Pamela Gough

Can Anybody See Me? Now I am old I shall wear bright yellow – hi-vis, so I stand out, easy to see as I wait in the busy checkout queue with my basket of ready meals for one. I clutch my shopping and walk where the young rush, laughing and texting in a language my decades can no longer recognise. My body flinches from their three abreast. In far off youthfulness, I was noticed; builders would whistle as my heels clicked by. Now, a ‘careful, love’ is the only heed as I negotiate their hi-vis site. Each new wrinkle that appears on my face conceals yet more of my genuine self. Behind it, my mind isn't wrinkled yet – I know my marbles are all still in place. So I refuse to keep to the shadows and I will not let age disappear me. I'm determined to go all gun's blazing, wearing my sunflower hi-vis with pride.

This little #poem of mine was shortlisted in Writing magazine. #Writing #writingcommunity

With Apologies I wandered lonely as a cloud: that’s wrong A better scholar than Wordsworth said: Clouds come not singly, but in battalions All the better to wet you with, my dear. And is there honey still for tea? Or are some sipping punch? From a bowl for wise men three Who are never never sick at sea. If the moon’s a balloon, then were Do 265 sorts of cheese come from? Such variety, the very spice of life A dome of many-coloured glass. Dulce et decorum est… But what can your country do for you? Ask not, and hear no lie Of brandy, baccy, sealing-wax and kings.

This #poem is composed of a series of linked (and mangled) quotations. See if you can spot all 16! ##writingcommunity #poetry

I love 'dumpling in chief'!

Just back from @harrogatefestivals.bsky.social #Theakstonscrime. Let's hope the inspiration lasts.

I'll look out for you.

In my dreams, I'm always still a young woman. That's an even worse realisation when I wake up!

I think I need more humour in my life. Any recommendations?
#books #booksky

I don't have a pet,
except the kitchen spider -
she deals with the flies.

#poem #haiku #writingcommunity

Doing a long overdue tidy up, I found an old label, no longer sticky, which said in very faded writing, 'Work in Progress.'
#writingcommunity

You can get usb floppy disk readers. Just remember to set the tab to 'read only.'

Exactly (and that's one). A publisher once made me take out an adverb that was doing a good job. The end result didn't have the power of the original. Rules are made to be broken.

That sounds like a great idea.

At school, we had to
learn the names of wildflowers.
This? Stinking mayweed.

#poem #haiku #writing community

There used to be (showing my age now) an ad on British TV which had the catchy jingle: 'Coughs and sneezes spread diseases, Trap your germs in a handkerchief. '

And never has been. Ditto sneezing.

Territorial

Walking, I passed by
a family of bluetits
shouting 'Go away!'

#poem #writingcommunity

Thanks for the repost.

I will build a wall To keep them all out, And when they come to call, ‘Go away,’ I will shout. My wall will be big, My wall will be wide, It’s cheating if they Then come round the side. There was a Roman emperor, Hadrian by name, His wall had soldiers on the top, It brought him lasting fame. And when my wall is finished, Then off it I shall jump, The people will all cheer At the almighty thump.

I dug out this poem that I wrote first time round
#poem #writingcommunity

My dad had 5 volumes on reinforced concrete.

And such a riveting subject!

By Deputy by Arthur St. John Adcock (1864-1930). First published in Punch on April 9, 1902, page 257. As Shakespeare couldn’t write his plays (If Mrs. Gallup’s not mistaken), I think how wise in many ways He was to have them done by Bacon; They might have moldered on the shelf, Mere minor dramas (and he knew it!), If he had written them himself Instead of letting Bacon do it. And if it’s true, as Brown and Smith In many learned tomes have stated, That Homer was an idle myth, He ought to be congratulated, Since thus, evading birth, he rose For men to worship at a distance; He might have penned inferior prose Had he achieved a real existence. To him and Shakespeare men agree In making very nice allusions; But no one thinks of praising me, For I compose my own effusions; As others wrote their works divine And they immortal thus today are, Perhaps had someone written mine I might have been as great as they are.

I love this #poem by Arthur St. John Adcock.

#writingcommunity

Humility It is a threadbare coat that scratches against the skin; You put it to your nose and smell soil after rain. It tastes of porridge made with salt and water; You spot it hiding in the corner away from the limelight. It is a mouse scratching behind the skirting board, waiting for you to leave so it can show its courage.

Is this ironic - putting it out there for everyone to see?

#poem #writingcommunity

I just don't get it -
What is this obsession?
Like Marmite, but not.

(Apologies to all you Aussies)

#poem ##blueskyrelay #writingcommunity

Sloth
I would be lazy
Doing nothing all day long
But can’t be bothered.

#poem #writingcommunity ##blueskyrelay

Wrath

No need to get quite so heated
Your bumper’s only slightly pleated.
I cut you up in the daily race
Now you want to cut my face.
Perhaps it would calm your ire
If you were to kick a tyre.
It’s a sorry sign of our age
This thing that they call road rage

#poem #writingcommunity #blueskyrelay

Gluttony
They pile their plates high
With fish, cheese and meat.
For only ten pounds
It’s ‘all you can eat.

#poem #writingcommunity

Sunday

Stay in bed
Undressed, unwashed,
No need to rush.
Day of rest
And relaxation -
You deserve it.

#poem #writingcommunity

I have my best ideas when I don’t have a phone or paper and pen with me!

Envy
Thou shalt not covet
Thy neighbour’s plasma TV
Nor his corpuscles.

#poem #BlueSkyrelay #writingcommunity

Saturday

God of plenty
Named this day.
Yet still,
The world starves.

#poem #writingcommunity