Dragonflies and Daffodils – 14th March 2025

As the summer days came by, drifting,
my demeanour grew more uplifting;
I took to sitting upon the sill,
to occupy the sunshine’s gifting.

Long gone the air of old winter’s chill,
April showers and softening still;
the harshness of all those darkest nights;
open the window to dog days thrill.

Ever changing, yet familiar sights,
somehow, the world now set to rights,
Lee and Nancy, with their velvet song,
saw me shine under the bright stage lights.

The future mine, I could do no wrong;
angels of innocence kept me strong;
yet now, the window, open too long,
the chill returns, and my hope all gone.

Nancy
her deep blue eyes
watch me from the cover
first stirrings of teenage dreaming
beauty

A chain rhyme quatrain (with bonus Cinquain) for an AllPoetry assignment, and shared with dVerse with the prompt Open Window.

During the summer, when I was 11 or 12, I would sit on the sill of my bedroom window with the window open to the birds and my imagination. I would imagine that I was the next Lee Hazlewood singing along to the whole of the Lee and Nancy album and hoping that I would be talent-spotted by any random passerby, of which there were very few as I lived in a remote countryside village. Not helped by the fact that I would duck away in shyness if anyone ever did come by! I was also a terrible singer.

I remember this album cover clearly and was sure that Nancy Sinatra had blue eyes! I can still see it in my mind!

But then look at this poem that I wrote 4 years ago, where I clearly state that she has dark eyes! Don’t trust your memory!

Did I just write a seasonal poem, too? I may have to kill myself.


Minnesota Pocket Circuit, aka M.P.C, is a hyper energetic midwest emo band with huge screamo influence. Embrace the Twinkly guitar riffs, highly energetic drums, and silly goofy depressing vocals and lyrics!

Split release between Desperate Infant Records in Hong Kong and tenzenmen in Thailand.

Review from Suspect Device

You Are The Key – 17th October 2024

Cultivate your garden
On the revelations of loss
A flower to push on through
The weeds you’ll come across

Are you terrified of the rain
Or love rolling around in mud?
Either way, stand up again
To see roses made from blood

There always was a before
And there will be an after
For every tear spilt
Endless hours of laughter

You can hold onto your pain
Keep it safely in a box
Remind yourself now and again
Of this healthy paradox

Inspired and paraphrased from this post at Spinning Visions


Today I’m feeling:

A little blurry in the head, though fairly happy too. Waiting for the coffee to kick in!

Trying to write a poem and started off with two killer lines and then coming up blank on anything else! Trying to think but I’m lost in the fog at the moment!

Finally, the coffee started working and I went for a third cup and I should be able to fight off the urge to nap this afternoon!

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Not napping! I was tempted but forced myself out to my room to get up to my usual bullshit there. Listen to music, download comics, add blog entries and play guitar.

The best thing about today was:

Playing guitar along to Archers of Loaf, the Wipers and SquirrelBait, whilst a little under the influence of a weed brownie, had me now imagining that I was actually quite good on guitar. I’m not but it sounded good at that moment!

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

I braved the rain on the motorbike this morning to go to Utopia, as Amy didn’t want me to use the car yet. Thankfully, it was the end of the storm and just a little drizzle and by the time I came back again, the sun was out.

I also stopped and chatted with Aum Aim while she was working at her mum’s stall. She proudly told me her grade when I asked her – 3.85.

I’ve been thinking about my grading a lot this week, since fielding questions from students last weekend. I think I will be less serious about grading for the high school kids from this semester. The grades they get can seriously affect their options when it comes to university choice in the future.

It seems a bit petty to give an average grade to an average student who isn’t in the English program and whom I only see once a week. If they show willingness, I just give them a good grade, regardless of their skill level.

Am I submitting to the foibles of the Thai system?

Something I learned today?

Anchan told me that despite her being sick, she was in Burma to visit her mum in prison, perhaps the only chance she will get. She said it was dirty and crowded there.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

Anchan also told me that she can get back to Chiang Mai from Burma and she will be a little better looked after, food-wise, until she has to come back to school next week. She asked me for money again but I had to deny her this time. I’m happy to help her a little bit but I don’t want her to think that I’m just an ATM.

I took this picture because I received the Minnesota Pocket Circuit CDs from Team today.

Across The Room – 2nd September 2024

It’s understood now
– Standing on the other side
– – Art hung in splendour

Squinting at the past
– Gone with the flow of the tide
– – Returned to sender

Perspective requires
– A distance beyond the known
– – Coughing up sunshine

A new world beckons
– The antithesis of home
– – Seemingly sublime

Caught in the moment
– Reflections in the window
– – As the train pulls in

Clawing the way out
– Of all the worlds goes to show
– – The jewel in the crown

Inspired and paraphrased from this post at Spinning Visions
13th Nov 2024 – Shared with Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge – Distance


Today I’m feeling:

A little better. I set my alarm for 7 and went about preparing like any other school day, taking my laptop to Utopia and sitting there reading and writing, then a little later, doing some grading.

I came back home around 11 am and didn’t end up doing much more.

After a bike ride with Amy in the late afternoon, I did put together half a lesson but I couldn’t motivate myself to get out to my room and play the guitar.

Health:

Physical: 6
Mental: 6

Today I’m grateful for:

Not running out of petrol on our bike ride this afternoon, as little Fino has been running on fumes for the last week or so.

I was also grateful to get paid, though I managed to spend almost half of it immediately, paying bills and ordering some needed items online.

The best thing about today was:

Starting to feel like I was getting a little of my writing inspiration back again.

Something I learned today?

Last night, Amy asked me if Hayden had called me and I said no and she reminded me that it was Father’s Day. In fact, he had tried to call through Facebook but I was logged in with my other account, so I didn’t know until I checked today and called him back.

He seemed a little down and told me that he and Vash had broken up. He did have some things coming up that he is looking forward to, though.

Slowly, slowly, Hayden, son.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I finished paying for the Minnesota Pocket Circuit CD to be produced today and hopefully it will be ready soon, and Team in Bangkok can start promoting his new band.