I rang someone in my family last week.I said,Hello
He said,Do you want to be buried or cremated?
So I said,not yet!
He said,have you made a list of all your bank accounts etc?
I said,I’ve only got one.Is that a list?
He said,Have you made a new Will?
I said,No but I’ve got new will.
He said,Keep in touch.
I thought,why?
A force far deeper than our anger Elemental as a storm Annihilating all before it Terror makes our rage perform. This force saying self is threatened Runs to rise and to protect, Most murderous when we’re most alarmed Rage the enemy detects. Over-riding other feelings Blocking out our power to think Like a nuclear tsunami Disconnecting human links. Reddened vision,focused,narrow; Eyes locked onto enemy’s All the wider context losing, Wipes out our good memories Like a mother tiger fighting, And the cornered eagle’s force; We will destroy what we think other Without bitter,pained remorse. Nature made such to protect us; Yet our perception can be wrong. Once the flood of feeling takes us All reflections seems too long
Mary was in her oak panelled, blue walled dining room sitting in her old fuchsia coloured rocking chair reading “The History of God” by Karen Armstrong while the washing machine was doing its best to wash all the clothes she had found on her large bedroom chair.She decided to make some coffee.
As she opened the walnut and maple kitchen door she saw Emile swimming in a large pool. of water He was as happy as a duck on Hampstead Pond in sunny August
Good heavens, she cried showing her pure white teeth in horror.
As she looked at the washing machine she saw a strap from her brown silk petticoat was dangling through the door.Water was running down it as the machine spun.
Surely the door should not have closed with something hanging out,she told Emile who was still bathing in the water.
She ran upstairs two at a time and fetched some bath towels.
Emile was angry
I like having our own pool here in the kitchen and I love this Persil Silk and Wool Wash.All I need now is a spray on hair conditioner.
Mary dialled 999.Hello I need a paramedic.My cat is disobedient.
After a few minutes Dave arrived wearing a denim dungaree dress over a striped Breton Top and a pair of wellington booots
It’s great that we are so tolerant here,Mary told him.The NHS let you wear anything at all
I quite fancy a denim dress myself.
Well,said Dave, being a transvestite is my way of life and my knees are very nice.
Mary made no comment but led him to the kitchen
Emile,you must come out of that water,he said sternly.
I think I’ve had enough, the naughty cat replied.Put the gas fire on to dry me,please.
I am glad Annie is on holiday,Mary told Dave as they spread the towels on the red and blue lino floor.She would get very agitated as she fears being electrocuted like Thomas Merton the famous Catholic monk and mystic who took an electric fire into the bathroom in some moment of madness whilst in Asia at a conference.It seems odd unless it was the rainy season.
After their efforts Mary and Dave had coffee.
I’m reading Ted Hughes’ letters he told her.I wonder why some people keep all their letters for ever?
I kept a few of Stan’s she said but I think I’ll destroy them to stop my relatives reading them if and when I die.
I read Ted Hughes and I really enjoyed the letters and other prose works
I suppose I’d better go back to work Dave said,Shall I pop in tonight.
Yes,do,Mary told him.I’ve made a beef pie and I can make chips and fry a few eggs too
Lovely,cried Dave as he jumped into the Emergency ambulance and disappeared.
Mary put the towels into the washing machine with some Tide.I guess a hot wash is best,she told herself.Where the bleedin’ hell am I going to dry all this stuff and iron it too.I think I’ll enter a religious order and wear a nun’s habit.It’s like a school uniform
Come to think of it,I could invent my own uniform
Pills must be swallowed and not used to play tiddly winks with or to poison enemies.
Do not undress in this cubicle.Undress outside before entry.Leave your clothes in the bin for people to steal (X ray unit]
Kindly tell us your name and credit card numbers before we drug you.
If afraid please don’t mention it
.If no night nurse is available please die after 8 am.
If you must have sex , please go home first
If you have no relations please ask the doctor to oblige when he finishes his rounds.
If you feel weak,do not use your Kindle Fire on the bed
After a heart attack do not resume sex for at least ten years
Sex is a form of exercise but also can create chaos in public.Try walking.
