What's Going On ?

hope has 
eluded  me
the world is all too awful
put it in the too hard basket
shut tight

again
a stranger
came to my aid
yesterday
thank you to
whoever
is sending me
these angels

i look out the window
on this cold frosty night
a single star is flickering
smiling at me
reassuring me that
everything will be alright
i am reminded
that i am not alone

W3 Prompt # 222 The Skeptics Kaddish

Sir Swellimpedeedoo
had a problem with tight fitting shoes
they were always too small
couldn't rumba at the ball
so he cried all night boo hoo

He liked knitted hens
and making new friends
This much is certainly true
but finding shoes to fit  was a problem
it made him a little  bit blue

MLMM MONDAY WORDLE # 487 + FRIDAY WRITINGS # 237..POETS AND STORY TELLERS UNITED

RESERVED

CHEERS TURN ILL CHOIR REST STOOL TWINKLE PLACE MAN GRAND TOGETHER 

 

POETS AND STORY TELLERS UNITED

SUGGESTED BOOK TITLES

1  LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA
2  THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING
3  ON EARTH WRERE BRIEFY GORGEOUS

4  SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES
5  THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH
6  BEAUTIFUL RUINS

7  ONE  HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUTDE

the old man
became ill suddenly
had  a turn
THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING
old
took a rest  on the stool
the grand opening
he had just attended
was a bit overwhelming

ON EARTH WE'RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS
he forgot about his use by date
he felt out of place
too much champagne
normally a reserved type
he found himself flirting
with the young girls in the choir 

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES

a twinkle in his eye
he is thinking about
THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH
BEAUTIFUL RUINS
in a past life

raising a glass in cheers to them
 he throws kisses and fifty dollar notes

(this happens when one has been living a life like

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE)

all together
it was a tad too much at his age
at least it was better experiencing
love in the time of Covid than

LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA

FRIDAY WRITINGS # 238... 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. Old EggOctober 31, 2020 at 9:56 PM

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

   Reply
2. 
   Rosemary Nissen-WadeOctober 31, 2020 at 11:01 PM

   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. 
   HazelNovember 1, 2020 at 1:37 AM

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

   Reply
4. 
   Kim M. RussellNovember 1, 2020 at 1:41 AM

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

   Reply
5. 
   Jae RoseNovember 1, 2020 at 1:11 AM

   Tee hee indeed..

   Reply
6. 
   Ron.November 1, 2020 at 4:01 AM

   Loves me some weekend Chaucer. Thanks for the reminder!

   Reply
7. 
   dsnake1November 1, 2020 at 5:18 AM

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

   Reply
8. 
   Gillena CoxNovember 1, 2020 at 5:31 AM

   LOL soooo good
   Happy Sunday
   
   Much💙love

   Reply
9. 
   Magaly GuerreroNovember 1, 2020 at 9:55 AM

   Tee hee he he, indeed! 😁

   Reply
10. 
    C. SandlinNovember 1, 2020 at 9:57 AM

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

    Reply
11. 
    HelenNovember 2, 2020 at 10:49 AM

1. HelenNovember 2, 2020 at 10:49 AM

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

   Reply
2. 
   rallentandaNovember 2, 2020 at 5:46 PM

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

   Reply
3. 
   Susie ClevengerNovember 3, 2020 at 7:04 AM

   Echoing the "teehee" Love it!

   Reply

nquain 

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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 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

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

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

 

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

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

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