tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172592842024-02-18T18:32:46.643-08:00Barry McGloinFAMILY MUSIC FOOD POEMS STORIES LINK TO COKBOKE AND OLD WEBBOBARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-343799077367248662024-01-24T15:30:00.000-08:002024-01-24T15:37:58.902-08:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMdJMHYZ2tqkczOOtuLYfFnpmrxKK3kJUaBlWq3-gCm7piuDcDTKnL_c4dOqYMhdhNxJnsZML9_d2LN9ttJMe5ABHSlOM73f81JWxZvRa8O02M7KvmOR-QAWulma_1vGVndSK9zbAeUCdmHb49wCxbStGrxHEDWPT3BDZe6CVJE5dOxWKJ7JgfQ/s2400/P2090002.ORF.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1445" data-original-width="2400" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMdJMHYZ2tqkczOOtuLYfFnpmrxKK3kJUaBlWq3-gCm7piuDcDTKnL_c4dOqYMhdhNxJnsZML9_d2LN9ttJMe5ABHSlOM73f81JWxZvRa8O02M7KvmOR-QAWulma_1vGVndSK9zbAeUCdmHb49wCxbStGrxHEDWPT3BDZe6CVJE5dOxWKJ7JgfQ/w400-h241/P2090002.ORF.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p align="center" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0.42cm; page-break-after: avoid;">
<span face="Liberation Sans, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Drowning
in Blue</b></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western"><br />
<br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">Ever
had one of those moments when you flip down the sunvisor and a
huntsman drops into your lap? Guess who I bumped into today? Charlie
Cravino.” </span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">You’re
kidding me” says Marg, “must be out of clink.” </span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">That’s
what I said to him”.</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">Course
you would Gus...” </span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">He
said to me ‘I’ve done me time, paid me debt to Society. Straight
from now on.’ Yeah, straight as a judge I thought. Remember when he
tried to involve me in that pyramid scheme? All that Yankee
razzmatazz, balloons and ‘Everything Is Beautiful’ loud over the
speakers. Everyone singing it. I walked out.”</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">Course
you did.”</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">Never
saw him after that, until today, what 40 years later? Heard he got
done for fraud. Anyway he’s talking about investing in AI.”</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">Kidding.”</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">Nah,
straight up. Reckons we can make heaps.”</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">We..?
Gus… Gus!”</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western"><span style="font-size: small;">Gus
quickly made his way out the back door. “Gotta check the chooks
Marg.”</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">Here
girls. Chooky chooky chook.” He topped up the water, filled the
feed and scattered some greens. Then checked the egg laying area
again. Mmm, not laying much lately. A worry. Something’s amiss.
I’m thinking that maybe your chook is like the budgie in the mines.
This happened once before, when the bushfires came. They stopped
laying... </span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western"><span style="font-size: small;">I
just love being out here, communing with these birds, it’s a
special place, something about the smell of chooks and poo under the
bluest of skies. We're drowning in blue, me and my girls. It’s
comforting. Marg knows she’s not to disturb me. Uh Oh. I expected
it. She’s getting slow.</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">Gus,
did you read about those hundreds of scientists who said that AI
could be an existential threat? And you want to invest in it?”</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">Just
business Marg. We’re on the ground floor of something great. The
world will be a different place very soon, a decade or so. The cat’s
out of the cradle. We can make oodles if we jump on this thing before
the horse bolts.”</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">Our
existence Gus. And what about our kids and grandkids, how will they
cope?”</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">Marg,
all will be good for humanity. You know that they can beat us at
chess? And take the Rooskies and Ukrainians, it’ll be AI vs AI.
Robots vs robots, with AI weapons. No human was hurt in the making of
this. I was just thinking that maybe chooks are a primitive form of
AI. I mean, they’re quite happy to peck and scratch but still
provide us with eggs. Simple but effective. Whoever invented the
chook deserves a medal.”</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">Gus,
get real. You say they can beat us at chess. You think they’ll be
happy to stop there? No way, if they have the imagination to do that,
they’ll be taking over. They can be programmed to have a
competitive nature, to solve problems. Not just machines vs machines.
They have intelligence. They will develop personalities and egos,
whatever it takes to get on top. Worse, they might become autonomous,
one of the points the scientists make. And there will be no way to
tell the difference between a robot and a human. Those scientists,
people with scientific knowledge, years of training, they fear the
worst.”</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">Marg,
Marg, you take it to extremes. Those people deal in possibilities and
probabilities. They work at a desk with a graph. The world is greater
than that. Look. Maybe they’ll invent a dumbed down AI so we’re
not threatened.”</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">Like
the chooks Gus?”</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">Marg,
humanity is millions of years old. We’ve got this far. Q.E.D.
