tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58713705916592559402024-03-14T06:15:48.824+13:00An Affliction of PoetryAJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.comBlogger352125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-89154908383401411342024-01-23T08:07:00.004+13:002024-01-23T08:07:00.242+13:00"Us Two" by A. A. Milne<h1 class="title vcard item otitle_8518997"></h1><div class="tr_8518997"></div><div class="orig_8518997"> </div><div class="orig_8518997">Wherever I am, there's always Pooh,<br />
There's always Pooh and Me.<br />
Whatever I do, he wants to do,<br />
"Where are you going today?" says Pooh:<br />
"Well, that's very odd 'cos I was too.<br />
Let's go together," says Pooh, says he.<br />
"Let's go together," says Pooh.<br />
<br />
"What's twice eleven?" I said to Pooh.<br />
("Twice what?" said Pooh to Me.)<br />
"I think it ought to be twenty-two."<br />
"Just what I think myself," said Pooh.<br />
"It wasn't an easy sum to do,<br />
But that's what it is," said Pooh, said he.<br />
"That's what it is," said Pooh.<br />
<br />
"Let's look for dragons," I said to Pooh.<br />
"Yes, let's," said Pooh to Me.<br />
We crossed the river and found a few-<br />
"Yes, those are dragons all right," said Pooh.<br />
"As soon as I saw their beaks I knew.<br />
That's what they are," said Pooh, said he.<br />
"That's what they are," said Pooh.<br />
<br />
"Let's frighten the dragons," I said to Pooh.<br />
"That's right," said Pooh to Me.<br />
"I'm not afraid," I said to Pooh,<br />
And I held his paw and I shouted "Shoo!<br />
Silly old dragons!"- and off they flew.<br />
<br />
"I wasn't afraid," said Pooh, said he,<br />
"I'm never afraid with you." <br />
<br />
So wherever I am, there's always Pooh,<br />
There's always Pooh and Me.<br />
"What would I do?" I said to Pooh,<br />
"If it wasn't for you," and Pooh said: "True,<br />
It isn't much fun for One, but Two,<br />
Can stick together, says Pooh, says he. "That's how it is," says Pooh.</div><div class="orig_8518997"> <br /></div><div class="orig_8518997"><img alt="Line drawing of Winnie the Pooh teddy bear with Christopher Robin reading." class="mw-file-element" data-file-height="1258" data-file-width="1325" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Winnie-the-Pooh_45-1.png/220px-Winnie-the-Pooh_45-1.png" title="Pooh listening to Christopher Robin, Winnie-the-Pooh (1926). Illustration by E. H. Shepard." /> <br /></div><div class="orig_8518997"> </div><div class="orig_8518997">Winnie the Pooh is a beloved childhood nostalgia hit for me. I loved the poetry by A A Milne and its easy, flowing style. It takes a lot of work to get rhyme to flow so easily and naturally from the pen. :) </div><div class="orig_8518997"><br /></div><div class="orig_8518997">But also it's an important thing to remember, sticking together is good. We can make the world better when we are not alone. </div><div class="orig_8518997"><br /></div><div class="orig_8518997">Kia Kaha and happy Tuesday Poem flashback. :) </div><div class="orig_8518997">A.J.</div><div class="orig_8518997"> </div><div class="orig_8518997">P.S. my A.A. Milne poems are here:<a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2011/04/tuesday-poem-my-minion.html">My Minion, almost in the style of A A Milne's Market Square</a> & <a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2016/02/now-we-are-old-and-cynical.html">Now We Are Old and Cynical</a>.<br /></div><div class="orig_8518997">My other posted A.A. Milne poems are here:<a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-kings-breakfast-as-recited-by-julie.html">The King's Breakfast as recited by Julie Andrews and Stephen Colbert</a>, <a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2022/02/omg-in-honour-of-winnie-pooh-being-out.html">Teddy Bear, </a></div>AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-22085741301315083572024-01-09T09:35:00.002+13:002024-01-09T09:35:00.461+13:00Can you see the Silence? <p></p><p>I have nothing but words to shine into the darkness<br />There are no dollars to buy your opinion<br />No marketing team to tell you what to think<br />Only words, and even those are murdered,<br />Hidden under the rubble of truth<br /></p><p></p><p>All while oil lights the water<br /> And munitions light the sky<br />And the smoke, the smoke<br />Is choking, burning, like phosphorous<br />Right down to the bone<br /></p><p>Can you see beneath the noise?<br />If you look very carefully, you'll see<br />The gold-plated shackles<br />Placed on our democracy<br />Stretch to<br /></p><p>An instant of clarity before<br />Twisted<br />Lies<br />Are<br />Spruiked</p><p>Wound over our eyes<br />And through our hearts<br />Choking our souls and silencing <br />Our screams with the nightmare cloth <br />Of kleptocratic dreams<br /></p><p>A shroud of complacency<br />Woven from green dye and oil<br />While money buys the signal<br />And buries the noise<br /></p><p>Can you see the silence?<br />The voices fallen quiet<br /></p><p>Can you see the silence beneath the screen?</p><p><i> A.J. Ponder</i><br /></p><p>Well, I'm not sure if enjoyed is the right word, but I hope the poem has sparked something for you. It's one of my #protest poetry pieces.</p><p>If you enjoyed it, you may also enjoy some of my other protest pieces linked below, or if you'd rather have some fairy tale poetry my Portal to Fairytale poetry is <a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2011/06/tuesday-portal-to-fairy-tale-poetry.html">here</a>, or one of my personal favourites, <a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2010/07/tuesday-poem-time-wyrm.html">Time Wyrm</a>. <br /></p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2020/09/today-by-my-special-guest-billionaire.html" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Your Billionaire Overlord</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">: <span style="font-weight: normal;">Today, </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">I'm making the millions...</span></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2020/12/its-new-age.html">It's a New Age</a>:</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The world's moved on. Once, the mighty pen could tear down kingdoms...</span></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2011/04/tuesday-poem-circle-of-life.html">The Circle of Life</a> :We have let the snakes...<br /></span></h3><p></p><div data-contents="true"><div data-block="true" data-editor="8b19d" data-offset-key="5pgf3-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5pgf3-0-0"><br /></div></div></div>AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-21809073719816163642023-12-24T09:40:00.017+13:002023-12-24T09:40:00.133+13:00 Into the Underworld is almost here - Only 2 Days to go<p> I’m excited to announce the release of my latest book! The third book in the <b><i>Blood of the Fae</i></b> series. <br /></p><div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BR2KBQWV" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6327" data-attachment-id="6327" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="3-b-lood-of-the-fae-small" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/ponderbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-b-lood-of-the-fae-small.jpg?fit=500%2C750&ssl=1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/ponderbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-b-lood-of-the-fae-small.jpg?fit=200%2C300&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/ponderbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-b-lood-of-the-fae-small.jpg?fit=500%2C750&ssl=1" data-orig-size="500,750" data-permalink="https://ponderbooks.com/?attachment_id=6327" height="369" src="https://i0.wp.com/ponderbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-b-lood-of-the-fae-small.jpg?resize=500%2C750&ssl=1" style="height: auto; width: 321px;" width="246" /></a></figure><div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
<p>And it’s really close now, with only two days to go before you can join Ruby, her sister Pearl, and their kick-ass, bumbling
grandparents as dragons attack the Library of Alexandria and Dream City
falls to the skin walker, Wyrden.</p><p>Get ready to go <i><b>Into the Underworld & pick up your copy today </b></i><br /></p>
<p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BR2KBQWV?&linkCode=ll1&tag=ponderbooks09-20&linkId=e40c1d54ab223c32dc7fefe4ce94a75e&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl ">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BR2KBQWV</a> am aff link<br /></p>
<p></p>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
<p><b><i>Into the Underworld</i></b>, Book 3 of the <b><i>Blood of the Fae</i></b> series</p>
<p>Start reading the series free on KU / Kindle Unlimited for a limited time</p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-92664745-7fff-052b-90bb-808dba1f06d1" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">★★★★★ Edge of your seat action</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">★★★★★ A brilliant read</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.69091; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">★★★★★ Non-stop battles, traitors, and surprises</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">★★★★★ A wonderful job bringing the Fae into a new light</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">★★★★★ Will have you entranced</span></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFBD3JGW?&linkCode=ll2&tag=ponderbooks09-20&linkId=8097233d2a485d4ffb679309e85baba6&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFBD3JGW</a> am aff link<br /></p><p> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Blurb for <i>Into the Underworld</i>: <br /></h3><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-10f99845-7fff-334c-c2cc-0cfa9b20d1d8" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A daring unicorn rescue</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A trapped librarian</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A secret that will rock Brocéliande and change dragons forever</span></i></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ruby's daring rescue of her parents has failed. Queen Persephone has trapped her in the Underworld with her fairy godmother, Lettie.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Meanwhile, Ruby's sister Pearl is rescuing dragon eggs, unicorns and librarians, unaware of her family's fate or the secret her grandparents have uncovered that will change the fate of Brocéliande forever.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Journey into the Underworld with Ruby, Pearl, and their kick-ass, bumbling grandparents as dragons attack the Library of Alexandria and Dream City falls to the skin walker, Wyrden.</span></i></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don't miss out on the penultimate installment of this exciting adventure</span><b><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></i></b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BR2KBQWV?&linkCode=ll1&tag=ponderbooks09-20&linkId=e40c1d54ab223c32dc7fefe4ce94a75e&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl ">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BR2KBQWV</a> am aff link</p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;">Happy reading, Merry Christmas and a happy festive season<br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;">A.J. <br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></i></b></p>
