A flea that had nothing to eat
Jumped up onto everyone’s feet
It sucked lots of blood
Said “Ooh that’s so good”
Then bit them again on the seat
THE HUNGRY FLEA
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Category Archives: Uncategorized
A Living Wage For Writers – From A Most UNLIKELY Source
This is undoubtedly an interesting idea. I note though that it doesn’t apply to my craft (that of poetry), can you hear my deep sigh?!
While I can see advantages to such a scheme (namely allowing writers to hone their craft on a full-time basis and produce great literature), having a job (other than writing) arguably does furnish the author/poet with a broader perspective on the world. Philip Larkin was a librarian while Sir Walter Ralegh engaged in diplomacy, exploring and twiddling his thumbs in the Tower of London prior to an unfortunate appointment with a very sharp implement! The poetry of both men arguably benefited from their day jobs. If, however anyone wants to pay me a good wage to compose poetry full-time I’m certainly not going to look a gift horse in the mouth …
Sometimes your internet life and your real life meet in the most unlikely ways.
For an Instagram star, this might be when they get caught for Photoshopping in a sponsored tan, and out a dimpled arse.
On Facebook, it might be when you’re tagged in a photograph on the night you swore to your soon-to-be-ex best friend you were not going out.
On Snapchat, it…. Oh, who cares? It’s Snapchat.
My two lives collided briefly this week when I read an article in the Guardian about a publisher which is going to pay writers a salary to give up all other paid employment and write full-time.
Apparently, this publisher reckons that writers can’t get really good at it, unless they can do it without the distraction of having to earn money elsewhere. The Guardian says:
De Montfort Literature, a new publishing company that is part of London hedge fund De Montfort Capital…
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THE BORED WOODWORM
This made me smile
AND NOW, A BIT OF FUN
A woodworm that felt rather good
Chewed its way through lots of wood
But then it got bored
Yelled “This main course is flawed
I think it’s now time for some pud.”
A Short Analysis of A. E. Housman’s ‘Tell Me Not Here, It Needs Not Saying’
This is a beautiful poem and is (along with “On Wenlock Edge”) my favourite Housman poem.
‘Tell me not here, it needs not saying’ is one of the most famous poems from A. E. Housman’s second volume, Last Poems (1922). In this poem, which comes near the end of the collection, Housman reflects on his relationship with nature, before concluding that, although nature does not care or even know about him, he feels a close bond with it.
Tell me not here, it needs not saying,
What tune the enchantress plays
In aftermaths of soft September
Or under blanching mays,
For she and I were long acquainted
And I knew all her ways.
On russet floors, by waters idle,
The pine lets fall its cone;
The cuckoo shouts all day at nothing
In leafy dells alone;
And traveller’s joy beguiles in autumn
Hearts that have lost their own.
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I Challenge You To…
Thanks to Esther Chilton for hosting this week’s challenge, in which she asked contributors to write a limerick, poem or story on the subject of holidays. You can find a number of contributions below, including a limerick and a poem composed by me. Kevin
This week’s challenge is to write a story, limerick or poem on the subject of:
Holidays
Last week’s challenge was to write about sunshine. You sent in some excellent pieces. Here are a few:
Keith Channing‘s limerick is hilarious – and so true!
Sometimes, when the weather is fine
We sit back with bread, cheese and wine
There is no way how
We could do that right now
COS WE AIN’T GOT NO BLOODY SUNSHINE!
Now an amusing one from Kevin:
Drinking wine
With my friend Divine
In the sunshine,
All was good
Until being drunk
As a skunk
She fell
In the mud.
But I promised not to tell
So please keep that
Under your hat …
Please visit The Militant Negro‘s blog for something a little different:
https://themilitantnegro.com/2018/05/10/i-challenge-you-to-sunshine/
And do take a look at Steve Walksky‘s blog for a warming read:
https://simplicitylane.wordpress.com/2018/05/15/sunshine-is-a-wakening-poem/
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I Challenge You To…
A number of contributions to Ester Chilton’s challenges to write about the subject of chips (last weeks challenge) and sunshine (this weeks challenge). My contributions to both challenges can be found below along with those of others.
This week’s challenge is to write a story, limerick or poem on the subject of:
Sunshine
Last week’s challenge was to write about chips/crisps. You sent in some really funny pieces. Here are a few:
Here’s Keith Channing‘s brilliant limerick:
As soon as it passes my lips
The best food descends to my hips
Fried fish done in batter
Will soon make me fatter
So for now, it’s Goodby Mr Chips.
Steph Richmond has written something we can all relate to:
The WeightWatchers Conundrum.
It looked at me, tempting me. I could almost hear it saying, ‘Go on, I won’t hurt you… come just a little closer.’ I was torn. Should I give in to temptation? My mind was saying, ‘No’, my heart saying, ‘Yes’. I am learning to follow my heart in most things.
I reach out to accept my fate, my mouth waters. My mind tries…
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PorterGirl – The Vanishing Lord only 99p !
Lucy’s writing is invariably brings a smile to my face.
Guest Barista: Kevin Morris/Oft of a summer’s day
My thanks to Go Dog Go Café for hosting me on their blog and publishing my poem “Oft of a Summer’s Day”.
Oft of a summer’s day
Have I turned away
To write.
I shall go out tomorrow
And forget my words
In the singing of birds.
But when night
Falls, I shall return what I borrow
From my ever present friend
Old Father Time
And my brief rhyme
Shall reach it’s end.
Kevin Morris was born in Liverpool (UK) on 6 January 1969.
Having graduated with a BA (joint hons) in history and politics and a
MA in political theory, from University College of Swansea, Kevin
moved to London where he now lives and works.
Kevin began writing poetry in 2012. Being blind he uses a standard
Windows computer with a screen reader called Jaws, which transcribes
print into speech and braille.
Kevin blogs at newauthoronline.com, where many of his poems can be
found, together with links to his published works.
CONFESSION
I particularly like the first poem which reminds me of the poetry of Dowson.
And now the dark days lengthen
So many friends have gone
I feel my spirit strengthen
Though so much feels so wrong
So many friends have gone,
Too many now to mention,
And so much feels so wrong,
The world is held in tension
Too many now to mention,
I sing my own sad song,
The world is held in tension
For better days I long
I sing my own sad song,
Free from all pretension,
For better days I long,
Time taught me a lesson
Free from all pretension
With those I live among,
Time taught me a lesson
Don’t join in the throng
With those I live among,
There can be no invention,
Don’t join in the throng,
No need to make impression
With those I live among,
I grieve with deep intention,
No need to make impression,
My time now is not long
I grieve with deep…
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Guest Writer Spot
My thanks to Esther Chilton for kindly hosting me on her blog.
It’s my pleasure to welcome Kevin Morris to my blog. He’s my Guest Writer this week.
Here is a little bit about him, in his own words:
‘I was born in Liverpool (UK) on 6 January 1969. I lost the majority of my eyesight at 18-months-old due to a blood clot. I am a braille user and have happy memories of leafing through “The Oxford Book of English Verse” and other poetry collections in the school library. (I attended The Royal School for the Blind, followed by Saint Vincent’s School for the Blind, both of which still exist and are located in Liverpool). I read history and politics at University College Swansea and graduated with a BA (joint hons) and a MA in political theory. During my time at Swansea I participated in the student’s sailing club and have pleasant memories of swimming in the sea when the boat capsized!
‘In…
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K Morris - Poet 