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What I’m Working On Today …

I’m a writer, which means I write. But a writer, if they want to improve their art.craft, also must live, and learn, about life in the broadest of senses, and also in the most miniature and closely observed sense. They can then bring those closely observed tropes and treasures to the writers’ writing.

So to that end, today, as I’ve been editing the first draft of a poem written yesterday, in the hope of this second draft perhaps being included in my next poetry collection, I’ve been listening to the the Labor Party’s Better Future talks, with many fine words spoken, knowing these speeches were written by fine writers.

I hope such inspiring things may rub off on me, and I may insert such passion into my words. That poem I’m working on, will, I hope be included in the poetry collection I’ve been working on, in an off and on manner, as I created the poetry collection I will be having launched at the end of this month, on 29 May, the collection titled ‘Leonard Cohen Is Dead’, that will be a full sized collection.

The poem I’m working on today, will be in a much smaller collection, a chap book with a ‘clever’ title which I’ll talk about another time, and it contains some interesting poems, about things that interest me. choosing to write about things that interest me, means I can write with more passion, and interest, I hope.

I don’t write about things that are ho hum to me personally, because I can’t feign passion, where there is none. Passion comes from within, when we look deeper into our minds, and follow the lines of ideas, to considerations, to results …

And as I’ve been listening to our probable next PM, I have finished the second draft of that poem, which has the working title of ‘Meanings In Puddles’, and having read it, I feel needs another edit, and then, after draft number three, may become something special. I hope so anyway!

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Another thing I’m working on today, is the relationship I have with our new dog, Lenny. He is an adult greyhound, and while I want to love him dearly, the two of us aren’t there yet. So I will be taking Lenny for a walk quite soon, perhaps driving somewhere, to get to the place we’ll be having our walk, because it seems Lenny prefers being driven, over actually walking particularly far …

As a racing greyhound, and the necessary training to be good (which he was, earning stake-money for his owner), well, to be a good racing Greyhound, you have to do the work, which means walking and running to build up strength and better ability.

And me, with my Chronic Illness of Multiple Sclerosis, well, keeping active and mobile means I will be better able to keep on being active and mobile! If I’m going to be standing up and reading my poetry to others, I need to train myself to speak my words, but I also need to be mobile to get to where I will be presenting my work/words!

Body and mind working together, being better at the first, helps me to be better at the second! ***** Something to report on, in relation to that ‘active and mobile’ thing … I’ve had a trip and crashed down to the ground … Ouch!

Not my best look! ‘writer’s photo’

So there’s been a lot more thinking going on the past few days, and not much ‘mobility’ happening. I’ve been writing online, on Medium, and talked about the accident here: so it sure isn’t a good look, but it is nowhere near as painful as my thumb, my left thumb, which was sprained, as talked about in that article on medium

And because I had that fall, and time waiting at the local hospital, I’m feeling disconnected in some part, from what I’d wanted this post to be about, such is life!

poetry

My Most Political #poemadayfeb Poem

This poem came from the Facebook conversation that happened earlier today, combined with my own thoughts, (of course), triggered by today’s #poemadayfeb prompt of “Veil”. As I wrote this poem, I was remembering things seen on my television, and my thoughts and feelings at some of what I saw and heard. I’m not naming who the person is that prompted the ‘Lizard-tongue’ comment, but if you saw it on TV, you know who it refers to.

This is my most directly political poem, for this month of poetry, and I certainly don’t apologise for that. All of us must think on what is happening in our home, our community, our country, and our world, otherwise we will remain captive to those who would do us wrong, for their own benefit.

If this poem can help to open a few minds to the dangers of always simply ‘going with the flow’ even when the flow is headed to the sewer. Beware of what is being offered to you, but be open to honest offers too. There is much good in the world, some of it working quietly in the background, with self-less volunteers doing remarkable good things.

If you have a yen to do some good things in life too, look around, there is bound to be a volunteer group that would welcome you in to help them in their work. I gain much joy from all of the things I do with and for my various ‘communities’ and you can get the same, if you’re prepared to help out.

Here is my poem, feel free to leave a comment here, I’d love a discussion happening!

 

Unveil the truth

Strip back the veil, what will I see?

Purity exposed, humbling me?

Or ugly lies, with lizard-tongue poke

with sideways glance from a privileged bloke?

 

The truth is there, is it too well hidden,

from populace sheep, who do what is bidden

by Murdoch’s liars, tricking them all,

kicking down triers, keeping hopes small …

 

But we have minds, thoughts, ideals –

we give to strangers, prepare extra meals,

volunteers build strong community,

bring together like-minds, in friendly unity.

 

Hope is around, if you get out and look –

but if mainstream media was the news you took,

and never looked further, the lies would choke –

truth in media? With Murdoch, a sad joke.

 

But there are other sources, if want to know,

if you’re not sure where, give Twitter a go.

Choose your sources, from people you trust

and judge what they say, always a must.

 

Some people lie, have their own agenda,

don’t always believe them, just cos they ‘friend’ ya –

believe what they do, not what they say,

bad people may sneak up, fool you, betray …