Monday 16 January 2012

Bite sized Morsels




While I was wrestling with the taxman this morning our friend Stephen Tunnicliffe came round to bring me a copy of a delightful little series of poems he wrote last year,  describing the five senses as experienced by children. I didn't mind at all being interrupted, it's been a day for 'mopping up' leftover jobs, satisfying when all is done but not very exciting. Here is one of Stephen's takes on 'Seeing'; although there are no larks rising from the fields around Valley's End into the rather misty skies in winter, spring and summer will bring them back to us.

SKYLARK

Can you see him? Only just!
He's like a singing speck of dust.
Lark, can you see me from up there?
You must have eyes like telescopes!
I stare and stare . . .
I wish the sky had great long ropes
Then I could climb right up there too,
And see our tiny house, like you.





 Overheard:

They really live in their own little world. 
Me too, of course;
the thing is that I am convinced that my world is the only right and proper world.

Friko's thought:
And they'll fight to the death over it, even if it means
that both worlds crumble and leave behind nothing
but ruin.




Found:

A child's lost glove on a branch showing you the way
to a more peaceful co-existence.

o-o-o-o-o-o


After listening to a discussion on matters esoteric and spiritual, I have come to the following conclusion :

When you think there's a beer in the fridge and you go to the fridge and actually find one there, that's belief. You've proved it.

When you think there's a beer in the fridge and you go to the fridge and there isn't one, but you still say there is one, that's esoteric.

o-o-o-o-o-o






46 comments:

  1. I can't believe I am the first to respond today. Usually I am 31 or beyond.

    The Lark on the Wing is beautiful and reminds me of the painting by Millet which hangs in the Chicago Museum of Art.

    Children often point the way, don't they? Dianne

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  2. The Skylark poem from your friend is lovely. Makes me long more than ever for spring.

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  3. haha that convo over the living in ones own world...yes i do think it will end rather messy....smiles.

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  4. 'a singing speck of dust' - delightful.
    Skylarks make my heart soar. We have woodlarks here, not quite so dramatic but always good to see.

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  5. I like your difference in belief and the esoteric. Quite so it is.

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  6. Yummy morsels! Thanks! (Will be checking my fridge tonight ; ) )

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  7. I like the last quote best.
    Have you read the poem The Lost Glove is Happy? (love the pic).

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  8. Hello;
    What a wonderful gift to have been brought. The Skylark poem is delightful. The sight of them swooping and soaring in the sky really does make one's spirit rise.

    The photograph with the child's glove is so beguiling. Such a sense of mystery and just a touch of the absurd. Perfect!

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  9. Reading these bite-sized morsels is almost as good as engaging in a stimulating conversation which zips from topic to topic at a dizzying speed. So much fun!

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  10. LOL about the beer in the fridge.
    As far as I know, I've never seen or heard a lark, although there is one North American species and its breeding area includes southern Alberta. I'll have to keep an eye and ear open in the summer.
    Enjoyed this post a lot!
    K

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  11. I so enjoyed the bite sized snippets, but they made me hungry for more, as often happens when I taste something really good. Lovely, and the pictures too.

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  12. What a lovely interlude! I love them all! For some reason the Skylark poem has reminded me of Robert Louis Stevenson's, 'A Child's Garden of Verses'-- The first poems that I memorized as a child...

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  13. Each of these morsels would be more than satisfying enough for a meal. Thank you.
    And I loved your photos too.

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  14. Tasty morsels, indeed!
    Love the bear in the frig. ;)

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  15. It may be a speck of dust but what a voice!

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  16. thank you for grounding us!


    Aloha from Waikiki
    Comfort Spiral

    > < } } ( ° >

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  17. I very much enjoyed these "bite sized morsels." :)

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  18. Those bite sized morsels and your commentary have given me so much to think about! Thanks!

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  19. A charming poem--what a fine way to be interrupted. My favorite line in your post, of many fine ones, is this: "the thing is that I am convinced that my world is the only right and proper world." Indeed, indeed.

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  20. "When you think there's a beer in the fridge and you go to the fridge and there isn't one, but you still say there is one, that's esoteric."

    i had to go google the definition of "esoteric" as i'm having a headache and can;t think too well today.

    i've come to the conclusion that the person at the fridge may [also] be delusional and blind.

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  21. that was a lovely poem! Oh yes, love these words: "my world is the only right and proper world"

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  22. I enjoyed the morsels - the word bites and photo bites.

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  23. I wish the sky had great long ropes
    Then I could climb right up there too,
    And see our tiny house, like you.


    I've wanted to do that since I could walk.

