Rallentanda

Rallentanda

Friday, July 24, 2026

FRIDAY WRITINGS # 237... POETS AND STORY TELLERS UNITED... FAVOURITES REVISITED





THE CANTERBURY TALES BY GEOFFREY CHAUCER

THE MILLERS TALE

15 This Absalom plumped down upon his knees,

    And said: "I am a lord in all degrees;
    For after this there may be better still
    Darling, my sweetest bird, I wait your will."
    The window she unbarred, and that in haste.
620          "Have done," said she, "come on, and do it fast,
    Before we're seen by any neighbour's eye."
          This Absalom did wipe his mouth all dry;
    Dark was the night as pitch, aye dark as coal,
    And through the window she put out her hole.
625    And Absalom no better felt nor worse,
    But with his mouth he kissed her naked arse
    Right greedily, before he knew of this.
    Aback he leapt- it seemed somehow amiss,
    For well he knew a woman has no beard;
630    He'd felt a thing all rough and longish haired,
    And said, "Oh fie, alas! What did I do?"
          "Teehee!" she laughed, and closed the window too;
    And Absalom went forth a sorry pace.





Now you know the origin of tee hee... dates back to 1300


CINQUAIN

too late
the neighbour is there
watching at the window
reputations will be ruined
oh fie

CINQUAIN

lit class
high lighted by
the raunchy millers tale
one reading never forgotten
tee hee




COMMENTS


  1. Thank you for telling us that. No wonder the Lit. class enjoyed the Miller's Tale!

    Reply
  2. Much of Chaucer is raunchy and all of the Tales unforgettable (teehee!). I enjoyed your reminiscence. I was hoping the translation might be your own rewrite too, but as it has the numbered lines, probably not.

    Reply
  3. Absalom probably can't be arsed to kiss something that's clothed, teehee!

    Reply
  4. I loved studying Chaucer! Thank you for reminding me why, Rall. :)

    Reply
  5. Loves me some weekend Chaucer. Thanks for the reminder!

    Reply
  6. no Chaucer for me me in Lit. class.
    it was Julius Caesar. *sigh*

    Reply
  7. LOL soooo good
    Happy Sunday

    Much💙love

    Reply
  8. Thanks for the informal lesson & encouragement to actually read Chaucer (which was skipped in our lit classes). :)

    Reply
  1. Well, never had an opportunity to read in school .... is 79 too late to begin?

    Reply
  2. Definitely too late...at 79 you would fall out of the window !

    Reply



































nquain 

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

W3 Prompt # 221 ...THE SKEPTICS KADDISH...TRIOLET

my sweet little cat loves a lick of ice cream
on a hot and sweltering summer's day
no doubt his very favourite dream
my sweet little cat loves a lick of ice cream
on seeing the cone his purirng serene
this is his way of pussy cat play
my sweet little cat loves a lick of ice cream
on a hot and sweltering summer's day







Whats Going On

SHADORMA

maths and me
don't align at all
triangles
rectangles
are shapes in bright colours
art without angles

PICASSO

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

TANKA TUESDAY... CHALLENGE NO 74


CINQUAIN

 she learnt
to keep them small
that way she had a chance
of making dreams a reality
come true

Monday, July 20, 2026

MLMM ...Monday Wordle # 486


 silence seen money change kept hand flowers irritated fault known table excited

she had seen money
change hands under the table before
when she was a kept woman
only irritated her now
no longer excited her
she had known the fault
lie not in the stars
all she wanted was silence
on a desert island with a garden
full of flowers



Friday, July 17, 2026

THE SKEPTICS KADDISH.....W3 # 220

nothing ever wasted chez moi  mironton a traditional dish of leftovers  always on the menu


recycling  innovative and aesthetic the french can create silk purses from a sow's ear


good for the environment and the hip pocket fashion ideas shared via blogs crossing oceans with a click  of a finger 


french haute couture made from plastic waste





designer furniture made from french discarded oil drums

 

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

WHAT"S GOING ON

 Currawongs sound like humans. They are master mimics. They live in close proximity to suburbs across eastern Australia and copy environmental noises such as whistles, human speech and mechanical sounds like car alarms

no need
for an alarm clock
the morning chorus
performs 
right on cue
she pulls the covers
over her head
better than barking dogs
i suppose


