tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10925517919055070692024-03-13T15:10:57.108-07:00Poems and Poetry on LifeJohn Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-65654258634132551672020-11-09T10:39:00.000-08:002020-11-09T10:41:17.525-08:00Original Song Lyrics, The Cat<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HUUKzloFA5U/X6mMm91hlCI/AAAAAAAADj4/9hhacmGlVh0-Lji-dw0zkly5U03Mza4qgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1627/v3tapps_guitarists%2Bdo%2Bit%2B_hands%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1472" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HUUKzloFA5U/X6mMm91hlCI/AAAAAAAADj4/9hhacmGlVh0-Lji-dw0zkly5U03Mza4qgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/v3tapps_guitarists%2Bdo%2Bit%2B_hands%2B%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Something I have intended to do for ages, is to transcribe my song writing notebooks on to the computer. Simply so that if the old books hand written books fall apart, I have a usable copy of the lyrics of some 250-300 songs and which I can properly archive.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 6px 0px;">Whilst an enforced period without the uke is in operation, I have actually gotten around to exercising my typing skills. Last night I came to the end of creating a first volume of my lyrics with 50 songs mostly dated from the seventies. I hope to be able to add chords to the lyrics but again all you need is time; close to a cue for a song but would that be a step too far.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 6px 0px;">Most of the songs have been almost forgotten, I had revived about a dozen for use with my ukulele, but although being able to sing the rest, I would need to work out some chords. Especially as they are for a different instrument to that which they were written on.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 6px 0px;">Although people often ask which comes first, the lyric of the melody, I have to say that with me it was usually both at once. So whilst I can sing them (almost?) Remembering how I played them is not possible.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 6px 0px;">So some of the songs are ones I still play, some I have forgotten, some have cheesy lyrics (as my son calls them), some are clever (well... ?). and some are just strange. Oh yes, and some were written in answer to the punk revolution so are impossible to categorise. But they all have some sort of memories for me, even if it was just singing them with relief when they were finished. Assuming of course that they were finished. I was still editing and changing the lyrics as I typed them into the laptop.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 6px 0px;">Here is one example of a "strange" lyric, I remember writing this one after watching a TV program with David Bowie talking about his songwriting. He used to collect newspaper head lines and then use them to create the lyrics of some of his (earlier?) songs. I tried this method but was always a bit suspicious of the results and maybe three or four survived my regular culls.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 6px 0px;">This one is called "THE CAT"</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 6px 0px;">Let me tell you about that curious character called The Cat<br />He’s a man who’ll tell you that he knows where it’s happening & where it’s really at<br />But beware, take care he’s having you on and dragging you down<br />It’s your turn this time, if you don’t turn around and forget him</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 6px 0px;">There’s a lot to be said, better get it straight; keep yourself on the ball<br />Though everyone’s going, an invitation to his pad leads to a fall<br />Look out girl, keep on rolling, take a bow show him a vanishing trick<br />A touch of magic is all it needs, are you good enough</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 6px 0px;">Take a trip to the U.S. of A. leave the winter behind you<br />He won’t forgive or forget what you did he don’t like taking a fall<br />Steal the show, see and be seen, strike it lucky There’s a rough road ahead<br />And it’s safer the second time around When escaping to nowhere,</p>John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-77608740052873762782020-02-25T12:54:00.002-08:002020-02-25T12:54:35.210-08:00Original Song Lyric: My Love<div style="text-align: justify;">
Unfortunately, I never dated any of my early songs; I simply scribbled them out onto any handy scraps of paper - I was usually in a hurry to record them before they were forgotten. Once I was satisfied with the lyric, and that usually meant with the melody as they often came out of my head (?) together, I carefully copied them out into a hard-backed note book using a fountain pen (remember those?) and in my best writing. I reckon I could have been a doctor with that skill level.</div>
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The same applied to the guitar accompaniments really, in fact the chord structure often suggested how the melody progressed. However, in this case I rarely bothered to make a note of the chords and any instrumental flourishes. I never developed longer instro pieces because it was all about the songs at the time. Surprising, you may think since my main inspiration was Hank Marvin and The Shadows. But both sides of my music were kept apart and never the twain did meet. But I digress ...</div>
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Over the years, I must have written hundreds of songs, a lot were never written into the notebooks because they were inferior for one reason or another or reminded me of another song which I may have heard on the radio or TV. I was scrupulous about that. But certainly not all survived to find favour by winning a place in my notebooks. I now have to rely on events, people and places to try and date the songs, that is why the dates I quote, when I do, are so loosely defined. Nowadays I write song much less frequently, and they are immediately typed into the computer where I keep a journal since they can be easily edited. I am also adding my older songs to this journal slowly but surely. Which is what sparked the idea for this whole project.</div>
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But for now, here is another of those very early songs, I have no memories of any sort about this song; why, when or where it came from. It is entitled, "My Love":-</div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">MY LOVE</span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">My Love, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">What have I done to hurt you, won't you tell me?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">What have I done to make you turn against me?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">oh my Love, Oh my Love</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">My Love, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Did you really mean those things that you said to me?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Did you realise how those things cut right through me?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And hurt me, deep inside</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">(bridge)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Won't you give me another little chance?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Tell me where I went wrong.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I'm ready to take all of the blame,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">If you tell me where I went wrong.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">My Love,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">What's it gonna take to get us back together?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">There's really such a lot could hold us two together.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Oh my Love, stay my Love</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Oh my Love, stay my Love ….</span></div>
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Hear the song on my blog, <a href="http://guitarbashin.blogspot.com/2020/02/only-fool-original-song-from-early-1960s.html">Guitar Bashin'</a> or maybe on the musical story <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ukejourney/">A Ukulele Journey</a>. It may take a little while to post to both sites as it is now past my bedtime, well I am getting on a bit. Back with more on this project and more original lyrics soon,John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-15781459839925549022020-02-22T13:23:00.000-08:002020-02-22T13:37:10.157-08:00Original Song - Only A FoolIt looks as if I will be including more of my song lyrics in the future, I guess that there is only a difference in perspective between my poetry and the lyrics and I am not really writing much "poetry" at the moment. Also I will be trying to find a home for the lyrics (which I will be typing up) from songs written by myself over the past 60 years. Yep that was no typo, I have been writing songs since I was 120 years old. Some times in my life have been more productive than others but I have been at it for over 60 years.<br />