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</div>AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-38927782210312516282023-08-18T23:35:00.004+12:002023-08-18T23:35:35.150+12:00 Into Faerland - Blood of the Fae, book 1 <p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">from USA Today Bestselling Author, A. J Ponder (yes, that's me!) </span></p><h2 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 11pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Into FaerLand </span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Humans seem to think fae are either flitting through the flowers drinking nectar, <br />or stealing children.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Well, only one of those is true.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We never steal children. We only swap them.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">An eye for an eye, a child for a child.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Journey into Faerland, at your own peril.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3sehWhk" style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And yes, I'm offering this 99c special for a limited time only (22 Aug).</span></a></p><h5 dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-09f28430-7fff-64a2-de80-bd3f1389fde5" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 11pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">*.•*´)¸.☆</span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="border: medium; display: inline-block; height: 16px; overflow: hidden; width: 16px;"><img alt="⚡️" height="16" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/E9Fci7_OHPzNCnPxdfLrIizrvcC45O2PjBXSKyFBgb4DailCjoNFcq0QWyqrdjQt6SCdx24EvVsPsxN5zS2gA1_Flum-wUgboIG68U6f1xcE0n_wW08j9mmVlM9_lQ_DlC1PZmXLQM2Yo5Zg9yAjuSg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="16" /></span></span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Blurb</span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="border: medium; display: inline-block; height: 16px; overflow: hidden; width: 16px;"><img alt="⚡️" height="16" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/PhSeuEHIo_n-T0SjpEdktZrarg0xNyxpZCkpZ4NJf2F0eQdMItk02Xka26sH9r8OflWO1Ma2II1E7zGfsxyHRvWWlfvNBPwteL0ywDm9RX8IZRdAr6Rus8pnaB3WPVXXDeyRckn6UVEmHy49h1EFAqE" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="16" /></span></span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">*.•*´)¸.☆</span></h5><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“We never steal children. We only swap them. An eye for an eye, a child for a child."</span></p><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Aiden is sent into demon territory to bring the Sword Master into New Avalon. The <br />mission doesn't go entirely to plan, and Aiden falls dangerously in love with the <br />Swordsmaster, Keera. She's pretty as a fae, and a strong, graceful fighter. With every <br />movement she makes, he falls harder. Keera and Aiden both ignore the warnings, <br />marry, and have two beautiful daughters.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Meanwhile, Keera’s swords, forged with cold iron, and adorned with silver and gold, <br />have angered the fae—and most especially King Hades and Persephone who rule <br />FaerLand.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Determined to pay the humans back, Queen Persephone orders two fae underlings, Lettie <br />and Zadie to switch their changelings for Keera and Aiden’s children. Lettie’s heart breaks <br />as Zadie tears her beloved changeling from her hands and replaces her with a snotty human <br />child. Now, the one person she loved in all the world is gone, she will do anything to bring <br />Nada back...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">...including killing Keera and Aiden to end the fairy bargain.</span></div><p><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3sehWhk">Special price of 99c</a> (Amazon aff link)</span></p><p><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7od57mL33o53elFFQx9a-jaB2y8uc_XPaO-y0-rjGObmyhbU3cWUcosft8u3d1Obw8MjkNsWK657zLhjW4NcpNItHDPhg5X62aOJKLtx0azVlBBUXdOIYIBxjNwk0QwYmwffIAJGfkIPSnIiVMZnFsWp3RGzl2G4cZVuRM1qvVuMhLdmKNiZarWjS1w/s792/intofaerland-queen99c-Aug.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An icy Queen Persephone offers you these glorious books “Into FaerLand” for only 99c on a red button August 17-22<br /> “We never steal children. We only swap them. An eye for an eye a child for a child. 5 star reviews With “Great Drama” “Brilliant Read” “A story that weaves and twists” and Available on Kindle Unlimited." border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="792" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7od57mL33o53elFFQx9a-jaB2y8uc_XPaO-y0-rjGObmyhbU3cWUcosft8u3d1Obw8MjkNsWK657zLhjW4NcpNItHDPhg5X62aOJKLtx0azVlBBUXdOIYIBxjNwk0QwYmwffIAJGfkIPSnIiVMZnFsWp3RGzl2G4cZVuRM1qvVuMhLdmKNiZarWjS1w/s16000/intofaerland-queen99c-Aug.jpg" title="Into FaerLand Am aff link: https://amzn.to/3sehWhk" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Into FaerLand Am aff link: https://amzn.to/3sehWhk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Happy reading, A.J. </span></p><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">P.S. If you love fae, you can also check out my collection of favourite Fairy Tale poems <a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2011/06/tuesday-portal-to-fairy-tale-poetry.html" target="_blank">here</a>, or my particular favourite <br />poem, <a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2011/05/tuesday-poem-stolen-time.html" target="_blank">Stolen Time, here. </a></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p>AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-53814526083876733202022-06-10T11:31:00.000+12:002022-06-10T11:31:04.630+12:00Welcome to the propaganda war<p><br /></p><p>Welcome to the war you never knew you were a part of. <br />Until the moment you did.</p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">But once you arrive, how do you know which side is the side for good?
<br />And which is the side for evil?
<br />When there is no such thing as perfection.</span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">No buts
<br />No believe mes
<br />No messiahs to rescue us
<br />No billionaires who care about anything other than their billions</span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">And when it gets too much
<br />Remember we're all with you
<br />Fighting in a hundred different directions, making mistakes and muddling through.</span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">And we love you
<br />Even if we disagree</span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">A.J. Ponder</span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"><a href="https://twitter.com/AJPonderBooks/status/1534841697162919936" target="_blank">First published on Twitter</a> </span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">I'd explain this poem, but does it need explaining? <br />I think most of us have realised that there's a few things in this world that need urgent fixing. And that the world could be an amazing place, but as the authors of "Why Nations Fail" pointed out, the first thing that needs to happen, is we need to stop concentrate all the wealth, resources and power into the hands of a very few, and spread them around like muck.</span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">Lets help all the flowers grow. Instead of piling it up into stinking cesspools of...</span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_ZHBC42extF8-Y4iV9R9m6Wxa65msBgWV0PiuNhhJXKsLDZSyJMe_MC5SFChHX8cP20BcLV2f5qsnDNmOIxuC8gxk2v5hDzC1fP36RDDfzr_ezWSjrf-gh8TIF30lnCHhzMjFuRqCXfVdOVbJZooQt9iKXySvuYqVkmLauyi4yKx_6P9eEaICgNMN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_ZHBC42extF8-Y4iV9R9m6Wxa65msBgWV0PiuNhhJXKsLDZSyJMe_MC5SFChHX8cP20BcLV2f5qsnDNmOIxuC8gxk2v5hDzC1fP36RDDfzr_ezWSjrf-gh8TIF30lnCHhzMjFuRqCXfVdOVbJZooQt9iKXySvuYqVkmLauyi4yKx_6P9eEaICgNMN" width="164" /></a></div><br />If you're looking for more poems of a similar ilk, here are two more swamp monster poems and The Masque of Anarchy by Percey Shelly to choose from. :) <p></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2022/05/lords-of-sea.html">The Lords of the Sea</a><br /></span></p><p><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2016/12/draining-swamp-of-all-human-decency.html"><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Draining the Swamp </span><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">of all Human Decency</span></a></p><p><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-masque-of-anarchy-percy-shelley.html">The Masque of Anarchy</a></p><p style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p><i>\Happy reading, A.J. </i></p><p style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">And if you're interested in my other writing, please check out what's new on my blog: <a href="https://ponderbooks.com/" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">https://ponderbooks.com</a></p><p style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">My books are available wide, and my favourite, Quest is now out in audiobook. (If you're in US <a href="https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/quest-by-a-j-ponder" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;">Chirp </a>is the cheapest option 😊😎)</p><p style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fff9ee; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://books2read.com/Quest-Sylvalla" style="color: #993300; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirArmPUlDjsnfIAlTj1JUJpx5WPxOrZ8tBEs4aGnF5-_f8E9fAzjH_ZV1yPRgXmkzNC7Z90Aw-dWK1-w__s-kcLNQleCrFQw9eKytH2wcq5ECdhYPFfrJLm3OftPpNsVTB95LfeLFDXbz0fivsYnH_DybkWs25qNojUPZjuC31MTkQj_srxHwRbsHE" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="240" /></a></div></div><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"><br /></span></p>AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-9086556844811121302022-05-16T10:41:00.000+12:002022-05-16T10:41:38.474+12:00The Fine Old English Gentleman: New Version by Charles Dickens<p> (To be said or sung at all Conservative dinners)</p><p class="dcr-139bh9t">I'll sing you a new ballad, and I'll warrant it first-rate,<br />Of the days of that old gentleman who had that old estate;<br />When they spent the public money at a bountiful old rate<br />On ev'ry mistress, pimp, and scamp, at ev'ry noble gate,<br /> In the fine old English Tory times;<br /> Soon may they come again!</p><p class="dcr-139bh9t">The good old laws were garnished well with gibbets, whips, and chains,<br />With fine old English penalties, and fine old English pains,<br />With rebel heads, and seas of blood once hot in rebel veins;<br />For all these things were requisite to guard the rich old gains<br /> Of the fine old English Tory times;<br /> Soon may they come again!</p><p class="dcr-139bh9t">This brave old code, like Argus, had a hundred watchful eyes,<br />And ev'ry English peasant had his good old English spies,<br />To tempt his starving discontent with fine old English lies,<br />Then call the good old Yeomanry to stop his peevish cries,<br /> In the fine old English Tory times;<br /> Soon may they come again!</p><div aria-hidden="true" class="js-ad-slot ad-slot ad-slot--carrot" data-label="false" data-link-name="ad slot carrot" data-mobile="fluid" data-name="carrot" data-refresh="false" id="dfp-ad--carrot"></div><p class="dcr-139bh9t">The good old times for cutting throats that cried out in their need,<br />The good old times for hunting men who held their fathers' creed,<br />The good old times when William Pitt, as all good men agreed,<br />Came down direct from Paradise at more than railroad speed …<br /> Oh the fine old English Tory times;<br /> When will they come again!