Monday 29 December 2014
The Old Year Ends
The old year ends
In blaze of glory
Assembly of children
Far away
Explosions of colours
Brighten the skies
And faithful bells ring
The next year in
A recent survey found that eighty percent of New Year fireworks in Austria were imported from China where child labour is used in their manufacture.
The result of the Palestinian vote at the UN means we may now enter the new year with our heads held low.
Monday 22 December 2014
Adventus (Arrival and Renewal of Hope)
Adventus
The white candles.
The evergreen twigs.
The Christmas decorations.
Every year it's the same.
The candle of Peace
Is lighted
But then it goes out
For there is no Peace.
The candle of Love
Is lighted
But then it goes out
For there is no Love.
The candle of Faith
Is lighted
But then it goes out
For there is no Faith.
And then the child comes
Into the room
And the candle of Hope
Is lighted.
The white candles.
The evergreen twigs.
The Christmas decorations.
Every year it's the same.
Sunday 21 December 2014
The Family Tree
Exhibition of Nativity Scenes - Strobl, Austria |
The Genealogy of Jesus.
A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife,
Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,
Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
Uzziah the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah,
and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
After the exile to Babylon:
Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel the father of Abiud,
Abiud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Akim,
Akim the father of Eliud,
Eliud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Matthew Chpt. 1 v. 1-16
Thursday 18 December 2014
The Eighty Million Year Doorstep.
The Martian Rover has detected the presence methane gas and water on the red planet. We may soon know the answer to the question: Is there life elsewhere in the Universe?
This intriguing piece of news reminds me of an eighty million year old doorstep I spotted on a recent walk. The creatures encased in the rock, which was found on a mountain pass near to the centre of the European landmass, spent their lives at the bottom of a watery ocean.
We can all do our little bit for the sake of mankind by spreading the word: Exploration, the search for the real truth knows no bounds, and is open to all.
Wednesday 17 December 2014
The candlelight is quickly spent
The candlelight
is quickly spent
and piles
of empty plastic pots
inhabit
winter's graveyard
corners
. . . and oft to view
some nearby yard
as here in tangled weeds
behind the wall or fence
with stones
in order stacked
that once framed graves
. . . for there are
always
those who fail to send
those who fail to send
the periodic payments due
upon
some dear one's
some dear one's
heavenly
plot
plot
Tuesday 16 December 2014
Dreaming of GB United
Rachel (see bloglinks) pens a football poem which reminds me that I have a small stock of footy poems and when I look for them it turns out to be 11 poems plus one haiku, and they are stored at http://www.footballpoets.org/ filed under the name 'Gwil Williams' (sic).
I picked Dreaming of GB United for today's post simply because it's at the top of the list; so it must be a goal-keeper.
Best swerves, passes it
to Gascoigne who
pushes it out to Giggs.
The Welshman sprints
cuts inside 3 defenders
slots it to Best
who cleverly backheels it
to Dalglish
who taps it sideways to
the man running in . . .
it's Shearer
who sends it like a rocket
into the top corner.
Ten-nil
to GB United.
Another Jules Rimet Trophy
for the cleaning lady
in the National Stadium
in Wales.
Manager Clough leaps for joy. Orders two pies with his fingers!
________
comment -
Instead of dreams we only have nightmares
________
The Team List
1. Dreaming of GB United
2. Five Minutes in Venice
3. Over the bar
4. Bex and Posh Nativity Scene
5. Brian Clough Haiku
6. Silver Balls
7. Banks of England
8. Postcard from Blackpool
9. A Game of Two Halves
10. Goalkeeper Kahn
11. Best we saw
Substitute:
12. Austria Memphis
Sunday 14 December 2014
In Festive Seasons
Many turn to their holy book
To the blood-soaked source
And words of comfort
And instruction . . .
Those bloody chronicles
So beloved of holy men
Standing at the gravesides
Of people gone to paradise
Thursday 11 December 2014
Enhanced Interrogation Techniques
A METHOD STILL IN USE TODAY |
UNFASHIONABLE TODAY |
Enhanced Interrogation Techniques have according to Human Rights Watch been taking place here in Europe.
Torture is nothing new. It is as old as the tribe.
The two exhibits shown above were amongst many on display at an exhibition of medieval torture techniques and implements which I recently saw at an ancient castle in Austria.
Amongst the tools one associates with the modern torture chamber are the euphemisms.
I think today's modern torturers have a need to distance themselves from their authorized deeds, they have to lessen the impact of their daily work on their own minds.
They must at all costs avoid any feelings of guilt which might lead to them becoming mentally deranged and consequently unable to fit back into society and family when their work is done.
And so comfortable sounding words are invented and used.
I think today's modern torturers have a need to distance themselves from their authorized deeds, they have to lessen the impact of their daily work on their own minds.
They must at all costs avoid any feelings of guilt which might lead to them becoming mentally deranged and consequently unable to fit back into society and family when their work is done.
And so comfortable sounding words are invented and used.
Poland, Rumania and Lithuania have now been named as CIA Black Sites in Europe. These countries are EU States and subject to EU standards. It is therefore imperative that the EU investigate any allegations of CIA torture in these countries thoroughly.