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This song was written, as I say when I was about 12-14; I was never very good at keeping a record of dates for most of the time and I can only date the songs from other memories of my life. I remember writing this and about half a dozen more whilst keeping a rythm going with a home made drum kit. The kit consisted of cardboard boxes, biscuit tin lids (the round ones, sometimes with nails drilled thru them to give a lovely swishing sound) and a couple of drums from an old toy set. Those did have skins however. Anyway, the lyrics:-<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Title: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Only A Fool</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">written by John Dyhouse (1958/9)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">You treated me bad</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And put me down.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Then played around with other guys,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Out on the town.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I still Love you,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I'm only a fool.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Won’t you please come back to me?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Stop being so cruel.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">(Bridge) How could you hurt anyone so?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I really don’t know.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I’ll ask again, comeback,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">‘Cause I love you so</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you still love me</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Don’t be so cruel</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Because I still love you so,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I’m only a Fool.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">... Only a fool,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">... Only a fool.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Notice that last stanza, in the song it would be called a coda ( or an outro in modern </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">parlance) </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">but would probably have no place in a poem - or would it? Also would a </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">poem have a bridge?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">If you would like to hear this, sung with a ukulele baking, you will find it here on </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">my <a href="http://guitarbashin.blogspot.com/2020/02/only-fool-original-song-from-early-1960s.html">music pages.</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-71054968016653033442019-03-18T06:34:00.001-07:002019-03-18T06:34:49.888-07:00Still Writing ...Some time since my last post - again;I seem to be writing in fits and starts these days. And doing far more reading. Maybe I am getting old, or maybe I am just too busy. However, I suddenly had an urge to write again last night. An urge which was generated by the purchase of a new ukulele of all things. It is actually a <a href="https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Cordoba-23T-CE-Tenor-Cutaway-Electro-Acoustic-Ukulele/18U1">Cordoba branded instrument</a> and I absolutely love the sound.<i> (Note : the link is to the actual uke which I purchased but there is no association between myself and the company concerned)</i><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ewXz9VPw98/XI-YpTLQ5lI/AAAAAAAADbk/fxGZrPCBoV4tseUhdGImqHPbq4XAAUnVwCLcBGAs/s1600/cordoba.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="541" height="188" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ewXz9VPw98/XI-YpTLQ5lI/AAAAAAAADbk/fxGZrPCBoV4tseUhdGImqHPbq4XAAUnVwCLcBGAs/s200/cordoba.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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I had been playing some of my old songs and wondering why I had stopped writing songs. The answer is guessed was because I had started writing poetry. Not a very satisfying answer because I have not written any poetry for a while. I think it had something to do with being able to express myself as a writer much better with simple lyrics than with the poetry. I decided to put this to the test and sat down to write a song using the methods I would use to write poetry. If that makes sense?<br />
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With songs, I used to play a few chord riffs until a melody came into my head. I would use simple lyrics as a "place marker" for the finished article, however much of that simple lyric often remained.<br />
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I thought what if I wrote the lyric first, and in fact I managed to put something together and when I felt ready (the lyric was not complete) I picked up the uke and started to play and sing. At some point I felt that both aspects gelled and was quite happy with the whole and managed to record a first take using my PC's built in camera.<br />
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This showed a few inconsistencies but meant I would not have to try to remember the melody / timing and then find if I did not get back to it for a few days I would need to repeat the second part of the process, i.e. the melody.<br />
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Here is a copy of the lyric with a few chord names (tentative at this stage) added for my convenience. The chords are written as capitals in square brackets, e.g. [C], [G7], etc.<br />
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<h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 20pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>BIttersweet Memories</i></span></h1>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-e579f22b-7fff-af00-3c7b-5d1ce55a11d4" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>INTRO</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>[C][F][C][G*][G7*]</i></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Verse1</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>-tacit-</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>My em[C]otions are all in a mess</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Should be pulling myself [F]together, I guess</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Let me tell you, I want to explain</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>You're the [G7]reason I'm in so much [C]pain</i></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>V2</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>I can't see a future that's clear</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>The options I have bring me nothing but fear</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>A fear that you're leaving me soon</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>the sky will fall with visions of doom [C*][CM7*][C7*]</i></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>BRIDGE</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>[F]Memories, bIttersweet [C]memories</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>You [F]fill my heart with images of [C]joy [C*][CM7*][C7*]</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>But you [F]cut the chains, </i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>and you [C]loose the reins</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>And [F]cast me down just like some broken [C]toy</i></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>V3</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>I just never know what to expect</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Whatever I do for you, is never correct</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>As close as you and I have been</i></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Anytime at all you can erect that screen</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
Not quite poetry but maybe poetic? I will be posting a video on line when I have got a "clean and finished copy for anyone interested. I will edit the post when it is ready.John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-71927420790759034652018-06-12T15:39:00.000-07:002018-06-12T15:39:01.937-07:00This weeks New Poem:Are You Afraid Of The Dark?Here is my latest piece of writing, another poem. This time a sombre piece, written again to a creative writing prompt from a random pass on the web sites offering these. <br />
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A strange one for me, I started without any idea of where the subject would take me as I often do when using a prompt. And in this case I actually started the poem (the first verse and a half) by using a poetry generator. I use the strategy to give me a first line or two but never take what is offered without some heavy editing.<br />
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The prompt I used was "Are You Afraid Of The Dark?" As an adult, I am not but what would make me feel this way? Perhaps a dream .... a nightmare? Or did something happen on a camping trip as a child? Maybe You could make your own mind up?<br />
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OK, here it is...<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5djG4Sawszo/WyBKchEYPtI/AAAAAAAADag/M8c686rwat4-ZXi6BEWW2dUEdxbFrP8FACLcBGAs/s1600/fantasy-2847724_960_720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="960" height="181" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5djG4Sawszo/WyBKchEYPtI/AAAAAAAADag/M8c686rwat4-ZXi6BEWW2dUEdxbFrP8FACLcBGAs/s320/fantasy-2847724_960_720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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sourced from Pixabay (creative commons)</div>
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Are You Afraid Of The Dark?</div>
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Once upon a midnight sombre,</div>
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Through which came tapping, tapping, tapping.</div>
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In there stepped a haunting downbeat,</div>
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Still is rapping, still is rapping.</div>
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I felt compelled to scour the setting</div>
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I awoke with such a start.</div>
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Ah, distinctly I was strumming,</div>
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"Take thy woe from out my heart".</div>
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At that my soul knew fear.</div>
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The thunderclouds spoke of death.</div>
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Whilst in the earth I saw a grave,</div>
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My body failed to draw a breath.</div>
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I heard a maniacal, muted moaning;</div>
