BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 04:42 AM

Poem 154 of 230: GETTING TO KNOW GOD

God lets us go
    Our own way -
Until the Day;
    Now and then, though,
He has a Say
    In His own Way -
Prophets to Sow,
    Deserts to Pay.

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Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 05:11 AM

Poem 22 of 230: HIGH HOUSEBOAT

When in India,
    I headed north
For the Himalaya.

Up, by train then bus,
    To Kashmir -
It was much cooler, thus.

Stayed there on Dahl Lake,
    By Srinagar -
For my tight-budget's sake.

'Twas a houseboat room:
    Run down, low cost -
But there I felt no gloom.

A solo mother -
    She had four kids -
Was the floor-manager.

At dawn, her daughter -
    The eldest one -
Brought me food and water.

I washed with bucket,
    Ate scrambled eggs -
As good as one could get.

From Dahl Lake's shoreline
    To the houseboats,
Canoe trips run just fine.

Day-tripped to Gulmarg,
    And played a round -
As always, kept the card.

It is the highest
    Green-kept golf-course,
And sure is quite a test!

Played another course,
    At Srinagar -
And it, too, I endorse.

For "with-dependants,"
    I should, though, add -
War, sadly, still rants.

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Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 03:58 AM

Poem 94 of 230: MOROCCAN TEA

Here's a hint
    Concerning mint.
It's very brief:
    Just pick a leaf
From the backyard,
    And wash if marred;

Leaf, bag, in mug,
    Boil the jug,
Pour in and stir,
    Oust the former.
It's easy, see -
    Moroccan tea...

Well, 'tis roughly.

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Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 04:42 AM

Poem 24 of 230: THROUGH SOUTH-EAST ASIA

A highlight of South-East Asia -
    As with other tropical lands -
Is the abundance of fresh fruits:
    At cutting which some have deft hands.
And, from these fruits, I'd often choose -
    To cool down from tropical heat -
A freshly prepared coconut:
    Chopped to drink; lining scooped to eat.

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Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 13 Jul 09 - 05:36 AM

Poem 36 of 230: WALKABOUT MEXICO

In late December,
    1996,
I can remember
    Being in a fix -
For time and pesos -
    And, thus, unable
To see Mexico's
    Sights commendable.

So, in Tijuana,
    I enjoyed the show
At a miniature
    Rep. of Mexico.

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Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 14 Jul 09 - 07:14 AM

Poem 227 of 230: ROTATING SHIFTS

There will always be places
    That need to be staffed
Twenty-four hours a day,
    But I think it's daft
To rotate bodies and minds
    Around any craft...

The better way seems to be
    Penalty-rates paid
For three fixed eight-hour shifts -
    With adjustments laid,
By those choosing to work nights,
    For sleep to be made.

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Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 15 Jul 09 - 04:42 AM

Poem 21 of 230: BOMBAY PORTER

Awaiting a train in Bombay,
    I was shocked into dismay;
For a well-dressed man, built strongly,
    Was walking, his hands set free,
Ahead of a bony porter -
    Heavy case on head, no quarter.

Shortly later, I watched again
    As out from the rich-man's train
Came the scrawny struggling porter -
    His thin back now much tauter;
For he writhed as he stretched his loins -
    After a quick count of few coins.

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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 16 Jul 09 - 05:19 AM

Poem 86 of 230: ROBOTS

In factories,
    I've spent sometime
Working machines
    Whose goods should rhyme -
Moulding machines,
    Whose plastic shots
Are sorted by
    Auto. robots...

Well, now robots -
    Before 'twas folks:
Process workers.
    Employment hoax?

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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 04:33 AM

Poem 31 of 230: NEW ZEALAND

Separated, I again perceived New Zealand:
    The strong Maori culture -
    Rangi and Papa,
    Plus the haka -
And the reflecting lakes of highland and farmland.

FrFrom http://walkaboutsverse.sitegoz.com (e-scroll)
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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 07:05 AM

Hi WAV - I just took your name in vain over on the Folklore: Green Ginger Morris Team thread.

