Poem on your mind

[giselle]

I think this poem is really well structured in that the specific scenario flows smoothly from the stage set in the first 2 stanzas and then it's wrapped up cleanly with the crowd going about their day having shared a dramatic vignette on an otherwise ordinary morning.

As to the old man’s comment, I wondered as well. Why should strangers in a crowd assume that ‘it’s’ the young man’s fault when they don’t even know what ‘it’ is? They see the ‘how’ not the ‘why’ but that doesn’t stop the old man from passing judgment. And we don’t know if the old man’s sentiment is shared by others in the crowd? We are left to wonder why John is running and doesn’t respond to her appeals, with our only clue being the first stanzas. This leaves a lot to the imagination and I think that is a good thing in poetry.

I wasn’t sure about the ‘bonker’ either but apparently ‘fish bonker’ is the real, accepted term, but I think it might be a 'local' Canadian term … here’s a couple ads for ‘bonkers’ (sometimes used for creatures other than fish I guess, maybe not advisable though) …

Great gifts for hikers, hunters, fishers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Uses: Fish bonker, Cougar and Bear bonker (use at own risk), Conversation piece, Persuader, Wall hanging, Shillelagh.

FISH BONKER #100 SMALL
The Small FISH BONKER is made from kiln-dried wood that will float if dropped overboard and, with its unique design, will not roll about in your boat. Approximately 12" in length.

[Penelope]

I found this in a lovely cookery book at the shop today. What a treasure!!

Cooking is not a mystery.
The more heart we put out
the more heart we put in.
To bring cooking alive
we give our life. Giving
our life willingly we don't
get put out.
Washing cutting cooking cleaning,
exploring ways to give life to our life.
Not knowing already how and what to do,
practice feeling it
out of what is not known
through the warmth and anxiety,
not sticking to a particular way,
insisting it is the only way
even though it is quite good;
open to feeling the various possibilities,
the tentative ways of giving life to our life.

To feel out our left hand, our back, our toes,
to feel out our breathing, our movements, our stance,
this is our freedom, this is our wisdom.
The mystery is that it is possible to do
what we don't know how to do.

through the warmth and anxiety,
not sticking to a particular way,
insisting it is the only way
even though it is quite good;

These are the verses which gave it dings for me.

[giselle]

I enjoyed your 'cookery poem' Penny. I especially like the fact that you call it a 'cookery book' not just plain old 'cookbook'. I guess 'cookery' goes with 'crockery', eh? There is plenty to learn from cooking that is valuable in life. And their are many aspects of life where parallels can be found in cooking. But I guess this should be so because food, and the production of it, is quite central to our lives and cultures.

[Saffron]

I enjoyed your 'cookery poem' Penny. I especially like the fact that you call it a 'cookery book' not just plain old 'cookbook'. I guess 'cookery' goes with 'crockery', eh? There is plenty to learn from cooking that is valuable in life. And their are many aspects of life where parallels can be found in cooking. But I guess this should be so because food, and the production of it, is quite central to our lives and cultures.

Exactly! Thanks for saying it Giselle.

[realiz]

But I guess this should be so because food, and the production of it, is quite central to our lives and cultures.

Yes, and a big part of our Christmas celebrations here. We will being a lot of cooking and eating at my house over the next week.

[Penelope]

Me too! I don't mind the cooking and eating, but I'm very glad the shopping's done.

We got very wet in heavy rainfall this morning, whilst buying fruit, veg and fish on the market. But I've been to my hairdresser this afternoon and now I'm having G&T whilst the curries are cooking in the oven; One hot Madras and one mild Korma.

My baby grandson is coming tonight to stay for the holiday......I can't wait.

[giselle]

Family. Food. Good cheer. Snow. Nice.

Penny - what is G&T? grits and toast? or gin and tonic?

[Penelope]

G&T - Gin and Tonic - and I'm just having another one now. Baby grandson in bed and sleeping peacefully.

Supper ready - waiting for phone call to go and collect drunken grandad from the pub. Then we can eat!!! LOL

Santa is coming tonight!!!!

[realiz]

Mirrors at 4 a.m.

You must come to them sideways
In rooms webbed in shadow,
Sneak a view of their emptiness
Without them catching
A glimpse of you in return.

The secret is,
Even the empty bed is a burden to them,
A pretense.
They are more themselves keeping
The company of a blank wall,
The company of time and eternity

Which, begging your pardon,
Cast no image
As they admire themselves in the mirror,
While you stand to the side
Pulling a hanky out
To wipe your brow surreptitiously.

CHARLES SIMIC B. 1938

[giselle]

G&T - Gin and Tonic - and I'm just having another one now.

Well, I like your taste in poetry Penny, but we don't share a taste for Gin. The closest I will get to Gin is a nice dry Martini ... a vodka Martini that is !!