New Friends

At the Writer's Circle (who sit on two sides of a rectangular table in a pub that is not round) someone had written a piece that someone else thought would be good for a magazine. By the end of the meeting, we somehow found that we'd agreed whole group writing something for that magazine. I did, presented it to the group, took on board their suggestions and then sent it off to the magazine.

Today I got a rejection slip. Woohoo! As it came in my SAE I had that weird feeling when a letter comes addressed to me in my own handwriting! It's like something out the Twilight Zone.

The piece I submitted to them is below.

366 Poems in 366 Days: An Epilogue

One year starts as another one ends
So much time passes since we had the last
An evening to see what the new one sends
Today, tomorrow, all lost in the past

So much time passes since we had the last
As always I'm crept up on by the date
Today, tomorrow, all lost in the past
Two Thousand and Fourteen can't come too late

As always I'm crept up on by the date
No time to panic, can't wait forever
Two Thousand and Fourteen can't come too late
I do not mind if it arrives never

No time to panic, can't wait forever
An evening to see what the new one sends
I do not mind if it arrives never
One year starts as another one ends

This is number 366 of 365, riffing off of number 1, also a New Years pantun. I will now return this blog to it's regular programme.

365 Poems in 365 Days: Phoenix

This is poem number 365 of the 365 poems I wrote and posted here in 2013.

I never thought I would see a phoenix,
Feathers brighter than the sun, dagger beak.
Still not sure this isn't one of your tricks,
The supporting evidence is quite weak.

Feathers brighter than the sun, dagger beak,
In the sky it was the highest flyer.
The supporting evidence is quite weak,
Even as you approach the bird's pyre.

In the sky it was the highest flyer.
I've heard the stories and listened to the claims.
Even as you approach the bird's pyre
Will you really arise from out of the flames?

I've heard the stories and listened to the claims.
Still not sure this isn't one of your tricks.
Will you really arise from out of the flames?
I never thought I would see a phoenix.

365 Poems in 365 Days: 364

 Number 364 has 364 lines. In it I've shoved a lot of my thoughts on this whole 365 poem project. Still, I can't really recommend that anyone read it, so to sum up: 365 is a lot of poems and there are some that are pretty good, and quite a few that are mediocre. Anyway, take it away after the cut.

365 Poems in 365 Days: Break The Fall

Broken glass shines like bloody gemstones
The cut is deep right to the bone
Accidents are worse when on your own

Going to have to climb up the wall
Find the phone and make the call
Regretting the slip and fall

Number 363 just came to mind this afternoon.

365 Poems in 365 Days: Heroics

Number 362 is perhaps a little rough. What is a hero anyway? Maybe we need to ask Bonnie Tyler.

We take our heroes as we find them
Holding evil hordes at bay
Striving to protect the helpless
Doing good while they may

We make our heroes when we can't find them
Ignoring they have feet of clay
Upholding justice, seeking freedom
If not for always then for a day

Can't find or make heroes then we must be them
Do what we can for little pay
Hoping what we have is sufficent
If we ever find ourselves at bay

365 Poems in 365 Days: Love Me For A Reason; Let The Reason Be Love

Number 361. I had the line The reasons we love someone are not always the reasons we would choose hanging about for months and could not write anything that seemed to do anything with it. Now, closing in on a deadline, I came up with something that at least gestures in that direction. I ntoe that choose rhymes with muse and nearly went down that path.

The reasons we love someone are not always the reasons we would choose
The things we miss when they are gone are not things we expected to lose
The world is strange and people stranger and relationships inexplicable
And people value in me things I otherwise find so very trivial

365 Poems in 365 Days: Dinner Party Invitation Apology

Number 360.

I don't think I'll make it out
So I'll send you all my love
Which is really what it's all about
When push comes to shove

(Well that and having dinner
Which I expect will be a winner)

365 Poems in 365 Days: Lovely Grub

Number 359 is about curry evenings.

Eating curry
In a hurry
So hot, I fear
I drank too much beer

365 Poems in 365 Days: Mystery of Mysteries

Number 358 is another letter from Lacey Lee, in reply to this one. All the Lacey Lee, Lady Detective, letters can be found in one place by clicking on this link. Click away! Due to the nature of blogging, the earliest can be found at the bottom and the newest, currently this entry, at the top.

Dear J S Plank
    It seems that fate
Has brought your letter not too late
As I have finished up the cases on my plate
And been stood up on my holiday date
I made the demolition hesitate
Until I had the evidence out the gate
(Some rubbish mixed in, not time to discriminate)
So my thanks; no hard feelings at any rate
From how you tried to discredit me at the Tate
(Still, I should not have taken the bait
Even when Inspector Jones began to berate)
I hope to soon wipe these criminals off the slate
Sincerely, Lacey Lee
  PS I'm sending some cigarettes in a crate
For you to have when it's time to celebrate
My bringing down the man we mutually hate

365 Poems in 365 Days: Smoking For Fun And Profit

I know a woman whose
Cigarette Addiction
Is to smoke nine a day
Every morning she buys
Her favourite in a
Pack of ten, throws one away

Number 357 is about how smoking is big, clever and impresses everyone.

365 Poems in 365 Days: Elf Smith

I could have sworn I wrote, typed and posted this. But I can't find any trace of it. So I've rewritten it, as best I can for number 356. It is an elf-poem, and one of the first two I came up with after writing the original ten. This is of course the 'terrible black smith' from this one. It worked better in my head.

Our treaty with the mortal men
Asks us to deliver one hundred swords.
I undertake to fulfill the obligation.
I ask their captain to see the men they're for.
He laughs and walks away as I watch.
For ten days and nights I labour
Snatching food and sleep as metal cools.
On the afternoon of the tenth day I deliver.
The captain is pleased with the quality.
'Wait' I tell him and hand him the hundred and first.
It leaps from the sheath. easy in his grip,
Well matched to his size, reach and strength.
I watch as he goes through his exercises.
He says it is the finest sword he has ever held.
'I can do better,' I tell him.

A year and a day pass as they do.
I go to visit the captain's camp.
He takes me to watch his company practice.
I smile and promise to return with the new moon
Then hand him another sword.
It is difficult to see where man ends and blade begins
They dance together like partners of centuries.
He tells me this is the finest sword ever made.
'I can do better,' I tell him.

365 Poems in 365 Days: Midwinter Blues

Number 355. The heart of winter often does this to me. See here and here for examples on this very blog.

Oh thank god, things are supposed to get better, brighter
All the days becoming longer and lighter
The ways that the darkness oppresses
Are innumerable around winter solstice
At last we have reached the date
Sun, show yourself. I cannot wait

365 Poems in 365 Days: Firework Party!

I wrote this, number 354, after a fireworks party in November, and never posted it. Until now.


"There may be no minimum safe distance,"
I say, quoting Avengers Assemble on firework's night.
In fact there is but they choose to ignore it.
I stand back and try to enjoy the sight.
The garden's really too small, but it's not my party
Risk versus unpleasantness, I'll always lose that fight