Words and watercolours from my wee studio this week.
song lines, walking tracks
where we’ve been or yet to go
we find those place marks
PLACEMARKS
Category: Writing
Flâneur
Once I studied Science …
Once I studied Theology …
A bit of nursing, literature, philosophy …
Now I just study you …
MY CURRANT AFFAIR
Yes we are an item
Eccles Cakes and me
We meet up at the bakery
And she pops around for tea.
I’ve seen lots of firm round buns
And I’ve looked at many a tart,
But none of them will do for me,
Because Eccles has my heart.
We meet down at the bakery
And I take her home for tea.
We’re certainly an item,
Sweet Eccles Cakes and me.
EPIPHANY … (REMEMBERING ELIOT’S MAGI)
T.S. Eliot wrote his 43-line poem “Journey of the Magi” in 1927.
(see – https://allpoetry.com/The-Journey-Of-The-Magi)
Eliot’s dramatic monologue has been a favourite poem of mine for a long time.
This piece is my (not so great) tribute to his (great) poem – I could manage only 30 lines of third person writing.
Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th this year (2020)
A hard time they had of it sure.
A cold coming and more.
Greeted by Herod badly crowned
With fear and greed and plot.
Through sand and swamp and rocky ground;
Hunger, thirst, chill and hot;
Spear, sword, fist, steel, snarling faces.
Rich man, beggar man, thief;
Hardest people, hardest places –
Cold coming filled with grief.
The house was lit with heaven’s light
Warm welcome and delight –
Fireside hearth, talk, food and joy.
They knelt and offered gifts
To teenage mum and toddling boy.
Then home and slept in shifts.
Kept watch beside, behind, ahead
Lest murder come to slay.
They wanted hope but only dread
Their shadow on the way.
Years later when the boy was grown
Could they their fears atone?
Retrace the way, that hard, hard path?
Could they, old, walk that track,
To find the grace that killed the wrath?
To see the heavens crack,
The Voice, the dove, the Spirit flies.
The waters at his feet,
The fire at his head and eyes
Makes all the pain so sweet.
Ant Fox.
Springish Winter
It’s a beauteous sunny day in Nairne, in South Australia’s sunny Adelaide Hills.
Beauteous, but I’m not suggesting that it’s warm or anything approaching warm, however I have a jumper and am sitting wearing it with the house’s doors and windows open – Celebrating winter.
A cooling breeze, with “a taste of spring-time on its lips”, has come in playing with my aged whiskers.
Because I am a caring and sharing senior citizen, I am sharing beautiful strains of classical music with the neighbours
(OK – it’s not “classical” per se, but rather Robert Plant [“Pictures At Eleven”]),
but “classical” sounds so much more sophisticated and fitting for an aged and sophisticated gent such as myself (and that album is a classic of its kind.)
I wonder what the poor people are doing?
… probably, like me, they are wondering how to pay both the Council Rates AND the electricity bill both due this month.
Meanwhile
“Down at the station where the trains come in”
… all is well, and time for a (low carb) sandwich and a cup of tea.
Ahhh – nice!
THEY BREED LIKE RABBITS.
“Hmmm” mused Rabbit, “Why aren’t we rabbits good at more things?”
“Well” Chair answered, “You rabbits are very good at breeding.”
“I was musing to myself, not to you” Rabbit snorted,
“Besides, you can’t give an opinion – you’re a chair. Your only purpose is to be sat upon.”
“That may be so” came the reply,
“But while people are sitting they think, and thinking is catching.
You rabbits should try it.”
“We think … we think” said Rabbit.
“You only think about sex. You are at it day and night … in fields, down holes – talk about ‘Don’t Litter Australia!” Chortled Chair.
“Breed, breed, breed … it’s all you lot do!”
“Well, smarty seat” sneered Rabbit,
“If we breed so much, why aren’t there more Rabbits? Why isn’t every living creature a Rabbit? Why isn’t the world chocker-block full of bunnies?”
“Ha” said the Chair,
“It’s because you are only good at breeding – you are absolute crap at economy.”
“Wot?”
“There are never enough resources to support all these litters of bunnies – It’s a battle to survive. Only the smartest and toughest rabbits, or the most coddled, survive. You should read Darwin” said Chair.
“I think you’re talking through your seat” replied Rabbit.
“It’s all true” laughed Chair,
“You bunnies are just a big bunch of miserable fuc….”
“Ooo, you are wickered!” Interupted Rabbit.
This Is The News (Ode to Emma)
ABC News is on here in Adelaide.
I think Emma might have done something (subtle) with her hair, and she isn’t wearing a jacket.
Now, she looks very nice, but I am a Lutheran – we don’t like change – it makes us uncomfortable. …. She isn’t wearing a jacket, but a very attractive red top instead.
She certainly is lovely woman, intelligent, well spoken, well groomed – and she really is a great news reader, but now I am so uncomfortable … I’ll have to watch through my fingers.
I hope she’s back to normal on Monday.
….. next thing you know, a light bulb will need changing, and it’ll just be just all too much … all too much …
Oh change – don’t let it happen!
The Question
Rabbit wrinkled his nose. “I have a question”.
The Major frowned at his furry roundness.
“What?”
“Can I talk?” puzzled Rabbit.
“What?”
“I mean, do I have the capability to converse – one to one or to a group of listeners, sharing my thoughts and feelings, my fears and joys, my wants and needs?”
“What?”
“I’ll take that as ‘No'” lamented Rabbit.
A Rabbit Tail Tale
Count Confusabunovich the famous Transylvanian rabbit hypnotiser fixed his crazed, Vincent Price-like gaze on the eyes of his furry captive.
“I have you, my fluffy bunny-one … look into my eyes – you will not escape sleep this time”
Rabbit rolled his eyes and waved his lop ears.
“Oh give it a rest you toothy git and give me my carrot!”
“Oh” exclaimed the Count.
Foxings 