The problem I’m thinking of is mortality – mortality within the context of loneliness, hopelessness, dissatisfaction. I don’t always feel this way, but when I do, I feel justified in it. I feel that it is quite rational for me to summarise my lot so, and, without adding mortality to the mix, perhaps there isContinueContinue reading “A curious solution”
Tag Archives: Reflection
A day waiting for the tide
Years ago, morning and evening tides would be a perfect excuse for a day out over the saltings, or a trip to Sheerness Beach and Rico’s Caff. But Boy how times have changed. I’ve decided that sailing alone, though ok, is always inferior to a sail in company. And recently I’ve come to peace withContinueContinue reading “A day waiting for the tide”
Yes, and(?)…. II
I wrote some days ago about “Yes, and (?)”, that was borne out of a course in improvised comedy. link here https://schnark.home.blog/2025/05/28/yes-and/ I come back to the thought, as I’ve been getting a little too intense again, in various exchanges of messages. I notice that I never let anyone have the last word. In aContinueContinue reading “Yes, and(?)…. II”
Stand in the place where I am
—————- If you have visited me You might have been shocked At the state of my home, And my lack of care For your visit. —————— I have been learning That this is not unusual For folk in my situation. —————— You most likely ran away, And won’t come back. —————— But I need you,ContinueContinue reading “Stand in the place where I am”
Learning about Love
Mind now, Don’t preach at him. He doesn’t like to hear any word that might be uttered in a church. Touchy boy. I think love is a word, Not a concept. It is used in many ways. Did he love his dad? Did I love mine? And of course there is familial love, Which growsContinueContinue reading “Learning about Love”
Another Season
I tried to be asleep last night before midnight, but those handful of souls who waited for the traditional hour to exchange pleasantries got a response, and I stirred myself to refresh a few acquaintances. The friend on whom I cast myself for Christmas, who was particularly unfestive then, is even less so with theContinueContinue reading “Another Season”
Playing with words
can be a dangerous game. Most new dictionary terms are just new ways of expressing old things. My last piece titled Non monogamy has caused me considerable unquiet, and, I think, not been well understood without laboured explanation. When the public mood gives priority to an issue, we seek to address it with new laws,ContinueContinue reading “Playing with words”
What’s the point of a blog?
Or, what’s the point of this blog? —————- It keeps getting hijacked For different reasons But always by me. —————— It is a kind of semaphore A primitive signaling system. Smoke signals That can be seen for miles If anyone is looking. ——————- But before sending a message One needs to know what one wantsContinueContinue reading “What’s the point of a blog?”
New suits
Two old men in a shabby room over a miserable shop The older man announces with sarcastic enthusiasm the arrival of the suits. I am most surprised, and a little relieved. I was missed out the last few times that gear was handed out. Clearly I’d offended somehow, My card was marked. But now, itContinueContinue reading “New suits”
The wart
It was growing before my wife’s cancer. It waxes and wanes, Grows big and painful in the winter, But almost disappears each summer. —————- A kindly doctor offered to freeze it off, But warned of a little pain. I took that to be a lot of pain, And I had a lot of travel atContinueContinue reading “The wart”
The apples that fall in September
The apples that fall in August are better than those that fell in July. But the hair dryer wind that blew in July was enough to dry the best of those, And preserve them without any expense of power. In Penge we have spent many August evenings Meticulously cutting out the mess left behind ByContinueContinue reading “The apples that fall in September”
Who is Millie?
This was my unnerving thought as I woke this morning. The 1st day after putting the clocks back for winter morning light. I was unnerved because I was remembering the name “Millie” with the warm affection usually reserved for my dear wife, companion of twenty years, guardian of my healthy diet, my moral compass, andContinueContinue reading “Who is Millie?”