If borderline kindly make your mind up whether you love or hate the pest doctor
If you have no bosom,you are probably a man.Wards are now mixed so there is no.
problem apart from a shortage of braziers.
If you have any nuts,please use your dentures
Cover all your parts before the Royals visit.
Please leave me all your money before you leave the ward when about to pass over
Sex changes by an operation or sometimes naturally.
Are you bored in bed?Get out and walk up and down the corridor to annoy the visitors
If you have erosive dermatitis, please dry carefull
None of the staff understand the government…so please do not mention David Cameron if you wish to go home in one piece.
Pies are sold in the conservatory.We do not know why.
In fact we know hardly anything but don’t worry,we’ll treat you barbarically anyway.
Be a stoic and keep still
The leaping light leaps yet.
Standing silent is hard what
with all the mobiles
And the traffic.
Something is making me sway
But it’s not the sound of the sea,
It may be the distant sound of bombs.
I may vomit.
Here at the edge of a field
Lie people killed so some other people
Can have a better future.
The chalk wall is collapsing into the foam
Not to mention the odd earthquake which
Wrecks the East.
Nuclear.
My heart quakes because I love you,
And I’m afraid you prefer the computer.
And all this comes into my mind when I stare
Across the horizon.There’s something wrong.
We are standing on the edge of an English meadow
In spring.But in some sense such a meadow
No longer exists.
Look stranger on this island now.
Delight is stll possible,
Is it probable?
The foam at the edge of the waves
Leaves a white curve on the sand,
I walk through and remember you,
Even though I lost you.
You were tall with green eyes,
And you died of computer news overdose.
I miss you so much ,and the world in your eyes
I want you to tell me, where are you?
Here and there,we remember similar stories
Of heroes returning from far away battles
But the battles are here
And the heroes have departed.
I remember Odysseus and his journey.
But like the green meadow
We have no soul for that,
We’re on the edge
And waiting.
If you store plenty of words in a word freezer you will be able to write a poem or letter very rapidly.Alternatively,you can store some dried words in polythene bags in a cupboard and add some moisture like tears to them when you want to write.This gives you some information about our era; that we spend time now,preparing for a fictive future and if you do store words they may be out of date before you use them.
The best way to always have words at hand is to read a lot of novels and poems.Even reading newspapers can teach you new words.
You don’t need to make an effort to recall them.Your mind will remember the ones that are for you.
You might try inventing words.I have done that but I’ve not kept a list.Sometimes it’s for fun; sometimes it’s to fill a space..
I am feeling blorgy today.. I feel like writing a blog with my guy .
You recall a song,feeling groovy.. well put blorgy instead of groovy
Uniform colour
No cerulean blue here
This sky is dull grey.
The leaves look less bright
No gold light to shine through them
When will summer come?
The bonsai beech tree
Is now part of the front edge
Tiny leaves waving
For we have a breeze
Birds fly intently,surely
To their nest of young
Concentratedly
Nothing else is important
But creation
I felt cold sitting
So I lit the fire again
Where is nature’s heat?
My chest hurt just now
This cold is bad for the heart
Where are my thermals?
I feel lazy and loose
I am thinking of my pans
How many have I?
In the beginning
We bough them in jumble sales
Or perhaps Woolworths
We got five bread boards
As Wedding gifts but no knife
Knives stand for hatred.
Mother love can hurt
If it is too possessive
The child must cut it
So we must need knives
Tin openers and skewers
Sharp like a devil#s curse.
What has cut women?
Where is our protection?
Where is our saviour?
Concrete algebra…
Symbols set in stone.
How like a prison is my once loved home Since now I linger here in fevered chills. No more may I be free to walk and roam Nor climb the mountains and the hills. The television irks me and annoys I cannot bear the sound of human voice. My lost intelligence is not deployed I err in thinking I have little choice. And so it is myself whom I destroy. What path to take when feeling lost and ill, When lying in my bed I cannot rest. What act would give me strength and better will? What purpose has this illness and its test? The road to hell is paved with too much thought So smaller joys and pleasures are not sought
I saw this quote below in a book review:
“I shall shortly be exploring a proposal for extreme fines for hookers arrested behind the Co-op toilets.”
