The universe is just a great big doughnut

Father of two, based in England. Sharing some of the beautiful poetry and prose that I've found on Tumblr and occasionally adding my own. Along with the odd bit of very poor humor. Here's some useful links: Just my stuff Everything on the blog EclecticShed Other people's poetry on tumblr

[stillnotwritingtolstoy]

You are my dreams come true

You are my joy in life

You are the song I will never forget

My love, my partner, my wife

You are my reason for waking

My reason for carrying on

You brighten my world

When reality burns

Because you are my dreams come true

[stillnotwritingtolstoy]

Mistakes

My kids can be good, like most kids I think

at learning from mistakes,

not just their own,but those of others too

I in turn am very good, like many dads I think

at making those mistakes,

lots of mistakes, to give them plenty to use

I call it teamwork

[stillnotwritingtolstoy]

Happy anniversary

I fell in to your eyes and you stole my heart

You didn't mean to

But you did

You fell into my arms and consumed me

It wasn't planned

But there we go

Now everything I have and everything I am

Is yours forever more

It wasn't what we expected

But it was the best thing

that ever happened to me

It still is

[shamanfox]

That’s it.

I’ve stayed quiet for a long time, biting my tongue, trying to keep the peace. But I’m done.

When you share or celebrate racist imagery—like depicting Black leaders as apes—you cross a line that shouldn’t need explaining. That isn’t “politics.” That’s dehumanization.

I’m angry about ICE. I’m angry about families being torn apart, about fear being normalized, about cruelty being waved off as policy. I’m angry about the erosion of basic decency, empathy, and accountability.

I’m angry that hate keeps getting excused, laughed at, or reposted like it’s entertainment.

So no—I’m not staying quiet anymore to make other people comfortable.

If you support Trump, if you excuse racism, if you defend this kind of behavior—unfollow me now.

We do not share values, and I’m done pretending otherwise

[stillnotwritingtolstoy]

I'm finding so many good books lately

Great stories in many a medium

But the one thing that's bad

Is it makes me so sad

When I get to the end and I finish'em

[stillnotwritingtolstoy]

Contextual healing

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

But so is the road that goes the other way

Some conventions need to be confronted

Some need our support to survive another day

It's really never that simple

One size really does not fit all

Absolutes, aphorisms , generalisations

Like pride can lead to a fall

We need to think now, and keep on thinking

With compassion and conscience as guides

Every opportunity, every crossroads, over  and over

We have to decide

It's exhausting and we cannot be right every time.

It doesn't always work out well

But I truly believe that we'll get there in the end

(Heaven that is  not hell)

[stillnotwritingtolstoy]

To all the writers who share their dreams

And set them out on their stall

I'd like to just say thank you

Thank you to you all

Each new book I open is a brand new feast

An adventure, a journey, end obscure

I'm standing on the threshhold, I haven't got a clue

Whatever I've got coming, I'm not sure

Maybe sweet, maybe sour, maybe far too spicy for me

I can only tell by walking through the door

It's an everyday joy that's out of this world

An escape, but so much more beside

It's a fresh perspective, a renewed determination

Or even just a brief chance to unwind

And I come on back a bit more cheerful and relaxed

Ready to take more in my stride

To all the writers of poetry and prose

Who've made their dreams available to me

I'd really like to say thank you

In all sincerity

You make the world a better place

A better place to be

[purplemonkeysexgod69]

Tagged by @stillnotwritingtolstoy. Cheers!

P – Peace Sells – Megadeth

U – Us and Them – Pink Floyd

R – Refuse/Resist – Sepultura

P – People are People – Depeche Mode

L – Lithium – Nirvana

E – Eve of Destruction – Barry McGuire

M – Masters of War – Bob Dylan

O – One – Metallica

N – Not to Touch the Earth – The Doors

K – Kill for Peace – The Fugs

E – Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) – Elton John

Y – Young Americans – David Bowie

S – Sympathy for the Devil – The Rolling Stones

E – Exit Music (For a Film) – Radiohead

X – X-Offender – Blondie

G – God – John Lennon

O – Oh My God – The Police

D – Dear God – XTC

6 – 6’1” – Liz Phair

9 – 99 Luftallons – Nena

.

[stillnotwritingtolstoy]

Swimming against the tide

It seems like it's your destiny to be swimming against the tide

It can make your journeys tough

And twice as long

It's tiring, and there's no shame in seeking places, little one

Where the tide is not

So strong

[stillnotwritingtolstoy]

Get to know me

Thanks for tagging me @mikefrawley. These are always fun to do.

Currently reading: 'When witches sing' by Aelina Isaacs. It's a sequel to 'Phantom and Rook' and 'Matsdotter and Adrastus' which are among the best fantasy books I have read in a long time. Last book was 'The quiet side' by Casey Blair - also brilliant.

