Unclear as they seem
we have links to each other.
Connection or chain?
~
n.b. Choose, if you can.
~
CLP 07/03/2021
Tag Archives: People
On Numbers -2
Days that we all have
Until going back again.
Where will I find you?
~
CLP 02/11/2020
On the Street xii
Smiles become tight lips
Breaths held, sentences halted
Nothing to hear here
~
n.b. At first I thought this phenomena may be an unsociable characteristic of city life, but realised it is a new courtesy amongst the unmasked, a show of respect for passing fellow pedestrians with white hair; not breathing out, postponing the moment of exhalation until some random old boy has safely passed by.
~
08/10/2020
On The Street xi
~
No longer gold-paved
Whittington has turned away
Back to the country
~
n.b. I refer you to the story of Dick Whittington and (appropriately for this FaceBook age) his cat. The cat ended up quite wealthy too.
CLP 10/10/2020
On Chess
Making the first move
Does not necessarily
Mean having control
–
n.b. As in a gun duel in any Western movie you care to mention, moving first doesn’t always work out for the best.
~
CLP 31/08/2020
On the Road II
We fall into step
Discover the passing beat
Of lost hearts and souls
~
CLP 26/07/2020
Fractionally Better Off
I am not nothing
I am one eighth that became a seventh
I am one sixth and one quarter of two thirds
I am one half that begat a quarter, then grew to an eighth
I am one seventeen-thousand-eight-hundred-and-fourth1
I am one sixty-six-million-eight-hundred-and-ninety-thousandth2
I am one five-hundred-and-eight-millionth3
I am one seven-point-eight-billionth4
I am one with you
~
Notes:
1 Portsmouth FC average home attendance 2019/20 season
2 UK population 66.886 million (2020 estimate)
3 EU total population was estimated in 2015 as 508 million
4 Estimated global population in March was 2020 7.8 billion
~
CLP 07/07/2020
Voluntary Closures: Government Hides from Reality
The UK government chooses weasel words to encourage changes in behaviour without showing any sign of leadership and without taking responsibility for the population.
The talk of talks with businesses ignores a simple fact, businesses are legal entities, not real people. If a firm goes into shutdown because of lost trade, or because of the government request for voluntary closures, the workers get sent home. The workers need to eat and drink, not the businesses.
Rent and mortgages must be suspended. A universal income must be paid out. Workers are being laid off, not because they are ill, but because the businesses are closing voluntarily. This is businesses doing the right thing. The workers, not unwell, are then bereft of income because of the Corona virus. They then must qualify for support.
If it was a traditional war soldiers would be conscripted, clothed, paid, housed, fed and armed without question. This is a different form of war. The workers are on the frontline. They need feeding, housing.
Time to think about the people, not the businesses, unless the firm is involved in the manufacture and distribution of food and essential materials.
CLP 17/03/2020
Like Christmas Eve
Not the brushing of hair, best clothes
Glass of sherry before Midnight Mass
Walk to church under the frosted stars and a slice of moon
Not the quiet time listening to carols on Radio 3
Wrapping presents, piling them under the tree
Not a light meal ahead of the gorging of Christmas Day.
Not these delights, no.
.
Car park full. No shopping trolleys to hand
Broken down boxes in metal cages blocking the aisles
Parents with children dragging behind
Barren shelves, bar the odd crumpled tin
Chaos at the check-outs, not enough staff
No pasta, no toilet rolls, no hand sanitiser
Flustered staff, all good manners drained
Sick of re-stating that tomorrow’s delivery might carry the stock
No promises, no guarantees
Just like Christmas Eve, but without the joy.
.
n.b. Corona virus panic buying in full swing I hear.
There is a charity box on Albert Road, Southsea which carries a message, “Give what you can. Take what you need.” We live in hope that the essence of these words filters through.
CLP 15/03/2020
On Me Head, Lass
Do you mind if I…
The attractive young woman began
Moving to my side
Touching the nape of neck
Checking me over
Closely
Touching my ear
Rearranging a little silver-white curl on my crown
…if I photograph your hair?
I think it’s beautiful
.
After taking a few photographs
From different angles
She turned to her phone, smiled
And said
“That will be ten pounds, please”
That’s a fair price for a haircut
I paid, happy as a show lamb
(And we all knows what happens to boy lambs don’t we’s?
There’re the first to leave the farm)
.
CLP 21/02/2020
