Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Pirate's Post: Here be Dragons

Yo ho
and there's a map to
where the skeletons lie,
sunning themselves
on the sand and
Spanish gold
lying
at the bottom
of the deep blue sea

Yo ho
you think you know
where x lies
but a jaunty tilt
is all the dragons need
for misdeeds and
misdirection
sending the unlucky
straight to the
skeleton's rocks
lying
at the bottom
of the seven seas

Yo ho
I'll wave the flag of fear
with crossbones
and let it fly
over the water
with a jaunty tilt -
It's a dangerous boat
on a treacherous sea
but here be dragons,
and if you're watching me
you'll miss them
amongst the glitter
of gold
on the rocks
at the bottom
of the seventh sea


A.J. Ponder

I know it's late, but I do hope you enjoy this little pirate piece on the danger of statistics!

A.J. 
Author of Quest, Prophecy, Omens, Miss Lionheart and the Laboratory of Death, Wizard's Guide to Wellington, Attack of the Giant Bugs - a You Choose Science Adventure, and The Frankie Files



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Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Tuesday Poem: Caput Lupinum



Down the highway
through the forest
there's this signpost
to this cabin
in the woods


Turn back

There's a scarecrow
by the signpost
to the
cabin
in the woods

Turn back

Down the highway
through the forest
there's a scarecrow
by the signpost,
warning you
about the
cabin
in the woods

Turn Back Now

So you didn't turn back
and now you're in
the cabin
in the woods
where a wolf's head's
weighing hearts

Close the door

And do not touch
the vaults may be lined with gold
but there are monsters
lurking near the cabin
in the woods
and they eat
highway robbers
with heavy hearts
for breakfast

A.J. Ponder

Obviously, for those that know it, this poem was a little inspired by Joss Whedon's Cabin in the Woods. 

Have a happy Tuesday, and stay on the grid


A.J. 
Author of Quest, Prophecy, Omens, Miss Lionheart and the Laboratory of Death, Wizard's Guide to Wellington, Attack of the Giant Bugs - a You Choose Science Adventure, and The Frankie Files

Find my stories and support my writing on ko-fi   And tell me which poems you'd like to see in my upcoming poetry book—2024: https://ko-fi.com/ajponder

 


 


Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Watching the Deadlines Fly By


Peeps might have noticed been having a little trouble with deadlines....the Tuesday one in particular, so I wrote this for you today :)

Watching the Deadlines Fly By


The summer sun was shining 
and hay was being made
the ants were trailing one by one
through the ballustrade

The crickets were all chirping
while I fretted in the shade
and yet I noticed none of this
just deadlines to be made

A multitude of deadlines
from half a hundred things
all tied up with sealing wax
and multi-coloured strings

And now I have those deadlines
as pretty as can be,
it's time to watch them rushing by
like bullets from a train,
so I can hear that wooshing noise
flying past again

A.J. Ponder

In memory of Douglas Adams  "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Red Admirals

Adrift on the tail of summer
winging their way across the summer lawn
to infiltrate the abode of giants

Patrolling the glass confines
with the grace of a stormy sea 
in summer's heat,
until the trap, long since sprung,
has our admirables
battering against unseen walls
trapped

Escape, escape, escape!
There is none.
Paralysed fear
the jaunty wings grow still
as the giant's blunt jaws
gently enfold
and release with naught
but a sprinkling of black scales

A fine trade
for freedom

A.J. Ponder

Yes!!! A last minute poem, a little late for Tuesday! But enjoy your week, and maybe even wing your way to all the wonderful Tuesday poets at tuesdaypoem.blogspot.com/

Friday, January 2, 2015

Ring in the New Year

Ring in the New Year with coffee, and resolutions to be lazy and get more done.

To that end I hope you enjoy my 22 Reasons Living in Wellington will Ruin Your Life

It's at http://wizardsguide.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/22-reasons-living-in-wellington-will-ruin-your-life/ and starts with: Because whatever the weather, or the disaster…blue skies are always just around the corner...

I hope you enjoy Wellington! And of course the amazing promise of a New Year :)

A.J.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Merry Christmas: Christmas is Coming (Annonymous)

Christmas is Coming (Anonymous)

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat
Please put a penny in the old man's hat;
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do,
If you havenot got a ha'penny then God bless you!


Only two days to go...so Merry Christmas one and all, and if you don't enjoy Christmas, then my best wishes for the Holiday Season - be you here in Southern Hemisphere in the heat, with berries on the branches - or enjoying the winter solstice.

Have a good one and a Happy New Year! :)

A.J.


Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Tuesday Poem: How do I love thee? (Sonnet 43, 1845) Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1806 - 1861

Another poem from Elizabeth Barrett Browning, campaigner for human rights - including the abolition of slavery and improving child labour laws. The first poem I posted of hers is The Cry of the Children, a truly remarkable piece showing the horror of the conditions many children faced at the time, while retaining a lyricism and beauty around the core of unease.

On the other hand this is a love poem, with an inner core of strength, and a sense of the inevitable, possibly obtained from having battled illness most of her life.

Enjoy!


How do I love thee? (Sonnet 43, 1845)  Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints – I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! – and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.



For more great poetry, check out the Tuesday poem hub here.