tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-302338772024-03-15T11:33:21.830+11:00Notes on a ServietteJ Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.comBlogger1745125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-58443392579238321422024-03-12T16:35:00.002+11:002024-03-12T18:28:04.807+11:001599 - Whispers in the Gloaming<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2IoWrOZQ3LEBAuV2CtWizfAHQy7Sdd7TGxGbQ0UGwxAF4Olnvsc_0ANRLrvhBuTCsv8gf8du0TsrNurLtJJkguF56maYF-xpmJdNckqLTE1rEtqGom9UPWCAYjLas-WWMXUwV6VgnQA8yk06vdf_Z551LsVkEqefg63BJfPMENUXheJabWR6/s599/gloaming2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="599" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2IoWrOZQ3LEBAuV2CtWizfAHQy7Sdd7TGxGbQ0UGwxAF4Olnvsc_0ANRLrvhBuTCsv8gf8du0TsrNurLtJJkguF56maYF-xpmJdNckqLTE1rEtqGom9UPWCAYjLas-WWMXUwV6VgnQA8yk06vdf_Z551LsVkEqefg63BJfPMENUXheJabWR6/s320/gloaming2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999;"><a href="https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/2024/03/09/wordle-645/">The Sunday Whirl</a> presents the following words for us to use:</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999;">Wonder, <strike>stained</strike>, gloaming, emerge, prayer, hours, grateful,<br /></span><span style="color: #999999;">seeds, chances, whispered, smudge, conjuring</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Whispers in the Gloaming</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the twilight hours that end the day</div><div style="text-align: center;">My loss, most sharp, appears.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Demons emerge in shades of grey</div><div style="text-align: center;">And conjure heartfelt tears.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I miss you so, you filled my space,</div><div style="text-align: center;">More than I thought you could,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Your love, your laugh, your warm embrace,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Your sense of right and good.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You added wonder to my life,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tempered my prosaic bent,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I’m so glad you chanced to be my wife,</div><div style="text-align: center;">An adventure, with consent.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What does the future hold for me?</div><div style="text-align: center;">The crystal ball is smudged.</div><div style="text-align: center;">What seeds will now unfold for me?</div><div style="text-align: center;">How will my prayers be judged?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have so much to be grateful for,</div><div style="text-align: center;">That I had you for so long.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I thought I would cope that fateful hour,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Clearly, I was wrong.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">◊</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-11358592397583826382024-03-05T12:04:00.002+11:002024-03-05T15:07:54.487+11:001598 - The Reset<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiny64YnQVlUmAs6VG7CkrUNEQ4Jw9UFScSW4kIwn80diWzXZK38XUx_efulLrte28XhTqa6oa_aUqO_BZs7t8V2HEeFJfCzN9OePKTgTGkT14QM3LguBessnElsqdA6pjYsDVkG4_dCiLiWbIShACsKQ3ho41QymlrQqEdnZhjpRqU0N83siKT/s724/Screenshot%202024-03-05%20at%2012.00.03%20pm.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="724" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiny64YnQVlUmAs6VG7CkrUNEQ4Jw9UFScSW4kIwn80diWzXZK38XUx_efulLrte28XhTqa6oa_aUqO_BZs7t8V2HEeFJfCzN9OePKTgTGkT14QM3LguBessnElsqdA6pjYsDVkG4_dCiLiWbIShACsKQ3ho41QymlrQqEdnZhjpRqU0N83siKT/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-05%20at%2012.00.03%20pm.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999;"><a href="https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/2024/03/03/wordle-644/" target="_blank">The Sunday Whirl </a>presents the following words for us to use:<br /></span><span style="color: #999999;">sober bees urgent lunges angel swirls water mind frenzied scream light sunset</span><br /><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Reset</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b>I</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />The sun went through its cycle: from sunrise to sunset, warming the earth.<br />Bees went soberly about their business in the gentle morning light.<br />Moths and butterflies too, though more haphazard, less sober.<br />Birds flitted, animals grazed, the jungles and savannahs grew.<br />The waters burbled and swirled. Fish did what fishes do.<br />There was no urgency to the world.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />II</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Somewhere, on the savannah, an ape stood erect.<br />Other apes too. Confrontation. Battle.<br />A rock crushed a skull. A stick pierced skin.<br />Frenzied fighting. Lunges. Screams.<br />Tribal cries of triumph reverberated.<br />Technology. Better weapons.<br />Arrows.<br />Swords.<br />Guns.<br />Cannons.<br />Rockets.<br />Missiles.<br />Slaughter and mayhem.<br />Greed and Envy.<br />A world had lost its mind.<br /><br /><br />III</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />ENOUGH! Impatience echoed through the clouds.<br />Birds took to the air, animals looked up. Time stood still.<br />The angels screamed.<br /><br /><br />IV</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />The sun went through its cycle: from sunrise to sunset, warming the earth.<br />Bees went soberly about their business in the gentle morning light.<br />Moths and butterflies too, though more haphazard, less sober.<br />Birds flitted, animals grazed, the jungles and savannahs grew.<br />The waters burbled and swirled. Fish did what fishes do.<br />There was no urgency to the world.<br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></p>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-36634180294487516262023-12-30T14:03:00.002+11:002023-12-30T14:06:03.059+11:001597 - Will Stars Still Twinkle<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCk4epThoDWwco9qS0UPElV2_9FDdeCjDTKd1hw9C9E9SXyVPUNjf2jSebceri2y5qIWlOGqDVIehnydrM5f86BWSUvHEo56g7Gjrahx2_xWyXVtkKTlx4KNnNReGnp1QPwQ458svpn0aorDVFe9VGh4cqs7uN1ogJU-J1IKXsfMXx5q9_3B6/s1211/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20at%202.01.27%20pm.