Unfortunately, my hearing of the phrase was slightly distorted and I ended up reporting it as:
“I shall shortly be proposing to explore four extremely fine hookers’ arresting behinds in the Co-op toilets.”
This is funny but also very interesting.The speaker said something but the hearer didn’t hear what was said,he heard something [which might show his own interests in hookers and their behinds ]and that it would seem this dignitary shared his interest
.I am sure that is how lots of arguments begin.We mis-hear.And we mis-hear according to our own fears,desires and wishes.We think we hear one thing and the speaker believes we have heard exactly what he said.So when we begin a discussion we are already out of tune with each other.And it will conntinue to get worse unless we are aware of what might happen.Like asking someone to repeat what they just said.
Division
In the sky,half dark,half light.
Will we get more rain?
How the mind fills up
With prediction and fear
Gone is trust in God.
Yet deep down we know
All shall be well;be it so.
Who can interpret?
Now we have no souls
Yes,we are social constructs.
Am I still myself?
Yet why throw away
The wisdom of the ages?
We know what soul means.
And we trust in God
More than we trust our leaders.
Who are wrecked by power.
We need to worship
Not gold,not brand new kitchens,
Something beyond us.
God predates our words
So he speaks in burning bush
Or in a fierce light.
The bush is not so hot
Compared to a new shopping Mall
The intercom’s bust.
He can’t get through now
We have erected idols
Worship our plastic.
Mary decided that, purely out of scientific interest, she would join an on-line dating service.Her main problem was filling in the form.You need an degree in English to even understand the,
Shall I put down my profession?,she asked Annie her late husband’s mistress.who lived right next door., which is why he chose her as he was lazy
Just put teacher,Annie told her.Don’t give any more details,she went on
Why?Do you think men wouldn’t like female mathematicians Mary asked tentatively
Wait till they have got to know you a bit first,said Annie
Actually I can barely work out percentages now,Mary confessed sheepishly.
But is it moral to deceive? she wondered out loud
Well,it’d better to go step by step with many things.I’ll take a new photo of you after I set your hair.It’s your face which is most important and your eyes,
You could have fooled me,Mary told her ,recollecting colleagues gazing at her bosom in meetings.
Well,we don’t know for sure,Annie admitted scientifically yet prosaically
Two weeks later Mary had met a very handsome art teacher called Bill.They went walking in the woods and took photographs of trees and flowering shrubs and had tea in the cafe.Later they went out for dinner in a restaurant where Dave the wonderfully amiable transvestite paramedic was by chance eating with his brother Peter,who was a sheep farmer .
Hello,Dave, she said.This is Bill,my date.He’s an artist.
So you like really clever women,Bill,Dave asked him courteously.
I’ve never met any, as yet,Bill replied.
Mary’s face went bright red as she realised even if nobody told Bill her job, she could not carry on deceiving him.
Well,how about Mary ? Dave asked naughtily.
She’s fairly intelligent I think, said Bill.But I’m ok with that.
Suppose she was highly intelligent then?
I don’t think she’s so much above average.
Did you pass your maths O level.Dave asked politely
No,I never was good at maths but I am very gifted at Art.Brilliant.That’s why I am puzzled I can’t sell a picture.
Mary and Dave began to giggle.
Maybe you could paint Scrodinger’s cat? Mary cried
Where does he live,asked Bill.If it’s not too far I can drive over.Are they well off?
No, he’s dead,Mary chortled.I want a dust jacket for my book and you could do the design with a cat in the middle.
Bill looked a bit uneasy.He then turned to Mary and told her he was feeling faint so he ran out leaving her to pay the bill with her Sainsburys’ Mastercard or even with money.
Oh,Dave,she said,why were you here? I liked him.He is handsome and fit.
It was just serendipity,he murmured as he admired her gorgeous red face and wild curly hair.Maybe I’ll take you out one evening?If Emile is ok with it.Emile being a cat did not speak English but he made his feelings plain
So Mary was not going to see Bill again but at least she had been out
How like a monster is my fear of pain Expanding to fill all my heart and mind Swelling like a giant sponge in the rain, This fear begets new feelings more unkind. For humans being chased by lions fierce, Fear gives us the strength to dash away. But when by inner turmoil we are pierced We cannot run yet need not be its prey. Most strange ,we need to do what we most fear; Walk towards the pain with curious calm. As else we may be maddened like King Lear With no Cordelia to bring us balm. To feel in proper ratio to our pain. We need perception,grace and all their gains.
