Xmas and the barbarians

I guess the northern hemisphere pagans didn't like

those upstart Christians stealing their winter festival

but, for the serious gloomy newcomers to hike

something to brighten the dark was only sensible.

Now however the barbarians are fighting back

with tantalising orgies of indulgence,

exchanging presents of things we didn't lack

and decorative frippery in resurgence.

Commerce doesn't really bother with complaints,

totally intent on finishing the heist

by Mammon's latest pantheon of saints

where Father Christmas outramks Jesus Christ.

His indiscretions vaunted

she could not call him liar

but modesty so taunted

made fuel for the fire.

More arguments augmented

the marriage funeral pyre

while differences when vented

served only to inspire

one thought which really counted

explaining problems prior :

women want to be wanted

while men desire desire.

Tweets 15

 

I strained my left knee

and then my right thigh

but vowed that my mind would prevail

(forgetting that the body's got

an awkward mind of its own)

Death is nothing to be afraid of. Dying is.

Dying may be difficult but death is nothing.

Different for octogenarian and bridegroom

waiting for bedtime  ' that the night come '

House plants are pets that don't need walking.

Though aging, two things still amaze,

enthrall the gaze,

enhance the hours -

the beauty of women and flowers.

Wealth, fame and power aren't for me

'cause I'm content as nonentity. 

My little life does little harm

but equally does little good.

Q & A

Reasonably tall, slim bodied, firm muscled,

weekend discos, usual place.

Who could possibly think that I'm old?

All those that see my face !

So you want cliches !

Saturday mourning writer's block

hoping the tutor might unlock

th latent talent squaring the circle

frantically active more than it looks -

a baker's dozen cooking the books.

(New Writing South, Crawley Library, 3/9/23)

Holes in my spinach

(on allotment not plate).

Maybe pigeons or bugs?

Reluctantly I used some bait -

one hundred nineteen dead slugs.

We wear the clothes of our time and place

and cut our hair and shave or not

very much as others do.

We eat the food of our time and place,

romanticise some holiday spot

for something to look forward to.

We watch the films of our time and place,

TV soaps and murder plots

to note the tell-tale killer clue.

We think the thoughts of our time and place

imbibing those acquired by lot

from birth to form our point of view.

As times and places change, no wonder

normality's no longer what

it used to be but something new.