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="1211" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCk4epThoDWwco9qS0UPElV2_9FDdeCjDTKd1hw9C9E9SXyVPUNjf2jSebceri2y5qIWlOGqDVIehnydrM5f86BWSUvHEo56g7Gjrahx2_xWyXVtkKTlx4KNnNReGnp1QPwQ458svpn0aorDVFe9VGh4cqs7uN1ogJU-J1IKXsfMXx5q9_3B6/s320/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20at%202.01.27%20pm.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;">The Sunday Whirl posted a list of words to use. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;">I got stuck on just one: Twinkle.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Will stars still twinkle?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Will stars still twinkle when you’re gone?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Will sunsets entrance me once again?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Will birds add a chorus to the dawn?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Will any pleasures still remain?</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I lie and listen to the nearby breathing</div><div style="text-align: center;">Knowing what is soon in store.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The beast is not of a mind for leaving</div><div style="text-align: center;">It too once slept but now no more.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So as I lie there, sadly resigned</div><div style="text-align: center;">To the future as it currently seems,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stray thoughts wander through my mind</div><div style="text-align: center;">And rob me of my sleep. And dreams.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Will stars still twinkle when you’re gone?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Will I enjoy listening to the rain?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Will I lie in the sun upon the lawn?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Will any pleasures still remain?</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">--- ◊ ---</div></div>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-45781911511126273782023-10-15T19:19:00.004+11:002023-10-15T19:54:37.435+11:001596 - Post Your Own Bail<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8E88J2X3-UrROFIa_ZCtXD5w64cXxCYLK2i_CCsiRCzw5dGvzOirNnGROrJyNdqOrWDdCp39vtJJX035IJynP_xUYPv24MlJi-iwj8Al1DqlnmMX27CPICYp-ls6vJW943KAL5MdhheqC7dBA3hmEy_BwtyWPlG_Z-CusKu2vbOx7UBpstZF/s789/Screenshot%202023-10-15%20at%207.16.30%20pm.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="789" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8E88J2X3-UrROFIa_ZCtXD5w64cXxCYLK2i_CCsiRCzw5dGvzOirNnGROrJyNdqOrWDdCp39vtJJX035IJynP_xUYPv24MlJi-iwj8Al1DqlnmMX27CPICYp-ls6vJW943KAL5MdhheqC7dBA3hmEy_BwtyWPlG_Z-CusKu2vbOx7UBpstZF/s320/Screenshot%202023-10-15%20at%207.16.30%20pm.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Post Your Own Bail</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You had a troubled childhood?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Your parents weren’t supportive?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You only had dogs for company? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Well, at least you had company.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You had a troubled childhood? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Your brother and sister still treat you as the little sister?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Their partners annoy you? Some extremely? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That’s life. Suck it up, darling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You had a troubled childhood?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You feel that you cannot trust people.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You feel unsupported and isolated</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But are spiky and cold—your choice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You had a troubled childhood?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You feel that this is a ‘get out of jail free’ card?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A licence to be passive aggressive?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">To be openly hurtful? You are wrong.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You had a troubled childhood?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Is that a reason to not grow up?</div><div><br /></div></div><br /><br /><p></p>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-32649386039044085492023-08-07T15:19:00.002+10:002023-08-07T15:19:16.475+10:001595 - Two Handles<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61MvYQmhIsvye_Mzh4kQo3MAGGKfNf5jytgKnL3D4v3JNZCOjCNGT4UGa7mfpXdt_Sc9q_ulBfpK_mPR4RpVLjG3Ny-Ob2lQ70uF2DUaMZklLcQzgB_HAK7xk7BGLtqow5Co4MivphjCHFSkGHlAwtLHWJxGQgRTLKYpEZlZ8gmo7moygSK6J/s400/Screenshot%202023-08-07%20at%203.17.59%20pm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61MvYQmhIsvye_Mzh4kQo3MAGGKfNf5jytgKnL3D4v3JNZCOjCNGT4UGa7mfpXdt_Sc9q_ulBfpK_mPR4RpVLjG3Ny-Ob2lQ70uF2DUaMZklLcQzgB_HAK7xk7BGLtqow5Co4MivphjCHFSkGHlAwtLHWJxGQgRTLKYpEZlZ8gmo7moygSK6J/s320/Screenshot%202023-08-07%20at%203.17.59%20pm.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Two Handles</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are two handles.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We can choose which one we grasp.</div><div style="text-align: center;">One rough and one smooth.</div><div style="text-align: center;">◊</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some people choose rough.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They are itching for a fight:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Fractious and feisty.</div><div style="text-align: center;">◊</div><div style="text-align: center;">The wise will choose smooth.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Life's a battle already,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Why make it harder?