</p><div class="ad-slot-container ad-slot--offset-right"><div aria-hidden="true" class="js-ad-slot ad-slot ad-slot-- ad-slot--inline3" data-desktop="1,1|2,2|300,250|300,274|fluid|300,600|160,600" data-link-name="ad slot inline3" data-mobile="1,1|2,2|300,197|300,250|300,274|fluid" data-name="inline3" data-phablet="1,1|2,2|300,197|300,250|300,274|fluid" id="dfp-ad--inline3"></div></div><p class="dcr-139bh9t">In those rare days, the press was seldom known to snarl or bark,<br />But sweetly sang of men in pow'r, like any tuneful lark;<br />Grave judges, too, to all their evil deeds were in the dark;<br />And not a man in twenty score knew how to make his mark.<br /> Oh the fine old English Tory times;<br /> Soon may they come again!</p><p class="dcr-139bh9t">Those were the days for taxes, and for war's infernal din;<br />For scarcity of bread, that fine old dowagers might win;<br />For shutting men of letters up, through iron bars to grin,<br />Because they didn't think the Prince was altogether thin,<br /> In the fine old English Tory times;<br /> Soon may they come again!</p><p class="dcr-139bh9t">But Tolerance, though slow in flight, is strong-wing'd in the main;<br />That night must come on these fine days, in course of time was plain;<br />The pure old spirit struggled, but its struggles were in vain;<br />A nation's grip was on it, and it died in choking pain,<br /> With the fine old English Tory days,<br /> All of the olden time.</p><p class="dcr-139bh9t">The bright old day now dawns again; the cry runs through the land,<br />In England there shall be dear bread — in Ireland, sword and brand;<br />And poverty, and ignorance, shall swell the rich and grand,<br />So, rally round the rulers with the gentle iron hand,<br /> Of the fine old English Tory days;<br /> Hail to the coming time!</p><p class="dcr-139bh9t">So there we go, as relevant today as back when Charles Dickens wrote it.</p><div style="text-align: left;">If you enjoyed this, you may also enjoy, Rudyard Kipling's <a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2010/11/rudyard-kipling-smugglers-song.html">A Smuggler's Song</a>, <a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2012/05/soliloquy-on-empty-purse-by-mary-jones.html">Soliloquy on an Empty Purse by Mary Jones</a> or the <a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-masque-of-anarchy-percy-shelley.html" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The Masque of Anarchy, Percy Shelley</span></a></div><p></p><p class="dcr-139bh9t">Have fun reading,<br />A.J. </p>AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-3104863710179459842022-05-10T13:47:00.001+12:002022-05-10T13:47:00.189+12:00Lords of the Sea<p> And thus we fought for honour, Lord</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDHal23a0C5v9vBRLVbwlhS3-6TvPrOo_YEi8VZIFLkm3LG2C9SPPagpSHTrL-xdUKghpSgecHMP8G1JUi78TGWbe24bHqEd0Sa3H3CCO_j9NJekEUmPZg8PY7ZdmnnGHDUvSw-vjpQsCsGtRbE9CKrNJiymJwHvyPJjHsKNZie-2OU3pxyc71zIM/s292/Squid_Jules_%20Verne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="200" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDHal23a0C5v9vBRLVbwlhS3-6TvPrOo_YEi8VZIFLkm3LG2C9SPPagpSHTrL-xdUKghpSgecHMP8G1JUi78TGWbe24bHqEd0Sa3H3CCO_j9NJekEUmPZg8PY7ZdmnnGHDUvSw-vjpQsCsGtRbE9CKrNJiymJwHvyPJjHsKNZie-2OU3pxyc71zIM/s1600/Squid_Jules_%20Verne.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>T'was our honour lord, we lost. <p></p><p>We faced the kraken, Lord<br />And couldn't take its arms</p><p>So we filled the seas with oil<br />And we filled the seas with death</p><p>And now that evil kraken<br />will take its final breath</p><p>But the fisherfolk can't eat the fish<br />And our soldiers die</p><p>And a new evil it stalks across the land<br />My lord, 'tis you and I </p><p><br /></p><p>A quick little poem this Tuesday, I hope you enjoy.</p><p>A.J.</p><p>More kraken poems:<br /></p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-kraken-by-alfred-tennyson.html" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Kraken by Alfred Tennyson</span></a><br /><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2011/05/tuesday-poem-under-surface.html" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Under the Surface</span></a></h3><p>And if you're interested in my other writing, please check out what's new on my blog: <a href="https://ponderbooks.com">https://ponderbooks.com</a></p><p>My books are available wide, and my favourite, Quest is now out in audiobook. (If you're in US <a href="https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/quest-by-a-j-ponder">Chirp </a>is the cheapest option 😊😎)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://books2read.com/Quest-Sylvalla" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirArmPUlDjsnfIAlTj1JUJpx5WPxOrZ8tBEs4aGnF5-_f8E9fAzjH_ZV1yPRgXmkzNC7Z90Aw-dWK1-w__s-kcLNQleCrFQw9eKytH2wcq5ECdhYPFfrJLm3OftPpNsVTB95LfeLFDXbz0fivsYnH_DybkWs25qNojUPZjuC31MTkQj_srxHwRbsHE" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /><br /></p>AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-73698086820428685422022-02-22T13:02:00.000+13:002022-02-22T13:02:00.181+13:00OMG - in honour of Winnie the Pooh being out of copyright, Teddy Bear by AA Milne<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; text-indent: -1em;">I love this poem so much because it's about celebrating who you are and understanding that fashion is fleeting. :) </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; text-indent: -1em;">TEDDY BEAR</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; text-indent: -1em;">A bear, however hard he tries,<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; text-indent: -1em;">Grows tubby without exercise.<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; text-indent: -1em;">Our Teddy Bear is short and fat,<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; text-indent: -1em;">Which is not to be wondered at;<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; text-indent: -1em;">He gets what exercise he can<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; text-indent: -1em;">By falling off the ottoman,<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; text-indent: -1em;">But generally seems to lack<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; text-indent: -1em;">The energy to clamber back.</span></p><div class="g-line-height-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1 !important;"> </div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Now tubbiness is just the thing</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Which gets a fellow wondering;</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">And Teddy worried lots about</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">The fact that he was rather stout.</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">He thought: “If only I were thin!</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">But how does anyone begin?”</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">He thought: “It really isn’t fair</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">To grudge one exercise and air.”</div><div class="g-line-height-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1 !important;"> </div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">For many weeks he pressed in vain</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">His nose against the window-pane,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">And envied those who walked about</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Reducing their unwanted stout.</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">None of the people he could see</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">“Is quite” (he said) “as fat as me!”</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Then, with a still more moving sigh,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">“I mean” (he said) “as fat as I!</div><div class="g-line-height-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1 !important;"> </div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">One night it happened that he took</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">A peep at an old picture-book,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Wherein he came across by chance</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">The picture of a King of France</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">(A stoutish man) and, down below,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">These words: ”King Louis So and So,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Nicknamed ‘The Handsome!’" There he sat,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">And (think of it!) the man was fat!</div><div class="g-line-height-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1 !important;"> </div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Our bear rejoiced like anything</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">To read about this famous King,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Nicknamed “The Handsome.” There he sat,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">And certainly the man was fat.</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Nicknamed “The Handsome.” Not a doubt</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">The man was definitely stout.</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Why then, a bear (for all his tub)</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Might yet be named “The Handsome Cub!”</div><div class="g-line-height-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1 !important;"> </div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">“Might yet be named.” Or did he mean</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">That years ago he “might have been”?</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">For now he felt a slight misgiving:</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">“Is Louis So and So still living?</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Fashions in beauty have a way</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Of altering from day to day.</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Is 'Handsome Louis’ with us yet?</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Unfortunately I forget.”</div><div class="g-line-height-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1 !important;"> </div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Next morning (nose to window-pane)</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">The doubt occurred to him again.</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">One question hammered in his head:</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">“Is he alive or is he dead?”</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Thus, nose to pane, he pondered; but</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">The lattice window, loosely shut,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Swung open. With one startled “Oh!”</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Our Teddy disappeared below.</div><div class="g-line-height-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1 !important;"> </div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">There happened to be passing by</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">A plump man with a twinkling eye,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Who, seeing Teddy in the street,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Raised him politely to his feet,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">And murmured kindly in his ear</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Soft words of comfort and of cheer:</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">“Well, well!” “Allow me!” “Not at all.”</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">“Tut-tut! A very nasty fall.”