What’s your problem?</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western">“<span style="font-size: small;">Gus,
the problem is that we’re going to be the chooks. Peck, scratch and
plop. Pretty much what you do now, come to think of it...”</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western"> “<span style="font-size: small;">Marg,
you know I love it when you get sarky.”</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western">
</p>
<p align="left" class="western"><br />
<br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western"><br />
<br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western"><br />
<br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western"><br />
<br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western"><br />
<br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western"><br />
<br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western"><br />
<br />
</p>BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-78124338202926679302023-11-23T21:39:00.000-08:002023-11-26T20:19:30.070-08:00<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Lucia Joyce was the daughter of Nora Barnacle and James Joyce. Her story is fascinating and tragic. I wrote this bit of a poem after reading a fictionalised biography, The Joyce Girl by Annabel Abbs and checking more details in Richard Ellmann's James Joyce and online. Some explanatory notes follow the poem.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjOL2eZvikRCbYJ6eUlTJppEbmXbRHlwyZkIp-JhaLA_j7rz5myPinmHxC_hQnH-AGqfG355f_QUdGTOewpxgFLxVGOtgOrX6P3SIa7y79vBX4Rmp79DZGmMqXKcqO0Wd-JVf6-acF9ZudZpHN3ubKzLHJKkDuLRxA4DZFF387b21zvgSqv4-UQ/s408/lucia%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="305" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjOL2eZvikRCbYJ6eUlTJppEbmXbRHlwyZkIp-JhaLA_j7rz5myPinmHxC_hQnH-AGqfG355f_QUdGTOewpxgFLxVGOtgOrX6P3SIa7y79vBX4Rmp79DZGmMqXKcqO0Wd-JVf6-acF9ZudZpHN3ubKzLHJKkDuLRxA4DZFF387b21zvgSqv4-UQ/s320/lucia%202.jpg" width="239" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQSAFRhOYQyVuYndvf9wBtrfJZ0CYv2McDw5gapmv4iZT45C6jUEnO6Q9BbgcTzGKAITsdQNC3x-E_dJJ5SUunHcOXcIC1izI78i0s4QBsx0lIgLCfUcKuG3y-09UgoEelU8FUVZG7RKh87DVGaFCQL2bsYmlj8_-q75qHhAPObdFtcqcUZRCCQ/s760/lucia3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="760" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQSAFRhOYQyVuYndvf9wBtrfJZ0CYv2McDw5gapmv4iZT45C6jUEnO6Q9BbgcTzGKAITsdQNC3x-E_dJJ5SUunHcOXcIC1izI78i0s4QBsx0lIgLCfUcKuG3y-09UgoEelU8FUVZG7RKh87DVGaFCQL2bsYmlj8_-q75qHhAPObdFtcqcUZRCCQ/s320/lucia3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Lucia</span></b></u></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Lucia Joyce the die was cast</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
A jealous mother a doting Babbo</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Mia bella bambina.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
In dance she could fly, pirouette</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
and forget her squinting eye, forget
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
her love’s unrequited passions
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
lost like dear Samuel Beckett, her one
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
true love, never mind the others</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
she was besotted with Sam</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
but Sam was besotted with Jim</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
the genius of James Joyce
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
it bound him like the song of sirens</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
those sounds calling down the wine
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
dark seas to lure and entice
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
to tempt and truss a tender soul.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Jim loved to watch his child at dance</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
‘Father dear’ she called him fondly</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
so innocent and pretty she was</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
so gifted with a genius for dance</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
and choreography, ‘transfigured’</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
according to Jim as he was</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
transfixed but he perceived envy</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
and jealousy in Nora his wife</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
and Lucia understood that as</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
she recognised her Babbo to</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
be fixated by Nora’s raw ripe</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
rose with kisses intoxicated,</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
her hull appeased of barnacle
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
abandonment in Abaddon</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
what had it all meant? So long ago.
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
I have been confined to the</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
nuthouse these thirty five years.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Not long to go. I have The Sight.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Visits from Babbo were many.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Dead now he amuses the
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Congregation of Immortals with</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
his chat his rambles of the tongue</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
if ever they understand him</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
We held our own language you see</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
not a fellow could follow ha ha.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
He visited one time with Georgio</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
‘Che bello’ I screamed, my brother</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
departed in haste. I had told
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
him that his secret was safe, yet</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
he and mia madre prosecuted</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
my permanent interment, silenced
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
in this loony bin. Babbo fought it, his
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
own sanity sanctorum dolorum.
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
He died my Babbo. His words</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
his salve to my condition muted.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
How I miss him. Not long now. No.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: #01ffff; font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">
<span style="color: #242424;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: #01ffff; font-size: 12pt;">Some
notes:</span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: #01ffff; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #242424;">Italian
was Lucia's first language thus 'Babbo' - Dad, 'mia bella bambina' - 'my beautiful child'</span> <span style="color: #666666;">'Che bello' - 'How beautiful'.</span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">
<span style="color: #242424;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: #01ffff; font-size: 12pt;">She
also spoke French and German and her English had a
'guttural European' accent, 'not the Irish lilt.' Her
photos are plentiful but show a serious face apart from one or two.
Yet she was described as having a humorous side with a great wit, her
father's daughter.</span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: #01ffff; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #242424;">She
was a very talented dancer. The Paris Times reviewing a performance
stated </span><span style="color: #202122;">"Lucia Joyce is her
father’s daughter. She has James Joyce’s enthusiasm, energy, and
a not-yet-determined amount of his genius. When she reaches her full
capacity for rhythmic dancing, James Joyce may yet be known as his
daughter’s father." </span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">
<span style="color: #242424;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: #01ffff; font-size: 12pt;">Lucia
had her father's blue eyes but with a slight cast/squint. She had
operations to remove it, to no avail. This may well have had a
psychological effect, in fact she was psychoanalysed by Carl
Jung for her depression, prior to admission to a series of mental
asylums where she remained until her death in 1983. His notes were
later destroyed. Why indeed? </span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="border: none; display: inline-block; padding: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="background-color: #01ffff;">Sadly
her letters to and from her family were all burned by her nephew,
brother Georgio's son, Stephen Joyce. Some incriminating words?
Also her letters from Samuel Beckett.</span> </span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><b style="background-color: #01ffff;">Nora Barnacle’s ‘blue’
love letters to Jim, (to keep him from the Dublin brothels - theory)
were also destroyed. Jim’s erotic letters to Nora are available
online and are quite explicit, ‘steamy’ is a euphemism. A recent article proposes that his later medical problems were caused by
syphilis, a reminder to him of his ‘iniquities’.</b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #01ffff; color: #444444; font-family: arial;">Samuel Beckett donated
proceeds from one of his publications in support of Lucia's</span></b></p><p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #01ffff; color: #444444; font-family: arial;">hospitalisation.</span></b></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><b style="background-color: #01ffff;">He visited her once at St Andrew's Northumberland and maintained written communication with her until
her death in 1982 on the eve of St Lucia's Day. </b></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><b style="background-color: #01ffff;">A picture of Lucia in her
mermaid's costume which she designed and made for an international
dance competition, was found in his <span style="border: none; display: inline-block; padding: 0cm;">personal possessions after he died.</span></b></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="background-color: #01ffff; color: #444444; font-family: arial;">There has been suggestion
of incest in the Joyce family (contested by some scholars), possibly
between Georgio and the younger Lucia, which may be why her letters
were destroyed by Georgio's son. </span></b></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">
<span style="background-color: #01ffff; color: #444444; font-family: arial;">There is a YouTube of James
Joyce reading a section from Finnegan's Wake in a thick Irish accent.