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;">© 2023 J Cosmo Newbery</div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-73431129257005457212023-08-06T09:29:00.000+10:002023-08-06T09:29:00.942+10:001594 - Together<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxl6JH5gi_kX5imD0R_YPxpJPufUYu4PyoeVMM5LDnb7ZlsGp3qg6hO_OC8sSfpzm2ERr3Hbr7cdeFZCXtUFURw7Fiu47UkCAY2vyD5oxaus7c_qctOxHAzlRqq0PeDiVEasU3pcmiyBWXCabTWo7jwq8C9ImR1c4v4DpJQRM85wOvggblGVA/s600/Fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxl6JH5gi_kX5imD0R_YPxpJPufUYu4PyoeVMM5LDnb7ZlsGp3qg6hO_OC8sSfpzm2ERr3Hbr7cdeFZCXtUFURw7Fiu47UkCAY2vyD5oxaus7c_qctOxHAzlRqq0PeDiVEasU3pcmiyBWXCabTWo7jwq8C9ImR1c4v4DpJQRM85wOvggblGVA/s320/Fire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">A log-fire burning.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Two people are sitting there.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Reading, side by side.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;">© 2023 J Cosmo Newbery</div><div style="text-align: center;">--- </div></div>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-54677788071187144642023-07-24T11:51:00.001+10:002023-07-24T11:51:57.505+10:001593 - Trim Thoughts<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7H3ShcYCCPG_rTs9MauagN-JgglXWZBb3A-WHZ2BjB7z-B5vvczg5li6wDq-wuV-wB3RFxXmIIDrHOsuiHcIuipfmtwIA4y7yHs7oazC36-fmswG401l6TCN_z8lD7qe9L7GVYpS9y6cq_z4tywzGlJJYbsfyycIuVSx07y__7oYp0QQqolF/s612/Screenshot%202023-07-24%20at%2011.49.18%20am.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="612" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7H3ShcYCCPG_rTs9MauagN-JgglXWZBb3A-WHZ2BjB7z-B5vvczg5li6wDq-wuV-wB3RFxXmIIDrHOsuiHcIuipfmtwIA4y7yHs7oazC36-fmswG401l6TCN_z8lD7qe9L7GVYpS9y6cq_z4tywzGlJJYbsfyycIuVSx07y__7oYp0QQqolF/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-24%20at%2011.49.18%20am.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999;"><a href="https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/2023/07/15/wordle-613/">The Sunday Whirl</a> presents the following words for us to use:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999;">pain stay trapped brave cry shine crafty stray drain run settle trim</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Trim Thoughts</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I</div><div style="text-align: center;">In a world of pain</div><div style="text-align: center;">You bring kindness—</div><div style="text-align: center;">A priceless gift.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">II</div><div style="text-align: center;">We are all trapped.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Most stay.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some stray.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The truly brave run.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">III</div><div style="text-align: center;">The sun shines.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The sky, clear and blue.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The air is crisp.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I want to cry.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">IV</div><div style="text-align: center;">Crafty hobbies</div><div style="text-align: center;">Distract the mind,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Drain the cares.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Settle.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Relax.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;">© 2023 J Cosmo Newbery</div><div style="text-align: center;">--- </div></div>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-8813967905633373032023-07-13T16:56:00.002+10:002023-07-13T17:02:07.979+10:001592 - Through a Glass Darkly<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5qm-Rlu_5W6s6NSGlkVr4lhIDVG-7EeSTSzCa4dVUGE7MuQDFnIFSeBnbOQV9TYxHR293t3vmR7IFTr8OTfwcd3qHL5eFCycWslctLoUJ5FYR3InQveJ4z0fx6tn_P0O_V2Of6jKnjbIBtXgZM8U5AejDGsrzm1t9dYqwsUC0LJcX27uJ7oo/s599/Screenshot%202023-07-13%20at%204.50.01%20pm.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="434" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5qm-Rlu_5W6s6NSGlkVr4lhIDVG-7EeSTSzCa4dVUGE7MuQDFnIFSeBnbOQV9TYxHR293t3vmR7IFTr8OTfwcd3qHL5eFCycWslctLoUJ5FYR3InQveJ4z0fx6tn_P0O_V2Of6jKnjbIBtXgZM8U5AejDGsrzm1t9dYqwsUC0LJcX27uJ7oo/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-13%20at%204.50.01%20pm.png" width="232" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/2023/07/01/wordle-611/" target="_blank">The Sunday Whirl</a> presents the following words for us to use:</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: center;">(I didn't use them all)</span></span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: center;"></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #666666;"><span>mingled dim damp shallow spell gaze drifts shattered call twitch words split</span></span></span></div></blockquote><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span><b>Through a glass darkly</b></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Emotions tumble through my mind,</div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">Mingled love and fear and hope</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">What does the future hold?</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">And will I really cope?</div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">“Write it down”, I’m told:</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">“Dump your shattered heart</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">Onto the private pages </div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">Of a journal, if you’re smart.”</div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">But in the dim light of the morning</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">I struggle with the words;</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">Whichever way in which I gaze,</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">The view is bleak and blurred.</div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">That the beast is in abeyance,</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">Gives relief but not elation.</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">It’s been halted for the moment:</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">Suspended animation.</div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">When will it spring back to life?</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">When will my wife be dead?</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">The pointed sword of Damocles</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">Suspended by a thread.