</div><div class="g-line-height-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1 !important;"> </div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Our Teddy answered not a word;</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">It’s doubtful if he even heard.</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Our bear could only look and look:</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">The stout man in the picture-book!</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">That 'handsome’ King - could this be he,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">This man of adiposity?</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">“Impossible,” he thought. “But still,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">No harm in asking. Yes I will!”</div><div class="g-line-height-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1 !important;"> </div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">“Are you,” he said, "by any chance</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">His Majesty the King of France?”</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">The other answered, “I am that,”</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Bowed stiffly, and removed his hat;</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Then said, “Excuse me,” with an air,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">“But is it Mr Edward Bear?”</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">And Teddy, bending very low,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Replied politely, “Even so!”</div><div class="g-line-height-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1 !important;"> </div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">They stood beneath the window there,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">The King and Mr Edward Bear,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">And, handsome, if a trifle fat,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Talked carelessly of this and that....</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Then said His Majesty, “Well, well,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">I must get on,” and rang the bell.</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">“Your bear, I think,” he smiled. “Good-day!”</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">And turned, and went upon his way.</div><div class="g-line-height-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1 !important;"> </div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">A bear, however hard he tries,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Grows tubby without exercise.</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Our Teddy Bear is short and fat,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Which is not to be wondered at.</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">But do you think it worries him</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">To know that he is far from slim?</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">No, just the other way about -</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">He’s proud of being short and stout.</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"><br /></div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHk4hR5BDIhr8NGkMIhNIF3IQX8Y60yuhsAoHC0zx31w5uppYgljm1fUpJcd9DKVTSgn0yBhd1UylPeko334XX6xNNBbQUGelal6tOcbwhHnW4gLbpmHOYOwmYjwSKTblkMOhUdFhnaeS0ArPGbL82tGGhRJW6qI1UACMSFawacmdyXteQ7oaY4FuH" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="341" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHk4hR5BDIhr8NGkMIhNIF3IQX8Y60yuhsAoHC0zx31w5uppYgljm1fUpJcd9DKVTSgn0yBhd1UylPeko334XX6xNNBbQUGelal6tOcbwhHnW4gLbpmHOYOwmYjwSKTblkMOhUdFhnaeS0ArPGbL82tGGhRJW6qI1UACMSFawacmdyXteQ7oaY4FuH" width="280" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"><br /></div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Hope to see you again soon,</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Busy writing</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">A.J. </div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">P.S. You may enjoy, or really hate my poems "in the style of" A.A. Milne</div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2011/04/tuesday-poem-my-minion.html" target="_blank">My Minion</a></div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2016/02/now-we-are-old-and-cynical.html" target="_blank">Now We Are Old and Cynical</a></span></span></div><div class="verse " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">Or <a href="The King's Breakfast as recited by Julie Andrews and Stephen Colbert" target="_blank">The King's Breakfast as recited by Julie Andrews and Stephen Colbert</a></span></div>AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-26202856520424614022022-02-15T03:11:00.030+13:002022-05-08T12:06:05.181+12:00Quest Audiobook Out Now <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/ponderbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Quest-Cover-adio.jpg?resize=768%2C465&ssl=1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="768" height="361" src="https://i0.wp.com/ponderbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Quest-Cover-adio.jpg?resize=768%2C465&ssl=1" width="597" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://books2read.com/SylvallaChronicles" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF0v1_gkjIdAJ5-McKJSci_pv2BrAzpNge1SICGW1i5w7JHWwLp5hBYGkl1RaDAUVYJKsLJxmmouDlYBA1DGwDK1_uk49EecqeaQA5XTy5vMCkluVPVae75fDv9gfB3SnzTwMk_-9Ppyyx5X7Jbt2VhxrqssjROEPY8yH4qcF3aX-HNAtCS1AP7Nak=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div>Yes, Quest is now an audiobook. <div>It was one of the most expensive things I've ever done as an author. But it was hugely worthwhile. Very satisfying and extremely nerve-wracking at the same time...but it's all worth it now as with Benjamin Fife’s narration, the characters of <b><i>Quest </i></b>come to life.*</div>
<p>Cheer for Princess Sylvalla as she escapes the confines of Avondale
castle and discovers a world of fantasy, adventure and danger.</p><div class="wp-container-620884b1e9518 wp-block-columns">
<div class="wp-block-column">
<p>Follow Jonathan Goodfellow as he rejects a life of wizardry in search
of his fortune—the fortune he lost when he lost his wagon and
everything in it. Well, he didn’t lose the wagon, exactly, it was
stolen. Stolen by Dothie, an evil wizard who has plans to get a fortune
of his own.</p>
<p>Boo the evil wizard as he creates chaos wherever he goes, and then
attempts to kidnap the princess Sylvalla—which is ironic because the
princess is accidentally taking on a spot of kidnapping herself…</p>
<p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p>*The only problem is that you'll miss out on the footnotes. But if you’re
not a footnote fan, that has to be a definite advantage of the audio
book. :) </p>
<p>Shortlisted for the Sir Julius Vogel award. To find out more about Quest click <a href="https://ponderbooks.com/my-books/the-sylvalla-prophecies-quest/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p>Or buy the series now—available <a href="https://books2read.com/SylvallaChronicles" rel="nofollow">wide</a>, or see below for the Amazon preview... </p>
<div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="550" loading="lazy" src="https://read.amazon.com/kp/card?preview=inline&linkCode=as2&ref_=k4w_oembed_I6FZ1mkTVIcRmY&asin=B0853CNQM4&tag=ponderbooks09-20" style="max-width: 100%;" title="The Sylvalla Chronicles: Quest, Prophecy & Omens" type="text/html" width="525"></iframe> <p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you for reading,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A.J.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">PS: If you're looking for more books with great heroines check out <a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html" target="_blank">my books</a> page, or <a href="https://ponderbooks.com/female-heroes-are-for-everyone/" target="_blank">Female Heroes Are For Everyone</a> on my writing blog. :)</div><br />AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-51724585402438990402022-02-12T12:30:00.001+13:002022-02-12T12:30:00.187+13:00Snow White and Rose Red - The Dragon Shifters Hoard<p> <b><i>Do you remember the story of Snow White and Rose Red?</i></b></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5BKTlGISjW7Z8Wc5Td8sd8mXpm2GxhJR_O3pkCtJbWSXdmjv-fYrPv_wz8D9mRMXgrmH1dkSaY7YsvL3DIIcGPzOacor5PNZiSYvUwviVX2KI3T6NwhSxPBsxomS3iSBTzGj3Lap08znsPKKG7y3IaMNtrNlFWsmQpiKxDo3ANTL_DcIWbr_HWkkv" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5BKTlGISjW7Z8Wc5Td8sd8mXpm2GxhJR_O3pkCtJbWSXdmjv-fYrPv_wz8D9mRMXgrmH1dkSaY7YsvL3DIIcGPzOacor5PNZiSYvUwviVX2KI3T6NwhSxPBsxomS3iSBTzGj3Lap08znsPKKG7y3IaMNtrNlFWsmQpiKxDo3ANTL_DcIWbr_HWkkv" width="161" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessie Willcox Smith<br />Public Domain</td></tr></tbody></table>It's one of the fairy tales that really spoke to me. I think it was because it was originally written by a woman and the two girls simply had more agency than in most fairy tales. They got to go out and do things, look out for each other, make mistakes and live happily ever after. </p><p>So of course Eileen Mueller and I wanted to write their story...but different. first things first. No old-school characterisations of dwarfs. TBH in the original story the dwarf is more like a gnome, but that also seems problematic. So that character is now a...no, of course I'm not telling you that. It would be a total spoiler. :)</p><p>It's a total re-imagining of the story—with the girls having powers that need to be kept hidden as they're brought into a world of dragon shifters, mages and deadly fae. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ponderbooks.com/2022/01/14/snow-and-red-dragon-shifters-hoard-book-1-sneak-preview/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_Zw8v2n38rqxGp_uaP9s07X__wLHF2KIhViSBEj0l8dK_uEJTKW1eKzlnQbLMt8vArYCOKw6eLGmi64LjCZWi059RXNO6GVlAYJT3w7xlPTkxhkvXBoqahkEdHwosEFdRLUJ5JL4aAef8WDmJNWJoe9cZfAFuPNk-8VBYzAB7KNnbYXV8Y5xvXsib=w363-h363" width="363" /></a></div>Red brings the fire. The quote is from Dante's perspective. Think of him as the prince...except he's not stuck in the form of a bear. He has other problems that revolve around the dragon-shifters hoard and his family. So those plot points are in there, with the girls unwittingly helping the villain of the story. <p></p><p>Just saying, because it's hard to pick up.</p><p>If you'd like <a href="https://ponderbooks.com/2022/01/14/snow-and-red-dragon-shifters-hoard-book-1-sneak-preview/" target="_blank">a sneak preview of Snow and Red-book 1 of the Dragon Shifters' Hoard check it out my website here. </a><br /> </p><p>Snow brings the cold. The quote is what Zephyr thinks when he sees her. Yes, both "princes" are in this story. No point having the extra one turn up at the end, is there? </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ponderbooks.com/2022/01/14/snow-and-red-dragon-shifters-hoard-book-1-sneak-preview/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3nYCZ6fcHnCzRfquYZpe38WKMLl_mot3K8KHbLyFyKQ0Nm0J28qUw9M6RNMO7ViDMJ2Xuckf8u4gRBrynjNBIgBZRgHpJDxff3hz77LlljhxsqSFsO3RMWRinLzKTvGWYKLUbUVE07kBxbXMgFMc868qk7CSB6wj6NTwaNo5FRI14rENxuDne6gg1=w376-h376" width="376" /></a></div>In fact both Zephyr and Dante feature in their very own prequel...The Draki Twins, and it's absolutely free. And it has nothing to do with the Snow and Red fairy tale...but it does give a little background for the beginning of the series. <p></p><p>Check it out at your favourite ebook retailer <a href="https://books2read.com/DrakiTwins" rel="nofollow">here</a>: https://books2read.com/DrakiTwins</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>So, now I've told you mine, what's your favourite fairy tale?