It is a wonderful insight to his rhythmic language. </span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="background-color: #01ffff; color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8kFqiv8Vww">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8kFqiv8Vww</a></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><span style="background-color: #01ffff; color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p><p class="western"><span style="background-color: #01ffff; color: #444444; font-family: arial;">The biographer of Nora, Brenda Maddox and the biographer of Lucia, Carol Shloss battle it out in the press </span></p><p class="western"><span style="background-color: #01ffff; color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://arlindo-correia.com/lucia_joyce.html">https://arlindo-correia.com/lucia_joyce.html</a><br /></span>
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</p>BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-4419353812812845172022-07-25T01:33:00.002-07:002022-08-02T18:25:01.418-07:00<p> </p><p><br /></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">This is the second
article on our recent Bali trip which I wrote for the U3A Photography
Group newsletter in June 2022.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Bali Photography,
Menjangan snorkelling, a poem excerpt and some pics plus links.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">To recap on camera gear
for the trip to Bali, I decided to travel light and took my Fuji
XT30 with the XF18-55 and
XC55-230 lenses, both providing excellent images. Also my Oppo phone
has taken many a fine shot. For the snorkelling trip our daughter
Cara lent me her Olympus ToughTG6 which proved to be
very effective.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXqAYGHoXHtBokA5xcQHoUayokv3QHaaV6-aodalg3HN4_ozFimH7T_ZuE80BvL8_hlO_kKtuEVXiCKGeMFBhFTGRFCtjhvukqiBM5JKI8oo95tHlveeulofS8-kmELIHNeha3GQqE5fgazbpf4oz1n0ol6fHuNS9n5eQ-QxM7MOUaYoY9Ec/s1560/Fish%20in%20Coral.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="1396" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXqAYGHoXHtBokA5xcQHoUayokv3QHaaV6-aodalg3HN4_ozFimH7T_ZuE80BvL8_hlO_kKtuEVXiCKGeMFBhFTGRFCtjhvukqiBM5JKI8oo95tHlveeulofS8-kmELIHNeha3GQqE5fgazbpf4oz1n0ol6fHuNS9n5eQ-QxM7MOUaYoY9Ec/w358-h400/Fish%20in%20Coral.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The interior of Bali is
quite mountainous and with persistent rain it slows up a journey. So we had to stop for
lunch at a fine sheltered restaurant somewhere on the side of a
mountain - delicious barbecued whole fish for each of us with
accompanying spicy aromatic side dishes; a welcome break. The cost
was AUD40 all up (3 fish, rice, side dishes and two beers, two
coffees).</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0OVyd_uy0tD00BqUTqvSo1RfaVrzZLxDvJHKbUU11vkpbPErer-NoCohzwlDmEbPxKZo7pvVWLsHIBCfw3YQpLAVFExf_JB4AgAkPSdLgq5Tnh6GBHxRJzBdyBOTPl1lr9ClozzOYDkqnaOCIO1GIn2YMT7rRMWbPlNklLcsUTBwKH021oA/s684/mountains.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="684" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0OVyd_uy0tD00BqUTqvSo1RfaVrzZLxDvJHKbUU11vkpbPErer-NoCohzwlDmEbPxKZo7pvVWLsHIBCfw3YQpLAVFExf_JB4AgAkPSdLgq5Tnh6GBHxRJzBdyBOTPl1lr9ClozzOYDkqnaOCIO1GIn2YMT7rRMWbPlNklLcsUTBwKH021oA/w400-h400/mountains.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Our daughter had
organised a snorkelling trip and resort accommodation on the NW Bali
Coast, close to Java. All went well until we arrived at the resort.
The booking couldn't be found. What?? And the place was chokkers,
Ocker with o/s tourists. But... 'perhaps the spare accommodation
might be available?' suggested The Manager to his minions. And
thankfully it was and it turned out to be an upgrade, three houses
plus swimming pool and gazebo inside a walled garden. 'Stick with
me...' Cara said.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The resort had its own
beach, and offshore was what looked like a hut on a raft. The area in
front and around the raft is adorned with underwater sculptures,
temples, Buddhas, bicycles etc. as part of a successful coral reef
regeneration project. It's ideal for snorkelling over, so Cara
informed us. Great, we'll do that in a couple of days. Bad decision.
Once a year a large swell stirs the sand...</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeDI-hPXoPHHxQq9HtWhmkpF_pk9EDCrSRysdqBRgzxsncFxJIobgBR5V7opX66OPdS6kf87iWdNrUdatT-9VNcdS93sOErs0kj3O3j6zW_RxTfsBQi-HEiOVSHxHUGWIJH7dC8yOdj3kYfQltYUUiKESCffUsfaSieFToy38dbFaAnACcmQ/s684/underwater%20sculptures.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="642" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeDI-hPXoPHHxQq9HtWhmkpF_pk9EDCrSRysdqBRgzxsncFxJIobgBR5V7opX66OPdS6kf87iWdNrUdatT-9VNcdS93sOErs0kj3O3j6zW_RxTfsBQi-HEiOVSHxHUGWIJH7dC8yOdj3kYfQltYUUiKESCffUsfaSieFToy38dbFaAnACcmQ/w375-h400/underwater%20sculptures.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The boat trip to
Menjangan Island and its reefs from Pemuteran took about 45 minutes,
The west coast of Java with its primitive, mysterious volcanos loomed
closer. We were fortunate, the coral had rejuvenated because tourism
had dropped off since Covid asserted itself.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gDIrht6Gd5XHHonmQ5u8bd1H_58Z8g3u80xOAjXTmXx3fNqjHvTEK_qvEk64HTUYGI_zjjj6D59aqz6iodPK9gjHi1TLMKtlMVAjKMwj4gjifGp733u-Dt14PXBpyhiUe0lP2FC9l9m5JX7z4Tk--cbbU9rRzqvDHK954wTqeSJqqw_bzO0/s4160/Volcanos%20Java.psd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="4160" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gDIrht6Gd5XHHonmQ5u8bd1H_58Z8g3u80xOAjXTmXx3fNqjHvTEK_qvEk64HTUYGI_zjjj6D59aqz6iodPK9gjHi1TLMKtlMVAjKMwj4gjifGp733u-Dt14PXBpyhiUe0lP2FC9l9m5JX7z4Tk--cbbU9rRzqvDHK954wTqeSJqqw_bzO0/w640-h301/Volcanos%20Java.psd.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The Olympus TG6 is a
'tough' camera, well suited to rugged use, inclement weather and
underwater shots. There are a number of settings which provide
photographic control. The daughter said to use the fish symbol, which
I did. As a wise person once noted, the 'P' in PASM stands for
Professional. This is my 12 year old grand daughter Eloise in yoga
lotus position alongside the cliff face drop to the depths.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdYsZcWAIuwiTzLrQ86onD9oqXRdejRkx--tdEd5Y6FTlG_fa_k5KKsS4Jbvcv0HMjeLms_HoAktydyW7U7C7B1l8hFPvn7G9urf7LqCTSYU5MvULRlMCYaNvMlxLMaejNUCCAX65ZJlkPVLjgJVWAQTQ8sLnP9xeFjDp86TrZqkfqd7J3pY/s3278/Eloise%20in%20lotus%20underwater.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3278" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdYsZcWAIuwiTzLrQ86onD9oqXRdejRkx--tdEd5Y6FTlG_fa_k5KKsS4Jbvcv0HMjeLms_HoAktydyW7U7C7B1l8hFPvn7G9urf7LqCTSYU5MvULRlMCYaNvMlxLMaejNUCCAX65ZJlkPVLjgJVWAQTQ8sLnP9xeFjDp86TrZqkfqd7J3pY/w400-h366/Eloise%20in%20lotus%20underwater.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpqvO94TyJE6aILWPC05DyGhohTgWd_8FdknHcs5F9zHwuN1ttW5VNk8IT8YCGo0MLZy27ELR5VopFtBJl1p3fivvL6EjsB1JlQTut82tL0r_P-LXW_6jp_golvOmy1aZkERj_bZ0aDC9YuidE4rUt4bsagfvUDDApu1rLmL4dI1GfWyv1RE/s2199/fish1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="2199" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpqvO94TyJE6aILWPC05DyGhohTgWd_8FdknHcs5F9zHwuN1ttW5VNk8IT8YCGo0MLZy27ELR5VopFtBJl1p3fivvL6EjsB1JlQTut82tL0r_P-LXW_6jp_golvOmy1aZkERj_bZ0aDC9YuidE4rUt4bsagfvUDDApu1rLmL4dI1GfWyv1RE/w400-h217/fish1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Snorkelling
on the reef of Menjangan Island,</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> 40
minutes off shore. Java is close</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> with
its primitive mysterious mist</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> shrouded
volcanos. Fish and reef, the absolute
</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> splendour
of this other universe.</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> </p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> </p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> The
variety of shape and colour,
</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> the
shift of motion. You are astounded
</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> as you
float with the current over reef
</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> gardens
then out over the shelf with its
</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> vertical
cliff and cold flow from below.
