Many thanks to Jason (Opinionated Man) for his kindness in allowing me to publish a guest post on his blog about my collection of poetry and prose, “Dalliance”. For the article please visit Jason’s blog here (http://aopinionatedman.com/2015/02/28/guest-post-dalliance-a-collection-of-poetry-and-prose-by-k-morris/).
Kevin
The weeds, interspersed with flowers raise their heads enquiringly at unfamiliar footfall. So long have they remained undisturbed,, they scarcely know how to greet a guest.
Once visitors thronged to the garden. Comments on it’s layout and the many and varied plants rang out. A joyous chiriping as of many birds was heard.
The gardener became ill, died or perhaps lost interest in his plot, leaving it to dwindle, turn in upon itself. A few flowers still bloom, their scent appreciated by the occasional guest who, stumbling upon the place unawares pauses, savours the beauty of the flowers then wondering, sadly why this little paradise has been abandoned, passes on.
Is not a blog a little like a garden?
My collection of short stories, “Sting In The Tail” is free in the Amazon Kindle store from today (Saturday 28 February) until Wednesday 4 March. To download “Sting In The Tail” free please go to (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sting-tail-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00DFK6R54/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8, for the UK) or (http://www.amazon.com/Sting-tail-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00DFK6R54, for the USA).
If you read “Sting In The Tail” or any of my other books, I would appreciate it if you would please consider leaving a review.
Many thanks,
Kevin
My mind is reeling after having just read the below list! Kevin
Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time – Bad, Bad Book IdeasAs you might imagine, book bloggers spend a lot of time on Amazon.com, Goodreads and Shelfari. And we also go to the obscure, dusty, rarely-visited crevices of the web…all to bring our readers the very best in books and book news. But in our travels, we often stumble upon the very…unusual. Whether these books are intentionally campy and innuendo-laden is not clear. All we know is that, yes, these books really exist. Really.
Thank you to The Story Reading Ape for this post. Please comment on Chris’s blog rather than mine as his post contains a useful poll.
Many thanks,
Kevin
Into my heart an air that kills
From yon far country blows:
What are those blue remembered hills,
What spires, what farms are those?
That is the land of lost content,
I see it shining plain,
The happy highways where I went
And cannot come again.
Like a living thing it lurked in the spare room quietly clicking away to itself. No one knew about it save for the boy and he told no one. What would have been the point of telling? Had he told they would have called him mad, a strange child with a tenuous grip on reality, the adults would have remarked. Sometimes even he doubted the existence of the thing. During the day the room stood silent and empty except for the presence of a chest of drawers, a single bed and a wardrobe. The homely presence of the furniture, solid and dependable reassured him during daylight that all was right with the world. When the sun shonne on the walls the horses imprinted on the wall paper filled the child with delight. He imagined them galloping across sunlit green fields their long mains blowing in the wind.
At night the thing came. Click, click it said, crouching in the corner coiled and ready to pounce. It never left it’s lair but the knowledge of the loathsome presence filled him with dread, Click, click, waiting patiently in the dark for it’s prey.
Looking back he never could recall having entered the room. Some how or other he was there in the presence of the unspeakable clicking entity. It never spoke, perhaps it was incapable of speech, the thing merely bided it’s time and when the time was right struck like a beast launching itself upon his prey. Click, click the machine whispered to itself it’s tentacles reaching for the boy’s neck. Choking he fought with the thing. It was strong but he always managed to wriggle away somehow. Perhaps it wanted him to escape. Like a cat which takes pleasure in catching a mouse, releasing it and giving chase once more the thing would let him go only to wait, patiently for the next tussle.
He called it the strangling machine on account of it’s propensity to choke him. Click, click, click, the sound echoed down the years.
I like the below. Kevin
Some time ago, while in a humorous or cynical frame of mind (take your pick as to which one applies), I penned the below poem entitled, “Young Woman Older Man” which runs thus:
“Young lady older man, is there love or a cunning plan? Middle aged man with younger girl, does love exist in this world? What thoughts pass through your heads, as you lie entwined in your bed? Girl are you there or far away? What holds you, makes you stay?
“Oh my darling man why worry? enjoy me while you can. Life is short, I am sweet. Give in to lust then let us sleep”.
Yesterday I was chatting with a female friend regarding my writing. I can’t remember how the matter arose but at some point during our conversation she mentioned that older men (in their 70’s) shouldn’t be allowed to date young women in their 20’s. Her argument was that the young women could take advantage of the lonleness and/or vulnerability of the older man. On me questioning my friend further she mentioned she found it distasteful for people with big age differences to date.
I hear all my friend says. However, as I said to my friend, such a relationship cuts both ways. Many older men (and women) are in possession of all their faculties and know exactly what they are letting themselves in for. Lets take the worst case scenario where a much younger woman (or man) enters into a relationship with someone considerably older than themselves in order to gain financial staibility (I.E. love does not enter into the equation). I am sure that in many such instances the older party in the relationship is well aware that their other half entertains no romantic feelings for them. However both are gaining something from the transaction. The older person is gaining companionship and (yes) other things, while the younger participant is obtaining financial security. No one’s rights are being violated. Of course if the older person is suffering from dementia and the younger party takes advantage of this fact, this is wholly immoral and downright illegal. However many older people in such relationships are in full possession of their faculties and would, quite understandably feel patronised were anyone to suggest they didn’t know what they where doing.
What about the younger participant in the relationship, can not she (or he) be exploited? Yes they can. However if the law says (as it does in the UK) that people may marry, without parental consent at 18-years-old (and at 16 with their parents consent), then on what basis can a law stopping younger people from marrying those considerably older than themselves be based? Also how old is too old? Is it OK for a lady of 21 to enter into a relationship with a man of 41? If yes is it OK for the same lady to date a man of 51? If not, why not? And were, exactly does one draw the line and on what basis?
There is, of course the possibility of genuine love. People with vast age differences can (and do) fall in love, not all such relationships are based on crude calculations of financial gain and, ultimately provided both parties are adults and compus mentus it is, no concern of anyone other than themselves how they live their lives.
To say the above is not to argue that one should never offer advice in such situations. A parent who’s 18-year-old daughter announces her intention to move in with a man in his 60’s might well feel grave apprehension and (rightly) counsel her to think extremely carefully before taking such a step. It would, however, in the final analysis be the choice of the adult woman. One can argue that 18 is to young and that the law should (as was previously the case) stipulate 21 as the age of adulthood in the UK, however unless that happens (which is extremely unlikely) we must respect the decisions of others to do as they wish in matters of relationships.
So there is no doubt in the matter I believe that relationships should, in the ideal world be based on love and friendship. However it is not my role to tell other
K Morris - Poet 