1155 - The Starless Night

Sunday Whirl (Wordle #320) presents a list of words

that we must incorporate in a writing piece.  

The words this week are:

road, lift, charge, star, swirl, mystery, 

struggle, fringe, list, sigh, storm, power

The Starless Night

“It is hard for a free fish to understand

what is happening to a hooked one.”

― Karl A. Menninger

Not every road

Is smooth,

Downhill

And awash 

With the warm tones

Of early morning sunlight.

Some struggle on paths

That are littered

With a fearsome list of obstacles,

Strewn with rocks and pits.

They walk on,

Battered by wild storms,

Some of their making,

Others, mysteriously, not so.

Storms that swirl

With oppressive power

Crackle with charged menace

And ominous rumblings.

They seem to attract them.

These are the night dwellers

The fringe dwellers,

Where life has no dawn.

Where living, 

Generously interpreted,

Has no stars.

Even Vincent had stars.

With nothing to lift the eyes,

Or the spirits,

They trudge on,

Stopping occasionally

To sigh.

.

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© J Cosmo Newbery 2017

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1154 - Friend or Faux?

Sunday Whirl (Wordle #318) presents a list of words

that we must incorporate in a writing piece.  

The words this week are:

faux, hope, crossroads, brace, chain, rebel, 

pen, quake, chase, ding, bottom, lock

Friend or Faux?

All relationships start with hope,

And with expectations.

Some realistic, some less so.

But ultimately we are chasing 

After a mirage, a idealised impossibility.

And so we eventually we come to crossroads:

A point where things are put to the test,

Where the varnish of infatuation

Peels away and we must decide—

Decide if the reality is of value.

Most understandably quake at this decision,

Baulk at making a break,

Or stepping away from their clan

And so remain chained,

Imprisoned in their indecision.

It is not a case of sudden death—

Ding!  Next contestant, please!

That would be tough.

Nor is it a case of wanting to rebel.

Sometimes you just feel 

That you have reached the bottom,

That something has to give.

So give.

Brace yourself for what may be.

Unlock the pen,

See if they fly away.

.

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© J Cosmo Newbery 2017

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Vale John Friend

John Friend

14/11/1920 - 12/9/2017

His Story.

1153 - Not Windsor, Hangman

If men can run the world,

why can't they stop wearing neckties? 

How intelligent is it to start the day

by tying a little noose around your neck?

Linda Ellerbee

Not Windsor, Hangman.

Tie it how you will,

In knots of all descriptions—

It’s still just a rag. 

.

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© J Cosmo Newbery 2017

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1152 - Drawing Stumps

I delayed my father's funeral because of cricket. 
- Virat Kohli


Drawing stumps.

The game is over.
It’s time to take off the bails
And close the innings.
.
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© J Cosmo Newbery 2017
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1151 - The Bigger Problem

Haiku Horizons prompt: Safe.

“Politicians were mostly people who'd had too little

morals and ethics to stay lawyers.” 

― George R.R. Martin.

The Bigger Problem

Idiots in charge

And feathering their own nests—

How can we be safe?

.

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© J Cosmo Newbery 2017

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1150 - The Luxurious Treadmill

The Luxurious Treadmill

We have what we need.

We can chase after extra

But at what expense?

.

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© J Cosmo Newbery 2017

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1149 - Decision Deferred

Decision Deferred

Rather than decide—

Just ask for some more data;

A coward’s response

.

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© J Cosmo Newbery 2017

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1148 - Misaligned

Misaligned

A story of love

Gets back an outburst of hate

And it breaks the heart.

.

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© J Cosmo Newbery 2017

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1147 - Modern Slavery

Modern Slavery

Beneath the smart suit

And behind all of the gold

You find slavery.

.

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© J Cosmo Newbery 2017

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