I made a cheese flan
Both burned black and undercooked
It was edible
I guess my knack left
Along with my dear husband.
All’s been cremated!
That’s why I can’t eat.
I see Auchwitz and Dachau.
Christianity.
These ring the death knell.
That Pope was no kind of star
Mechanical thought
Christianity
Now has come to its ending
Crucified itself.
Resurrection
Will not do us any good.
We must start over.
But crawling on earth.
Kafka made the images
Now we must live them
He was with me then
As I searched for a new place
In which I could live
But he does not speak
He is my companion
He wants to help me
I don’t believe yet
That he won’t come home ever.
But I just pretend
When I am with folk
They tell me I am stronger.
Oh,comparisons!
Yeah,I need no-one
No words of comfort or love
I must be a stone.
My stoicism
A wonder to the heavens
My dead face fakes peace.
Instead of arguing,change places
Logic is not much use when someone is overwhelmed
Shouting does not enable listening
Swearing doesn’t either
Only calm will work ,but how do we get that?
The paradox of giving in allows all to win
Palpitations
Made waves sing in his ears
Sea shells soft murmurs
This song so silent
Passed through walls and fences
She heard his crying
Outside the prison
She stood in her long rough coat
She trembled and shook
And he felt her there
Her vibrations moved him
That was how they danced
pay1| synonyms: | reward, reimburse, recompense, give payment to, settle up with,remunerate, tip, indemnify More |
| synonyms: | salary, wages, wage, take-home pay, gross/net pay, payment; More |
My cat went a roaming to find a new home. Sing kitty,sing katty,sing Oh! This cat was so clever he had his own comb. Look up,now look down,stone the crows! He went into the neighbours' and drank all their milk. Sing,fridge raiding kitties.No,No! Then he laid himself down on a piece of fine silk. Sing,what the dickens,my lovely pillow! He went to the butcher and ate all the steak. Sing greedy,he's ruined my flow. Then he went to the hairdresser for a shampoo. Where else can a puttitat go? He had no plastic,no money,no cheque! Sing,cheater,sing creature,sing woe. She sent for a Copper who paid the cat's bill. And so my puss came out all aglow. Now my cat was glossy and plump and refreshed. Sing:fancy,it all goes to show. So he came home and said this place is best. And he picked up his cello and bow. He scraped some Sibelius and also some Grieg. Sing: Northern lights can always glow. But,he looked so self satisfied,I felt annoyed.... One should not let one's narcissism show. But he was so handsome,I was glad he came home. Sing,grateful,sing katefull,sing Ho! And I hope he will never again want to roam. Sing glory.sing story;Sing So!
Despite the season, we have gales and rain,
When May blossom and buttercups each bloom
I feel regret for Spring is on the wane
The summer’s short and autumn comes too soon.
Expectations block our outer view.
We miss brief moments when the sun breaks through
And makes the whole world glorious anew.
With laughter, leaves and flowers our souls imbue.
Let’s look again, with eye blind to desire.
A shady day has still a pleasant feel
The air is scented and senses still are fired.
Thus, from the darkness ,let’s a pleasure steal
The grass is green and flowers assert allure
Even in the gale ,we find our cure
Mary Oliver on What Attention Really Means and Her Moving Elegy for Her Soul Mate
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poets/detail/mary-oliver
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lordwas not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
I was just thinking that you need to be careful using synonyms.For examplw
She had singular blue eyes
She had rare blue eyes
She had atypical blue eyes
Blue eyes are not rare nor atypical in the UK.However if someone has particularly beautiful eyes or eyes of an unusual shade of blue then singular might be an appropriate word to use of them.
The weigelia
Rarely so densely flowered
Gives me joy this day,
Change your location
Sit in a different chair
You will see anew.
Atypically
I began to write early
Then I saw the flowers
How my heart sings 