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 18 Jul 09 - 05:29 AM

(Interesting discussion on Morris via the above link.)

Poem 2 of 230: WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN

(TUNE:

C F G G A A G G
C G A A G G F F
C A A A G G F F
C G A G A G F F

C F G G A A G G
C F G G A G F F)

Once drove an old sedan, up north,
    From a place in Sydney to Cairns;
Then to Kuranda I went forth,
    By train, to look without set plans.

I browsed through the trendy market,
    With fresh fruits of tropical kind;
Walked to the creek through lush thicket -
    Nature's hand giving peace of mind.

I dined in a scenic cafe;
    Then, outside, as I wrote for yen,
Some passing Kooris called-out: "Hey,
    You go walkabout with your pen."

Request or question, I don't know -
    Assured voices, elderly men.
That's now several years ago,
    And I've seen the world - with my pen.

If you wish, hear this on http://myspace.com/walkaboutsverse
(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 18 Jul 09 - 02:19 PM

That's what you started with wasn't it?

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: s&r
Date: 18 Jul 09 - 03:15 PM

Google shows:

Results 1 - 10 of about 42,400 for

"Once drove an old sedan, up north,".

Forty-two thousand items of copy-pasted drivel on this one item alone.

What is your carbon footprint WAV?

Get a life

Regards

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 18 Jul 09 - 03:34 PM

Yes: sorry for that mistake - I should have checked; there are 230 altogether in my collection, so I shouldn't presently be doubling them.

My carbon footprint would be relatively low, Stu - I still walkabout or use public transport; tend to use clothes/quilts/beanbags rather than heating to keep warm; have hot water off rather than on standby; turn hot-plates off early and finish cooking with latent heat; etc.

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 18 Jul 09 - 06:49 PM

beanbags???!!!

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 19 Jul 09 - 03:59 AM

Yes S.: in our winter, by day, I'll often have one over my legs and, by night, over my quilts.

And I wouldn't have posted this one, as the season has just started...

Poem 48 of 230: THE PROMS

We walked through Kensington Gardens,
    Then made a left for Albert Hall.
Promenaders were in their tens,
    While others had found their stall,
As we took our pre-booked seats,
    In a row of restricted view -
Three-quarters of the orchestra.
    But the music sure bettered par:
The beautiful sounds of Mozart;
    The daring drama of Ravel.
And we liked it - me and a belle.

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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 04:29 AM

Poem 199 of 230: BEDE'S WORLD - WINTER 2002/3

During Advent, I returned to Bede's World,
    Where I, already read, was further schooled -
Via walks through the museum, the farm,
    The ruins, and the church with its old arm.
With gifts, I left, after some four hours,
    To round off, at home, my thoughts on ours.

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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 04:08 AM

Poem 137 of 230: SEEN

A change of pace -
    Walks through a place;
Crime-streets more clean -
    Through being seen.

Walking in twos,
    The wear on shoes
Worth the kept-peace
    Of foot-police.

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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: Walkaboutsverse - Where Can I Hear Him?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 03:56 PM

Well, why the hell not? I got into folk to appreciate something that can be sung by the most lowly singers with a passion for songs old & new. That's where you'll find me, in singarounds, digging the sound of the human voice in all its diverse sonic wonderment, warts and all, much as I do when I'm listening to field recordings of the so-called Source Singers.

You can hear WAV on his myspace page by the way - www.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse - and most affecting it is too, as I've pointed out on various occasions. Weather permitting I'll be digging his homely antipodean timbres at the Durham Folk Party this weekend.

I like Virginia Tam and Crow Sister too of course, but to be honest I find these sorts of threads a little dispiriting in the context of Mudcat and Folk Singing in general. But that's just me - mutter mutter - descending into something nasty & flu-like, so do forgive me...