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A solemn, sepulchral shrieking.</div>
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I believed my time was over</div>
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As I heard my spirit weeping</div>
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I had never been so frightened,</div>
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Never dreaming of these shadows;</div>
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And the creatures I imagined</div>
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From long forgotten barrows.</div>
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But just before I drew my last breath</div>
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A light appeared in the eastern sky. </div>
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The coming dawn rode to my rescue</div>
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The demons dissolved before my eye.</div>
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Years later grown into adulthood,</div>
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Still remembering that fright;</div>
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When asked why I am afraid of the dark,</div>
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I confess the happenings that night.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mWEhVS4Hfes/WyBK2EZHFZI/AAAAAAAADao/4vg2bn1mYB4oRTigrMDxVFJG3LtHkfI6gCLcBGAs/s1600/gloomy-2863385_960_720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mWEhVS4Hfes/WyBK2EZHFZI/AAAAAAAADao/4vg2bn1mYB4oRTigrMDxVFJG3LtHkfI6gCLcBGAs/s320/gloomy-2863385_960_720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Thanks for reading, I have actually collected enough poems for a fourth poetry book ( well perhaps a pamphlet would be a better description) but it will be available on Amazon sometime soon if things go well.</div>
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John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-23979869005147780642018-06-04T14:15:00.001-07:002018-06-04T14:15:54.137-07:00A new Poem; Hear the wavesPhew, missed a few days, I thought my new writing phase had ground to a halt. However, it has been a very busy few weeks and needs must. No matter how much I want to write, I was just too tired. But tonight, I took a break and decided to check out a few ideas for a new offering. I found a photo which I liked and this gave me a little inspiration for a new poem. Hope you can empathise and enjoy it.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dlE78XzVEJs/WxWqBypjmhI/AAAAAAAADaE/fYdwRobOFjccm3pLGT556ggGV1nbrlf5wCLcBGAs/s1600/Ocean-Waves-Beach-Steps-86412-915x515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="915" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dlE78XzVEJs/WxWqBypjmhI/AAAAAAAADaE/fYdwRobOFjccm3pLGT556ggGV1nbrlf5wCLcBGAs/s320/Ocean-Waves-Beach-Steps-86412-915x515.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hear the waves</h2>
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Hear the crashing of the waves;</div>
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The wind blows hard, but doubt remains.</div>
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I'm lost, alone, forsaken. </div>
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What happened, was something taken?</div>
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Something's changed, a minor shift ;</div>
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Something has changed, a mournful rift .</div>
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I find it hard to understand,</div>
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Overshadowed in this pleasant land.</div>
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But listen, who sings at the water's edge?</div>
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Could they but help, provide a bridge.</div>
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He is nought but a singer,</div>
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Creating stories that shimmer.</div>
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A fantasy narrated,</div>
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It speaks to me, awaited.</div>
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A reverie conceived,</div>
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A future, now brightly revealed</div>
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I no longer feel alone,</div>
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All along I should have known.</div>
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I no longer feel so lost,</div>
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I no longer count the cost</div>
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Hear the lapping of the waves;</div>
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The breeze blows soft, whispering my name.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6zjCqgXrq4k/WxWq0ecDR4I/AAAAAAAADaU/SxxB5KgPAygNl1fr3EnAebqdocyIMOeSQCLcBGAs/s1600/beach-crashing-waves-tropics-16999884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="852" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6zjCqgXrq4k/WxWq0ecDR4I/AAAAAAAADaU/SxxB5KgPAygNl1fr3EnAebqdocyIMOeSQCLcBGAs/s320/beach-crashing-waves-tropics-16999884.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Well there we are, another completed poem and I feel really happy. Still got the writing bug after all.</div>
John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-85590392716106913702018-05-14T13:47:00.000-07:002018-05-14T13:53:48.034-07:00The Journal Jar, A Surprise PoemA surprise because I was looking at one of <a href="http://monnaellithorpe.com/blog/weekly-writing-prompt-5-8-2018/" target="_blank">Monna Ellithorpe's post on Writing prompts</a> and she mentioned a Journal Jar. Never heard of this ; <a href="http://monnaellithorpe.com/blog/weekly-writing-prompt-5-8-2018/" target="_blank">then surf over to see what it is all about.</a><br />
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Anyway, I had written a poem from one of the prompts offered and feeling at a loss for something to do, I though I might try another. But upoon reading the post I though, "Why not?" and proceeded to write a poem about writing a poem. Mmmm, <a href="http://poemsbyartyfax.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/new-poems-poem-and-nearly-roused-to.html" target="_blank">I seem to have done that before now I think about it.</a><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cnLmxhBAZp0/Wvn3RDAsWhI/AAAAAAAADZ0/0vvwaJpFJa4Hc4wCPL6PEo_k5NshhjrigCLcBGAs/s1600/eddda6130091d858e7d5b25e5f96876a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cnLmxhBAZp0/Wvn3RDAsWhI/AAAAAAAADZ0/0vvwaJpFJa4Hc4wCPL6PEo_k5NshhjrigCLcBGAs/s320/eddda6130091d858e7d5b25e5f96876a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Well here it is:-<br />
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THE JOURNAL JAR</h2>
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Each day I open up my journal jar,</div>
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When I find time to rest. </div>
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I pick a slip from deep within,</div>
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To provide a little test.</div>
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Chose at random that's the key </div>
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And write a poem upon request.</div>
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A poem based upon the prompt</div>
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Now in your hand, Just do your best.</div>
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That's all I ask, and nothing more,</div>
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Apply your writer's mind. Invest</div>
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In words, attest to deeds to come.</div>
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Or maybe even deeds repressed.</div>
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Just write, compose, transcribe your thoughts;</div>
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Don't leave them unexpressed.</div>
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Don't wait, it will work out in the end,</div>
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resulting in a poem, to leave you most impressed.</div>
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Seems like there are days when words just flow, of course there are many days when it is almost impossible to start. Just take things as they come and make the most of the good days. Seems to be the best way to treat it, don't you think.</div>
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Thanks for the visit and hope you enjoyed the poem.</div>
John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-38018485819498547422018-05-13T11:51:00.000-07:002018-05-13T11:51:02.060-07:00Information Overload, A New PoemAnother light-hearted piece of creative writing based on a writing prompt from <a href="http://monnaellithorpe.com/blog/category/writing-prompts/" target="_blank">Monna Ellithorpe.</a> I do enjoy writing from a limited set of prompts, as I don't have to think, "Now which one shall I choose?" I pick the one of two or three which Monna has selected for that week and then I can concentrate on the subject matter. I find it so much more fun and easier. Lists of hundreds can be found on the internet but they simply confuse me. I suppose that I should pick a number at random and use that one but .....<br />
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This week I read a contribution from another writing friend (before writing my own) and found it was very similar in direction to what I at first, was intending to write. So I took the hard way out and changed my attitude to the prompt - of course this is always possible. Part of the fun really.<br />
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Anyway, a little tongue-in-the-cheek attitude in what follows is not amiss in light of the research I have been involved in on the internet over the recent past.
