Hardly lowering the tone, Patsy. That will strike a chord with every mother - and it's only the beginning. There's lots more ahead.

God forbid Biz


Patsy - welcome back I enjoyed this poem, I never really thought about the parent's viewpoint on the occasion. You put all the mixed emotions across really well

U-boat nerves

Curse this tin we're trapped in,
Damn these metal walls,
I observe the Captain,
From work he won’t pause
Till victory is gained at sea
To help the Nazi cause.

I was a believer,
None loved Hitler more
Until cabin fever
Gripped my nerves and bore
Into my head and now I dread
Each passing day of war.

Claustrophobic feeling,
Tension makes me sweat,
Steel hatch, floor and ceiling
Dominate and yet
Sometimes at night in dreams I sight
The home I can’t forget.

If a depth charge follows
Then hits our machine
As the ocean swallows,
Sinking the machine
With fear I’ll dwell pulled down to hell
Chained to a submarine.

Heading for collision,
In the dark we’ll grope,
What use then the vision
Of the periscope?
The seabed rocks will smash this box
And shatter every hope. 


©

What a nightmare. I don't think I'd even have the nerve to descend into a submarine, even if the hatches weren't closed.

Brave men indeed.

Having said that I've no love for the ones who torpedoed our ships.

Agreed Biz. Sometimes it's interesting to write from the German point of view I find.

I couldn't concentrate

Watched a film and noticed how I couldn’t concentrate
On the Brighton black and white as gangsters peddled hate,
Mr Kolly Kibber met a boy who didn’t care,
Lost his life to Pinkie in the ghost train at the fair.

Still I couldn’t concentrate (I’m sorry Graham Greene),
So I chose a record, pressing play on the machine
Started Kate Bush singing and I soon began to drowse
Till my dreams were being stirred by her repeated wows.

Then I tried to read my book, at chapter twenty-four
I’d left absorbing stories of the English Civil War
But I couldn’t concentrate on Cromwell or the King;
The mind is such a wayward, free and independent thing.


©

Posted this one elsewhere on GD, but the thread got locked and I like to keep my stuff here so I can find them (if I ever finish that software).

Taboo.

Oh we're all so fine
as we wait in line
to use our rights.
Who's in our sights?

Aren't we just great
as we tell it straight
from the the horses arse -
for the sake of farce.

Are we that dim
to go out on a limb
when we know it offends?
That's not how to make friends.

Just what's the point.
Must freedom anoint
like it's some kind of race?
Man's further disgrace.

The poem seems to accurately pinpoint debates on DS Archiver. I find most of them get spoiled by intolerance and nastiness. Thank god for IPaDA, an oasis of calm

One more for the IPAD - A.
A haiku.

Pregnant are the oaks
Bearing little acorn buds
Nature's mid-wives buzz

Love it Frank

Well I always thought you created the thread.

Rambling Inheritance.

A friend without need
is the rarest of breed.

Behind Family in the queue,
the others, so many,
have plans a plenty
to get what they can out of you.

To be taken for granted
here in the enchanted
world of a thousand lies.
And then sell you up river
and you, all a quiver,
amend your will. Surprise!

Well count me out Baby.
I've been thinking maybe
I like the ocean more
than great auntie Mabel's
antique tables.
I'm dreaming of waves on shore.

Keep your old barren acres
and pictures of makers
and dusty old ancient books.
Just give me a boat
and a poem un-wrote
and a line of feathered hooks.

I did start this place but I never think of it as my thread, it's always ours

I love Rambling Inheritance Archiver. It tells a great story - someone rejecting the material benefits of a will for the simple things in life like angling and enjoying the sea

Wish I could write poetry, I'm not articulate though

Aaw - never mind Christina I hope you enjoy reading the poetry here

I do, thank you
Ive tried reading Dante lately, its quite challenging

I've never read any Dante but I know he was a big influence on artists like Blake and Rossetti.

How true Archiver. The only problem being the cost of that boat etc. Hmmm. A friend in need?


Ah, but you see, if you weren't so prolific, the thread would get lost in the mists.


You aren't alone Christina. However, don't let that stop you joining in and making comments. You'd be very welcome.

thanks Musty. Re. Brighton Rock thought it was about its beach ho ho. Loved the film (Attenboro') never read it though.

Thanks both. Spot on. I also liked how the last line 'a line of feathered hooks' may be applied to a good line of poetry.

(...and I'll bloody do it one day. You can't live near the sea for long without always wanting to return. I love Kernow. )

Funnily enough when I first read that line, I imagined a line of birds perched on a rail or rigging, waiting for a fish to emerge.

Interpretation is what you make it.

I'm still reposting oldies mainly Biz but I couldn't concentrate was a new poem


It's a good book, I recommend it Frank


I liked that line too. I love the sea as well Archiver, I must be due for another visit soon

I do recognize some of them, however as I've said before, good poetry is meant to be read over and over again.

I've had many a day when "I couldn't concentrate".

I called a meeting of my forum,
namely me as I attend it alone,
nominally completing a quorum;
my rules OK, my ball, my zone.

I am going to hold a referendum
to judge what I'm having for tea;
big decision made by little old me,
doctor's orders? Sure to bend'em,
with meet quantum of autocracy.

Frazzle bacon, pile up for me fries,
guzzleworthy but no doubt unwise;
it's all down to voters' rights alright,
majority favours rich meats tonight.

It's easily done


Even as a non-meat eater this made my mouth water Frank

AUTUMN

Almanac's pages flip ever over,
Usual green leaves now copper,
Trees' great end of season show
Ushers in the year's latest new line;
Models a motley panoply of colour,
Nature's procession, in its fashion.