---

Messages transferred to existing Walkaboutsverse thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Walkaboutsverse - Where Can I Hear Him?
From: Tootler
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 05:16 PM

He's based in Co. Durham somewhere, I believe. Why not PM him?

Subject: RE: Walkaboutsverse - Where Can I Hear Him?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 05:22 PM

Did you read the OP, Tootler?

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 05:14 AM

Got your PM, and looking forward to seeing you, S., and the others at The Durham Folk Party, on Saturday, when I take the train from Newcastle to Durham...

Poem 162 of 230: TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001

(TUNE:

E F# F# E D E F# F#
F# G G A B A G G
D G A A B B A A
F# G A B B A A-G G

D D F# F# F#-G F# E E
E E E E F# E D D)

Where traditions are not so rare;
    Sea, country and works scent the air;
A multitude of monuments,
    Planted tubs and patterned pavements.

The longish pedestrian malls;
    The remnants of defensive walls;
"Broken-roofed buildings" are a gauge
    Of the respect for heritage.

Wheat, rape and pines in the fields;
    Estuaries guarded by shields;
Long sandy beaches and wide scenes;
    Romantic-ruin go-betweens.

Rivers in parts licked by trees,
    Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries,
And crossed by practical delights -
    Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.

Fine churches headed at Durham;
    Football kits ad infinitum;
Kept castles - one for study;
    Masonry behind masonry.

And, with moulding-works out that way,
It's somewhere for a longer stay..?

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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 05:53 AM

Poem 12 of 230: GOLF AT KILLARNEY

At Killarney Golf and Fishing Club,
    There's two great courses to be found;
Built on Ireland's fine Ring of Kerry,
    Both are really worth a round.

From the local social Youth Hostel,
    I hitched (doing as Irish do);
Then paid to play both the courses,
    But missed five holes - Hostel curfew.

The fairways were lush and nicely groomed,
    And the course views the best I've seen;                        
With walks beside the lakes and mountains,
    I'm proud to say to there I've been.

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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 24 Jul 09 - 05:30 AM

Poem 190 of 230: BIRDWATCHERS' BUDE - WINTER 2001/2

Behind the Tourist Centre,
    Between canal and river,
On the marshy drained floodplain
    (Not now visited by train),
In among willow and reed,
    Eking out some winter feed:
Treecreepers, bobbing robins,
    Chirpy blue-tits, grey-herons,
The screams of water-rail,
    And snipe sharp on their trail.
Plus, out along limestone down,
    Soaring seabirds can be found.

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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 26 Jul 09 - 09:38 AM

Further to "Tees to Tyne: first impressions" (just above), had a good day at the Durham Folk Party yesterday, including a singaround, Evensong, Morris and clog dancing, and another walkabout.

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: Amos
Date: 26 Jul 09 - 01:43 PM

He sings in Spanish betimes, as well; very uplifting. (Links to a .MOV file).

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: Little Hawk
Date: 26 Jul 09 - 02:01 PM

Good lord.

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 26 Jul 09 - 04:26 PM

I'm not sure what that link is about, but I should perhaps explain that I was a spectator only of both the folk dancing and the Evensong - which, if anyone is interested, starts at around 5pm every day at Durham Cathedral, I think.

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 27 Jul 09 - 06:16 AM

Please note: I used the English name, Everest, as Nepalese and Tibetans have their own different name for it; also, in the news at the moment, if ex-Gurkas are indeed good citizens - "the bravest of the brave" - then surely they should stay in the new REPUBLIC of Nepal and NOT the United Kingdom (which should be dissolved into republics).

Poem 23 of 230: ABOVE EVEREST

When flying from Nepal to Thailand,
    I was given a "good-side" seat;
And, as I looked out the plane window,
    The view I saw was really neat.

For breaking through a thick sheet of cloud
    Were the high Himalayan peaks;
And, rising the highest of them all,
    Mount Everest - heaven bespeaks!