Tuesday, July 14, 2026

TANKA TUESDAY....CHALLENGE NO.# 73...Bussokuseki


a little beauty
aussie eastern rosella
gorgeous colouring
this one lives in ballarat
on lake wendouree lucky
mike has him as a neighbour


Monday, July 13, 2026

MLMM Monday Prompt # 485




full anxiety running town message box today again wrong bench sound half

running around town today
like a maniac 
half crazy
full of anxiety
delivering messages
getting things wrong
doing too much again
sounds and is  a disaster
will sit on that bench over there
to rest for a bit
before i end up in a box





 

Friday, July 10, 2026

FRIDAY WRITINGS # 235....POETS AND STORY TELLERS UNITED


 a hidden gem
in the harbour
sees us come and go
centuries in
centuries out
forever constant
holds many memories
including a wedding ring
diamonds are certainly not
a girl's best friend

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

NOSTALGIA

 https://rallentanda.blogspot.com/2017/02/nostalgia.html




no swimming pool
just endless hours of fun
in a simpler age


learning to make cakes with mum
in the kitchen
or spending days on the beach
investigating rock pools
building sandcastles
digging holes to china
lurping on home made ice blocks



playing on swings and seesaws
making cubby houses 
from cardboard boxes
teepees from old sheets
collecting caterpillars in jam jars
making dolls from clothes pegs



every garden had quick sand
down the back in those days
with stories of small children
who wandered off
and were never seen again

the ones 
who spoke to strangers
offering sweets
were put into hessian bags
hurled from the top of the cliffs
into the sea

the boy who
swallowed the apple seeds
was found in the morning
by his grandma
with a tree growing out of his stomach

we enjoyed
the wonder
the thrill
the innocence of childhood

we had the best of it

THE SKEPTICS KADDISH W3 Prompty # 219

 cold hands warm heart

he was very cold
time to heat his icy hands
under the fur rug cosy and warm
watching wimbledon bless his heart

handsome is as handsome does


he's no longer young but still handsome
well i think he is
not  spritely or energetic as
he used to be but a handsome
man compensates with other  things he does



Tuesday, July 7, 2026

TANKA TUESDAY Challenge no 72....TANKA PUENTE

a strong memory
singing hymns in the chapel
a daily event
a way of life providing
spiritual joy and peace 

fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose
near restful waters he leads me to revive my drooping spirit

Psalm  23


indeed my shepherd
the lord offers hope and love
in a world of war
man made mayhem hatred and
horror that seems ongoing




 

Monday, July 6, 2026

MLMM Monday Wordle # 484

diary delete level nobody tired call phone reprimand found maiden vindictive now

so tired of people
deleting them all
not even keeping a diary
suppose she sounds like a maiden aunt
being vindictive
reprimanding those who never pick up a phone 
to make a call
she found nobody does anway now
unless they want something
the new level of communication is texting




Thursday, July 2, 2026

Sammi Cox...Weekend Writing Prompt # 475

lovely lyrical oboes
queen of sheba's delight
a baroque masterpiece
thanks handel


FRIDAY WRITINGS # 234... POETS AND STORYTELLERS UNITED

 La Femme Au Perroquet
WOMAN WITH A PARROT...GUSTAVE COURBET,,,METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
NEW YORK CITY

An oil painting on canvas by French artist Gustave Courbet. It was the first nude by the artist to be accepted by the Paris Salon in 1866 after a previous entry in 1864 was  rejected as indecent. 

BUTTERFLY CINQUAIN

two birds
in a relaxed pose
irish and african
slammed in polite society
not on
nudity unacceptable
a recognised taboo
irish model
brave chick


 
African Grey Parrot
not a bird brain
outperforms
children and harvard students
in a test
a match for our aussie parrots
maybe




Joanna Hiffernan. Irish model. 1843-1886



 

 
feeling un peu francais
i'm putting this on for fun
vas-y secoue toi et danse

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

WHATS GOING ON....Ordinary Things...https://newwhatsgoingon.blogspot.com

For your prompt, look around you. Select some small ordinary thing you rarely give much thought to and include it somehow in your poem. 
I found this "ordinary " poem written 12 years ago in my stats. I dedicate it to the person who consistently goes through my years of poems and finds all of this stuff. Apart from reading them I wonder if they do anything with them ? Thanks Captain Weird!