</i></b> </p><p><i>Have fun reading (& retelling fairy tales)<br />A.J. </i></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://books2read.com/DrakiTwins" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQkJVfe9wsNb4te6I0bNN-HtiEm300VjD3usMGWGOG2q68A5OK5jU5aOhT3JDPBRIP4zF5BZoc8OrC6oKuFaMAyiaB0EqyqHho_bsnxLbcUBLmfGfwHdYe2J7MMX46NDyGznrTqO6A-GIot3TA20IowwnjV5jnb3xj_18TMwbtbKdFf2_j-MQHcVo4=s320" width="213" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://books2read.com/DrakiTwins" rel="nofollow">Free</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-31180453554709686582022-02-06T23:00:00.014+13:002022-02-06T23:00:00.206+13:00Happy Birthday in a Minor Key and other assorted humorous poetry by Bill Bailey<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bill Bailey happens to be one of my favourite comedians. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And no, I haven't shared everything he's done here, but this is special because today is my birthday. And also because he starts this segment with two short poems. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And they're great. Not because they are wonderful poetry or anything like that, it's because one of his most impressive features is that he always knows just how to finish a work. It's sublime.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, I thought as today is my birthday, I'd start it off with this lovely birthday song, enhanced by the sweet melancholy of the minor key. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kF1GsAHBzeY" width="320" youtube-src-id="kF1GsAHBzeY"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, maybe it's not that sweet. But it kinda is. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And that's because of the ending. After getting progressively bleaker, the twist is hilarious. And there's something to be said for a nihilistic lack of sugar coating, or dare I say a furniture-chewing Grinch. It might be just me, but I find it uplifting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So happy '<b><i>meaningless milestone of decay'</i></b> to me!!!! :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have a great day, everyone</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A.J. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you like this you may also like:</div><p><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2017/10/tim-minchins-f-poor-with-link-to-his.html" target="_blank">Tim Minchin's F- the Poor </a>(For musical comedy) </p><p>Or the slightly ore uplifting milestone poem: <a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2011/12/tuesday-poem-running-away-with.html">An Affliction of Poetry: Running away with a Christmas Sonnet</a></p><p>Or if you like reversals, you may enjoy: <a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2010/11/tuesday-poem-sonnet-to-muse.html" target="_blank">A Sonnet to the Muse</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-78352858896083218472021-09-12T18:23:00.004+12:002021-09-12T18:23:30.712+12:00Ask me not<p>Ask me no secrets<br />I'll tell you no lies</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4plO6znRHWqF7CR1yZAefcxLdYmWU02_7IBT5GFD4_zTXeCpth1nfl73oAn9z71bfD_5igQ-lHCbxkpO-iMNcBG9GU1PLZ4frnbYJZyswrtClzSIGaPKJHHVjjLm6ISQuj8C_gzcIK8/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Mask-carnival - gold" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4plO6znRHWqF7CR1yZAefcxLdYmWU02_7IBT5GFD4_zTXeCpth1nfl73oAn9z71bfD_5igQ-lHCbxkpO-iMNcBG9GU1PLZ4frnbYJZyswrtClzSIGaPKJHHVjjLm6ISQuj8C_gzcIK8/w320-h213/image.png" title="https://pixabay.com/users/5598375-5598375/" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Ask for no boon and<br />You'll get no surprise</p><p>For questions are deadly<br />When you're in the know</p><p>And Grifters be hiding <br />behind solid gold doors</p><p>With solid gold excuses<br />And solid gold mores</p><p>And they pay well for silence<br />...</p><p>So listen well to their threat<br />...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippbhXrYkkq6aDh_q8maz6WiUXYv9RDp9Q-VqSerRi-8ArdyIJu11HHTLQeDMRXNrygvAVI1c7II9LP9v7fDd6MQ04Zp4fzlxVDspo8gU1_vDoEp9GnelVZb5QMrhdGuRAFu7nH6g0r4Y/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippbhXrYkkq6aDh_q8maz6WiUXYv9RDp9Q-VqSerRi-8ArdyIJu11HHTLQeDMRXNrygvAVI1c7II9LP9v7fDd6MQ04Zp4fzlxVDspo8gU1_vDoEp9GnelVZb5QMrhdGuRAFu7nH6g0r4Y/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MHGw1ZnjCw7tyB4qBBxyDDRORNiBklpA1r4VBFShfaPV72W1hn3Gk9O5PXdoUVSVkObS85uvTYT-im5UuWSb_4KWdMRM_SAfIo6zWBfmSv3V2s74w2WjmkdVGmLk-gwQADWksScpbBU/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MHGw1ZnjCw7tyB4qBBxyDDRORNiBklpA1r4VBFShfaPV72W1hn3Gk9O5PXdoUVSVkObS85uvTYT-im5UuWSb_4KWdMRM_SAfIo6zWBfmSv3V2s74w2WjmkdVGmLk-gwQADWksScpbBU/" width="160" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><p></p><p>You can ask not for your country<br />And not for yourself<br /></p><p>You can ask and be answered<br />You can knock on that door</p><p>But never, dear, never<br />Don't you dare ask for more</p><p><br /></p><p>There we go, it's been a while since I wrote a poem-but I had this saying rattling around my head and when I looked it up all I got was "Ask me no <b>questions</b>..." If anyone can think of a poem, or fairy tale I might have got "Ask me no secrets, I'll tell you no lies." I'd really appreciate it, I'm absolutely drawing a blank. </p><p>Have a great week,</p><p>A.J. </p><p>And if you like this poem you may also like:</p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2020/09/today-by-my-special-guest-billionaire.html" target="_blank">Today - by my special guest "Billionaire Overlord"</a><span style="background-color: transparent;"> <br />or</span></div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2011/04/tuesday-poem-circle-of-life.html" target="_blank">The Circle of Life</a></h3><p><br /></p><p>#protest poetry</p>AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-88855758660200124382021-08-16T22:01:00.000+12:002021-08-16T22:01:14.843+12:00Accounting for HerbertYoung Herbert George of Wellington <div>is a simple accountant,<div>his needs are few</div><div><br />
His need for attention<br />accrues to a mere </div><div>twenty four hours a day<br />
<br />Such a playful mathematician<br />
you can count on him to chew </div><div>not only vast numbers of pens and pencils</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOH4QoxHOVYkLpNH1JJmxnre0DhmItHGmgkGEIMvMFc3KrCkCnXINYKgDhOj97QzHRCLQTe7wB4CIbur0ktqpoUHusXuyycimY91Cb79i7OeVc6LeRXkyoc40Xy_m8vKD1j9oZEWe40TQ/s6000/DSC00152.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOH4QoxHOVYkLpNH1JJmxnre0DhmItHGmgkGEIMvMFc3KrCkCnXINYKgDhOj97QzHRCLQTe7wB4CIbur0ktqpoUHusXuyycimY91Cb79i7OeVc6LeRXkyoc40Xy_m8vKD1j9oZEWe40TQ/s320/DSC00152.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>but literally anything he can get his paws on<br /><br />
Young Herbert's quite intent<br />on finding his way in the world<br />but after being dubbed Herb from Accounting<br />
things are looking...sideways<br />
<br />Still, to be fair to young Herbert,<br />
he's getting the hang of spreadsheets.</div><div><br />That's a definite skill.<br />
A talent, or a calling<br />
if you will</div><div>to really move your assets around </div><div><br /></div><div>And so it is with accountants,</div><div>even young accountants</div><div>named HG</div><div><br /></div><div><i>A.J. Ponder - </i>and yes, this entire post/poem is playing with the name of our cat. There's really no getting past that, and so if you're looking for something more deep and meaningful, can I suggest </div><div>Time Wyrm? <a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2010/07/tuesday-poem-time-wyrm.html">An Affliction of Poetry: Time Wyrm</a></div><div>If you want more kitten fun, can I suggest Piano Twins? <a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2011/06/tuesday-poem-piano-twins.html">An Affliction of Poetry: The Piano Twins</a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm also fundraising for a poetry book—get your say on the types of poems you'd like to see by donating not quite enough for a cup of coffee and leaving a comment :) </div><div><br /></div><div>
<script src="https://storage.ko-fi.com/cdn/widget/Widget_2.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">kofiwidget2.init('Support Me on Ko-fi', '#29abe0', 'C0C15AWAM');kofiwidget2.draw();</script> </div></div>AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-69986602514023003362021-02-22T12:48:00.003+13:002021-07-13T22:39:10.809+12:00Haiku for Quest and the final countdown for Enchanted Kingdoms<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZV8WQTT/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=ponderbooks09-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07ZV8WQTT&linkId=96842a7711ebd5956acde487aeb774aa" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj816XTz-FPuGRiKYtoPmbEJ8cktFuUWtxbQQI5c9hjpfv_1HccrxMzJsIpYClLg7MfsbLpF92B62jP7ymVi5SfxQoxNOkIejGVDxWIS0Ge07oyFZ59ZR-cB8tDw53bp5OmcyP4fDWVGKc/s320/QUEST_AJPonder_web_500k.jpg" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Haiku for Quest - </h2><p></p><p>So, I was challenged in <a href="https://twitter.com/AJPonderBooks/status/1362583039751032833" target="_blank">Twitter to create a Haiku</a> to pitch one of my books, so I chose Quest....</p><div data-contents="true"><div data-block="true" data-editor="dd0k" data-offset-key="eus1e-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="eus1e-0-0"><span data-offset-key="eus1e-0-0">A fighting princess</span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="dd0k" data-offset-key="1drmp-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1drmp-0-0"><span data-offset-key="1drmp-0-0">Looking to be a hero</span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="dd0k" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0">Will find a dragon</span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0">Now, I don't write very many haikus - but it can go with my other haiku piece - </div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0">How to write a haiku: <a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2018/08/poetically-incorrect-poetry-haiku.html">An Affliction of Poetry: Poetically Incorrect Poetry: The Haiku</a></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0">Now, I don't post very often, so I thought I should mention what I've been up to - aside from writing haiku on Twitter!</div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0">I'm part of a fairytale box set raising money toward funding equipment for autistic children. </div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0">And in just a day or two I'll post about that, but in the meantime, here's a graphic I created and a bit of a blurb. </div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx45Lz-9Pf8dG9pcSUbU0TcBKfkK8FVMscUjc68xDfuwFUqqtQ7teu7y-1lu56eMYc995HL_ucBZFz0gtcdBvXBPLHE4O80pWgWxvC8DQywgn96OJZGIeSdX309dnjJzorxa-5bz4XqmE/s1200/countdown-2-days.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx45Lz-9Pf8dG9pcSUbU0TcBKfkK8FVMscUjc68xDfuwFUqqtQ7teu7y-1lu56eMYc995HL_ucBZFz0gtcdBvXBPLHE4O80pWgWxvC8DQywgn96OJZGIeSdX309dnjJzorxa-5bz4XqmE/s320/countdown-2-days.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">
</span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">●▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬● </span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">**OLD TALES, NEW TWIST**