</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> You
drift into a shoal of electric
</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> blue
sparks and suddenly they are spooked</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> into a
comet trail. You wish you could
</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> speak
fish and understand the murmurings
</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> and
coughing of coral.
</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> Our
guide dives down and assumes a yoga
</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> position
then blows a perfect circle
</p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> of
bubbles which rises, widening.</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyy85jZ3GAZxjoKCaw9p9IG592t049qMC-8QIKGBuGSQWfvOQGckH0dGHdJXcnyVxTRdMxKTQv6TdhZt45-E_O4ZQ9bmXTDwxxqaqp3dwcQ1wyZigC7CBhLLN5PAi1aF889MfLc60tPek7tzKJNvPKeszuf3U__b0X5y4GozmAUGx4q6GtO6g/s4000/BarryM-%20underwater%20magic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyy85jZ3GAZxjoKCaw9p9IG592t049qMC-8QIKGBuGSQWfvOQGckH0dGHdJXcnyVxTRdMxKTQv6TdhZt45-E_O4ZQ9bmXTDwxxqaqp3dwcQ1wyZigC7CBhLLN5PAi1aF889MfLc60tPek7tzKJNvPKeszuf3U__b0X5y4GozmAUGx4q6GtO6g/w400-h300/BarryM-%20underwater%20magic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIR-LLNG0lEVAhMbKvq5vfibz_AD3W23djKbQcWKa31N2OhBDZBJU5e5mW4AhzlSbv_zMFzRVMASL5LFK7h1GG8s0EKfuJ7etdcljcjAYRBNx8RJGpLKlIBfz_rkD46qTNCQ_-h75ORNw296OcsYnxIK350Fb4LpIEwSnfWyRBBdJ72lxXVs/s3012/fish2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2139" data-original-width="3012" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIR-LLNG0lEVAhMbKvq5vfibz_AD3W23djKbQcWKa31N2OhBDZBJU5e5mW4AhzlSbv_zMFzRVMASL5LFK7h1GG8s0EKfuJ7etdcljcjAYRBNx8RJGpLKlIBfz_rkD46qTNCQ_-h75ORNw296OcsYnxIK350Fb4LpIEwSnfWyRBBdJ72lxXVs/w400-h284/fish2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">On the return journey
we visit Penestanan outside Ubud, an artistic area where our son in
law has built an eco village. All houses are now sold both here and
in the second eco village at Sibang, but anyone interested in seeing
what has been achieved can click here:
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="https://www.desaalamindah.com/">https://www.desaalamindah.com/<br /><br /></a></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Covid has hit tourism
heavily in Bali which is now gradually returning to some semblance of
normal. Artistic Penestanan villagers used their time well in this
quiet period by carving the rock face in a ravine behind the village.
