Writing - Prophetic

Inspired to include these words of Bob Dylan when I re-heard this song this morning. Written in 1963. So many comparisons match equally well today as they did 63 years ago. 

Masters of War

Written by: Bob Dylan

Come you masters of war

You that build all the guns

You that build the death planes

You that build the big bombs

You that hide behind walls

You that hide behind desks

I just want you to know

I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin’

But build to destroy

You play with my world

Like it’s your little toy

You put a gun in my hand

And you hide from my eyes

And you turn and run farther

When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old

You lie and deceive

A world war can be won

You want me to believe

But I see through your eyes

And I see through your brain

Like I see through the water

That runs down my drain

You fasten the triggers

For the others to fire

Then you set back and watch

When the death count gets higher

You hide in your mansion

As young people’s blood

Flows out of their bodies

And is buried in the mud

You’ve thrown the worst fear

That can ever be hurled

Fear to bring children

Into the world

For threatening my baby

Unborn and unnamed

You ain’t worth the blood

That runs in your veins

How much do I know

To talk out of turn

You might say that I’m young

You might say I’m unlearned

But there’s one thing I know

Though I’m younger than you

Even Jesus would never

Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question

Is your money that good

Will it buy you forgiveness

Do you think that it could

I think you will find

When your death takes its toll

All the money you made

Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die

And your death’ll come soon

I will follow your casket

In the pale afternoon

And I’ll watch while you’re lowered

Down to your deathbed

And I’ll stand o’er your grave

’Til I’m sure that you’re dead. 

God Help Us 

 

Poetry Thursday 148 - News or Not News

My father read the newspaper daily. He watched the news on TV and listened to it on the radio. In our present world, where the newspapers, TV and Radio stations can be bought and sold on a whim; where the owners control the stories that are delivered; where news can be generated by AI; and, where the internet is supposedly many peoples' source of news. I wonder if he was alive today, what he'd think. 

News or Not News

 

So you believe you are important,

that your life is significant,

you go to work and pay your tax,

you watch the news and hear the facts,

and believe that you’re a part,

right from the very start.

 

But just think on a bit,

how much control have you got of it,

when you get to work they tell you what to do,

in the news you find what’s good for you,

but feel safe because of democracy,

you can always vote for another party.

 

Will it make a difference,

is the news unambiguous,

who bought the news this week,

what truths are they telling you to seek,

how do you make choices,

when facts are controlled by different voices.

©David L Atkinson June 2026 

God Bless 

Writing - You're in it

  I’ve tried to explain the mindset of being an author, and yet the narrative is controlled by the characters in the story rather than by you.

If you think about it, it is perfectly logical. When you create a

 character, you don't just create the physical or even a convenient set of behaviours, but you also produce a psyche that will enable the character to operate within the story. So, an aggressive nature,  or high intellect, or supportive traits. In other words, you make them human. 

In reality, I believe that while you are writing, you are employing several aspects of your brain and its functions. While in that concentrated state, you are empathising with two or three characters in your story, then your own reality becomes secondary to the story, and you have some kind of out-of-body experience. This is then explained as the story characters taking over the narrative. I offer this explanation because the alternative is not possible. In support of this phenomenon are esteemed writers such as Ian Rankin (Rebus novels). 

So being taken over psychologically is ok. That may sound strange, but it can be seen as a test of the quality of the people in your story. 

It is acceptable. 

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 147 - Not Funny

 A couple of offerings today of a lighter nature. 

Funny

 

After all the words and sentences I’ve learned something about me,

and I’ve been writing stuff for 15 years or more,

I’m not the slightest bit funny.

 

It doesn’t matter how hard I try,

after all the metaphors, similes and so on,

my jokes are the sort to make you cry,

 

Dad jokes but without the punchline,

the intention to amuse is present,

but the skill is not really mine.

 

But writing is the drug of choice,

no wish to go cold turkey,

just hope that someone hears this one small voice.

©David L Atkinson June 2026 

Remember the Emperor succumbing to a grifter's tale that he had a fine suit of clothes, when he was in fact naked. Well, art is open to that sort of grift. 

False foods

 

Had a slice of science training,

learnt a bit of human anatomy,

a smaller chunk of plant biology,

I might sound like I know what I’m saying ,

 

Green stuff is not that good for you.

cell walls contain cellulose,

defined as roughage is close,

appendix no longer able to do what it is meant to do,

so the final outcome is just more poo.