</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">●▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬● </span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"> 20+ Brand new retellings of your favorite fairytales in one stunning box set, all for just 99c with 100% of the proceeds supporting a children's autism charity. Pre-order this set now on Amazon and we'll give you a #free companion box set to tide you over until launch! 👉Pre-order Enchanted Kingdoms here: </span><a class="waffle-rich-text-link" href="http://www.books2read.com/EnchantedKingdoms" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">www.Books2read.com/EnchantedKingdoms</a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;"> </span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">👉Get your companion set here: </span><a class="waffle-rich-text-link" href="http://bit.ly/EKAmazonGift" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">http://bit.ly/EKAmazonGift</a></div><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0">So hold on tight - just a day, or so, to go before you can get your hands on this amazing set. And don't forget to pick up that companion set before the launch!</span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0">Have fun reading,</span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><i>A.J. Ponder</i></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><span data-offset-key="99fs-0-0"><br /></span></div></div></div>
AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-81085400764877979492020-12-24T23:55:00.002+13:002020-12-24T23:58:29.273+13:00A Visit from St. Nicholas—also known as "The Night Before Christmas"<p>Since it's Christmas Eve! What better poem can there possibly be for this special night of the year. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/A_Visit_From_St._Nicholas%2C_by_Clement_C_Moore.jpg/220px-A_Visit_From_St._Nicholas%2C_by_Clement_C_Moore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="220" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/A_Visit_From_St._Nicholas%2C_by_Clement_C_Moore.jpg/220px-A_Visit_From_St._Nicholas%2C_by_Clement_C_Moore.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house<br />Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;<br />The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,<br />In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;</p><p>The children were nestled all snug in their beds,<br />
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;<br />
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,<br />
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,</p><p>When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,<br />
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.<br />
Away to the window I flew like a flash,<br />
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.</p><p>The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow<br />
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,<br />
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,<br />
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,</p><p>With a little old driver, so lively and quick,<br />
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.<br />
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,<br />
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;</p><p>"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!<br />
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!<br />
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!<br />
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"</p><p>As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,<br />
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,<br />
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,<br />
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.</p><p>And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof<br />
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.<br />
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,<br />
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.</p><p>He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,<br />
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;<br />
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,<br />
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.</p><p>His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!<br />
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!<br />
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,<br />
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;</p><p>The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,<br />
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;<br />
He had a broad face and a little round belly,<br />
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.</p><p>He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,<br />
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;<br />
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,<br />
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;</p><p>He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,<br />
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,<br />
And laying his finger aside of his nose,<br />
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;</p><p>
</p><p>He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,<br />
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.<br />
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,<br />
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!</p><p><br /></p><p>N.B. A Visit from St. Nicholas was first published anonymously in 1823 and later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore but that's not the end of the story. Henry Livingston Jr. </p><p><br /></p><p>So Merry Christmas to all—and to all a good night! </p><p><i>A.J. Ponder - </i>and if you're reading this on Christmas Day, or just want a bit of Christmas fun, check out Miss Lionheart's blog and the chapter "<a href="https://misslillylionheart.wordpress.com/2020/12/24/christmas-in-an-evil-criminal-masterminds-bunker/" target="_blank">Christmas in an Evil Mastermind's Bunker</a>" </p><p>Or you may want to read: "<a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-12-deadly-days-of-dinkum-aussie.html" target="_blank">The Twelve Deadly Days of a Dinkum Aussie Christmas</a>" </p>AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-45297926450142466502020-12-15T22:49:00.030+13:002021-01-26T23:45:08.591+13:00It's a New Age<p><br /></p><p>The world's moved on</p><div>Once, the mighty pen could tear down kingdoms</div>but now it's broken, blunted,<div>and abandoned in a drawer <div><br />You won't see the new invention hiding in front of your face </div><div>though its more dangerous than a three-edged sword<br />and sharper than truth itself<br /><br />Beware, my friend<br />the quadruple-edged<br />pixel<br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>A.J. Ponder</i></div><div>If you enjoyed "It's a New Age" you may also like:</div><div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2020/09/today-by-my-special-guest-billionaire.html" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none;">Today - by my special guest "Billionaire Overlord"</a></h3></div><div>or</div><div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2020/07/through-looking-glass.html" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none;">Through the Looking Glass</a></h3></div><div>thanks for dropping by and happy reading!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-78381090218181741302020-12-11T18:12:00.003+13:002020-12-11T19:06:23.237+13:00‘The 12 Deadly Days of a Dinkum Aussie Christmas’<p>With apologies to all my Australian friends and family and to Paula and Andrew. I stole this from our conversation—thanks to the koala in the Christmas Tree incident—and ran with it....mwah ha ha! Unfortunately, as it turns out, I decided the koala wasn't deadly enough, and I also forgot half the scansion we had at the time. But as the twelve days of Christmas are looming...here's a bit of deadly fun. :) Enjoy. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/06/09/03/09/crocodile-3463554_960_720.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="272" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/06/09/03/09/crocodile-3463554_960_720.jpg" width="408" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A salty or salt water crocodile :)</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><br />On the first day of Christmas<br />
A dinkum Aussie gave to me: <br />
A python in a Christmas tree.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the second day of Christmas<br />
An Aussie gave to me:<br />
Two stone fish<br />
And a python in a Christmas tree.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the third day of Christmas<br />
A dinkum Aussie gave to me:<br />
Three brown snakes,<br />
Two stone fish<br />
And a python in a Christmas tree.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the fourth day of Christmas<br />
A dinkum Aussie gave to me:<br />
Four giant crocs,<br />
Three brown snakes,<br />
Two stone fish<br />
And a python in a Christmas tree.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the fifth day of Christmas<br />
A dinkum Aussie gave to me:<br />
Fi-ive blue ringed octopus,<br />
Four giant crocs,<br />
Three brown snakes,<br />
Two stone fish<br />
And a python in a Christmas tree.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the sixth day of Christmas<br />
A dinkum Aussie gave to me:<br />
Six salties slaying<br />
Five blue ringed octopus,<br />
Four giant crocs,<br />
Three brown snakes,<br />
Two stone fish<br />
And a python in a Christmas tree.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the seventh day of Christmas<br />
A dinkum Aussie gave to me:<br />
Seven spiders biting<br />
Six salties slaying<br />
Five blue ringed octopus,<br />
Four giant crocs,<br />
Three brown snakes,<br />
Two stone fish<br />
And a python in a Christmas tree.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the eighth day of Christmas<br />
A dinkum Aussie gave to me:<br />
Eight kangas kicking <br />
Seven spiders biting<br />
Six salties slaying<br />
Five blue ringed octopus,<br />
Four giant crocs,<br />
Three brown snakes,<br />
Two stone fish<br />
And a python in a Christmas tree.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
On the ninth day of Christmas<br />
A dinkum Aussie gave to me:<br />
Nine sting rays stinging<br />
Eight kangas kicking <br />
Seven spiders biting<br />
Six salties slaying<br />
Five blue ringed octopus,<br />
Four giant crocs,<br />
Three brown snakes,<br />
Two stone fish<br />
And a python in a Christmas tree.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the tenth day of Christmas<br />
A dinkum Aussie gave to me:<br />
Ten spiders leaping <br />
Nine sting rays stinging<br />
Eight kangas kicking <br />
Seven spiders biting<br />
Six salties slaying<br />
Five blue ringed octopus,<br />
Four giant crocs,<br />
Three brown snakes,<br />
Two stone fish<br />
And a python in a Christmas tree.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the eleventh day of Christmas<br />
A dinkum Aussie gave to me:<br />
Eleven snakes envenoming<br />
Ten spiders leaping <br />
Nine sting rays stinging<br />
Eight kangas kicking <br />
Seven spiders biting<br />
Six salties slaying<br />
Five blue ringed octopus,<br />
Four giant crocs,<br />
Three brown snakes,<br />
Two stone fish<br />
And a python in a Christmas tree.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">On the twelfth day of Christmas<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">
A dinkum Aussie gave to me:<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">
Twelve white sharks biting<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">
Eleven snakes envenoming <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">
Ten spiders leaping<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">
Nine sting rays stinging<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">
Eight kangas kicking<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">