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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 04:19 AM

Poem 169 of 230: PERFIDA GENS - SUMMER 2001

On the estate:
    Abuse by day,
Banging at night -
    Sleep wars, I'd say.

Attempts on a car:
    Repaired by day,
Inflamed at night -
    Revenge, I'd say.

A gran's garden:
    Well-clipped by day,
Flame-scorched at night -
    Disgrace, I'd say.

Summing this up:
    As in Bede's day,
Manners are free -
    Faithless, I'd say.

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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: BS: Swimsuits - what's the fuss?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 12:29 PM

Just caught a bit of the World Championships, and (as well as Phelps being beaten in the 200m) noticed the fuss over swimsuits: surely, apart from covering their reproductive bits, they can wear whatever they want - wherever they are swimming...

Poem 5 of 230: STATE TO STATE

(TUNE:

C F G F
C F G F
C F G F
C F G F
F G F C
F G F C
F G F C
C F F F)

From Sydney Town,
    In uni. break,
I drove out west
    To earnings make
Onion picking,
    On the fields
Of Echuca,
    That year's yields.

                                  After day's work,
                                     From Y.H.A.,
                                  A group of us
                                     Would not delay
                                  To walk on down
                                     To the dirt rim
                                  Of the Murray,
                                     For a cool swim.

On one such day,
    I do declare,
Some three of us
    Had a big dare
To swim across,
    From state to state,
The wide Murray -
    I took the bait.

                                  Yes, foolishly,
                                     I took the bait -
                                  A choice that I
                                     Would come to hate,
                                  For I almost
                                     Did drown that date,
                                  Making the swim
                                     From state to state.

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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: Smokey.
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 07:45 PM

if ex-Gurkas (sic) are indeed good citizens - "the bravest of the brave" - then surely they should stay in the new REPUBLIC of Nepal and NOT the United Kingdom

With all due respect WaV, they've earned the right to live here - many times over in some cases. How many of us can honestly say that?

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 29 Jul 09 - 05:46 AM

Smokey: Now having the right does not, of course, mean that all Gurkas and ex-Gurkas would rather live in the United Kingdom than the new Republic of Nepal; but those who would should, in my opinion, have more amor patriae for their HOMELAND, and question imperialism plus glamorous actresses more.

Poem 213 of 230: MORE AMOR PATRIAE

There is Tai Chi AND there is tennis,
    Line is fine BUT so is Morris,
There is curry AND there is the roast,
    And, when England is playing host,
It is the rest-of-the-world's good wish
    To sense culture that is English.

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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: s&r
Date: 29 Jul 09 - 07:22 AM

WAV your xenophobia is rearing its ugly head again I'm afraid.

The normal spelling is gurkha.

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 29 Jul 09 - 09:07 AM

Thanks for the spelling, Stu - but the rest is ridiculous: I greatly enjoyed being in among Nepalese people and culture when I VISITED their country.

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 30 Jul 09 - 03:44 AM

We have Gurkha restaurants here on The Fylde and damn fine they are too; my next-door neighbours are from Sri-Lanka and they're the best neighbours I've ever had; our local shop is run by a Moslem and I rejoice that I live in hailing distance of one the finest Chinese restaurants in the country. I love the reality of my multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and still United Kingdom and find your comments in this respect offensive to a greater Humanity that defines us in terms of our individuality, rather than our ethnicity.

On this planet I can and will live anywhere I like; just as you have chosen to do, so leave your fantasies of racial & cultural purity out of this because not only are such fantasies racist, they are offensive to each and every person who has chosen, for whatever reason, to make their home in a country other than the one in which they were born.

You say you are not racist; but in maintaining and promoting such myths as English culture is taking a hammering and when people lose their culture society suffers and England was a more English place 50 years ago you are promoting and encouraging racism. You talk about assimilation, yet you steadfastly refuse to assimilate. Once again - I urge you - assimilate yourself into the wondrous diversity of cultural actuality of the country that gave you birth.

