Tag Archives: blogging

The Country of the Blind

As someone who is visually impaired, I am registered blind, I was interested to listen to an interview with Andrew Lealand https://blog.freedomscientific.com/fscast-233-andrew-lelands-new-book-the-country-of-the-blind-and-accessible-manufacturing-at-the-seattle-lighthouse/. Andrew is in the process of losing his sight and has written a book entitled “The Country of the Blind”, which should not be confused with the novel of the same name by H. G. Wells.

 

In the interview Andrew talks about going blind and the many issues which losing one’s vision brings up.

 

Like me, Andrew uses software called Job Access with Speech (JAWS), which converts text into speech and braille enabling those who are visually impaired and/or blind to use a standard Windows computer or laptop. JAWS is manufactured by Freedom Scientific and Andrew Lealand appears on the company’s latest podcast.

 

I haven’t read Andrew’s book. It is, however now most definitely on my list of books to be read.

Rose and her Toes

I know a young lady named Rose

Who likes to show me her toes.

My wife Coral

Calls her immoral,

But she hasn’t seen Rose without clothes!

Westminster Cathedral’s Chimes

The passing chimes

Of Westminster Cathedral bring to mind

A former time

When belief in empire still burned strong.

Yet in his song

Rudyard Kipling foresaw

That the fire

Of the British Empire

Would burn no more.

 

Westminster Cathedral’s chimes

Will continue on

When I am gone

And Kipling’s great rhymes

Will be condemned

(As before)

By men

Who have never read

“Recessional”. and know not he foresaw

That the red

Of empire would show no more.

Puddles on the Churchyard Path

I passed

Puddles on the churchyard path.

But when

I came that way again

I saw them no more.

 

 

How quickly men

Pass by

Puddles on the churchyard path,

And how soon they die.

Does Poetry Have a Place in Business?

I recently read this fascinating article in the business magazine Forbes, by Stephanie Denning, entitled “Does Poetry Have a Place in Business” https://www.forbes.com/sites/stephaniedenning/2018/04/06/does-poetry-have-a-place-in-business-one-unsung-success-secret/.

 

In the article Denning argues that those who read poetry develop their imaginations and imagination is an important factor in driving successful business.

 

I believe that poetry is valuable in and of itself. It is not merely a utilitarian means to the end of good business practice. Denning accepts this, but contends that reading poetry is also valuable in driving business success.

 

I have never worked in a business environment (other than selling and promoting my books), and would be interested to hear the views of any readers who have (or are) employed in business. Why does poetry matter to you? Or why does it not matter? Or you merely indifferent to it?

 

A State of Grace

A young lady whose name is Lorna

Has a job in a sordid sauna.

When I walk passed that place

With that sweet girl Miss Grace,

I remember we met in that sauna …

Cigarettes

One white the other black.

They left to get cigarettes.

Would they be back?

He didn’t know

But half hoped so.

 

He remembers cigarettes

But forgets

Girl’s names.

 

Sometimes he regrets

The old game.

But reflects, “expensive cigarettes

Are not my shame”.

An Invitation

When a naughty young lady named Lou

Said, “please do join me and Sue”,

I said to Miss Flow,

“I think we should go!”,

But Flow was too busy with Lou!

Sitting on this Fallen Log

Sitting on this fallen log

With my dog

Nearby, I touch the reality

Of this tree,

Which once stood

In this Great North Wood.

 

 

It’s brother trees still stand

Their canopy shading me

From the evening sun.

 

 

Others will come

And sit or stand

In this place

When this old fallen tree

And you who

Now read me

Have vanished without trace.

The Scents of a Mild July

The scents of a mild July

Fill the woodland air.

There has been a heavy downpour.

I know there

Will be more

Rain to soak the dry

Earth here in the UK.

While elsewhere

People die

In the blistering sun.

Today, it is not the UK.

But another heatwave will surely come

And we will pray

For the rain again.

 

 

The autumn

Used to bring fallen leaves

While the springtime

Brought flowers.

Now I rhyme

Of confusion

and the illusion of progress.

But man’s hour?

I know not

When his clock may stop.