 

Then the fallen one jumps on the green band wagon,

adds a plant to his artillery,

pungent, stringy and full of water,

good for you is celery.

 

Like the emperor’s suit of clothes,

taste is in the eye of the beholder,

each mouthful is no gastronomic rose,

celery needs a cold shoulder. 

 

Speaking of taste, consider the oyster,

who decided this would be good to eat,

in fact a starvation buffer,

now a delicacy to the elite.

©David L Atkinson June 2026  

God Bless 

Writing - Empathy again

 Empathy is the ability to emotionally understand what other people feel, see things from their perspective, and imagine yourself in their place. 

The above is probably an essential skill in being able to create characters and have them interact in a story. It is also a skill some adults actually never mastered. It is currently one of the many criticisms of the President of the United states Donald J Trump. As the definition suggests, this is a complex skill that develops over time, and the young author may find some aspects exceedingly difficult.

That was carried out in the classroom when I used to teach. The task was to have the children write from the point of view of somebody in a story, and the quality of the work that came out was varied. 

 

An example could be the breaking into a home at Christmas as seen through the eyes of the family cat or dog. I know the example would be telling the story of Jesus and trying to go to Jerusalem on a donkey from the point of view of the donkey.

 

The first stage in answering these questions would be to describe the emotions felt at the time. Questions such as how would you feel in that situation are quite useful prompts.

 

Being able to practise empathy brings about the tempering of your behaviour towards other people and hopefully leads you to become a more understanding adult. So you can see why, when writing a story, the skill is important. 

 

When I was writing the Steele novels, my lead character Patrick steagall add to manage relationships between himself and three or four other people and those relationships pertain throughout all 11 books and so weren't stationary but developed and in some cases broke up. From my point of view, I found this one with the enjoyable parts of writing stories. The manipulation of the characters and situations they found themselves in was great fun, or at least it could be and also influenced the direction in which stories progressed.

 

As an exercise for oneself, writing a short story from a different point of view can be a very valuable exercise.

 God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 146 - Ivory Towers

 Another announcement that the energy cap for UK citizens is due to rise. I'm pretty sure that the excuse will be that the cost of buying gas has been increased by our suppliers. I always thought that a cap was supposed to stop unfavourable rises. I'm also pretty sure that the CEOs' bonuses and salaries will not be capped. It would be wonderful if they would refuse their extra salaries and share dividends to help protect the customers. (Just me being naive.) 

Too Many Ivory Towers

 

CEOs of water, fuel and power,

climb down from your glittering, ivory tower,

consider those who are less fortunate,

those who you often manipulate.

 

Academies and Trusts Chair,

is what you’re paid truly fair,

when so many people you employ,

need benefits to bring life a modicum of joy.

 

When asked about your ill-gotten gain,

blaming a committee for what you obtain,

meekly accepting such gross largess,

as a right to your opulent ivory address.

 

Backed by sycophantic politicians,

circling for crumbs to further ambition,

is there a conscience about all that power,

providing your exclusive ivory tower.

©David L Atkinson August 2022 

God Bless 

Writing - Humour

 Over the years, I have read some very amusing books. Some authors are naturally gifted at being amusing, but then there is me! Over the years I have tried to write amusing poetry, I have often been entertained by Roald Dahl, Spike Milligan and Pam Ayres. Similarly, I have enjoyed the writing of Tom Sharpe and various non-fiction writers. 

Porterhouse Blue was a very successful TV series adapted from the eponymous novel by Sharpe. 

I find it difficult to be funny when I am writing, but there is a yearning inside that tempts me occasionally to try. I usually give up fairly quickly. Not that I'm a dour, humourless person, or at least I don't believe that I am, I can be quite witty in a small, understated way, publicly. Writing in an amusing way is a more complex skill, for me. 

This is something that I am unable to offer a great deal of advice on for the previously stated reasons. It would be like me standing up to perform comedy and spouting a series of 'dad' jokes that fall flat. If your feedback suggests that you have a comedic bent in your writing, then go for it; if you believe people find you to be funny in company, it may translate into amusing writing. My advice would be not to force it! 

God Bless