The World is Spinning

The world, my friend, is spinning

Around a fire as hot as hell

And the thread that keeps you down to earth 

Is a gravity well

 

But if the Earth was hanging

By a silken thread
Would you cut it?

 

For we can see the scissors in the science

As we watch some money-grubbing fools

Snipping away 

At the blanket that keeps us cool 

 

And so the fates would have us hanging

By a single silken thread

So, will you cut it?

 

 

A.J. Ponder 

 

Hope you enjoyed this one, it's been sitting half-finished for quite a while. 

 

But that's poetry for you. Fickle. :)    

But 
There  

The Subversive Act of Writing on The Cosy Dragon

I think poets are great at breaking rules, I can't think of a single rule of poetry that hasn't been warped out of shape at some point. And I think that is because early poetry had so many rules poets were just dying to burst free. So generally I like to put rules back into poetry - and that's almost as genre busting as breaking out in ordinary prose...

But anyway, I thought this might be a fun article for people following this blog who are interested in the art of writing, or as encouragement for those who want to break out and try something new.

It starts:

"Originally this article was going to include the idea best covered by a quote attributed to Pablo Picasso “Good artists copy; great artists steal.” The subversive act of taking ideas from other sources and making them your own. But great writers are not only thieves, they tend to be rule breakers...

The rest of the article can be found on The Cosy Dragon here, or on the html link below :)

http://www.thecosydragon.com/2018/11/guest-post-aj-ponder-on-the-subversive-act-of-writing.html

I know this post is a bit late, so have a great weekend,
A.J. Ponder
P.S. The following is no longer upcoming - but we had the Riders of Fire book launch and it was a whole heap of fun. If you came along I hope you enjoyed it, too. :)

Riders of Fire Book Launch and Medieval Fun

Saturday, 17 November 2018 from 13:30-15:00
Vogeltown Bowling Club, 93 Mornington Road, Brooklyn

Tuesday Poem: The Trouble with Time Machines by A.J. Ponder

The Trouble with Time Machines

(first published in Eye to the Telesope, edited by Tim Jones)

Turns out

Time Machines are easy -

all you need is

number eight wire,

several diodes,

and a particle accelerator.

Problem is;

every sad physicist

who goes to the

trouble of inventing one,

unlocks their past

improving upon the original

until there is no need for a time machine

in the first place.

Turns out time machines are not so easy-

all those redundant devices

are proving an enormous hazard

as we unlock the

metaphysical chains that bind

the many parallel universes -

with mathematical theorems that will turn your head inside out

(in several dimensions)

because universes are rather fragile

and blowing just one would

un

ravel

the

u

n

i

v

e

r

s

e

For more mind blowing poetry why not check out the Tuesdday Poem Blog?

Happy New Year

Just a quick post to wish you all the best in the New Year.  Here's to 2014. May it bring you health and happiness.

A quick recap of my highlights of 2013
Gino's make up demonstration at Rona Gallery.  (Particularly important because I got paid for all the hard work inolved in the White Cloud Worlds Exhibition with Gino's amazing original digital print of "The Angelic Reaper")

What else?
First equal with Eileen Mueller in the Northwrite Collaboration competition with our short story and poem Ahi Kā.  That was pretty exciting.

And of course the nominations for the Sir Julius Vogel Awards for Wizard's Guide to Wellington and Dying for the Record.  

So professionally it's been a great year, personally though it's been rather horrible, so all I can say is roll on 2014.  With a new house (very soon), a new book (hopefully by the end of the year) and new energy, what can I say but hope to see you again on the 21st of Jan after the big move, and a special thanks to all my readers and everyone who has been so supportive, including Helen MCKinlay of gurglewords, Mary McCallum of O Audacious Book, Michelle Elvy of Glow Worm, and really, all the poets of the Tuesday Poetry Blog.
cheers :)

The Cold Truth

dead men stare
with open eyes
(O)     (O)
they cannot see
and you
likewise

A.J. Ponder


The cold truth was brought to you by a very young cynic. Grown into an older one.
Again after twenty odd years, thought I'd better actually claim this one - before somebody else does - if they haven't already - can't imagine I'm the only one who thought of it!
Sorry Hells, I do have some cheery poetry, but I'm saving that for the dead of winter :)

And damn - but it's annoying how it keeps loosing the gaps between the eyes. It's a very squinty skull!


Yes, this is a reblog from over two years ago - I can't believe I've been running  "An Affliction" for so long - but there you are. 

So, to business, lots of exciting writing projects are happening right now, I'd better get on with them, but not before wishing you all the best with your endeavours, 

A.J.
 
A.J. Ponder's books are available through Rona Gallery, Amazon, Paper Plus and good Wellington bookstores.

Time Wyrm

         Wyrm                                                                    the Universe
      A         in Time,                                             Brilliance of              all
                       through Space,                     the true                              around
                                 splitting the milky Stars
                                                  and Revealing

#

there's a crack in Amelia's computer screen
and insistent
that I should write a poem
I complied

After all, Amelias'
lose their mothers'
to forgetfulness
far too easily.

So, should sudden sulks and sullen
teenage tantrums
tear darkness through
and through

cast your eyes to the
starless wyrm
of starry space
and remember this

A..J. Ponder - Amazon author page

Click here for more poetry, back at the Tuesday Poem hub: http://tuesdaypoem.blogspot.com/