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bXQz8xjbDwg/WviHPxvlidI/AAAAAAAADZk/oemRgJuEKZoZvQ2wWtOdNTnA80z35Xg5ACLcBGAs/s1600/internet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bXQz8xjbDwg/WviHPxvlidI/AAAAAAAADZk/oemRgJuEKZoZvQ2wWtOdNTnA80z35Xg5ACLcBGAs/s1600/internet.jpg" /></a></div>
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Information Overload</h2>
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As a scientist, I am used, to searching out the truth;</div>
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Information is the basis of my trade.</div>
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But so many of my friends just click a link and find, </div>
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That truth is not always what's displayed.</div>
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Information is at hand, for those who wish to search</div>
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The problem is to know what to conclude.</div>
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It's tempting to believe simply everything you read</div>
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And forget it's information overload.</div>
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The first and easy choice may not provide that truth,</div>
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Despite it being easy to believe.</div>
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The resourceful knowledge seeker, will not presume</div>
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To find. the truth in all that he perceives</div>
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Anyone at all, can with illusions fill a screen.</div>
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Anyone can write though not bestowed</div>
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With intelligence and knowledge of the simple facts.</div>
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Take heed, reject information overload</div>
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Thanks for visiting and reading (you did didn't you?) my newest poem. I hope you enjoyed it and smiled - just a little.</div>
John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-55087416549569842712018-05-01T09:48:00.002-07:002018-05-01T14:32:37.052-07:00New Poem - Wild RiverWell I am having such a difficult time and my poems are reflecting this, Another dark image in this one.<br />
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<u>
Wild River</u></h2>
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I see a wild river blocking my path</div>
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I see a bridge destroyed in their wrath</div>
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I see a dark army no quarter allowed</div>
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I see myself lonely but brave, head unbowed</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X0yv85K9sYE/WujXxWRFm0I/AAAAAAAADXI/CpHnZs1erEQn-zqyDgSS0f9CHR8W11kLQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCF3165_450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="450" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X0yv85K9sYE/WujXxWRFm0I/AAAAAAAADXI/CpHnZs1erEQn-zqyDgSS0f9CHR8W11kLQCLcBGAs/s320/DSCF3165_450.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">River Wye at Ross, photograph by the blog owner</span></i></div>
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Ahead's a wild river, I must cross o'er</div>
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A boat is the answer, but would it be slower</div>
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Than the approaching horde at my back</div>
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The bridge is no answer; ruined, burnt and black</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--LSt4mJWxu8/WujaehIvXOI/AAAAAAAADXU/xenA1APSxnEMXseNTx-xKXpordURYOJ-gCLcBGAs/s1600/rollright%2Bstones_%2Bkings%2Bmen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="450" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--LSt4mJWxu8/WujaehIvXOI/AAAAAAAADXU/xenA1APSxnEMXseNTx-xKXpordURYOJ-gCLcBGAs/s320/rollright%2Bstones_%2Bkings%2Bmen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Rollright Stones, The Kings Men</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">photo by the blog owner</span></i><br />
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I'll cross that wild river, cross and survive;</div>
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I'll summon my friends, let them know I'm alive.</div>
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My supporters will rally and help me across,</div>
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I'm not done yet, I'm no albatross.</div>
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I wont be a burden, wild river or not</div>
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But I know I need help, to cut that knot.</div>
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I'll take what is offered, no more and no less</div>
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And I'll pay back my dues by being a success.</div>
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. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1SCY0QVAKOA/WujcSL0azfI/AAAAAAAADXg/1Kt648fWU3U4dMJKrjYfb00w9VyQABSwQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCF4767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1SCY0QVAKOA/WujcSL0azfI/AAAAAAAADXg/1Kt648fWU3U4dMJKrjYfb00w9VyQABSwQCLcBGAs/s320/DSCF4767.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Christmas display at Wyevale garden centre</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">photo by blog owner</span></i></div>
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Excuse the "silly photos but this poem would not come easily. In these circumstances, I often create a photo board. Just a little trick which helps me to get the story together - sometimes.</div>
John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-79053739016631429182018-04-22T14:25:00.000-07:002018-04-22T14:30:52.222-07:00A New Poem - Daffodil DestructionI am usually very much against poetry that doe not rhyme. Of course when I put this view to friends and others alike, I am inundated with examples of non-rhyming examples. But today, I was in a hurry to complete a poem and found that rhymes were not forthcoming. And so, I found myself writing what I would normally call a piece of prose. OK, it is based on lines and at least it has a metre of sorts, but I feel that I have failed. It is a compromise which I am not really happy with. You might say it is out of my comfort zone but I was desperate to get out of the "Slough Of Despond" I have found myself in over the past couple of weeks.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o6qcgKdndxo/Wtz-v3CJxGI/AAAAAAAADWY/_C6j9-3IAmQN2zMLZ3BCzCn5MSzqUhebACLcBGAs/s1600/DSCF8498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="650" height="233" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o6qcgKdndxo/Wtz-v3CJxGI/AAAAAAAADWY/_C6j9-3IAmQN2zMLZ3BCzCn5MSzqUhebACLcBGAs/s320/DSCF8498.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A vase of floribunda daffs, blown down by a storm</span></i></div>
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So, aims achieved, I present a new poem. Actually I used the same prompt for this poem that I used for the poem in the last post. Of course it was a prompt which could be interpreted in a very free way. It was provided once more by my friend <a href="http://monnaellithorpe.com/blog/weekly-writing-prompt-4-17-2018/" target="_blank">Monna Ellithorpe, one of her weekly writing prompts</a>.<br />
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Make up your own mind and please feel free to criticise, or otherwise, in the comments section below. The poem is called ................<br />
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Daffodil Destruction</h2>
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Yesterday, </div>
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We had a beautiful array</div>
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Of daffodils in our garden.</div>
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People passing</div>
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Had commented on the colours,</div>
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Of the late spring display.</div>
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But that wind</div>
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Blew up fast, from out of nowhere</div>
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And kicked the best for six</div>
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The floribunda,</div>
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With their heavy heads bowed;</div>
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Were no match, and fell prostrate.</div>
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I found them,</div>
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Their heads in the dirt this morning.</div>
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Wistfully, I collected the fallen heroes.</div>
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An assignment</div>
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Beckoned, to make them proud;</div>
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A gift for a mothers grave.</div>
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<br />John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-9796317498695234762018-04-21T13:05:00.000-07:002018-04-21T13:05:11.610-07:00A Crumpled Sheet Of Paper - A New PoemAnother difficult poem. I selected a prompt for this with an idea in mind. It is not quite what I had planned but it is what it is. A very untenable / illogical metaphor. I offer the poem with no further eplanation and make no apologies if it seems to make no sense.<br />
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A crumpled sheet of paper</h2>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F8UlRFlVFiM/WtuVCIfMkQI/AAAAAAAADWI/_I7dAkpb5gcPpegcaMOr3cluwfa1jEn1QCLcBGAs/s1600/paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="1300" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F8UlRFlVFiM/WtuVCIfMkQI/AAAAAAAADWI/_I7dAkpb5gcPpegcaMOr3cluwfa1jEn1QCLcBGAs/s320/paper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A crumpled Sheet of paper,</div>
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It has no use, no more.</div>
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It's final destination,</div>
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That trash can on the floor.</div>
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A page so full of memories,</div>
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A story barely told;</div>
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Well written, but forgotten.</div>
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Disallowed from growing old.</div>
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A faded, yellow page.</div>
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The words no longer clear.</div>
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So difficult to read now,</div>
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But it still brings forth a tear.</div>
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But I cannot bear to lose</div>
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that which had meant so much.</div>
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In better times, supporting me,</div>
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an undeniable crutch.</div>
