Poetry Thursday 88 - Stages

 Life is so busy, travelling at such a rate that we get sucked in to the speed with the risk of missing out on the enjoyable bits. 

Stages

 

At first all is simple,

as simple as an adolescent pimple,

a drive to succeed and live life at pace,

to prove one worthy as a member of the race.

 

Then less certainty and some serious hurdles,

tests to determine life’s significant boggles,

whether to take the left or right,

may determine how you sleep at night.

 

Then years on life’s production line,

sweetened by well-selected down time,

aiming for a lucrative final account,

towards enjoying the inevitable dismount.

 

At last when the bus is finally in park,

time is yours with which to savour and lark,

look to the success of nearest and dearest,

to assess the lessons learnt by those closest.

© David L Atkinson April 2025 

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday - 84 - From the Shallows

 Anniversaries are a mixture of celebration and sadness. The intensity of those feelings depends upon the nature of the anniversary and the relationship to the person(s) being remembered. There you go the obvious has been stated. My own experience is no different from anyone else's but on the anniversary of my father's death it was brought home to me on the death of John Hemingway (105) this week. The trigger being that he was born in the same year as my Dad 1919, but my father died 32 years ago. 

From the Shallows

 

Is there enough sugar in the pie,

I saw you shudder and squint your eye,

No its okay dear - lovely.

You’re a poor liar Leslie.

 

Ee how do you know that fact?

I’ll ‘ve read it somewhere,

you’ve always got yer nose in this or that,

every moment you've got to spare.

 

How much have yer had to drink?

Just two pints dear,

giving me a knowing wink,

he’d a good capacity for beer.

 

Leslie, don't forget to steep the peas,

not at all dear,

essential task before he's at his ease,

that keeps the marital ticket clear.

© David L Atkinson March 2025 

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday - 44 - I Never Had

 Growing up should be warm and fuzzy but you can't have everything you want. One of my father's mantras was 'I want never gets' and it was delivered gently enough but it isn't just for children, it should be a reminder for life. 

I Never Had

 

I never had a grandad,

both taken in the mines,

I only had one grandma,

and only for short times,

I never had a brother,

with whom I could argue and scrap,

I never had a sister,

to teach me the female map.

 

I never had an invisible friend,

with whom I could talk and play,

who would accompany me to bed at night

and keep dark monsters away,

who took me on adventures

but kept me safe from harm,

and when I was stressed or upset,

kept me cool and calm.

 

What I had was worth more than gold,

when young - saw to my every plead,

even when they themselves were old,

they nourished every spiritual need.

©David L Atkinson June 2024

God Bless 

Writing - Vive la difference

 There is no doubt about it men and women are different. When John Gray wrote the book Men are from Mars Women from Venus he certainly got the right idea. It's true biologically the male and female of the species are very different but not just in appearance or biological function, but also in rates of development physically, emotionally and intellectually. In these facts is where the powers that be get it wrong. The bottom line is that men and women are not the same, they don't ever become the same and as such they deserve the right to be treated differently and with respect. 

In a very erudite piece of writing by the author Bill Bryson he encapsulates one of the differences between the two sexes. It is also an amusing interlude that enriches his writing and could be a strategy used in all writing. 

I include the passage for your entertainment. 

Although the store had only just opened, the food hall was busy and there were long queues at the tills. I took a place in a line behind eight other shoppers. They were all women and they all did the same mystifying thing: they acted surprised when it came time to pay. This is something that has been puzzling me for years. Women will stand there watching their items being rung up, and then when the till lady says,

'That's £4.20, love,'

or whatever, they suddenly look as if they've never done this sort of thing before. They go 'Oh!' and start rooting in a flustered fashion in their handbag for their purse or chequebook, as if no-one had told them that this might happen.

 

Men, for all their many shortcomings, like washing

large pieces of oily machinery in the kitchen sink or

forgetting that a painted door stays wet for more than thirty seconds, are generally pretty good when it comes to paying. They spend their time in line doing a wallet inventory and sorting through their coins. When the till person announces the bill, they immediately hand over an approximately correct amount of money, keep their hand extended for the change however long it takes or foolish they may begin to look if there is, say, a problem with the till roll, and then — mark this - pocket their change as they walk away instead of deciding that now is the time to search for the car keys and reorganize six months' worth of receipts.

God Bless 

Writing - Girls' Day

 How many Japan’s annual festivals can you name? While Japanese people celebrate worldwide events such as Christmas and New Year’s just like other countries, they also have some unique national holidays that can be experienced only in Japan. Hinamatsuri is one of these festivities. Girl’s day is celebrated nationwide every year on March 3rd. If you live in Japan, or have traveled in Japan during the time of the festival before, it is probably not your first time hearing about the festival. 

It is also known as “Girl’s Day” or “Doll Festival” in English. The festival is held to pray for the healthy growth, prosperity and happiness of girls, especially those that are 10 or younger. 

Families with young girls will display a beautiful set of traditional Japanese dolls called hina-ningyo (hina dolls) at home. The hina dolls are believed to ward off evil and misery. These hina dolls are displayed with a prayer for good health and happy marriage for girls in the future, as they represent the Japanese imperial family’s wedding long ago. 

Like many other holidays, hinamatsuri is also a day when people enjoy special dishes. Chirashizushi is the most popular one, which can be translated as “scattered sushi” in English. It is a traditional Japanese dish consisting of vinegared rice with a variety of ingredients, including vegetables, thin egg omelets and seafood that are scattered on top! 

Hinamatsuri is a special day for Japanese families with little girls. If you don’t have children, however, you can still enjoy it in many different ways. Trying hinamatsuri dishes is enjoyable for everyone, which also allows you to experience traditional Japanese food culture. 

God Bless