</div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">And so I write as best I can</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">Of the now and present past</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">Embracing love where I can;</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">Only memories will last.</div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">The reality is quite brutal,</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">To end then then begin.</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">A solitary life awaits me.</div></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">Damp tissues in the bin.</div></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;">© 2023 J Cosmo Newbery</div><div style="text-align: center;"> --- </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8808049143160774741" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 620px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"></p><div style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"></div></div>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-49240881721964813192023-06-29T09:08:00.001+10:002023-06-29T09:09:04.776+10:001591 - Drink<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwW7hEXhG2mu0u4M65qSAgiu_68_3Mg9oI2kjAZNB51rY9RkHr_qOk5OTvddA4_rOi17gc6xl99WiWwi9Ki5GjJsPh5LLHE5t4Y0IPRMdLhAhpNXP9PWu4xdhGC42207T7nwz60Kd9qPR56-G-cvPDTGXyzEqR-qnjhwgRAyFqZDEFYSlZJwGq/s600/barrels.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="600" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwW7hEXhG2mu0u4M65qSAgiu_68_3Mg9oI2kjAZNB51rY9RkHr_qOk5OTvddA4_rOi17gc6xl99WiWwi9Ki5GjJsPh5LLHE5t4Y0IPRMdLhAhpNXP9PWu4xdhGC42207T7nwz60Kd9qPR56-G-cvPDTGXyzEqR-qnjhwgRAyFqZDEFYSlZJwGq/s320/barrels.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: 13.2px;">Mad Kane poses a regular limerick challenge.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999;">The key word this week is ‘drink’.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">The neighbours all love to assess</span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">How proper your grief and distress</span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">But forget what they think</span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">And have a good drink,</span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">They're not there for you to impress.</span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">---</span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">I'm fond of a red, I confess,</span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">Favouring more rather than less.</span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">And I do love the chink </span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">Of a celebratory drink</span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">Knowing nothing exceeds like excess.</span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: white; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">.</div></span><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">---</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">© 2023 J Cosmo Newbery</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">--- </div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Please note: This is a writing exercise: the neighbours are really lovely.</div></div></div>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-72420036003389131572023-06-25T17:02:00.003+10:002023-06-25T17:05:55.753+10:001590 - The Playlist<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5UeCnjQXZXcTprVvvLzgU4VX-iaFGx0BgdwpM61T4wH3GQSY7zh4_ClTZDYpnt8gvbuTXiWFNj1CmggWcg4tRDLtV108nZ8dt1zNeyZus-HQU6qae986hziNAABu6h8qB202Eyz_z-GYtH-UTJchCpUap9VBxtRs5xUKi6HwqMZugy3so-qK/s600/playlist_framed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="600" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5UeCnjQXZXcTprVvvLzgU4VX-iaFGx0BgdwpM61T4wH3GQSY7zh4_ClTZDYpnt8gvbuTXiWFNj1CmggWcg4tRDLtV108nZ8dt1zNeyZus-HQU6qae986hziNAABu6h8qB202Eyz_z-GYtH-UTJchCpUap9VBxtRs5xUKi6HwqMZugy3so-qK/s320/playlist_framed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"> <a href="https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/2023/05/28/wordle-607/">The Sunday Whirl</a> presents the following words for us to use:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;">ascending morning head dreams between hand road storytellers poem potion feather three</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Playlist</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A common theme displayed,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Poems of love and longing;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Laments of unrequited dreams,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Prayers for warm belonging.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The storytellers bare their hearts,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Asking for compassion;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Can we head down that road</div><div style="text-align: center;">In a truly honest fashion?</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Emotions ascend to dizzy heights</div><div style="text-align: center;">To rescue from the rubble,</div><div style="text-align: center;">These singers of the sad laments:</div><div style="text-align: center;">But morning bursts the bubble.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The recipient of this playlist</div><div style="text-align: center;">Few can understand</div><div style="text-align: center;">The dark, foreboding shadow</div><div style="text-align: center;">Of its cold malignant hand.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We are, as they say, caught between,</div><div style="text-align: center;">With no answers so to speak.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We close our eyes and bow our heads</div><div style="text-align: center;">And tears run down our cheek.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8808049143160774741" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 620px;"><div><span style="color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;">.