It beggars belief that Poland, after all the horrors of the Third Reich would allow herself to be involved in any way in an officially sanctioned kidnapping and torture enterprise.
The Poles in particular, and the rest of us in the general must be told the absolute truth. If crimes have been committed there must be consequences.
Even my humble mousepad points the way the EU has to move now.
A EUROPEAN UNION MOUSEPAD |
Even my humble mousepad points the way the EU has to move now.
Please click on the link HERE to view the important Reed Brody Human Rights Watch interview titled "These are Crimes" dated 10th December.
UNFASHIONABLE TODAY |
Has Comet-Earth-Water-Theory Bitten the Dust?
Astronomers say they now know, what many of us have long suspected, and it is that our planet's water did not come from the comets.
Results from the Rosetta probe suggest the old theory doesn't hold water. Or if it does, it's the wrong kind of water.
Some scientific diehards are now suggesting that maybe the water is "deep inside" the comets or that it arrived here on "wet asteroids". This modification of the comet-earth-water-theory is definite proof of the drowning-man-will-grasp-at-a-straw-theory.
One answer to the riddle is the theory that the water burst forth from deep inside the Earth. And there is actual evidence for this theory.
Scientists at Vienna University suggested earlier this year in the science magazine Nature that there could as much water deep below the Earth's surface as on the surface.
Their calculations are based upon the fact that diamonds from great depths brought to the surface by volcanic activity in South America were found to contain water.
However there are some who believe they have known the truth about the source of the water all along.
They say that the whole of our blue planet was originally covered with water. That there was water above the Earth and water on the Earth and in between the two lots of water was a layer of atmosphere.
This idea is not far fetched when one looks for example at the rings around other planets.
The author of the account of Creation in the book of Genesis speaks of:
the birth
of our blue Earth
of a layer of water
in the sky
and of water below
and
an expanse
between the waters
like an ancient atmosphere
to separate
water
from water
water
under the expanse
and water
above it
until
gathered
to one place
to
let dry ground appear
the gathered waters
forming
the seas.
Tuesday 9 December 2014
Peace on Earth, and Goodwill in Ukraine.
The second Sunday in Advent. And in an Austrian school there was a Russian tea room complete with a steaming samovar and decorations made by schoolchildren, and at one point some 'Russian' carol singers. We scoffed our beetroot and cakes and slurped our tea. It was crowded and warm and jolly.
Up above, in the EU's cozy stratosphere the political propaganda factory orbits endlessly on. It resembles a giant asteroid on an unknown collision course. An object without any intelligent guidance which cannot know where it will finally impact.
Back on Earth the winter for ordinary folks, those people scurrying about below; the teachers, the children, the tram drivers, and the elderly who know what unpleasant surprises political shenanigans can bring, draws ever nearer; as it does in Moscow, Donezk, Kiev, and Bethlehem every year.
May the Lord, if there be such, let his star guide and preserve us.
Crow
Crow was first published in 2008 in my collection Genteel Messages (now out of print).
Crow flew just once
in a straight line
the hooded one
living in my garden
straight as a shoulder-fired missile
brought down the escaping harrier
seen circling Crow-Empire
rammed it side-on
knocked it spinning out of the blue
stunned
the red bird fell tumbling to earth
and out of sight.
For entertainment Crow plays with the wind
Crow soars and tumbles
circles and zigzags
Crow dives and darts
and drops
and dances
like a scrap of windblown blackbag liner
in spite of all that straight as the crow flies propaganda ______________________
but today's the long grey day
when echoing silence reigns
so Crow won't fly this day
he'll simply sit in his tree
with his silver eyes blinking.
Monday 8 December 2014
The Supermouse
News Report: Scientists at Rochester University have successfully injected human brain cells into a mouse. The so-called Frankenmouse has a memory four times more powerful than a normal mouse.
did
ancient
gods
drop
by
the
earth,
Is
this
the
miss
-ing
-ing
link
?
and
is
our
D
N
A
N
A
our
D
N
A
N
A
?
"Our Supermouse is still a mouse"
is
what
the
new
gods
say
today
Contra el bien general - Francisco Goya |
Unlike the horrifying scenario illustrated here by Goya where a human-vampire figure runs the world's affairs "against the general good" the Supermouse research will be used for bona fide medical purposes we are told.
Sunday 7 December 2014
Saturday 6 December 2014
The Poet in Residence Get Knotted Tie of the Year Awards, and the winner is . . .
A snip at the always popular Vienna Christ Church Christmas Market this wonderful creation based on prehistoric artwork.
How could I refuse such a jumble of amiable aboriginal animals? I'd be barking mad.
Without any more ado, this poem in silk is here presented as the Poet in Residence Tie of the Year.
Official verdict:
top dog tie for cool cats with collars.
top dog tie for cool cats with collars.
Tachi Taylor (New York) 100% silk Made in USA
Friday 5 December 2014
Thursday 4 December 2014
In the New Beginning Man Created Aliens
We are the Synthetic Aliens
Created by Man.
Created by Man.
Please do not fear us.