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 30 Jul 09 - 04:34 AM

You've gone further than what I've actually said, S. - briefly, the strengthening of immigration controls, from now on; but, yes, this is one area where we disagree fundamentally - I like the world being multicultural but question the multicultural state/you like the world AND your country being multicultural.

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 30 Jul 09 - 05:09 AM

Poem 22 of 230: HIGH HOUSEBOAT

When in India,
    I headed north
For the Himalaya.

Up, by train then bus,
    To Kashmir -
It was much cooler, thus.

Stayed there on Dahl Lake,
    By Srinagar -
For my tight-budget's sake.

'Twas a houseboat room:
    Run down, low cost -
But there I felt no gloom.

A solo mother -
    She had four kids -
Was the floor-manager.

At dawn, her daughter -
    The eldest one -
Brought me food and water.

I washed with bucket,
    Ate scrambled eggs -
As good as one could get.

From Dahl Lake's shoreline
    To the houseboats,
Canoe trips run just fine.

Day-tripped to Gulmarg,
    And played a round -
As always, kept the card.

It is the highest
    Green-kept golf-course,
And sure is quite a test!

Played another course,
    At Srinagar -
And it, too, I endorse.

For "with-dependants,"
    I should, though, add -
War, sadly, still rants.

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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 30 Jul 09 - 05:32 AM

you like the world AND your country being multicultural.

The world and my country is multicultural, WAV - that's the point; to even suggest it should be otherwise is inhumane.

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: Smokey.
Date: 30 Jul 09 - 05:47 PM

Too right, P O'B, and to suggest it when you're a foreign guest in this country is just plain batty, or at least highly illogical. Sorry WaV, but it just doesn't make sense..

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 05:47 AM

Poem 76 of 230: LAND RIGHTS

If there is a good thing,
    From the Second World War,
It's that most peoples learnt
    To conquer lands no more.

In Africa, Asia,
    And the Pacific, too:
Post-war independence -
    Steps only bigots rue.

But for some indigenes,
    Outnumbered much-too-much,
It has all come too late
    For liberty, as such.

So 'tis in Australia,
    And America's sites,
Where the best now, I think,
    Is to respect land rights.

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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 01 Aug 09 - 06:13 AM

Poem 19 of 230: JET

With time-based rail passes,
    As many youths still do,
I caught the trains through Europe -
    A good time it was, too.

But, late one night that summer,
    I ran full-on in vain,
Through quiet streets in Paris,
    To catch the London train.

And, at that Paris station,
    They closed the doors throughout,
For cleaning through the morning,
    Insisting - stragglers out.

So it was that a few of us
    Spent the night on the street,
And, I do declare to you,
    It left young me dead beat.

Yet there are many stragglers,
    Within the human domain,
Spending all their nights as such -
    While others own a plane!

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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 02 Aug 09 - 04:29 AM

Poem 115 of 230: SUNDAY CRICKET AND BERRIES - SUMMER 2000

From a bus (ninety-eight -
    Bury to Manchester),
I got off at the gate
    Of Hamilton Road Park,
Where in situ I ate
    Several blackberries
(The taste too good to wait),
    Before making my way
To a further park-gate,
    From where briefly I watched
How Stand's cricketers rate.

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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 03 Aug 09 - 05:58 AM

Poem 58 of 230: THE OLD BULL

Walked along Fog Lane,
    Looked at the park,
Stopped in the Old Bull
    And had a hark,
While eating lunch,
    On how at dark,
Many years before,
    My father's lark,
There, was games of darts -
    I'd filled an arc.

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(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 04 Aug 09 - 05:20 AM

Poem 197 of 230: HISTORIC HEXHAM – AUTUMN 2002

All hay was made,
    And the sun stayed,
The autumn day
    I made my way,
Via Heddon,
    To old Hexham,
Where I did see:
    The fine abbey,
The ex-gaol
    By the moot-hall,
Plus, holding sports
    Of varied sorts,
The Tynedale
    And the Seal.