</div></span><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;">© 2023 J Cosmo Newbery</div><div style="text-align: center;">--- </div></div><p></p><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 10.8px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 20px -2px 0px; padding: 5px 10px; text-align: center;"></div></div>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-88080491431607747412023-06-18T21:20:00.005+10:002023-06-18T21:29:40.487+10:001589 - The Flight of the Cuckoo<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxO85IAIJsnse__uij-2IHO-CMcbov5gORCYseor8cxqSPCf7LxJffkMS0QnXv06dfbcKJgN5ecrvzWkRFSU53fRI6yOrr3bjpAF3HjAvX45frfWaGsniz4jJXoBQA3AY7Cv_5JRc_PrL_fWWEKO5sg415RoXb5OUyXc4mGkgh4HU-JsUGFg/s600/Cuckoo-chick.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="600" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxO85IAIJsnse__uij-2IHO-CMcbov5gORCYseor8cxqSPCf7LxJffkMS0QnXv06dfbcKJgN5ecrvzWkRFSU53fRI6yOrr3bjpAF3HjAvX45frfWaGsniz4jJXoBQA3AY7Cv_5JRc_PrL_fWWEKO5sg415RoXb5OUyXc4mGkgh4HU-JsUGFg/s320/Cuckoo-chick.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #666666;"><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/2023/06/17/wordle-609/">The Sunday Whirl</a> presents the following words for us to use:</div><div style="text-align: center;">hope feathers flight sight guise desire chime beyond spinning open springs drive</div></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Flight of the Cuckoo</b></div></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The chimes punctuate the passage,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Of time and life and flock.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Only death knows what lies beyond</div><div style="text-align: center;">And each day tends the clock.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We think we are important,</div><div style="text-align: center;">That we’re all made of steel,</div><div style="text-align: center;">But the world will keep on spinning </div><div style="text-align: center;">With no-one at the wheel.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The question is an open one, </div><div style="text-align: center;">That humans will survive?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Are we cuckoos in the earthly nest,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Consuming to deprive?</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So what drives us on? Desire, I guess,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just some immortal twist:</div><div style="text-align: center;">To know we made a difference,</div><div style="text-align: center;">To know we will be missed.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ego in the guise of caring</div><div style="text-align: center;">Will reluctantly admit:</div><div style="text-align: center;">It no-one’s there to miss us,</div><div style="text-align: center;">What is the point of it?</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The chimes punctuate the passage,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Of time and life and flock.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Only death knows what lies beyond</div><div style="text-align: center;">And each day tends the clock.</div><span style="color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;">.</div></span><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;">© 2023 J Cosmo Newbery</div><div style="text-align: center;">--- </div></div><p></p>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-43347814800186901352023-06-13T20:07:00.003+10:002023-06-18T21:20:51.467+10:001588 - Finding Roses<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAu6vyKI0fc9ea5WwZ6ypG7pvNAw8iNUweThXlGKoSWJ2AOLv_oNBcc5JMhWaXaNVbVdDRhqsfFpE0WgB-fcrzWTjtl73d9Nd5SOuf4DdVpGzN4zSmbW-DSqKDfRcogiQmQpxt3DiSckfpuhaTxiTXqIID58Nk3nv09a0_4-opM4eMO7m4Q/s600/roses_framed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="600" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAu6vyKI0fc9ea5WwZ6ypG7pvNAw8iNUweThXlGKoSWJ2AOLv_oNBcc5JMhWaXaNVbVdDRhqsfFpE0WgB-fcrzWTjtl73d9Nd5SOuf4DdVpGzN4zSmbW-DSqKDfRcogiQmQpxt3DiSckfpuhaTxiTXqIID58Nk3nv09a0_4-opM4eMO7m4Q/s320/roses_framed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><a href="https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/2023/06/11/wordle-608/">The Sunday Whirl</a> presents the following words for us to use:</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;">mist creek belt shadows forest summer still rising crow filters time sentinel*</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Finding Roses</b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;">“I am a forest, and a night of dark trees: <br /></span><span style="color: #990000;">but he who is not afraid of my darkness, <br /></span><span style="color: #990000;">will find banks full of roses under my cypresses.” <br /></span><span style="color: #990000;">-– Nietzche</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">The forest is quite still and dark,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or so at first it seems.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But wait. And hear the rustling trees,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And burbling mountain steams.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cypresses watch upon the woods,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sentinels in the midst.</div><div style="text-align: center;">While shadows from what light there is</div><div style="text-align: center;">Play games upon the mist.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is a clearing in this forest,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Where cypresses ease their grip;</div><div style="text-align: center;">You’ll discover banks of roses there,</div><div style="text-align: center;">That well reward the trip.</div><span style="color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;">.</div></span><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;">© 2023 J Cosmo Newbery</div><div style="text-align: center;">--- </div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*I confess that I didn't use them all.</span></p>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-20041440225579724802023-01-24T19:56:00.009+11:002023-01-24T19:56:58.460+11:001587 - Running out<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe-40Ip7VRON-KaD6WQgZsMBIxT66RfHzVGq1h0FIwXgUY8wLov7YFVdP2S8neGJpcFl1rA2Oz8JsZWpsKcGMFNKjgYvKGQPRy2Dnj5gdvxXDjl1dA8dPXwsAQ1E9rJpJZIzXb4aNz2_Lrf3AQogfLDK4gP9CtbQ1Mmr5R_QDRt0iizimyA/s600/hourglass2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe-40Ip7VRON-KaD6WQgZsMBIxT66RfHzVGq1h0FIwXgUY8wLov7YFVdP2S8neGJpcFl1rA2Oz8JsZWpsKcGMFNKjgYvKGQPRy2Dnj5gdvxXDjl1dA8dPXwsAQ1E9rJpJZIzXb4aNz2_Lrf3AQogfLDK4gP9CtbQ1Mmr5R_QDRt0iizimyA/s320/hourglass2.