The amazing thing is that the atmosphere has created moss covered
sculptures which now look as though they've been there for hundreds
of years.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxDhXP3Clgs6dDTqadCrtCdNKH1zrCHnUMeMAtZkD7P8sbg0XukD1AXdtsDZSlqnpbaIp5siq7JXBSYpf0jxLkFe-zsTFeyyKSIroAroz-_FFP302Im_3zK28N5GXqzEXFcZ-XjgC8OJI5risylFzucDmLo8KAnJ6oP_PSa2xBkGCufkPe4c/s4044/Carving1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4044" data-original-width="3770" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxDhXP3Clgs6dDTqadCrtCdNKH1zrCHnUMeMAtZkD7P8sbg0XukD1AXdtsDZSlqnpbaIp5siq7JXBSYpf0jxLkFe-zsTFeyyKSIroAroz-_FFP302Im_3zK28N5GXqzEXFcZ-XjgC8OJI5risylFzucDmLo8KAnJ6oP_PSa2xBkGCufkPe4c/w373-h400/Carving1.jpg" width="373" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcn6yn81skTY0G4B8Nrd6AxhGVJsW9d3F_xH_xs0R44elC75UCifQruN75rsPa3lu6SRj5npJrNQxWNjxbwkXls2c7ObahXNFriRYBUSNv_g3PQGC-NooNbVnIqiHNh7GX-pmcn3jZrjQiJsw0ON7BN-MXhs459tGAl4WlxHl2hxp7fQ6-gg/s2462/Carving2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2462" data-original-width="2334" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcn6yn81skTY0G4B8Nrd6AxhGVJsW9d3F_xH_xs0R44elC75UCifQruN75rsPa3lu6SRj5npJrNQxWNjxbwkXls2c7ObahXNFriRYBUSNv_g3PQGC-NooNbVnIqiHNh7GX-pmcn3jZrjQiJsw0ON7BN-MXhs459tGAl4WlxHl2hxp7fQ6-gg/w379-h400/Carving2.jpg" width="379" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Daughter Cara was
interviewed for an online Bali magazine. It's interesting for her
family's experience and insights. There are photos here too.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="https://ouryearinbali.com/australian-family-building-an-inspiring-eco-village-in-ubud/">https://ouryearinbali.com/australian-family-building-an-inspiring-eco-village-in-ubud/</a></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-12184363355575768782022-07-21T20:19:00.001-07:002022-07-21T20:27:30.833-07:00Bali, Photography and Equipment <p> </p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">This is an article
written for the Canberra U3A Photography Group newsletter in June
2022.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I've published it here
to add an appropriate number of photos. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUS8nzjeulT0Gn5RoJH7oNocuMFHK6xkJWn-bo0Gix2dlT3oBCRpUUcUPcrDmBFPc11eXiagptuC3DDjqkwA1E1qOHeH5pitmoc6hK5PXiRxWgHEBI7-qIDgEC4IC4YCkU61GfuNorqIx3Ri-LqYJAT8ynQGFEr5YaQSTUmihoC7H_oQVUTOk/s4160/Lanterns%20Bali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUS8nzjeulT0Gn5RoJH7oNocuMFHK6xkJWn-bo0Gix2dlT3oBCRpUUcUPcrDmBFPc11eXiagptuC3DDjqkwA1E1qOHeH5pitmoc6hK5PXiRxWgHEBI7-qIDgEC4IC4YCkU61GfuNorqIx3Ri-LqYJAT8ynQGFEr5YaQSTUmihoC7H_oQVUTOk/w400-h400/Lanterns%20Bali.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Bali, Photography
and Equipment</span></u></b></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">In early May we visited
our family in Bali, our daughter Cara, her husband Greg and our two
gorgeous grand daughters Safia and Eloise. Greg has built/managed two
eco villages and is now in the process of building individual houses.
This was our fifth visit, Cara and Greg have resided in Ubud, an
artistic town in the higher midlands close to Greg's work and now his
work has taken them to the coast in Canggu, about 1.5 hours from
Denpassar Airport.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The holiday was varied
and rich in experience, locals and airport staff welcomed us back
with typically friendly smiling faces. It was lovely to be there and
experiencing again the soul of a place we have loved for many years.
Overseas trips are great for photographic pursuits in fact I travel
for that, and our cultural/ epicurean adventures. So, what equipment
to take?</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I decided to travel
light, while recognising that landscape, portrait, sports and macro
needed to be covered. I have previously taken Canon, but I find that
my D80 and lenses are too bulky now.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I mulled over taking
the Olympus EM5 mk 2 with the excellent 12-40 pro and the very
capable 75-300, plus the mighty Oly 60mm macro, or the Fuji XT30.</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">This time I chose the
Fuji which I bought in December 2020. The XT30 uses the same 26mp
sensor as the more expensive XT3 and XT4 and is far more wallet
friendly, as is the XC50-230 mk11 zoom (75-345 equiv.) with OIS which
provides 3.5 stops and can produce good macro images. I also took
the XF18-55 OIS for general purpose shots, and the Oppo phone which
has a pretty good camera. Our daughter Cara had booked a boat to take
us 40 minutes off the North West coast to Menjangan Island, adjacent
to the mysterious imposing volcanos of Java, to snorkle the reefs.
Did she have an underwater camera? Yes the renowned Olympus TG6, and
I could borrow it. Perfect!</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">First morning an early
Bali coffee at Echo Beach with the daughter to view surfboard riders.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLtHWaPNcJAwa41lDYDOLJA4a9BHbzq-M-qQOLs783cqgj-LqrOQ-75tdNxQYBt5cAWHm5BXU5w3OD-z_fiPUwUuKJmHEOrWzMm3QlmrI4CEiJ7OY9pdbBggRwou5zDRxRRw9YtVv3z8a2TB9AG9Jttcs1_d1gpfeMr35Jwb2SEuxqgCafrM/s1050/Bali%20Surfer%2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1050" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLtHWaPNcJAwa41lDYDOLJA4a9BHbzq-M-qQOLs783cqgj-LqrOQ-75tdNxQYBt5cAWHm5BXU5w3OD-z_fiPUwUuKJmHEOrWzMm3QlmrI4CEiJ7OY9pdbBggRwou5zDRxRRw9YtVv3z8a2TB9AG9Jttcs1_d1gpfeMr35Jwb2SEuxqgCafrM/w640-h466/Bali%20Surfer%2018.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSRn15mTWJLpAFa9alh7LeHNwuQpF9XTXRsdejOc8bNdMSqikmCBVnp36xqeg25t0f6Y3Epzcmw07sZe8ytIOvrhozp61TC80I8_M_664DWrw1oJgzlishb-xchGGkVigfgZ1wdJgqWTfAhe6w1YE6_vpkDAambMomQQ2efpopOwucvBVtg0/s1164/Bali%20Surfer%2011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="1164" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSRn15mTWJLpAFa9alh7LeHNwuQpF9XTXRsdejOc8bNdMSqikmCBVnp36xqeg25t0f6Y3Epzcmw07sZe8ytIOvrhozp61TC80I8_M_664DWrw1oJgzlishb-xchGGkVigfgZ1wdJgqWTfAhe6w1YE6_vpkDAambMomQQ2efpopOwucvBVtg0/w640-h312/Bali%20Surfer%2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZK-kopvuvZ90oAw2cj9vtS8vsY0BEy4qKEh5H1Yj10RSb4wsZO56WC4e_VCAWXqFHNLKBZUQX9fOlZyREx9_F3UptwTcoOCtqNHnYw2EckCbkosj4v_N_BKBV8ZT1sZ0cNIKM01BLFHTb5BXk07soVEkY-kmMVCeJkizXAbZ6tjZpPNEuMw/s723/Bali%20Surfer%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="723" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZK-kopvuvZ90oAw2cj9vtS8vsY0BEy4qKEh5H1Yj10RSb4wsZO56WC4e_VCAWXqFHNLKBZUQX9fOlZyREx9_F3UptwTcoOCtqNHnYw2EckCbkosj4v_N_BKBV8ZT1sZ0cNIKM01BLFHTb5BXk07soVEkY-kmMVCeJkizXAbZ6tjZpPNEuMw/w640-h526/Bali%20Surfer%208.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Bali attracts many
skilled surfers from around the world and locals are also getting
into this sport.</span></div><p></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I noticed at least six
photographers, many with serious looking equipment, tripods and big
bazooka lenses but I thought that a combination of OIS and a fast
speed should suffice, it was a sunny day.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The surf was running at
about 2-3 metres breaking around 150/200 metres off shore. So, my
XC50-230 zoom should do it. I've been encouraged by bird shots, the
SOOC 'straight out of the camera' JPEGS large/fine have been very
good. So, snap a couple, magnify them in the LCD, looking good. I set
the speed at 1000, and let the camera determine ISO and the aperture.