Last song: 'Abraham, Martin and John' by Marvin Gaye. I've just learned  that this was previously released by both Dion and Smokey Robinson so I'll have to check those versions out as well.

Last film: Superman - really enjoyed it.

Last series:The coroner's diary - also really enjoyed it.

Sweet/savory/salty: I'm way too fond of sweet - I'm eating cake right now in fact.

Tea/Coffee: And drinking coffee. This is my idea of a good time.

Working on: Reading, drinking coffee, eating cake and trying to stay positive enough to take action on things that I care about when the opportunities present themselves. Because they do sometimes present themselves!

[stillnotwritingtolstoy]

Constricted and conflicted

The number one trick in the devils book

They use it again and again

Is convincing us we should be fighting each other

Rather than challenging them

Take all the resources, the rights and the food.

Leave next to nothing back

Persuade us we need to contend for the dregs

And we'll scrap just like rats in a sack

It doesn't always work though

Human nature is naturally tough

And when old Nick sees us cooperate

It doesn't half piss them off

For the prompt "ignite" from @picklemafia and @faemaril

[stillnotwritingtolstoy]

VERY NOISY MEN

A few noisy men

Shouting very, very loudly

Cannot shape reality

However much they claim that they have

A few thousand people

Talking quietly and reasonably

Possibly and actually do

A few million people

listening very, very carefully

Dealing with reality

Are doing whatever they can

Eight billion people

Living in reality

All of them depending on you

and on me

and themselves

and each other

[stillnotwritingtolstoy]

Dan from Limerick

Who specialised in haiku

Just to be awkward

[stillnotwritingtolstoy]

Running a marathon

While wearing a hobble, that nobody can see

You're keeping up with the other runners

So how hard can it be?

But you're coming across as so very entitled

When it's clear that you're totally fine

Just put up and shut up

And get on with running

Stop trying to step out of line

Running while hobbled is a nightmare

Near impossible to keep up the pace

But maybe there could be some kind of a medal

For managing to stay in the race

[stillnotwritingtolstoy]

Many thanks to @Mikefrawley for tagging me into this game. I don't think I would have done it otherwise and it's been a lot of fun.

I've seen a couple of other efforts as well and been reminded of a few old favourites and picked up quite a few new (to me!) bands to check out as well.

The idea is that you make up your blog name with song titles. I'm not aware of any rules on the songs so I've just gone with some of my favourites

Siitä viis - Kaarija

Tokyo calling -Atarashi Gakko

I am what I am - Gloria Gaynor

London calling - the Clash

Last train to transcentral - the KLF

Nu Delhi - Bloodywood

Oblivion - Terrorvision

The prophet song - Queen

Waiting for my man - Velvet underground

Rain steam and speed - the Men they couldn't hang

Iron man - Black Sabbath

The boy done good - Billy Bragg

In my Tennasee mountain home - Dolly Parton

New England - Kid Kapichi

Gigantic - Pixies

Two of a kind - Garth Brooks

Oblivion - Astor Piazzolla

Living on a prayer - Bon Jovi

Screaming for vengeance - Judas Priest

Take a chance on me - ABBA

Oh you pretty things - David Bowie

You - Five Thirty

I think most the people I read regularly have been tagged already but just in case they haven't seen it yet I'll tag @picklemafia and @purplemonkeysexgod69

[stillnotwritingtolstoy]

I wanted to be your knife

Your blade to cut through your enemies

And the obstacles in your path

I wanted to be your shield

To stand between you and the dangers

That beset you on your way

I wanted to be your chariot

To carry you on to your battles and glories

As the future becomes the past

I longed to be your warrior

To fight and bleed for you alone

Every single day.

But you didn't want a warrior

And you didn't need a shield

You were looking for a partner

To stand side by side in the field

I'm blessed to be your partner

And I'm proud to be your friend

But I still think I'd make a good chariot

If push came to shove in the end

For the prompt "Knife" from the excellent @picklemafia and @nyx-tenberis.

[stillnotwritingtolstoy]

Poetry can't save the world

Poetry can't save the world, it has no physical power

No tune however beautiful can bring us back the dead

In a world where we feel powerless, perhaps because we are.

Can simple words and music ever help us fight the dread?

Is there any point in faith and hope and charity?

Is there really any point at all?

    Perhaps,

If faith keeps you going when your soul is   drained,

And dispair seems so terribly near

If hope keeps us watching for the chances to act,

However small an act our act may be

If charity can stop us from closing our hearts,

Dehumanised by lies and hate and fear.

A song can help us keep our soul

Words can help us dream

Dreams feed faith and hope and love

Even down in this dark ravine

Poetry can't save the world

But we can