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Running Out</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They said that it would—</div><div style="text-align: center;">The system is shutting down.</div><div style="text-align: center;">No miracles here.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: white; color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"> .</span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">---</span></div></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">© 2023 J Cosmo Newbery</span></div></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">--- </span></div></span></div>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-79513701350794599162023-01-22T20:34:00.001+11:002023-01-22T20:34:14.355+11:001586 - That much<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEExzhwO1Nt24ecHNh-PjMzhow_PClqTFo-G42bTOn3pJA6Gjj3f0N_QpIXuZB84nUHy1Q4Hi06d4xbN9ky4dhjzm4EwMqcnuONhOFzeAbccwXcll4yOfGVcAnBpLG18BI5dNapUv439LOQxJgjz57nzRmzyH93diyjbsRcDfgof0G1hh2A/s600/Red-Wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEExzhwO1Nt24ecHNh-PjMzhow_PClqTFo-G42bTOn3pJA6Gjj3f0N_QpIXuZB84nUHy1Q4Hi06d4xbN9ky4dhjzm4EwMqcnuONhOFzeAbccwXcll4yOfGVcAnBpLG18BI5dNapUv439LOQxJgjz57nzRmzyH93diyjbsRcDfgof0G1hh2A/s320/Red-Wine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>That much.</b></p><div style="text-align: center;">Does your mother drink?<br />Just half a glass when I do.<br />Oh. Really? That much.<br /><span style="color: white;"> .</span><br />---<br />© 2023 J Cosmo Newbery<br />--- </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-75016552872991756252023-01-16T20:42:00.004+11:002023-01-16T20:42:39.464+11:001585 - Relative appointment<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB12D_NHPJz58vkaJZXaoeGOsA-_YHvAHBtNm-wVxHZSfqOQeS7S9gOqbf_2T1Zx13TGaHtLeJ3jQWK_ghqSsE1VjG-IhnY1a12JdRgJNOywRlE-ecJVZY5O3Y9HuDu6iLJJSxcAFzjVfzpYHmi5agWE1IeserWwa7LyfC7jMNak4HMwRsag/s600/zzz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="600" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB12D_NHPJz58vkaJZXaoeGOsA-_YHvAHBtNm-wVxHZSfqOQeS7S9gOqbf_2T1Zx13TGaHtLeJ3jQWK_ghqSsE1VjG-IhnY1a12JdRgJNOywRlE-ecJVZY5O3Y9HuDu6iLJJSxcAFzjVfzpYHmi5agWE1IeserWwa7LyfC7jMNak4HMwRsag/s320/zzz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Relative appointment</b></div></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Doctor's waiting rooms.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Time is different there.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Einstein understood.</div></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"> .</span></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">---</div><div style="font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">© 2023 J Cosmo Newbery</div><div style="font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">--- </div></div></div>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-30677984056330633392023-01-15T07:06:00.003+11:002023-01-15T07:06:39.539+11:001584 - Demons<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN992U1C0c6hEZnABi2ARex9Veq86u4Oss5ow49eZ7yijJOsxKx533ZBeGdxLJKm98qyuM4uHk0kI04BvsFp6LaEfV5f3qGn56lJKpJ1wuVtJB5rZgkyeCPeI0ROsWoORSxEi8FyUZ5buVRufVAGRhJoUCSSd8KUBUSTd9aQrQ6A2RTR8fSg/s600/demonweb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="600" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN992U1C0c6hEZnABi2ARex9Veq86u4Oss5ow49eZ7yijJOsxKx533ZBeGdxLJKm98qyuM4uHk0kI04BvsFp6LaEfV5f3qGn56lJKpJ1wuVtJB5rZgkyeCPeI0ROsWoORSxEi8FyUZ5buVRufVAGRhJoUCSSd8KUBUSTd9aQrQ6A2RTR8fSg/s320/demonweb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Those recurring thoughts,</div><div style="text-align: center;">The demons of the darkness,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Rob me of my sleep.</div></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"> .</span></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">---</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">© 2023 J Cosmo Newbery</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">--- </div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-8622952443058945062023-01-11T21:16:00.002+11:002023-01-11T21:16:37.408+11:001583 - Check the Feet<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQznSV2h6IwEA0zvS-dNqyUOGkissygzvmZzyIz_ijg8xARYpyO3imvDols0KfTy3iu_WorNuOu0mGHaHTFtnc4cZDMQJbLbvk4iQLIiS8yebDVSy7VtcysaZaTZOzpvj1buNqyoINPhL_zPHDorwNqILQ7ofJjivArsPDUxtdmXljXo3MDQ/s602/Screenshot%202023-01-11%20at%209.12.31%20pm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="602" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQznSV2h6IwEA0zvS-dNqyUOGkissygzvmZzyIz_ijg8xARYpyO3imvDols0KfTy3iu_WorNuOu0mGHaHTFtnc4cZDMQJbLbvk4iQLIiS8yebDVSy7VtcysaZaTZOzpvj1buNqyoINPhL_zPHDorwNqILQ7ofJjivArsPDUxtdmXljXo3MDQ/s320/Screenshot%202023-01-11%20at%209.12.31%20pm.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Check the Feet</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How am I doing?</div><div style="text-align: center;">There are no easy answers—</div><div style="text-align: center;">I really don't know.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: white;"> .</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">---</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">© 2023 J Cosmo Newbery</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">--- </div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-69685531511531106342023-01-09T14:04:00.003+11:002023-01-09T14:04:44.206+11:001581 - A young fellow called Shawn<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjec8qTYnyVR7t7xjQBSMaEcpFRsqzAiIVz5Mtw4XVXdN9Nw8wS-sA_AnBLRt__v7qkx7yOGoEc316he66W8WMww1duVWVhpsiIFED809QXHMigP28QkWG5BASKPBUXXeUH02Hopf_dVaTAKsQTNCe5vk2MDpPbt6c4U2gl53ieNDvdquvBPQ/s600/splash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="600" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjec8qTYnyVR7t7xjQBSMaEcpFRsqzAiIVz5Mtw4XVXdN9Nw8wS-sA_AnBLRt__v7qkx7yOGoEc316he66W8WMww1duVWVhpsiIFED809QXHMigP28QkWG5BASKPBUXXeUH02Hopf_dVaTAKsQTNCe5vk2MDpPbt6c4U2gl53ieNDvdquvBPQ/s320/splash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Poets & Storytellers United invite us to create poetry or</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">prose inspired by the words Reclaim, Rekindle, Rebirth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There once was a young fellow called Shawn,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Who claimed to be Jesus, reborn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When decried as a fake</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">He strode to the lake</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Stepped in, gave a scream and was gorn.