Checking the data later, the aperture varied between 6.4 and 6.7, and
the ISO between 160 and 320, but around 200 for most. My focal length
was between 120 and the max 230 (350 equivalent), most were close to
the maximum due to the distance.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU99_IgExyP4Jsur3SyXengZVxdWVb3-01Kw_K6oTMh70hvjsrxlqJtPhzN4QIcuD8dfZ8tf3zQrguAhoCJOuzJcmccHEDWaQpVUG8MCY-0C_kz4Xm7AAmvsc9LkTHWosU4A27QACdN4kQFVRTyEd03KCrfanKTqyZtohzXRQxlwyiMHd-wKM/s1419/Bali%20Surfer%2016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="1419" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU99_IgExyP4Jsur3SyXengZVxdWVb3-01Kw_K6oTMh70hvjsrxlqJtPhzN4QIcuD8dfZ8tf3zQrguAhoCJOuzJcmccHEDWaQpVUG8MCY-0C_kz4Xm7AAmvsc9LkTHWosU4A27QACdN4kQFVRTyEd03KCrfanKTqyZtohzXRQxlwyiMHd-wKM/w640-h373/Bali%20Surfer%2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I prefer to take single
shots using a small focus point. The Fuji has three convenient dials
on top, retro style, one of which provides rapid burst continuous at
two speeds as well as various other functions including video, the
other dials are shutter speed and exposure compensation. I remember
meeting an American couple in the ANBG and he'd spied a Tawny
Frogmouth sitting stationary in a tree hole up above. He blasted it
with machine gun fire from his camera, quite loud, and he was
obviously proud of it. I drily commented 'well, there'd have to be a
good one somewhere in that lot...' We left on amiable terms, my irony
flew up in the tree and the Frogmouth had a chuckle.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLU5Occs9_3YcokbgaRMJKQrWgv8kQU-6wrKQQ3GGzVpjYXm8fx0lxkWb3BlEpRD9tOg0_UEgJ-xDs78V0FAzJq-7R8cDju0iH3cWhQ1BxiOOgOPpN2E1QywlPEYxLM82aywd_jBTh-99-ycPRwehlQi32YdczqP8z8gPvuaYWF2ui1XlQyc/s3450/Bali%20Surfer%2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1448" data-original-width="3450" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLU5Occs9_3YcokbgaRMJKQrWgv8kQU-6wrKQQ3GGzVpjYXm8fx0lxkWb3BlEpRD9tOg0_UEgJ-xDs78V0FAzJq-7R8cDju0iH3cWhQ1BxiOOgOPpN2E1QywlPEYxLM82aywd_jBTh-99-ycPRwehlQi32YdczqP8z8gPvuaYWF2ui1XlQyc/w640-h268/Bali%20Surfer%2019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuEqpPeOWcRUocfP8Uk5aOdlSXPDWmVSPLaJBhTqLObpyGqMPEMnmsVlxRFvPWp_F-dXP83LjSTMpJPxMJiW6ozn4iiWMYLPiZU-ilh0BjVq70NL7ag56n6ozDDiS2Tjk14v6bZJx8Y-ONIYQ-_sAtWXMGznWpkAMm9v7qUvF33bh7_c3k_0/s1149/Bali%20Surfer%2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="1149" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuEqpPeOWcRUocfP8Uk5aOdlSXPDWmVSPLaJBhTqLObpyGqMPEMnmsVlxRFvPWp_F-dXP83LjSTMpJPxMJiW6ozn4iiWMYLPiZU-ilh0BjVq70NL7ag56n6ozDDiS2Tjk14v6bZJx8Y-ONIYQ-_sAtWXMGznWpkAMm9v7qUvF33bh7_c3k_0/w640-h410/Bali%20Surfer%2021.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Continuous shooting can
be advantageous, particularly in sports' photography but I didn't use
it with the surfing. However I did come away with almost all
successful images, so it was an excellent result. On a previous trip
I'd used my Olympus with the 75-300 (150-600mm equivalent) and also
had many successful images but the Fuji was better – I'd had to
denoise a couple of the RAW Oly images, not so the Fuji JPEGs. Also,
Fuji's 26MP allows you to drill in and maintain excellent definition, as can be seen above.
There's no imperative to use RAW files for standard goals, although
the camera provides both. I did tweak images slightly in post
processing. I use ON1, check the effect separately of each of the two
'auto' buttons and adjust if needed, back to manual adjustment
perhaps, plus add a bit of 'structure' and 'haze' which are ON1's
equivalent of Adobe's 'Clarity and 'Vibrance'.</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDbpbRT5b4nbLNyv4esk-JYNqtOF9mPNa-j8Z7UnYkW5yQu4UbIKOByPA0Osk_fVrRlHqRxIDuTwz-xKq8fyuFxhGyR56W79aCdEsVriwGKYuKHlTz8f1Q93oLIm4PGywbvEegHRE8CFcp8-2OKo7-6Q9998e4ELxIRUTwB_asZlVTTZO_6A/s4000/IMG20220511195024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDbpbRT5b4nbLNyv4esk-JYNqtOF9mPNa-j8Z7UnYkW5yQu4UbIKOByPA0Osk_fVrRlHqRxIDuTwz-xKq8fyuFxhGyR56W79aCdEsVriwGKYuKHlTz8f1Q93oLIm4PGywbvEegHRE8CFcp8-2OKo7-6Q9998e4ELxIRUTwB_asZlVTTZO_6A/w300-h400/IMG20220511195024.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">This is the first of a
two part article. Next month we check out the colourful reefs and
fish at Menjangan Island, the trip over the mountains, the Covid
project of the Penestanan villagers,
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">and son-in-law Greg's
village creations.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-5960652001119277652022-04-02T22:16:00.005-07:002022-04-02T22:38:30.657-07:00Curse of the Ukrainian Woman<p><br /></p><p><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is the Ukrainian National Choir. They start singing just prior to the 25th minute. These people are us, </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">they are you. It is heartbreaking.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAUhxD4eQLs</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lAUhxD4eQLs" width="320" youtube-src-id="lAUhxD4eQLs"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>Curse
of the Ukrainian Woman</b></u></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I shall
rain curses on all of Russia</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">mothers,
fathers, sons and daughters</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">on babies
forming in womb and crib</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">on its
lands, its skies, its crops and rivers</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">never to
be raised until the debt</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">to Ukraine
is paid, in full.</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I shriek
and I shriek the sacred
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">maledictions
to the impassive eye.