    Lovely.

    XO
    WWW

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  24. aber es gibt etwas "beyond seeing"...!
    Das Gedichte gefällt mir sehr und es ist ganz nach meinem Sinne, auch ich lebe in meiner Welt, das weisst Du auch :-) und wie gut verstehe ich also. Die Bilder sind wunderschön!
    Viele liebe Grüsse und einen sonnigen (in jeder Hinsicht) Tag wünscht Dir
    Renée

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  25. Of course, the strength of one's belief is often measured in the absence of proof. That's faith.

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  26. I, like Brian, think the end will be messy...but the ride there will be filled with beauty and deception.
    I too love the photo of the glove!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  27. Beautiful photos and very nice, wise words too. Big smile ;-)

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  28. Dear Friko,
    Your friend's poem reminded me forcefully of a book published in the '60s called "Prayers from the Ark." It is by Carmen Bernos de Gasztold. She managed to capture the essence of each animal in its prayer.

    Your difference between belief and esoteric seems right on to me.

    Peace.

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  29. Re: fighting to the death over whatever... Nothing irritates some people more than finding no one will fight with them. There are a couple of folks I refuse to fight with, just for the amusement of it all.

    Far better to go off to the fridge for the beer that may or may not be there.

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  30. Love your thoughts on the spirit - (the literal and metaphysical one)! And fabulous shots!

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  31. Love the beer in the fridge bit – what type of beer do you like anyway? Have your tried IPAs? (India Pale Ale.)

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  32. Delightful bites, and then something more to chew on.
    I didn't know esoteric meant 'wishful thinking"!

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  33. I love your morsels, Friko. Very sustaining.

    I had a pleasant surprise when you mentioned Stephen Tunnicliffe, as North Powys is our home area. I used to know Stephen when I worked in the library service there. A small world....

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  34. Friko, to answer your question on my blog: I hired a book designer to do the pdf of my manuscript and the book cover, as well. Then, I hired a printing company to print and ship my books to me. I have sold my books to libraries and book stores in Hawaii. Copies are also at all of the University of Hawaii campuses. Of course, none of this has made me rich. I have grossed a little over $8,000 so far.

    My memoirs consist of memories of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents, siblings, etc. I have written three memoirs, but probably won’t write a fourth.

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  35. I'm an atheist, but I say if there is a man in the house & there is still beer in the fridge, I'm a believer. ~Mary

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  36. Beer in the fridge? Wasn't it Descartes said, "I drink, therefore I am?"

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  37. So glad you explained what is esoteric. I was convinced it was onset of senility.

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  38. Such a beautiful wonderful place :)

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  39. Unable to haul myself up on ropes cloudwards , I had to climb a million steps up an old tower to have a lark's-eye view of my house .
    It's a pity we can't all do it .... it is fascinating . Yours would be be particularly fine !

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  40. Hi Friko - Stephen's poem is lovely and with the depths of gloom we have here - I could do with a fast forward to Spring days!

    Overhearing comments is fun - picking up fag ends not necessarily so ..

    Cheers Hilary

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  41. Hi there,

    oder sollte ich einfach hallo sagen? Es wäre doch seltsam, nicht Deutsch mit Dir zu sprechen, auch wenn Du schon lange in England lebst. Ich schreibe meinen Blog auf Englisch, weil die überwiegende Anzahl meiner Leser Englisch spricht. Außerdem ist es manchmal einfacher, sich auf Englisch auszudrücken. Aber wem erzähle ich das? Du weißt das ja alles!

    Vielen Dank für Deinen lieben Kommentar auf meinem Blog. Ich habe mich sehr darüber gefreut, daß Du ihn bunt und aufregend findest.

    Bleigießen ist Tradition an Silvester -- das muß einfach sein. :) Vielleicht kannst Du es ja nächstes Silvester auch machen?

    Deine Fotos sind toll -- gerade jetzt hätte ich Lust auf einen Spaziergang über diese Hügel. Natürlich mit Kamera! :)

    Viele Grüße aus München,
    Birgit

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  42. Rnchanting and simply perfect!

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  43. I love the poem your friend wrote.

    P. S. There's a beer in my fridge. I love what you wrote about that ;)

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  44. I love the lark poem, but the beer that is not in the fridge puzzles me somewhat. Perhaps that is why I don't get irony!

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  45. 'Overheard:

    They really live in their own little world.
    Me too, of course;
    the thing is that I am convinced that my world is the only right and proper world.'


    Mmm-hmmm ...

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Comments are good, I like to know what you think of my posts. I know you'll keep it civil.