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I'll make a promise to myself,</div>
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I'll find a way to free</div>
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That crumpled sheet of paper,</div>
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Bring it back, as it should be.</div>
John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-32505353804911772692018-04-16T23:02:00.000-07:002018-04-16T23:33:29.671-07:00Winding Rivers, A New Poem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Winding Rivers</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VaTMChLndVM/WtWNBc6LpMI/AAAAAAAADV4/v-RWZFXoHxkGoF2XbhA_WjSjXgDjIBOAgCLcBGAs/s1600/cwm%2Bcych.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="641" height="228" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VaTMChLndVM/WtWNBc6LpMI/AAAAAAAADV4/v-RWZFXoHxkGoF2XbhA_WjSjXgDjIBOAgCLcBGAs/s320/cwm%2Bcych.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> water colour painting by the author</span></i></div>
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Winding rivers</div>
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Sending shivers</div>
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Mental quivers</div>
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My life withers</div>
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Raging torrents</div>
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Stormy comments</div>
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Constant torments</div>
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Makes no real sense</div>
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Understanding</div>
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So demanding</div>
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Notwithstanding</div>
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Lifelong stranding</div>
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What's the meaning</div>
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No redeeming</div>
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Constant screaming</div>
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Pain repeating</div>
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Inside my head</div>
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A new poem from a prompt which surprised me, kinda came from nowhere. Without further comment this time.</div>
John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-42203735629578914222018-04-02T14:28:00.000-07:002018-04-02T14:28:53.881-07:00A little more nonsense from a poetic promptWell now I was missing my regular weekly writing prompt due to Easter and so I turned to google this week.Well I looked at many different prompts before I found one which seemed to turn my head. It was actually about morning being the best time for magic (?) well who knew, but I added a soupcon of another prompt and this poem developed on the page (or screen as it happened).<br />
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You might know that the weather is a standard, fall-back topic of conversation for us Brits because of our wonderfully creative weather and a the fact that we are really quite reserved when meeting and talking to people. In fact I have written many time before about various aspects of the weather. For example:- <a href="http://poemsbyartyfax.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/a-blast-from-past.html" target="_blank">A Blast From The Past</a>, <a href="http://poemsbyartyfax.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/my-poetry-takes-new-direction.html" target="_blank">My Poetry Takes A New Direction</a>, <a href="http://poemsbyartyfax.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-wind-and-i-poem-for-september.html" target="_blank">The Wind And I</a>.<br />
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In fact just browsing thru this blog for these few examples I realise I have written more poems about "Morning" and different aspects of a new day. I find that I have sadly forgotten many; I guess I need to sort out another book of poems.<br />
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Anyway where was I, oh yes - a title? What else but, "Morning In The Rain". Not very catchy, but I always have problems with titles. Usually the last thing I do with a poem.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFfzVtwmLBo/WsKf0lC3c4I/AAAAAAAADVA/F-izjeih-OYbG5wCoQO9-sc5J2Cte8RjwCLcBGAs/s1600/Untitled-1%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="1000" height="178" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFfzVtwmLBo/WsKf0lC3c4I/AAAAAAAADVA/F-izjeih-OYbG5wCoQO9-sc5J2Cte8RjwCLcBGAs/s320/Untitled-1%2Bcopy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Morning In The Rain</h2>
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Another rare morning</div>
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Spring in the air</div>
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A red sky is warning</div>
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I'd better beware</div>
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You know what they claim</div>
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The weather could turn </div>
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A whole new ball-game</div>
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Will I ever learn</div>
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Don't trust the weather</div>
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Mom always advised</div>
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You'll find that its never</div>
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worthy of compromise</div>
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<br /></div>
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So dress for comfort</div>
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But back-up your choice</div>
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You know that you ought</div>
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To heed mom's good advice</div>
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Another thin morning</div>
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It's cool, beginning to rain</div>
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Can't stand here talking</div>
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Nice to meet you again</div>
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Well that's it, hope you liked it. Hardly cartries an earth shattering message but then that's me. Down to earth and real.</div>
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John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-83534417110862998532018-03-28T08:33:00.000-07:002018-03-28T15:20:22.763-07:00Still writing, this one a poem for laughsWell, back again for another new poem written using a Prompt from the <a href="http://monnaellithorpe.com/blog/weekly-writing-prompt-3-27-2018/" target="_blank">Weekly Writing Prompt from my friend Monna</a>, have you visited her site yet?<br />
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I was looking out for this one and when it came at first I scatched my aging head. But I took up the challenge of a bonus prompt! <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , serif; font-size: 15px;">To create a short story or </span><span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline;">poem</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , serif; font-size: 15px;"> of your own that is totally unbelievable or ridiculous.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , serif; font-size: 15px;">Well, how to start? As usual, I selected the first idea which came into my head and that just happend to turn into the first line of the poem. I called it, Moonwalk. Here it is I hope it makes you smile.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Moonwalk</span></span></h2>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-viaAHkL68OM/WrwRl22LIMI/AAAAAAAADUg/NrZbz2-P8ZgfjP3cQYC0L0rQFXXL6BYUwCLcBGAs/s1600/MOONBEAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="455" height="237" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-viaAHkL68OM/WrwRl22LIMI/AAAAAAAADUg/NrZbz2-P8ZgfjP3cQYC0L0rQFXXL6BYUwCLcBGAs/s320/MOONBEAM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif; font-size: 15px;">I took a little walk last week</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">To the moon and back</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">I climbed a shining moonbeam</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">And I took a little snack.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">I knew it would take a while</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">So I took along our Jack.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans", serif; font-size: 15px;">Great company with his pet monkey;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Which I think is a macaque</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Along the way we were treated</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">To an astronomic thrill.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Passing meteors and rainbows</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">We danced an old quadrille</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">We had such fun, the three of us</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">But could only stay until</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">We remembered it would soon be time</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif; font-size: 15px;">To head back to Jacksonville</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">The title came to mind after the last word in the poem. I did not start with a title in mind, but let the poem just take me where it will. The last line needed a rhyme and Jacksonville popped up. After that the title seemed to put itself forward for me. I dont often think too hard about what I am writing, as far as I am concerned it is all a bit of fun. Although sometimes, rarely, it is about sad memories.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Well there you are another poem thanks to Monna, and do visit her blog, especially if you are a beginning writer and hope to self publish. I managed to self-publish my first book on Amazon with Monna's advice.</span></span></div>
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John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-54669660538039060582018-03-24T05:31:00.000-07:002018-03-24T05:42:50.979-07:00Poem - "My Dog Ran Off With The Keys"Can't believe that I am started to write again, creatively. But having just a few prompts to choose from instead of hundreds on the majority of sites which offer to provide them seems to concentrate the mind, I would recommend it to anyone enduring "writers block" or simply a lack of time.<br />
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Try this weekly prompt, just 2 or 3 offered on the site owned by <a href="http://monnaellithorpe.com/blog/weekly-writing-prompt-2-20-2018/" target="_blank">Monna Ellithorpe</a> which will offer a gateway to many more pages by Monna.<br />
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Mmmm, this one was a lot more light-hearted than the last. I enjoyed (and found myself silently laughing) whilst I put this one down on paper, well on to the screen. Hope it makes you smile too. Oh beware the french; a little trick to make a rhyme. I do feel that rhymes are so important.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UxXhtyQgoOc/WrZHutSBpbI/AAAAAAAADUI/eyt5B7kNNDkI7rD8GT2Y_qZE13zNiqYPQCLcBGAs/s1600/dachshund-2801454__340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="304" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UxXhtyQgoOc/WrZHutSBpbI/AAAAAAAADUI/eyt5B7kNNDkI7rD8GT2Y_qZE13zNiqYPQCLcBGAs/s320/dachshund-2801454__340.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>My dog ran off with the keys</b></h3>