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I will
wake You. I will wake You.</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">You shall
listen.</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">My people
are no less than Russians.</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Would you
inflict these horrors upon yourselves?</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Your
humanity dangles in this web</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">of
affliction, silver with bloody dew
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">it drips
and sinks into our sweet land.</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Our song
will swell in tides of blood</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">our
harmonies will surge and flow</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> alive,
alive - one mute can hum melody,
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">and the
song shall survive.</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Putin,
damn him, is the neighbourhood</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">bully. He
slits your lover's throat</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">and now
jackboots this dying body.</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Have you
forgotten the Nazi assault</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">just
yesterday? The tragic slaughter?</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">You do the
same to us.
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">In
Mariupol a wife reaches for her man.</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">In Kiev a
mother searches for her child.</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Putin, you
putrid black Deceiver</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">this is no
religious war</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">there is
no such speck in the eye</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">of
Eternity. Where is compassion</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">empathy,
love and forgiveness?</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">There
shall be no forgiveness for you.</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">You shall
die by your own hand</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">the
relentless whispers of the dead</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">in your
head, following you.</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">God hides
not in buildings
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">nor in
missile warheads</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">delivering
hate, fear, death
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">and
destruction and the billowing</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">black
smoke of dismay.
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I shriek
and I shriek the sacred
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">maledictions
to the impassive eye
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I will
wake You. I will wake You.</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">You shall
listen.</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">On Putin's
religious affiliation/affliction check Tim Costello's article in The
Guardian. Quite fascinating.</p>
<p align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Link below.
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/06/vladimir-putin-a-miracle-defender-of-christianity-or-the-most-evil-man</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-45404776116864166742021-07-17T18:17:00.009-07:002021-12-27T17:11:28.308-08:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYi_7bk-ZEtbyp3YqPE0KVfJzTuSAAtdgYN10VfB8wzGF7kHHAPu_loLm_HeIRjXsYblLBNMAHcAPTLQZ8XaxheZUpIJMZjWz6nfTzYvMjzSAMpL_1lHQJxhawqL7MItmlDkFf_w/s1000/refugees.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="1000" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYi_7bk-ZEtbyp3YqPE0KVfJzTuSAAtdgYN10VfB8wzGF7kHHAPu_loLm_HeIRjXsYblLBNMAHcAPTLQZ8XaxheZUpIJMZjWz6nfTzYvMjzSAMpL_1lHQJxhawqL7MItmlDkFf_w/w378-h271/refugees.jpeg" width="378" /></a></div><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Asylum Island Video</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ0LmxSh1I8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ0LmxSh1I8</a></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Our country Australia
was a welcoming country when our family arrived</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">decades ago. Aussies
were happy to greet you and have you belong.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">These poor boat people
sought to escape inhumane political regimes in their own country</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">yet have been greeted
by similar treatment here ie. inhumane. Many are now certified refugees</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">yet have been placed in
detention, some in excess of 7 years, and for what?</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Seeking solace. Seeking
humanity's embrace. And love.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">You wouldn't treat a rabid dog like this.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">They have become
political footballs.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Is this who we are?
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The song, based upon an
old Irish rebel song which my cousin Chris McGloin and I performed</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">many years back, I
rewrote about seven years ago. Sadly it remains true today.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Many thanks to Oblique
Productions, The Big O for a magnificent job.
</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><p class="western" lang="en-AU"><b>Pacific Solution Revisited -
Asylum Island</b></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="en-AU">To
the tune of the Irish rebel song, “Join The British Army”
(Trad. Arr</span> – <span lang="en-AU">Barry McGloin)</span></p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">AM</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Well I was
young and proud and free</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">G</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="en-AU">They
took</span> <span lang="en-AU">my home and family</span></p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">AM</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="en-AU">And
now you see</span> <span lang="en-AU">a refugee</span></p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">C
G AM
</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Searching
for asylum</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Too ra loo
ra loo ra loo</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">They’re
looking for monkeys up in the zoo</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Said one
if I had a face like you</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I’d
stick you on an island</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Australians
all let us rejoice</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">We have a
hope we have a choice</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">We have a
vote we have a voice</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Not
searching for asylum</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> </p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Too ra loo
ra loo ra lee</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">We'll
process youse eventually
</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">We'll
stamp your bum and test your pee</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">While
checking on your history…</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Ah don’t
complain this ain’t the Ritz</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">It’s
Alcatraz not St Moritz</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">If you can
swim out to the ships</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The sharks
can be relied on</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Too ra loo ra loo ra
lie</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">A pat on the back and a
poke in the eye</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">They're looking for
monkeys in disguise</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Out upon the island
</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The
privileged and the disposed</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">One is
cursed and one is blessed</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Which one
are you, I bet you've guessed</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Out upon
the island
</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Too ra loo
ra loo ra loo</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Not Sanctuary Point, nor Woolloomooloo</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">They’re
looking for monkeys up in the zoo</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">To stick
upon an island</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The
privileged and the disposed</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">One is
cursed and one is blessed</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">You have
fuck all, well now it’s less</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Out upon
the island
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Too ra loo
ra loo ra loo</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">This government will do for you</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">They'll scrub your face and change you to</p><p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">A number
on an island</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Well I was
young and proud and free</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I loved my
home and family</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">But now
you see a refugee</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Searching
for asylum</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Too ra loo
ra loo ra loo</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">They’re
looking for monkeys up in the zoo</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Said one
if I had a face like you</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I’d
stick you on an island</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p><br /><p></p>BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-13099328936891079642021-05-15T21:19:00.003-07:002021-07-25T20:37:27.568-07:00Autumn<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVpx7I2DHvIaLOZERd4eFLrtrkq6jliwYe8vEMeLmTy5idXvY9_-joSwGu3gOaUCamR__ws6c_LqfMCtWl7CaXOALlh2wb_NgJ1-ZC_klb6-FKfseiF1MDBF6-39ETsK1nI2Btw/s2048/Autumn+leaf+2021.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1675" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVpx7I2DHvIaLOZERd4eFLrtrkq6jliwYe8vEMeLmTy5idXvY9_-joSwGu3gOaUCamR__ws6c_LqfMCtWl7CaXOALlh2wb_NgJ1-ZC_klb6-FKfseiF1MDBF6-39ETsK1nI2Btw/s320/Autumn+leaf+2021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">The old chap, he stood
in the laneway on this side of the gate listening to the young
girl say ' I'm on an adventure' and his eyes, bright and alight said Can I, can I? But
he couldn't say it. </p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">She knew, she reached up and took his hand, and
they slowly walked down the laneway, the old chap and the
young girl. 'Adventure,' said the old chap.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">It was an Autumn mid
morning, crisp and bright with a clear blue sky, and trees festooned with magical colours
hung over the laneway and dropped a carpet of leaves in yellow,
orange, gold and various shades of red.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The smell of bacon and
eggs came from behind a fence.</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Yum' said the young
girl, 'but we're on an adventure...'</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'An adventure',
repeated the old chap with a chuckle, 'yes, an adventure.'</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Loud voices came from a
house.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">' And if you think you
will ever make an idiot of yourself and a fool of me again...'</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'I swear on my mother's
grave that I'm off it for good from now on, you'll see... I'm
reformed...'</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'You are a prime fool,
there are times I regret marrying you.'</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Bad boy' said the old
chap.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">They rounded a corner
and a dog barked and tried to leap</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">the fence. It jumped a
number of times scrabbling for a footing, and finally</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">managed to haul itself
over, fall on its back and grogily came to an upright</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">stance. It made as
though to bark.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Oh my!' said the young
girl 'Good boy. And such a good guard dog!'</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The old chap had
frozen. The dog barked once, half heartedly, then again.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Such a good boy' said
the young girl. The dog wagged its tail.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Wife' said the old
chap. 'Annie.'</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">A voice yelled 'Rufus!