Too difficult
To feel your presence I look for you in the wind I look for you in my thoughts I look for you in the garden And in the bed … And all I find is silence …. I find little signs; The sunflower Which the bird planted Which I was promised would never flower IsContinueContinue reading “Too difficult”
Too easy
Is life; To breathe air To eat and sleep To work and play To talk (I talk too much) …. To sing songs To recite poetry To see beauty To look away To claim God’s care To walk with friends …. All these things are too easy for me. I have missed no meals norContinueContinue reading “Too easy”
Poem by James Fraser
What feeling I have in my heart, no one else has. It’s a warm feeling. No one can take away joy because it is alive in my heart. Like in church, you have a happiness, not a deadness. God says happiness is good. We’re all the same. We’re all one. We’re not two people. LikeContinueContinue reading “Poem by James Fraser”
The power of love
1st letter of St Paul to the Corinthians Chapter 13 “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can moveContinueContinue reading “The power of love”
The wrong beach
I had been sitting on this groyne for over an hour, waiting for the tide to float my boat so that I could escape upwind within the narrow gap between the groynes, and hoping that some friendly soul would happen by and exchange the time of day; none had. I hadn’t intended to come here,ContinueContinue reading “The wrong beach”
The corpse’s protest.
Who are you? —— That put flowers on my grave? Did you love me? —— Did you care? Did I know you? ——- Could I trust you? Could you know —— I didn’t choose to be alone? Don’t you know —— I had a heart of stone? And you comment; What a pity ——- ThatContinueContinue reading “The corpse’s protest.”
Stone cold sober.
Mental illness has been in my thoughts of late, best I don’t say why, but it has always been a diagnosis that I am not prepared to take at face value. I believe it might be always the case that the fault lies not entirely with the patient, but also with the world in whichContinueContinue reading “Stone cold sober.”
Series Apocalypse
This blog is supposed to be about the end of the world, dinghy sailing, and other things. Other things seem to have taken over of late, mouse poems, cat poems and reflections on the mundane have held sway. I have been prophesying doom for many years, I remember years ago as I was sweating aboutContinueContinue reading “Series Apocalypse”
Little Bird
Dear little bird, You have become trapped under the netting Over my neighbour’s cabbages. A state of dire panic You exercise every muscle in your body In an effort to be free of that spiteful web. I am moved with pity and anger. I try to help But I need a knife to cutContinueContinue reading “Little Bird”
Fortune telling under the apple tree
Fortune telling under the apple tree. Down on the allotment, by Ravensbourne Brook, a mature apple tree flouts the height regulations. I think two metres is the usual rule, mine is closer to six. Fortunately, our committee have better things to do, and anyway, the apple tree was here before any of us. My treeContinueContinue reading “Fortune telling under the apple tree”
Planet of the humans; Hope or pragmatism?
A beardy fellow I know, who is often seen in these parts out running in his yellow pyjamas, brought this film by Michael Moore to my attention. I watched it with my wife and we were both affected by it in different ways, we came to different conclusions. The next day I found this articleContinueContinue reading “Planet of the humans; Hope or pragmatism?”
A month of stormy Sundays
The third weekend of “Wet Play” in a row. A challenge for someone “in his prime”, who is imprisoned at a desk through the week. The short days mostly passing by unseen, or unnoticed, Outside the office window. I pour all my soul into dreams of things to come, Not minding whether they doContinueContinue reading “A month of stormy Sundays”
Sleeping with my mother’s mouse.
Mother didn’t see the mouse because of her cataracts Until he grew quite big. There is, of course, only ever one mouse. Tonight mother spotted him. He ran into my bed room, And under the bed. I sat quietly on the bed as mother was in the bathroom. The mouse ran out, into the hall,ContinueContinue reading “Sleeping with my mother’s mouse.”
Political anonymity and the end of the world
Dear friends,I nail my colours to the mast.I am a tory, but I didn’t vote for them.Is this of interest.No.Not if you don’t know who I am, or have no interest in me.If I am political, I must be public.If I am intelligent but not political I should shut up. (no, really).It is no goodContinueContinue reading “Political anonymity and the end of the world”
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