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My dog ran off with the keys to my car.</div>
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its true, please believe what I say.</div>
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The distance from home to here is so far,</div>
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I'm just lucky to get here today,</div>
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At all!</div>
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How on earth did it happen, you want to know.</div>
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Well, I was just letting him out for a wee;</div>
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When I happened to sneeze, I dropped the keys</div>
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and he ran off, overjoyed to be free.</div>
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You see!</div>
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My phone was inside, what was I to do?</div>
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Had to follow the dog, for sure.</div>
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Lest he lost the keys, dropped me in the stew</div>
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with no means of contacting vous,</div>
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cet jour.</div>
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So pardonez-moi, I'm here at last</div>
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And ready to do what you need.</div>
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I'm ready and willing and able if asked,</div>
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except for one little problem, this hound on the lead.</div>
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No keys, no car, no home so far</div>
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had to bring the dog!</div>
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The prompt for this piece was actually, "<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , serif; font-size: 15px;">Make up a </span><span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD7" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline;">creative</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , serif; font-size: 15px;"> reason for being late to an important function." Don't know why this sprang into my head, we don't even have a dog these days; our last pooch passed away a number of years ago. But it did and I like the outcome. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , serif; font-size: 15px;">Until the next time ....................</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , serif; font-size: 15px;">And do keep on writing.</span></div>
John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-91458168799118741652018-03-23T16:44:00.001-07:002018-03-28T15:17:21.130-07:00A poem, "You Hide But Nobody Seeks"I am still following up on the writing prompts posted by my friend <a href="http://monnaellithorpe.com/videos/weekly-writing-prompts/march-2018/weekly-writing-prompt-3-6-2018/" target="_blank">Mona Ellithorpe</a>, this weeks gave me the title for another poem. I know someone who I care for very much who has suffered from aquired brain damage cause by a viral infection, the prompt, "you hide but nobody seeks ...", made me think of that person and this poem was written with them in mind.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9zz3s55NQ5U/WrZH8FtY-JI/AAAAAAAADUM/mnvb1AEL47YrE7ogpnVkANj4iIOAnVuAACLcBGAs/s1600/window-view-1081788__340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="509" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9zz3s55NQ5U/WrZH8FtY-JI/AAAAAAAADUM/mnvb1AEL47YrE7ogpnVkANj4iIOAnVuAACLcBGAs/s320/window-view-1081788__340.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
You hide but nobody seeks</h3>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
You hide but nobody seeks</div>
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you listen but nobody speaks</div>
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you look but no one is there</div>
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you cry but nobody cares</div>
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you hide yourself away</div>
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its another quiet day</div>
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your friends have long since gone</div>
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you've changed and they walked on</div>
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you never were to blame</div>
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but it happened all the same</div>
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an accident that left you changed</div>
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an accident, not prearranged</div>
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It never was your fault</div>
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that built this stifling vault</div>
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the man you were has passed away</div>
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look now, look to another day</div>
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to you your new life beckons</div>
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it only took a second</div>
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at least that's all you knew</div>
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until you learned what you'd been through</div>
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forget the past, mourn for that man</div>
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but live for tomorrow, yes you can</div>
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accept your new life and be awake</div>
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to opportunities that you can take</div>
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New friends will rally in your life</div>
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don't hide away you have a life</div>
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It can be good, it's not the same</div>
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but you never were to blame</div>
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I <u>always</u> capitalise my poems on each line and am obsessive about punctuation, but this time it did not seem important, even the title was an afterthought -- I have edited it into the post and added an image.<br />
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If this poem touched you then you may also like <a href="http://poemsbyartyfax.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/helpless-new-poem.html" target="_blank">this earlier poem Helpless</a>, which is very much connected to this one, you can find it on this blog from a few years ago</div>
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John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-20179942054391941612018-03-14T13:15:00.000-07:002018-03-14T15:51:36.630-07:00A little whimsy!Sometimes I just feel that I have not enough time to write, and this was the case last night. I have been so busy of late but when I came across another post from my friend <a href="http://monnaellithorpe.com/blog/weekly-writing-prompt-3-13-2018/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MonnaEllithorpecom+%28Monna+Ellithorpe.com%29" target="_blank">Monna Ellithorpe</a>, another prompt which caught my attention on Facebook, I simply had to have a go.<br />
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This short piece came together in a very short time. No time to edit or anything like that, I just left it as it was. But boy did I enjoy the freedom not to worry about what it ended up looking like.<br />
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The prompt was to write a four line poem about your muse. Once when all lines rhyme and then again with no rhyming at all.<br />
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I put mine together and then simply had to get in another stanza to complete the poem. I enjoyed writing it, hope you can enjoy reading it.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--FLsBZIhakU/WqmmLSFFqkI/AAAAAAAADT4/f5xy8BsM4yU9bmVVTIJGsnSYPNs-YpFPQCLcBGAs/s1600/galahad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="275" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--FLsBZIhakU/WqmmLSFFqkI/AAAAAAAADT4/f5xy8BsM4yU9bmVVTIJGsnSYPNs-YpFPQCLcBGAs/s320/galahad.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
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<b>Sir Galahad</b></div>
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<b>We all have days when things seem bad,</b></div>
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<b>When things go wrong and <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position-x: 0%; background-position-y: 50% !important; background-repeat: repeat !important; background-size: initial !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1px !important; position: static; vertical-align: baseline;">make</span> you sad,</b></div>
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<b>But never let it get you mad,</b></div>
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<b>Summon up your muse, your Galahad.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b>
<b>We all have days we wish would end.</b></div>
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<b>You’ve had enough and want to scream,</b></div>
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<b>But don’t let your troubles grind you down;</b></div>
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<b>Take a <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD7" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position-x: 0%; background-position-y: 50% !important; background-repeat: repeat !important; background-size: initial !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; cursor: pointer !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1px !important; position: static; vertical-align: baseline;">break</span>, think of your Sir Galahad.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b>
<b>Sir Galahad, your knightly muse</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Can help you through, he’ll help you choose,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Write a poem, don’t blow a fuse.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Think; if Galahad was in your shoes.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "helvetica" , "arial"; font-size: 14px;">Wow it happened so quickly. It really liberated me </span><span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; cursor: pointer; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , "helvetica" , "arial"; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline;">although</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "helvetica" , "arial"; font-size: 14px;"> it is very trite and </span><span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD11" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; cursor: pointer; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , "helvetica" , "arial"; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline;">easy use</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "helvetica" , "arial"; font-size: 14px;"> of language I really enjoyed it. I experimented with limericks once (upon a time) and this seems to be on the same lines. Hope it makes you smile.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "helvetica" , "arial"; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://poemsbyartyfax.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/more-limericks-to-keep.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans", helvetica, arial; font-size: 14px; text-align: right;" target="_blank">If you want to see a few limericks try this post</a></div>