FOR CAPTAIN WEIRD



captain weird always knew that there was safety in ordinariness conformity and a picture perfect life 

 he had compiled a beautiful
 suburban album
a glowing testament to
the my life is great
much better than yours badge


a clever cover
with the usual trappings and accoutrements
after years of self deception
he had lost his ability to  fly

life became a blurred vision view'd
through the bottom of a wine glass
the most exciting thing
he could manage nowadays
was a fantasy in an office chair

harmless enough i  suppose
as long as there is a strong bolt
on the gun locker
and the kitchen knives locked away

THE SKEPTICS KADDISH W3 Prompt # 218

 
PROMPT 

Sometimes we think of someone who drifted out of our lives. What emotions, memories, thoughts does it evoke?



sometimes a sad melody
in the heat of the late afternoon 
casts long shadows 
across the dying embers of the day 
and you remember

you hear their gentle laughter
you remember their sweetness 
their vulnerability
their goodness 
the veil of hurt that bound them together 
you wanted to save them 
but you could not
you turned around and walked away
you saved yourself and it broke your heart

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

TANKA TUESDAY .....CHALLENGE# NO 71....Photo and Tanka


 she was a young mum
facing the hurdles ahead
took it in her stride
thanks to her preparation
a strict outmoded schooling

the only reason
she survived disaster free
so she feels lucky
it suited her character
gave her strength and confidence

considered
demode today
c'est la vie




Monday, June 29, 2026

MLMM MONDAY WORDLE #483

imagine being concerned enough
to provide the poor elderly with free heat
during this cold winter
cant see a rush to do this by any government
after all it's not economically viable
must halt this sentimental thinking
they dont work
they're not digital drop box types
cant understand computers
they've dug themselves into a hole
by not having lots of money
by indulging themselves in having principles




rush work heat halt provide drop box digital  concern imagine elderly dug






 

Friday, June 26, 2026

Friday Writings # 233....Poets And Story Tellers United

one day
my happy arms
will hold you
yes
a hot cup of tea
to be sipped
without interruption
a far off dream
but  still possible



 

 
 to dream the impossible dream
imagine
inspiring these feelings
in another
well someone did
mais pas moi
jamais




Thursday, June 25, 2026

Whats Going On ?

brothers
a great duo
parents  are so lucky
these boys bring such joy to the world
thank you

 

a rewrite of history





learning classical music
from the age of seven
should be made
 a compulsory part of the education system
globally
the world would be a better place
to live


Rewriting History... https://newwhatsgoingon.blogspot.com


W3 Prompt # 217.... THE SKEPTICS KADDISH


CINQUAIN

beauty
amongst rubble
it is there still exists
if only you have the eyes to
see it




SHADORMA

pink cockies
sitting on a branch
just gorgeous
magical
sent to make us smile and gasp
we are so lucky

Monday, June 22, 2026

MLMM MONDAY WORDLE # 482


 care hide kind steps join pleasure betrayed shoulder missed friend pride share

she still missed her friend
loved sharing confidences
offering a shoulder to cry on
thought she was kind and caring
took pleasure in joining her for social events
took pride in being in her company
until she had to face the reality
that she had been betrayed
and could not keep on hiding from the awful truth
she would need now to take steps to recover
from her devastation

Sunday, June 21, 2026

TANKA TUESDAY CHALLENGE NO 70.....LAI FORM







music filled with heart
beauty love and art
lovely
you broke us  apart
the hurt still kicks start
deeply
meet again we shan't
bridges burnt we can't
sadly

Thursday, June 18, 2026

FRIDAY WRITINGS # 232...POETS and STORY TELLERS UNITED....teeth bloom hammer

                                             her false teeth didn't work
                                              it led to her woes


CINQUAIN

she danced
rose in her teeth
her time to bloom again
hammering out her song having 
a ball



 

THE SKEPTICS KADDISH ...W3 Prompt # 216

i think that i shall never see
a poem as lovely as a tree
but in her case this is not so
prefers to run with josh and joe

far too old to manage the run
to tag along would ruin their fun
they're young and trim and fighting fit
enjoying life and all its gifts

she watches them go running by
it makes her sad it makes her sigh
remembering when she had legs
that could run dance and swim great lengths



so now she writes her poetry
filling her time with words and dreams
reaching old age is not so great
a part of life just call it fate



Wednesday, June 17, 2026

WHAT'S GOING ON....SANCTUARY


silence
hidden
cosy and warm
under a big fur rug


the world shut out
safe and sound asleep
her sanctuary
her luxury
her peace
her survival