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: white;"> .</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">---</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">© 2023 J Cosmo Newbery</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">--- </div></div></div></div><p><br /><br /></p>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-52157567215287550852023-01-08T14:18:00.000+11:002023-01-08T14:18:02.333+11:001580 - Didn't skip a beat<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYreyB7KmbKukY4DFMU1GRN4Vx150L_ys9muDBzHIAFy5N4MDV9d87lAS94hJ5wkKgL2u13x-HnJlTd3r_XBeal7eR0sszUvyg_wY0QrCRFHL12TinGTnQlCeiYFeMR8IOyt_Ic9MkPoD8IfbxbP6a_6lQ4pjz0nxrFYykOgGG1n_2M5dkOw/s983/before_after.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="983" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYreyB7KmbKukY4DFMU1GRN4Vx150L_ys9muDBzHIAFy5N4MDV9d87lAS94hJ5wkKgL2u13x-HnJlTd3r_XBeal7eR0sszUvyg_wY0QrCRFHL12TinGTnQlCeiYFeMR8IOyt_Ic9MkPoD8IfbxbP6a_6lQ4pjz0nxrFYykOgGG1n_2M5dkOw/s320/before_after.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b>Before & After</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The normal treatment,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Chemo and radiation—</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Didn't skip a beat.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: white;"> .</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">---</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">© 2023 J Cosmo Newbery</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">--- </div></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-69489228394059882162023-01-07T13:47:00.000+11:002023-01-07T13:47:00.804+11:001579 - Cheese<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTP4Jp9nTgl3PtZqFvGDTjPo_grqXb-4IItQnsfTOycg_dn6wO85ggBiWzcXGdVs9ETiaZuF8h7L2kYDC9qYl0YEqrogRfsy4WkDeuZOWQYD8DS9dSx3i3csTdZi-bIQ1bFXDMzxneaTcjDISI6DS8X17Z1NTINOs1bl-_xw_gs8oQwsarQ/s600/cheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="600" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTP4Jp9nTgl3PtZqFvGDTjPo_grqXb-4IItQnsfTOycg_dn6wO85ggBiWzcXGdVs9ETiaZuF8h7L2kYDC9qYl0YEqrogRfsy4WkDeuZOWQYD8DS9dSx3i3csTdZi-bIQ1bFXDMzxneaTcjDISI6DS8X17Z1NTINOs1bl-_xw_gs8oQwsarQ/s320/cheese.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Mad Kane had a limerick challenge using the word 'blue'.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Cheeses</b></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">They can be soft, hard or quite blue.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They can be smelly or oozing white goo.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They are often a winner</div><div style="text-align: center;">And the end of the dinner,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And cheese can be like that, too.</div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"> .</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;">© 2023 J Cosmo Newbery</div><div style="text-align: center;">--- </div><p></p>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-53333089551221071732023-01-06T16:36:00.003+11:002023-01-07T13:51:38.069+11:001578 - The Matter is Serious<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBfC8kYLuH9ZhnCg4IZho3XxWy3ygv9CNuv1Q9euvwRjqNTHy86wWVu7Vwg4VPXUZb_RsWMAaHd5Lqj11RL8aUhF4BO3B8a5RkNFt00AdIs-tTQkJLTsTry_vwdmAAP4Gwk7n8xKi33LFoRmeRi_vW2WhAGFUc3j4570UjbILDE-kCpYCaQ/s600/smoke2a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="600" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBfC8kYLuH9ZhnCg4IZho3XxWy3ygv9CNuv1Q9euvwRjqNTHy86wWVu7Vwg4VPXUZb_RsWMAaHd5Lqj11RL8aUhF4BO3B8a5RkNFt00AdIs-tTQkJLTsTry_vwdmAAP4Gwk7n8xKi33LFoRmeRi_vW2WhAGFUc3j4570UjbILDE-kCpYCaQ/s320/smoke2a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/2023/01/01/wordle-585/">The Sunday Whirl</a> presents the following words for us to use:</p><p style="text-align: center;">boat preserve speak resist oil fire drive fly shoot matter close right</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Matter is Serious.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Why are people afraid to speak up?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The right believe they are indeed right,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A god-given, there’s a quote somewhere in the bible, right</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(No, not the one about the meek. Another one.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Something about oil. About the right to money too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And something about shooting. Guns, yes, guns, it says you can shoot people.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ok, the quotes may be a bit obscure and need a careful interpretation</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But I am assured that they are there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I’ll check with the church’s Chief Financial Officer, he’ll know, I’m sure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It might not be exact but I pretty sure it is close to the meaning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I mean it sounds right. Don't read it myself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And so they go on these entitled few,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Resisting the obvious, proud of their electric cars</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Powered by coal-fired electricity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I can’t see it ending well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It’s said that we are all in the same boat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">No, we are all in the same storm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Vastly different boats.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The ending will not be pretty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Oh, to be a fly on the wall.