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<br /></div>
John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-36783724591630019472018-02-26T03:11:00.000-08:002018-02-26T03:11:59.529-08:00A Blast From The PastPardon the pun in the title, but this is a poem written after Hurricane Katrina wreaked so much havoc on New Orleans, a few years ago now. I was reminded of it today when I read a poem by my friend <a href="http://monnaellithorpe.com/blog/hurricane-irma-september-2017/" target="_blank">Monna Ellithorpe</a>, also about a hurricane saying much the same things but in a very different style. As I have never included it this blog, I take this opportunity to address that now.<br />
<br />
It was actually intended as a song - a folksy type of song - but after I had written the lyrics I found it difficult to actually sing them; or rather to put a tune to them. After some time trying I decided it should be a poem. The very first poem I had written - after years of writing song lyrics ! Hope you enjoy reading it<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Wind</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Wind sighed,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>and the world turned.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Wind whispered, </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>But no one heard.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Wind wondered, </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>But no answer came.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Wind cried, please</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>But few took heed.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Wind shrieked, </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>But the suffering had started.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Wind warned us all,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>But who had noticed.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>And the world turned.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Wind howled, </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>But was it now too late</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Wind became man's enemy,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>And they asked, each one,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Why didn?t we listen</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Why didn' we care</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Why didn't we do enough</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>We could have helped</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>And the world turned.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Wind tore through</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The remaining years.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Why didn't we listen</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>And the world turned,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>In upon itself</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you should want to read more of mu early work, it is available to read or for free download on <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/126483973/Poems-on-Endings-and-Lost-Loves" target="_blank">SCRIBD, Poems And Endings And Lost Loves</a> </div>
John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-69210983503998660152018-02-04T10:29:00.001-08:002018-02-04T10:29:50.124-08:00I'm on a rollI hate to say it but with a second new poem so quickly since the last, could I be on a roll? This is another in response to a prompt on the <a href="http://monnaellithorpe.com/" target="_blank">same website by as the last post by my friend Monna Ellithorpe</a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Not quite decided on a title yet and it is still in a rough, unedited form but I am recording it here because I am so happy to be creating again.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><b>The Mystery Parcel</b></u></div>
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<u><b><br /></b></u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One damp and dismal morning last week</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I answered a knock on the door</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The postie was waiting with a parcel for me</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Unexpected, exotically packaged but more ...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It did not have a full address, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He'd done well to deliver this mail</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The name was clear, it was for me alright</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But this delivery could well have failed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I gratefully took it from his hands</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
With heartfelt thanks and praise,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And carried it carefully to my den</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Prepared to free my prize, to be amazed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I really had no inkling, no idea at all</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Of who may have sent this parcel</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Addressed with such a tenebrous remit</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It may never have reached me at all.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I set about the task required, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Not knowing what I would find.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Soon I held a simple box, devoid of any note,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I raised the lid and thereI found confined</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A bundle of vintage photographs</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dog-eared and monochrome</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Displaying almost familiar faces</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Fondly remembered from back home</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A treasure chest of memories</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A prize I tightly grasped</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But who and why and where</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Amongst the questions yet to ask.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A few places where change is needed but it's a poem and I want to shout it out loud. Hope you read and enjoy.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-31757593028725118372018-01-31T08:13:00.001-08:002018-02-04T10:31:18.788-08:00New Poem, A Connection To The PastWow, they say not to apologise for long breaks in posting but this has to be a record. I had not been finding time for writing for a long time due to personal issues. However, A new weekly writing prompt on an old friends, <a href="http://monnaellithorpe.com/" target="_blank">new web site</a> caught my eye. Monna has for a long time been working to bring new creative writers together and to offer encouragement. This new site has a regular writing prompt to help get you started and I decided to "have a go".<br />
<br />
This was the result, of the prompt, (an inscription in an old book":-<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
A Connection to the Past</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
I am holding in my hands a battered, tattered book</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
I saw it on the bookshelf and just had to take a look.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The cover stained, page edges foxed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A history waiting to be unboxed,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For me, the pages of a volume such as this</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Will always speak so loud and lead to an abyss</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Where I become as one with the narrative within</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And lose myself to some adventure waiting to begin.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And then I think of others who have held this work before</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Having found its heroines and heros on some far, far, foreign shore</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Did they read it to forget some dismal, dreary task</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Or maybe, like me, it was simply to be enjoyed – why ask?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For reading is a pleasure, an indulgence to revere;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A diversion from whatever life brings, a new frontier.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But the greatest pleasure an old book can bring at last</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Is to find a pale inscription, a connection to the past.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Basically I was at a loose end for an hour or so and wanted to try this. It is a first draft, almost straight from the pen (well the keyboard anyway) although I did google a couple of synonyms to help. Actually I quite like it and may find myself doing more in which case this blog could well be resurrected. I would like that.</div>
John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-78876893411823941972015-09-06T13:50:00.000-07:002015-09-06T13:50:14.392-07:00Not Quite A PoemLife has been so incredibly complicated and busy this year, and shows in the number of posts I have made, especially since the spring. One of these days things will sort themselves out and I am sure my artistic output will return to normal.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, here is a lyric. Meant to be a little bit of fun, it was well received at my ukulele club when I tried it out on them in an "open mic" spot. I thought that with absolutely nothing in the poetry line to share here, I would at least show that I am still just about turning out something creative in the writing arena. Hope you like it and take it for what it is.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>My Uke Is Gonna See Me Through The Day </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>refrain</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>When I ‘m feeling low</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Got no place to go</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>And no one’s ‘round to raise my sorry mood.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>I don’t sit a round</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Staring at the ground</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>I Pick up my 4-string and I start to play</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>verse 1</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Oh my uke is gonna get me through the day</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Raise my voice and strum along and play</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>My spirits soon will rise, soaring to the skies</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Oh my uke is gonna get me through the day </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>verse 2</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>The cheerful sound of strumming is so cool</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Takes me back to days I spent in school</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>No cares to weigh me down, no sign of a frown</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Oh my uke is gonna get me through the day</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>verse 3</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>No pills or potions do the same for me</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>I’ve tried them all, they fail it’s plain to see</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>But when I hear those chords, I’m never ever bored</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Oh my uke is gonna get me through the day </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you would like to hear the song, having read the lyrics, then I offer next an early recording of the song which I often do to hear what I am doing. It is so easy to perform a song without really hearing the results. I do think that it does enable me to learn and improve. Anyway here it is:-</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/198393416&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe>