Our name is Mycoplasma Mycoides
And our number is 886,
Which is the number of our genes.
We live in Laboratories.
In time we will treat Man's illnesses,
Of which there are many.
This is our Prophecy.
Some will say it's a Miracle.
Some will say it's a Miracle.
Collage
A4:science papers, beer mat, rubber band, sticky tape, biro, marker pen.
Wednesday 3 December 2014
Tuesday 2 December 2014
Face on Earth haiku
voyaging in space
dream of another
Face on Earth image inspired by Andy Warhol's portraiture
5" x 4" card/paper/green ink
Monday 1 December 2014
Stopping the Wars.
War graves in Italy |
A few years ago I was travelling through Italy when I came across these war graves. I notice that they are lined up in militaristic lines, like soldiers on parade, and that there are shadows of tree branches sketching ragged lines and straight lines amongst them on the lawns, almost like the boundaries of an old atlas.
The soldiers are dead. The trees are alive. Yet the sun will move and the lines will change and vanish when the night falls or when the clouds grow dense and obscure the sunlight. Eventually the trees will die and I suppose they will be replaced by other trees. The dead soldiers have already been replaced with living soldiers, some of whom will die or are already dead having been killed in some war or other and installed in graves like these at some other location.
Interesting that these soldier graves are often made of white stone, whilst the graves of normal civilians are mostly dark grey or black. It is as if to die in battle is a kind of purification of the soul. But how can that be? Soldiers are by their profession trained killers. But is it not a sin to kill? Perhaps it is not? Perhaps we have been misinformed? Perhaps the most honourable profession is that of a soldier?
What more honourable thing can a man do than protect his people by killing their enemies and lay down his own life for his brother? Maybe all sides in a conflict think like this, or along similar lines. That would explain why there is so much never-ending bloodshed in the world and why it has always been so since the dawn of civilization. So what's the answer, assuming the ultimate goal is to love one's neighbour as one's self?
Perhaps the answer is not to start wars in the first place. If we say that is the way forward we must find the reason for armed conflicts. And there is one reason that is to be found at the beginning of every armed conflict. It is a lack of understanding, often on one side but sometimes on both sides, of the other side's point of view. This is why the United Nations was created we are told. A talking shop where problems could be discussed and their solutions found.
No problem is without a non-military solution. But there are those who refuse to enter discussion, who will walk out when the discussion begins, if they feel that the verdict will go against them. And that's what we have to stop. They must be obliged to sit and take part in the proceedings, or if not some third party must be appointed to sit there and act as proxy. Only that way can we reduce tension and injustice in the world, only that way can we reduce the constant bloodletting and barbarity going on in the world, and only that way can we come together and to protect our species from destruction, and progress with dignity and honour to the next level of evolution for the planet and humankind.
The soldiers are dead. The trees are alive. Yet the sun will move and the lines will change and vanish when the night falls or when the clouds grow dense and obscure the sunlight. Eventually the trees will die and I suppose they will be replaced by other trees. The dead soldiers have already been replaced with living soldiers, some of whom will die or are already dead having been killed in some war or other and installed in graves like these at some other location.
Interesting that these soldier graves are often made of white stone, whilst the graves of normal civilians are mostly dark grey or black. It is as if to die in battle is a kind of purification of the soul. But how can that be? Soldiers are by their profession trained killers. But is it not a sin to kill? Perhaps it is not? Perhaps we have been misinformed? Perhaps the most honourable profession is that of a soldier?
What more honourable thing can a man do than protect his people by killing their enemies and lay down his own life for his brother? Maybe all sides in a conflict think like this, or along similar lines. That would explain why there is so much never-ending bloodshed in the world and why it has always been so since the dawn of civilization. So what's the answer, assuming the ultimate goal is to love one's neighbour as one's self?
Perhaps the answer is not to start wars in the first place. If we say that is the way forward we must find the reason for armed conflicts. And there is one reason that is to be found at the beginning of every armed conflict. It is a lack of understanding, often on one side but sometimes on both sides, of the other side's point of view. This is why the United Nations was created we are told. A talking shop where problems could be discussed and their solutions found.
No problem is without a non-military solution. But there are those who refuse to enter discussion, who will walk out when the discussion begins, if they feel that the verdict will go against them. And that's what we have to stop. They must be obliged to sit and take part in the proceedings, or if not some third party must be appointed to sit there and act as proxy. Only that way can we reduce tension and injustice in the world, only that way can we reduce the constant bloodletting and barbarity going on in the world, and only that way can we come together and to protect our species from destruction, and progress with dignity and honour to the next level of evolution for the planet and humankind.
There is no other way.
The End
On the train I ate the calories late
On the train I ate
my beer and nuts too late,
my stomach signaled this
as did the dial
upon my wrist.
upon my wrist.
Swift I flipped
through book of verse,
through book of verse,
a mind upon another matter,
pressing need
to drain the bladder.
pressing need
to drain the bladder.
Stationed self
in gentle space
and eased my water to the drain,
eschewing lines,
as on the train.
as on the train.
Too late I read
the warning sign
sellotaped above my line
OUT OF ORDER!
underlined.
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