<span style="color: white;">.</span></div></div></div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;">---<br />© 2023 J Cosmo Newbery<br />--- </p>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-50138128952626345232022-06-02T09:28:00.004+10:002022-06-02T09:28:45.792+10:001577 - Missed<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNwsmKiBxPnezCxuM2vAj32AK-VwLLsr50S2bm0L9ilP-hnwdCoBcQJIKnJeX7cgpLzg5oTTxpAMes8se7Rr5mFW-0TEJmSXTXVL9SdDc5c-eyrOubjUptlkmqvcLtfbTgwwj8zaPYHwCMU-wJAYJo41hzzDwpJsJBYhALv3WPzdzC6o6PQ/s600/oats2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="600" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNwsmKiBxPnezCxuM2vAj32AK-VwLLsr50S2bm0L9ilP-hnwdCoBcQJIKnJeX7cgpLzg5oTTxpAMes8se7Rr5mFW-0TEJmSXTXVL9SdDc5c-eyrOubjUptlkmqvcLtfbTgwwj8zaPYHwCMU-wJAYJo41hzzDwpJsJBYhALv3WPzdzC6o6PQ/s320/oats2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Missed.</b><br /><br />A deathbed request:<br />"Some of your oatcakes please..."<br />But she couldn't wait.<br /><span style="color: white;"> .</span><br />---<br />© 2022 J Cosmo Newbery<br />--- <br /></p>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-62807241267649544842022-04-17T12:41:00.004+10:002022-04-17T12:42:39.218+10:001576 - The Circus Comes to Town<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkE-akB5nsgU_FbccvAjM2e6HVz2_hJNa7YlXEPhqZK-JiHmqnieG0IdM22BvbpmWUdXfHDpAXof2aG6eTpvwqRyJPHoQYV7wlmJGFxShqSDelSWpCe2H3-OgxDRfTTJ4QgDpAT9-UEZZbCE7odprHB1M3qynlgW3zRv-KXr9M7gv2_ZXug/s550/act2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="550" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkE-akB5nsgU_FbccvAjM2e6HVz2_hJNa7YlXEPhqZK-JiHmqnieG0IdM22BvbpmWUdXfHDpAXof2aG6eTpvwqRyJPHoQYV7wlmJGFxShqSDelSWpCe2H3-OgxDRfTTJ4QgDpAT9-UEZZbCE7odprHB1M3qynlgW3zRv-KXr9M7gv2_ZXug/s320/act2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Circus Comes to Town</b><br /><br />Lock up your babies, while there’s time,<br />The candidates are a-coming;<br />Photo ops are a pantomime—<br />The spin will be mind-numbing.<br /><br />Those dubious bits of nonsense, the polls,<br />Excite or make us fretting.<br />As reliable as pinning voodoo dolls,<br />But each time we keep forgetting.<br /><br />The facts become superfluous<br />When intent is clearly to mislead;<br />They tell us they want what’s best for us<br />But merely sell us fear and greed.<br /><br />Then be not shy, but use your vote,<br />And, while you can, go cast it.<br />We cannot sink the gravy boat,<br />But with luck we can outlast it.<br /><span style="color: white;"> .</span><br />---<br />© 2022 J Cosmo Newbery<br />--- <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><br /></p>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-72654766637447197342022-01-02T16:59:00.006+11:002022-01-03T08:54:51.514+11:001575 - Why should they care?<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdrbRM-pnvGBQcAgdcKb2AeH_iPuSc96bHXhM05NQPaSKhJAOLPSd0NFV8jHY7sGyZ6UBtRBYzimZEC0tpWe4dGVmQ6KTQzoU1sIfKWeXsIfDFu23rw34dGWZCcTRL8C_B7JSGK-uWbH5Tg_csG4zQNe0OOkJSFXXuobGMceQMnff2qJcqCg=s320" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="320" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdrbRM-pnvGBQcAgdcKb2AeH_iPuSc96bHXhM05NQPaSKhJAOLPSd0NFV8jHY7sGyZ6UBtRBYzimZEC0tpWe4dGVmQ6KTQzoU1sIfKWeXsIfDFu23rw34dGWZCcTRL8C_B7JSGK-uWbH5Tg_csG4zQNe0OOkJSFXXuobGMceQMnff2qJcqCg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999;"><a href="https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/2021/12/26/wordle-533/">The Sunday Whirl </a>has a set of words, for a Wordle:<br /><br />signal drive plaid lone life joke<br />club ice fire merry join fly</span><br /><br /><br /><b>Why should they care?</b><br /><br />I wonder what drives them.<br />These well fed, well paid, members of The Club?<br />Rhetorical question.<br />Fly in, fly out,<br />Make merry around fires or pools,<br />Sipping drinks chilled with imported glacier ice,<br />While it’s still there,<br />Why should they care?<br />That’s the life!<br />The signals drip entitlement.<br />Pillage while you can,<br />Because you can,<br />All you can.<br />Joke about the poor lone pathetic fools<br />Who lament your actions.<br />Your media buddies ridicule them<br />With cheap shots and phone taps,<br />Headlines, all in bold caps.<br />“Well played!” they chortle.<br />Well, plaid is Gaelic for blanket—<br />Covered up. Hidden. Smothered.<br />The truth. Justice. Equity.<br />Just the scars are visible. </p><p style="text-align: center;">They've gone.<br />Why should they care?<br /><span style="color: white;"> .</span><br />---<br />
© 2022 J Cosmo Newbery<br />--- <br /></p>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30233877.post-83057132451231400232021-09-06T19:57:00.000+10:002021-09-06T19:57:22.593+10:001574 - Off One's Tree<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdh1U00dLfrk6hFu0xunM6P8nW7r7WlyIdydI2JsSEdzMyQd_Ean25UDP_scOUpMJbMJLnErsgABtzdsTEMsuLQK_DiPR_u706h_Qj1P7v4Lq05KtU5xNlo-vIKi1vJyfhO6Lh/s600/tree2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="600" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdh1U00dLfrk6hFu0xunM6P8nW7r7WlyIdydI2JsSEdzMyQd_Ean25UDP_scOUpMJbMJLnErsgABtzdsTEMsuLQK_DiPR_u706h_Qj1P7v4Lq05KtU5xNlo-vIKi1vJyfhO6Lh/s320/tree2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999;"> <a href="https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/2021/09/05/wordle-517/" target="_blank">The Sunday Whirl </a>has a set of words, for a Wordle:<br />flutter, cage, hanger, cold, try, tree,<br />deny, womb, wish, finish, stray, eager.</span><br /><br /><br /><b>Off one's tree.</b><br /><br />When bold opportunity knocked<br />And offered to grant them their wish<br />Their hearts denied them a flutter,<br />Cold and rather brutish:<br />From womb—<br />The next stop is tomb.<br /><br />They mutter<br />But most prefer it that way.<br />While their chosen cage is not locked<br />Few are eager to stray.<br /><br />When bold opportunity knocked<br />And offered to grant them their dreams<br />They pulled the hanger door shut—<br />Caution hates extremes.<br />Why try?<br />Just to finish thereby?<br /><br />Clear cut—<br />And most prefer it that way.<br />While their chosen cage is not locked<br />Few are eager to stray.<br /><span style="color: white;"> .</span><br />---<br />
© 2021 J Cosmo Newbery<br />--- <br /></p>J Cosmo Newberyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04459976320205444628noreply@blogger.com3