Seven red backs biting<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">
Six salties slaying<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">Five blue ringed octopus,<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">
Four giant crocs,<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">
Three brown snakes,<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">
Two stone fish<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">
And a python in a Christmas tree.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">Well, congratulations for getting all the way to the end—or for figuring out you could just read the final verse. I hope you enjoyed ‘The 12 Deadly Days of a Dinkum Aussie Christmas’.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">Happy holidays and festive greetings </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">A.J. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;">P.S. More Christmas posts below:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 1.5pt;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2010/12/twelve-days-of-christmas-revisited.html" target="_blank">The Twelve Days of Christmas - revisited</a></h3><div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2012/06/tuesday-poem-flash-fiction-frnchristmas.html" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none;">Flash Fiction: Fr.N.Christmas' final letter to A- & M-</a></h3></div><div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2011/12/tuesday-poem-running-away-with.html" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none;">Running away with a Christmas Sonnet</a></h3></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-58049815025448274862020-09-24T12:56:00.000+12:002020-09-24T12:56:16.694+12:00The Magical Mystery Tour <p>I'm running two promotions on my other website:</p><p><a href="https://books.bookfunnel.com/sylvalladragonslayer/4i7zwl73n8" target="_blank">Discover your next Favourite Fantasy</a> and find the hidden gift card to go into the draw to win $25</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bookfunnelimages.com/images/covers/ikzekn5m35/header.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="800" height="218" src="https://bookfunnelimages.com/images/covers/ikzekn5m35/header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>And a kind of <a href="https://ponderbooks.com/giveaway/the-magical-mystery-tour-code-cracking-scavenger-hunt-giveaway/">Scavenger Hunt </a>- where you never know what you'll find ... scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the next step, and maybe...if you're very quick, you'll figure out how to solve the code and win a free book :) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/ponderbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Magical-Mystery-Tour.jpg?fit=900%2C414&ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="800" height="294" src="https://i0.wp.com/ponderbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Magical-Mystery-Tour.jpg?fit=900%2C414&ssl=1" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-48416926087913126462020-09-24T12:52:00.002+12:002024-01-07T22:40:54.235+13:00Your Billionaire Overlord<p>Today<br />I'm making the millions<br />and the billions<br />and it's all thanks to you</p><p>The roads you built<br />the rail, <br />the airports, <br />the whole kit and caboodle</p><p>The babies you raised<br />the workers you educated<br />the internet you invented<br />and built, and funded...</p><p>And all around me are the people who work for me<br />the police <br />the firefighters<br />the teachers<br />the judges<br />even the politicians - but hey, I <i>do</i> pay them -</p><p>just enough<br />so that they make sure you pay for me</p><p>Signed, </p><p><i>Your Billionaire Overlord</i></p><p>And whatever you do don't watch this video...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/paaen3b44XY" width="320" youtube-src-id="paaen3b44XY"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Note from A.J. </p><p>Yes, I'm angry. Stuff NZ published an article that had someone equate raising taxes on the highest tax bracket with...tax cuts. So this is my response. "Taxes. taxes, taxes...all the rest is bull****" Because our common good is disappearing, and for what?</p><p>Here's a group of American billionaires who agree: <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7199065/Billionaires-shock-lawmakers-asking-taxed-more.html">https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7199065/Billionaires-shock-lawmakers-asking-taxed-more.html</a> Because this isn't about envy, it's about facts. It's about making politicians work for everyone, and it's about using our amazing technology. not to destroy the world, but to create a better one.</p><p>Other poems you may like:</p><p><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2011/04/tuesday-poem-circle-of-life.html">An Affliction of Poetry: The Circle of Life</a> <br />Or<br /><a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2021/09/ask-me-not.html">An Affliction of Poetry: Ask me not</a></p><p><br /></p><p>#protest poetry</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-45576625688242723622020-07-31T19:38:00.000+12:002020-07-31T19:38:18.796+12:00Through the Looking Glass<br />
We dropped down the rabbit hole<br />
to a enigmatically fluid<br />
Wonderland<br />
<br />
Reach out and touch the screen - can you feel it?<br />
<br />
All the Mad Hatters and tea parties<br />
and Cheshire cats<br />
singing<br />
<br />
Through the rattle of keys on your keyboard - can you hear it?<br />
<br />
The march of the cards<br />
of the Queen of Heart's<br />
Fool<br />
<br />
If we could just lift a glass - can you taste it?<br />
<br />
We're lost in the looking glass<br />
where "Drink me" is<br />
empty<br />
<br />
So empty.<br />
<br />
And the looking glass<br />
is full.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>A.J. Ponder</i><br />
Well, I could say what this poem is about, but we're really living it right now, aren't we...so I'll just let it stand. I hope everyone is well out there. I've, as always been busy writing, but this one just came to me while at CoNZealand while struggling with the online interface.<br />
<br />
It's too fresh to know what I think about it yet, but I hope you enjoy! :) Have fun peeps. Hope to see you around sometime in the real world, and if not, in the virtual one :)<br />
<br />
<i>Kia kaha</i><br />
<i>A.J.</i><br />
<br />
<br />AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-16886346867344171162020-06-27T21:11:00.002+12:002020-06-27T21:11:23.592+12:00Quick Poem - Twitter Challenge - SandGlass People<br />
Sometimes twitter holds little challenges<br />
So, I thought I'd whip up a quick poem:<br />
<h2>
SandGlass People</h2>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
This is but a shadow<br />
of the precious moments<br />
etched <br />
into our hearts<br />
<br />
fragile moments<br />
that can be lost forever<br />
broken<br />
between one breath and the next</div>
— A.J. Ponder (@AJPonderBooks) <a href="https://twitter.com/AJPonderBooks/status/1276802242700439552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
<br />
Or, if you can't see the tweet - the poem is below. :)<br />
Thanks for stopping by,<br />
A.J.<br />
(PS if you liked this poem, you might also like <a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2010/07/tuesday-poem-time-wyrm.html">Time Wyrm</a>)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="cvlng" data-offset-key="m1e8-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="m1e8-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="m1e8-0-0">This is but a shadow</span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="cvlng" data-offset-key="e31bk-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="e31bk-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="e31bk-0-0">of the precious moments</span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="cvlng" data-offset-key="f8jcl-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="f8jcl-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="f8jcl-0-0">etched</span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="cvlng" data-offset-key="c437q-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="c437q-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="c437q-0-0">into our hearts</span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="cvlng" data-offset-key="a0b7t-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="a0b7t-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="a0b7t-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="cvlng" data-offset-key="200el-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="200el-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="200el-0-0">fragile moments</span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="cvlng" data-offset-key="3jiit-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3jiit-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3jiit-0-0">that can be lost forever</span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="cvlng" data-offset-key="4kaih-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4kaih-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="4kaih-0-0">broken</span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="cvlng" data-offset-key="ek74p-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="ek74p-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ek74p-0-0">between one breath and the next</span><br />
<span data-offset-key="ek74p-0-0"><br /></span>
<span data-offset-key="ek74p-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="ek74p-0-0">
</div>
</div>
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-4654092444212437812020-06-22T14:59:00.006+12:002020-12-12T22:31:55.329+13:00The Secret Story - a Cinderella Story that's as crafty as the secret meaning of Fairy TalesApparently, I'm very good at keeping secrets. It's a special skill, so take notice when I say...no, I'm not saying anything about my crafty story. Or how the secret meaning of fairy tales is shadowed in secrecy and allegory. Or even what knitting & tatting have to do with any of it, because, well - it's a secret.😉<br />
<br />
<h2>
The Secret Story Blurb:</h2>
<br />
<div class="BasicParagraph">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Minion Pro SmBd", serif;">A
horde of rats <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="BasicParagraph">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Minion Pro SmBd", serif;">A
coven of witches desperate to stay hidden<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTsw4wZIhROXhwzaswQXqZIxlmaTb_zeQoREFQxjyZ8TzzLNWB5WC3yiwjuHze6FACMJnYMLPG5kVgQyCWnL914AmW0mwwvRFbazDovQeAsrVMqWoWrfT4xo9Im8PfQPZEMW5UdU7r_U/s1600/The-Secret-Story-blue.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTsw4wZIhROXhwzaswQXqZIxlmaTb_zeQoREFQxjyZ8TzzLNWB5WC3yiwjuHze6FACMJnYMLPG5kVgQyCWnL914AmW0mwwvRFbazDovQeAsrVMqWoWrfT4xo9Im8PfQPZEMW5UdU7r_U/s320/The-Secret-Story-blue.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088F2KGZH/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=ponderbooks09-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B088F2KGZH&linkId=f2652a52f9cec17a362f79396173cd88" rel="nofollow">99c on Amazon</a> & <a href="https://books2read.com/u/4DyLRd">other platforms</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="BasicParagraph">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Minion Pro SmBd", serif;">A ball
to die for—a ball that must remain secret at any cost</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="BasicParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="BasicParagraph">
<span lang="EN-US">As a smithy’s daughter, Amarinda can only dream of going to the ball.