<brb></brb>John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-27495278221343224822015-05-13T14:48:00.000-07:002015-05-15T01:24:26.927-07:00Finally - a new poemI have been so busy<a href="http://guitarbashin.blogspot.co.uk/"> learning to play the ukulele</a> and <a href="http://johndyhouse.blogspot.co.uk/">painting</a> again that writing has been on the back-burner for longer than I care to think; hence the long break since my last post. There is only so much time in the day unfortunately.<br />
<br />
But writing is never very far from my mind, in fact <a href="http://guitarbashin.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/lyrics-and-chords-my-uke-is-gonna-get.html">I wrote a song</a> a couple of weeks ago so maybe the time's may be a-changing?<br />
<br />
But what bought this change about? Well last weekend, we spent a few days in Brighton and did a little shopping in the lanes. My wife persuaded me to buy a red paisely shirt. Not honestly my style, but she decided that I needed to have something a little outrageous in my dottage. It will do for ukulele concerts, I guess. Anyway, Whilst the rest of the party spent a couple of hours tramping around The Royal Pavilion, I sat in the sun and took out my notebook and decided to WRITE A POEM. Yes, it was a conscious decision. But what should be the topic of my endeavour? Why, my new red shirt. I don't need big stories to get me writing - so here it is:-<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
A new Shirt.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Today, I purchased a brand new shirt</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A little bit red but, OK;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's colourful, patterned</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Will stand out in a crowd,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wearing it makes a statement,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"This is me, and I'm proud"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
To be just a little bit different.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just for once in my life</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'll stand tall</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So don't tell me it's flash;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Nothing so rash!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's just a little bit loud</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- That's all.</div>
<br />
Just a little bit of fun really - no hidden messages, etc. Not my usual style but maybe that's because I have not been over-zealous with the lineage. I have not sweated over the number of syllables as I might once have done. The next thing is to record it, and embed the recording on the post. You can then hear how I think it should be read.<br />
<br />
Anyway, the long abstinence is over. I am hoping that my writing will become part of my life once again.John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-86547826963955776262014-05-14T14:43:00.000-07:002014-05-14T14:43:25.428-07:00A new paperback, a new poetry collectionThe third collection of my poetry is available on Amazon, called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nightmare-other-poems-collection-Dyhouse/dp/1499360487/ref=la_B00JJQUEPW_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1400102665&sr=1-3">Nightmare and other poetry.</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZacR4gVCKrM/U3PfV6SSonI/AAAAAAAAC1U/U5U5qb-0rlQ/s1600/full+createspace+cover_vol+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZacR4gVCKrM/U3PfV6SSonI/AAAAAAAAC1U/U5U5qb-0rlQ/s1600/full+createspace+cover_vol+3.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
However for readers of this blog a free download is available from <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/188012549/Nightmare-and-other-poems" target="_blank">SCRIBD</a>, under a different cover but with identical content. This may not always be free so don't delay, get your copy now. That's me trying to see you a free copy, LOL. But seriously I posted an embedded copy of this book in my a little while ago in a post on this blog, <a href="http://poemsbyartyfax.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/a-new-collection-of-poetry-from-artyfax.html">you can of course read it from here</a>. It has been updated using the latest formatted copy which I used for publishing via Createspace so both agree - within a few typos caused by the conversion process.<br />
<br />
<i>Actually, the software that Scribd use to convert MS Word files does not do the job as well as that of Createspace (an Amazon company) so there are a few typos which I am going to have to clean up. In the near future but I hope that this does not</i> <i>spoil your enjoyment of the poems.</i><br />
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I have been busy publishing my three completed volumes of poetry plus an art related book. This has now been completed and so I am now catching up with some art tutorials. All this has taken a toll of the writing of new poetry, and I have written no new poetry since the 21st March this year, <a href="http://poemsbyartyfax.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/a-new-poem-faded-flowers.html">which can be found on this blog.</a><br />
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I hope by the end of the month I will be writing poetry again. Please keep an eye out for these published first on this blog.<br />
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<br />John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-84595206313279259392014-05-10T13:51:00.001-07:002014-05-10T13:51:35.975-07:00More News on Published PoetryI do seem to be spending a lot of time at the moment editing and formatting my short poetry collections for publication on Amazon in paperback format. This of course is affecting the amount of time I have for new, original poetry. But I hope this process will be completed soon (after all I don't have that many books in hand) and that I will be able to get back to writing new material.<br />
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This post is to release the news that I now have a second poetry book available on Amazon. It is actually the first in the series but for practical purposes I published the second volume first, if that makes sense.<br />
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This new collection is based on older poems which I have edited and converted from song lyrics originally written in the sixties and seventies. I am surprised that the range of topics is as wide as it is considering their origin. That is not to knock the poems but simply to state that the range of themes is wider than the usual stuff of pop-songs.<br />
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<li><b>Paperback:</b> 42 pages</li>
<li><b>Publisher:</b> CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (29 April 2014)</li>
<li><b>ISBN-10:</b> 1499294905</li>
<li><b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-1499294903</li>
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You can see this book on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/First-Collection-Poetry-John-Dyhouse/dp/1499294905/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1399753236&sr=1-2">Amazon.com</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Collection-Poetry-John-Dyhouse/dp/1499294905/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1399753236&sr=1-2">Amazon.co.uk</a> or alternatively I shall let you into a little secret - keep it to yourself - for a while it can be found on <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/126483973/Poems-on-Endings-and-Lost-Loves">Scribd</a> for free download. Same book different cover.<br />
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The table of contents, in four sections, is as follows.<br /><br /><u>POEMS ON ENDINGS AND LOST LOVES</u> <br />SILENT LADY <br />
SING ME A SIMPLE SONG <br />
REFLECTIONS FROM THE PAST <br />
YOU WERE HERE ONLY YESTERDAY <br />
MISTER WILLOW<br />
MEMORIES<br />
<br /><u>POEMS ON ATTITUDES TO LIFE</u> <br />THE WICKED MAGICIAN <br />
PUT DOWN YOUR GUN <br />
IS THE DAY TOO LONG? <br />THE WATERFALL <br />PATTERNS ON MY MIND <br />YOU'RE IN A RUT BOY <br /><br /><u>A POEM</u><br />
THE WIND<br />
<br /><u>POEMS FOR CHILDREN</u> <br />
IF ALL MY FRIENDS COULD TALK<br />
YOUR FURRY OLD FRIENDS<br /><br /> I have one more collection of poetry complete and ready for publication. I shall include details next time.<br />
John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092551791905507069.post-61178121996070541302014-04-19T02:10:00.000-07:002014-04-19T02:10:10.852-07:00A new companion site to this blog With the imminent release of my second book to be published on Amazon, I have decided to set-up a <a href="http://johndyhouse.wix.com/poetry-by-john" target="_blank">new static web-site to promote any and all of my boooks</a> which are currently in the pipeline.<br />
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The second published book (of 32 pages) will be live on the Amazon site this week.<br />
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In the book I share my experiences over the last 25 years as an amateur artist who has been helping to run a local art group. The past 5 years I have been the treasurer and now act as membership secretary and take the chair at group meetings. Although I do have support in many areas, I am working hard for the continuation of the group. I hope that this book might help thoseartists who for one reason or another cannot find a suitable group in their own location.<br />
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The web-site will be part of my promotional activities to drum up potential sales for my books, and although I will continue to post new books on this blog, I do not want to swamp my readers with continued reference/links to these publications.<br />
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For your reference the site is called "<a href="http://johndyhouse.wix.com/poetry-by-john" target="_blank">Poetry By John</a>", not terribly original but all I could think of in a rush. Must have had an off-day, LOL<br />
John Dyhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030825278881460771noreply@blogger.com0