump of originality'*
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… an unexpected twist, insertion, a catch in the rhythm a …
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- 11 comments
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- 652 reads
Fixing the calendar
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One hour lost in Spring, in autumn found again! and every year …progressing problem, so …
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- 12 comments
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- 534 reads
Remembering Corrie ten Boom
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Courage when the Nazis invaded their land – to stay. Courage when offering to hide Jews – pray, pray. Courage when making a secret room – willl...
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- 12 comments
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- 1406 reads
Wordrush, thoughtcess
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Shoot from the hip, quick have your say so many openings to comment today, don’t pause for thought, or listen – you ought to think of the reasons...
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- 9 comments
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- 414 reads
Envy
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Canary confined: … Lady longing to be …
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- 13 comments
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- 647 reads
Life's fuel
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The farmers tend it, and then they send it to shops, we spend on it, for we depend on it, and … some, corrupt, supplies disrupt, grow rich and fat in greed on that which …
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- 13 comments
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- 448 reads
Choices
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Will you choose a veggie meal, or will you choose the meat? Will you choose the savoury, or no, preferring sweet? Will you choose to drive, or will...
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- 9 comments
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- 345 reads
Says what?
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Here’s a puzzle on a building, How and why and when fixed up? Can you work out – read its message, no, not Latin, nothing deep. Bottom right , then...
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- 7 comments
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- 346 reads
Rash (?) Judgements
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Be careful who you mock! … Be careful who you judge… Be careful – who do you accuse… debate respectfully, and hear!
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- 4 comments
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- 137 reads
Scam!
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Trust us with your money – the profit will be great! Hurry, hurry, hurry! or you’ll be too late! Money gone – to where? Seller’s disappeared. “Castle...
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- 14 comments
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- 586 reads
In the summer heat
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It’s hotter in Bulgaria, it’s cooler at the Pole. It’s winter in Australia, so really, on the whole our climate’s not extreme. But yet in height of summer heat tempers get frayed and …
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- 10 comments
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- 197 reads
Pareidolia
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Look into the flames, and what do you see? Horses and dragons flash in and flee, faces and castles seem to appear for an instant, then disappear?...
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- 17 comments
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- 578 reads
Never Enough?
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Am I envious of those who seem to have more (don’t know what ways they maybe using it for the helping of others more needy than me, nor what their...
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- 7 comments
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- 133 reads