But Amarinda’s daydreaming must end when her father is injured and she
discovers her family is in debt to the evil crime lord Lady Dragonheart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="BasicParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="BasicParagraph">
<span lang="EN-US">The harder Amarinda tries to help her family, the more she’s drawn into
a hidden world of witches and power—and caught up in Lady Dragonheart’s schemes
to steal the ‘cook book’ Amarinda needs to heal her father, infiltrate
the Avondale ball, and seize the kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="BasicParagraph">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Will
Amarinda’s father survive the night? Will she get to dance with the prince? And
who will be turned into a rat? Find out by reading this secret story of a
not-quite Cinderella, whose closest thing to a fairy godmother is, alas, old
Granny Earwax.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br /><br />
<br />
The Secret Story is wide, you can pick up a copy for 99c on most platforms using this D2D <a href="https://books2read.com/u/4DyLRd">link</a>: <a href="https://books2read.com/u/4DyLRd">https://books2read.com/u/4DyLRd</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<i>That's all for now, folks, </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>If you want to check out some fairy-tale poetry to fit the fairytale book theme, why not check out my <a href="https://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.com/2011/06/tuesday-portal-to-fairy-tale-poetry.html">"Portal to Fairy Tale Poetry" here. </a></i><br />
<br />
<i>A.J. Ponder</i>AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-31474754387054563562020-06-05T00:32:00.000+12:002020-06-05T00:32:53.185+12:00Have you seen the newsHave you heard the news today?<br />
oh boy<br />
there were armed troopers in the streets<br />
and it was more than sad<br />
they didn't care the world was watching<br />
<br />
exploding<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I saw the photograph</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
broken arms and blinded eyes<br />
and if we should get to the heart<br />
of how many dollars does it take<br />
to fill a rich man's chest?<br />
yes, it's really for the best<br />
if we don't know<br />
<br />
Have you seen the news today?<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
oh boy</div>
all the eyes have lost and Standing Rock<br />
was just a test<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
look how many people must be blinded </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
for the world to see<br />
<br /></div>
the sky is falling<br />
<br />
And yes, it's been so fast<br />
and it's taken so long<br />
they sold us out for just a song<br />
a pretty tale of freedom and<br />
death<br />
while we stood and stared<br />
someone took their last...<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br />
You'd think<br />
we'd be aware</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
but we've simply<br />
turned away</div>
there is no,<br />
there is no news today<br />
<br />
A.J.<br />
<br />
And that's the poem I wrote in the middle of last night, because the tune for the Beatles song "A Day in the Life" broke into my head.<br />
<br />
Because sometimes it really does feel like the sky is falling. But unlike Standing Rock, people are watching. There are too many people to ignore, all risking their lives for freedom, not just the fake freedom to die, but the freedom to stand up against hate, systematic racism and creeping fascism.<br />
<br />
Do not forget this moment.<br />
<br />
We can go back to "normal" or we can change the world.<br />
<br />
"<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meEQZiHBj20">It didn't need to be like this</a>" Dr. Rev. Barber on Democracy Now. You might know him as the guy who brought back MLK's poor people's campaign, "Fight for Fifteen" and June 20th poor people's digital march on DC.<br />
<br />
<h1 class="title style-scope ytd-video-primary-info-renderer">
<i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></h1>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-16668880066560992762020-05-08T15:59:00.001+12:002020-06-22T11:43:09.815+12:00"The Zed Bubble Plot" or "Stay on Your Couch For Your Country" (with apologies to Dr Seuss)<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><br /></div>
<br />
<h2>
The Zed Bubble Plot</h2>
<h3>
Or Stay on Your Couch for Your Country (with apologies to Dr Seuss)</h3>
<br />
All across the world, a fever was spreading<br />
Called Covid 19, the pandemic was <span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">heading</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Through Asia, America, Belgium and France</span><br />
It seemed nothing would stop its relentless advance<br />
<br />
Soon word came to the Zedders, it was heading their way<br />
<a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2020/03/29/15/35/coronavirus-4981176_960_720.png" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img alt="Coronavirus, Viruses, Germs, Bacterial, Bacterium" border="0" height="200" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2020/03/29/15/35/coronavirus-4981176_960_720.png" width="200" /></a>And they looked to each other and said -<i> not today! </i><br />
<i>We Zeds down in Zedville like living a lot </i><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2020/03/29/15/35/coronavirus-4981176_960_720.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So the Zeds all got to work, and they all hatched a plot<br />
<br />
From the North to the South the call could be heard<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
Keep to your bubbles and don't be absurd<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Sit on your couch for your country, <span style="background-color: transparent;">o</span></span>r exercise a lot<br />
But stay in your bubbles & be thankful for what we've got<br />
<br />
Keep your family close - and if they're alone -<br />
Be sure to give Granny or Gramps a call on the phone<br />
And whatever you do - do whatever you must<br />
But stick to these rules and keep your fellow Zedders' trust:<br />
<br />
Sit on your couch for your country,<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent;">and wash your hands - a whole awful </span></span>lot<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Stay in your bubbles and don't be a twat</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
And soon, very soon, we'll get our economy spinning</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
But until then, let's beat the virus - because living <i>is</i> winning</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
And when all the Zed's down in Zedville have got that curve squashed</div>
We'll go back to our lives, with hands beautifully washed<br />
And so with our bubbles will be as clean as can be<br />
Soon we'll be able to yell hip<i>, hip</i> horay, we're covid 19 free<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhWSpkNqErowxrJ_5Ntbc6zdTQzoMrw6OvUQ7sJ5qSQYpi4u7XHX4dtgnPhunFQK4GtChhW2zJyqhyphenhyphenRq9_uQGpJyapmi9EbQRMHuixoKiHBR_F3DEbl-ZRWbwUinL90H-6SI04R8oDz4/s1600/The-Secret-Story-blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Secret Story Sylvalla Chronicles" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhWSpkNqErowxrJ_5Ntbc6zdTQzoMrw6OvUQ7sJ5qSQYpi4u7XHX4dtgnPhunFQK4GtChhW2zJyqhyphenhyphenRq9_uQGpJyapmi9EbQRMHuixoKiHBR_F3DEbl-ZRWbwUinL90H-6SI04R8oDz4/s200/The-Secret-Story-blue.jpg" title="" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free novella prequel <a href="https://dl.bookfunnel.com/5vgaf7lx01">available now from bookfunnel</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yes, it's been a while. Obviously this is loosely in the style of Horton Hears a Who, because I'm lazy like that, and I can't help but think we're all as reliant on JoJo following the rules as the speck of dust that was Whoville. Also, there's the WHO, I know it's not actually mentioned, but ideas are weird like that.<br />
<br />
I actually started it at the beginning of L3 and it almost ended up in the dumpster, like so many of my "started" poems, but I thought, what the heck why not finish this one. :)<br />
<br />
Thanks for dropping by, now I've finished my last planned book in the Sylvalla Chronicles, I'm hoping to be posting here more often. But there are no guarantees!!!<br />
<br />
<i>A.J. </i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqx9Gzl_EGmkHVTxU0tE1Jut-vpmazCznPUPhG3dQundSrV0gLRc1oDrfuoSMrBoYYHyTiTiiHIpHXe71gFHCaEh6jfCR-RH2MdJ5BL4mkz2cRbLklzpNndI6i4ow61gX5yuCYkdWVWc/s1600/Sylvalla-Chronicles-Epic-Fantasy-WP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqx9Gzl_EGmkHVTxU0tE1Jut-vpmazCznPUPhG3dQundSrV0gLRc1oDrfuoSMrBoYYHyTiTiiHIpHXe71gFHCaEh6jfCR-RH2MdJ5BL4mkz2cRbLklzpNndI6i4ow61gX5yuCYkdWVWc/s320/Sylvalla-Chronicles-Epic-Fantasy-WP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://ponderbooks.com/the-sylvalla-chronicles/" target="_blank">Find out more about this series</a> - or <span id="goog_305226996"></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08149WJ26">buy now!<span id="goog_305226997"></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871370591659255940.post-22746331563629835822019-11-18T20:52:00.000+13:002020-03-23T17:44:44.272+13:00Omens & Giveaway<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwoSDPZ40RY3jK0HcnHAX9OMHAUbV75eiwz1sG6Xelg0clCkthcV6ePE45Y-sfd_j9K1fsg2km2uGsv5lQjv-VCGwT6yk9HbmSb_j2dUqIHAyPFh6ajPLF1mWZuSDKPjMzOsm5R2kB3o/s1600/Giveaway-Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="990" height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwoSDPZ40RY3jK0HcnHAX9OMHAUbV75eiwz1sG6Xelg0clCkthcV6ePE45Y-sfd_j9K1fsg2km2uGsv5lQjv-VCGwT6yk9HbmSb_j2dUqIHAyPFh6ajPLF1mWZuSDKPjMzOsm5R2kB3o/s320/Giveaway-Banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Finally, something you've all been waiting for...<br />
<h3>
Good Omens...</h3>
<h3>
<a href="https://ponderbooks.com/2020/03/02/quest-to-win-a-25-amazon-com-gift-card-and-other-march-promotions/">You can win a $300 voucher and other competitions for (March 2020)</a> </h3>
<a href="https://ponderbooks.com/giveaway/quest-to-win-a-25-amazon-voucher-and-the-sylvalla-chronicles-e-box-set/" target="_blank">Or go straight to my $25 voucher competition (March 2020)</a><br />
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The below competition is out of date...but the book is still awesome - pick it up or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0853CNQM4" target="_blank">pick up the whole series here</a>!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvml7xzNDzOMS88lI2e8ogLdG-wnxxYj1SufOmJ-J9-6MPrC2K9hqWBq8LvsnYlDdZQUEUxFju2pEosJ3TxUjgwGtOZZzIrbOdnGFtZvCtkHnLRiozkQXWZDflHik6yKMLyBtM8yh17Yo/s1600/OMENS_EYEEDIT_SEND.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvml7xzNDzOMS88lI2e8ogLdG-wnxxYj1SufOmJ-J9-6MPrC2K9hqWBq8LvsnYlDdZQUEUxFju2pEosJ3TxUjgwGtOZZzIrbOdnGFtZvCtkHnLRiozkQXWZDflHik6yKMLyBtM8yh17Yo/s320/OMENS_EYEEDIT_SEND.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=ponderbooks09-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07ZVWR3R8&asins=B07ZVWR3R8&linkId=c047397a518cd7c4460307d63c6e09c4&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"> </iframe><br />
(paid link)<br />
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Obviously not the TV show...although that was awesome. No, this is <b><i>Omens</i></b>, the last book of my <b><i>Sylvalla Chronicles</i></b> trilogy. And to celebrate the release, I'm offering signed copies of <b><i>Prophecy </i></b>and Omens (OR a US $ 30 voucher)<br />
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& Giveaway:<br />Signed copies of Prophecy and Omens OR a US $30 Voucher! </h3>
All you have to do is go to <a href="https://ponderbooks.com/giveaway/omens-giveaway/">here</a> to my website and fill in your name and email. My privacy policy is also <a href="https://ponderbooks.com/privacy-policy/">here</a>. (but the summary is no, I won't share your email address)<br />
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Good luck!<br />
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And I hope to be back again with poetry once the stress has subsided.<br />
In the meantime, have fun reading,<br />
A.J.<br />
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<br />AJ Ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15625252892255925438noreply@blogger.com0