From http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse (e-book)
Or http://walkaboutsverse.sitegoz.com (e-scroll)
(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 05 Aug 09 - 04:17 AM

This was in 1988, having just hitched from Land's End to John O' Groats...

Poem 11 of 230: OTHER SIDE

On the road from Inverness to Glasgow
    (A very scenic road it is),
I hitched with a pair - Italiano;
    The left-hand-drive Fiat was his.

I think they had taken turns at driving -
    I'm not sure from where or how far;
But, when they picked me up from my hiking,
    The lady was driving the car.

I recall how warm their greet did feel,
    And what a thrilling trip it was;
For, as their hands fought over the wheel,
    Our lives came near to loss:

I was sitting tight on the back-right side -
    My ears off their argument;
But my eyes surely knew how close beside
    The oncoming vehicles went!

We arrived without a scratch at Glasgow,
    But it begs this point, I feel -
Why did our forebears decide to go
    Either side for the new wheel?

From http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse (e-book)
Or http://walkaboutsverse.sitegoz.com (e-scroll)
(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 06 Aug 09 - 04:40 AM

Poem 15 of 230: TOREO

I'm a fan of the Spanish way -
    I like their houses and their food;
But there is one thing I must say -
    Their bullfights do upset my mood.

The matadors may be brave folk,
    And the tradition an old one;
But what must also be spoke
    Is - the bulls' pain before they're done.

From http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse (e-book)
Or http://walkaboutsverse.sitegoz.com (e-scroll)
(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 07 Aug 09 - 04:53 AM

Poem 152 of 230: HISTORY IS A FOREIGN COUNTRY?

History is a foreign country?
    Reading Chaucer's 'Tales one can see -
In brilliant witty prosody -
    A definite continuity
In the matters of humanity.
    So how, then, could one fail to be
Without respect for one's history?

As we can learn from other cultures,
So, too, from our own through its years.

From http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse (e-book)
Or http://walkaboutsverse.sitegoz.com (e-scroll)
(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Aug 09 - 04:37 PM

Poem 229 of 230: JOYS OF LIFE

Leightons, and other great art;
    Plumes of fireworks at night;
The vivid reds of sunrise -
    Repeated at day's last light.

The beats through us of a drum;
    Winter's sun felt through closed glass;
Handing in the last exam;
    Awakenings – alarmless!

The ball, off thee, whacks their net;
    When, to palms, leather has stuck;
Orange juice during half-time;
    A warm bath to wash the muck.

Viewing set-over cricket;
    A golf ball, for once, well struck;
Viewing velodrome cycling;
    From net-chord, levelling luck!

Sticks, chants, didgeridoo,
    Haunting harps, and all bagpipes;
Clog, flamenco, tamure,
    Hula, and other dance types.

Out, by a cast, being told;
    In - taking tea and T.V.;
Highland views that command rest;
    The buildings of Italy.

Thrifty plant-propagation;
    By a wave one's body hit;
Upstream of camp - with paddle;
    By a fire - strongly lit.

Forest spent-leaves under foot;
    Tasting a host-nation's fare;
Alcedo atthis at work;
    Just-bills being brought to bear.

Allegros when feeling low;
    An andante to wind down;
Spoken French and chorused song;
    The quiet when out of town.

A stroll through a kept garden,
    Before Sunday's roast dinner;
A pub game, drink and meal;
    One's team a comeback winner.

From http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse (e-book)
Or http://walkaboutsverse.sitegoz.com (e-scroll)
(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: WalkaboutsVerse Anew
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 05:33 AM

Poem 16 of 230: A BEAUTIFUL STAGE

If a couple, with plans to wed,
    Asked me, off the top of my head,
For somewhere I thought well in-tune
    As a place for a honeymoon,
It would have - flashing back - to be
    Beautifully-honed Italy.

From http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse (e-book)
Or http://walkaboutsverse.sitegoz.com (e-scroll)
(C) David Franks 2003