Rufus! Where's that bloody dog?'</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">A gate opened. 'There
you are. Come here you useless mutt.'</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Rufus put his tail
between his legs and cowered.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Get your arse back in
here. Now!'</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> 'We're on an
adventure,' said the young girl.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Not with my bloody
dog. Come here, I won't tell you again.' And he went to</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">grab the dog collar but
the dog bit him.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Bloody bastard, it's
bleeding! It's all your fault!' he yelled at the girl.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">And suddenly he dropped
to the ground.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The young girl and the
old chap peered over him. The dog whimpered and backed away.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'You shouldn't yell at
people,' she said.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Bad boy!' said the old
chap.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Can't move...' replied
the man.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'You'll be fine in a
while,' she said.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Adventure' the old
chap chuckled. And the young girl and the old chap hand in hand again walked on, followed by the dog and warmed by the sun in the crisp Autumn air.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Rufus' said the old
chap. And the dog nudged his hand, looked up and smiled, as dogs do.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">And the old chap smiled
back.
</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">An elderly woman
scurried along the laneway and came to the prostrate man.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Oh dear, oh dear are
you well?'</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Can't move.'
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Oh dear what to do?
Have you seen an old man, I've lost my husband?'</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Can't move.'</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'I can't stay here, I
must find my husband. I told him not to open the gate...</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Not the river, not now,
not the river.'</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The young girl, the old
chap and the dog walked slowly down to the willows</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">on the banks of the
wide river. The flowing water sparkled its warm welcome</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">and the dog barked
twice in excitement.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Ah, here we are,' said
the young girl, walking towards a boat on the bank under a willow
tree.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Between the two of them
they managed to ease the boat into the river, leaving the grass
flattened at that spot. Once aboard, the current pulled them out and
the dancing light lit their eyes and reflected on their faces. The
young girl slipped a coin into the water.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'Adventure, Annie.'
said the old chap 'Adventure Rufus.' And the dog barked again.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p><br /><p></p>BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-72230199885517531632021-01-08T17:46:00.003-08:002021-02-14T03:48:49.442-08:00And now I live, and now my life is done.<p> </p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">From my previous Blog:</span></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Another poetry collection I bought is Poems That Make Grown Men Cry by Anthony and Ben Holden. The second one of the 100 listed was 'Elegy' by Chidiock Tichborne which was written in 1586 on the eve of the poet's execution. I was astounded. The poem is perfect, and I wondered how he could produce such a gem and be so reflective in the face of the morrow's coming brutality? More than that, it opened so many questions, but principally how a person who was surrounded by the love of his wife and his five sisters and the love for his young child could risk everything to murder another woman, his monarch? The poem also appears in the Paul Kelly poetry compilation of favourite poems Love Is Strong As Death, and in both of Seamus Heaney and Ted Hughes's excellent poetry anthologies, The School Bag and The Rattle Bag.</span></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">On 20 September 1586
fourteen of the Babington Plotters were executed. They had sought to
assassinate Queen Elizabeth and replace her with the Catholic, Mary
Queen of Scots. The plan had been foiled by a double agent.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpIbCd3awlRvBYDmXidAsE5AvJF3UgPx6-LyEp-GH-mJma-iLvFlT01F6wKc5tNjlmRca7xUiRXT4hFX-zMzTeuDtcN9jtANCW7A4jVDZVYS1dA2pUDrXWelbtjJuybpm3JiPpw/s2048/Metsys_Elizabeth_I_The_Sieve_Portrait_c1583.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1517" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpIbCd3awlRvBYDmXidAsE5AvJF3UgPx6-LyEp-GH-mJma-iLvFlT01F6wKc5tNjlmRca7xUiRXT4hFX-zMzTeuDtcN9jtANCW7A4jVDZVYS1dA2pUDrXWelbtjJuybpm3JiPpw/s320/Metsys_Elizabeth_I_The_Sieve_Portrait_c1583.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1KhEplziRFFpBonp_I0s6S5M1K-s5NnFpNQ3WiwWXWKE34AXnCkx68YUpA7Iouf20GmygDjBD3ieOPTyc0VfjgZ4EN3iS_Lbkrv-IvtcgFXUlm1NT9AoJVBaLbG4XRVKAGbBng/s600/chidiock-tichborne.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="464" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1KhEplziRFFpBonp_I0s6S5M1K-s5NnFpNQ3WiwWXWKE34AXnCkx68YUpA7Iouf20GmygDjBD3ieOPTyc0VfjgZ4EN3iS_Lbkrv-IvtcgFXUlm1NT9AoJVBaLbG4XRVKAGbBng/s320/chidiock-tichborne.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">On the night prior to
his execution for his part in the plot, the 24 year old Chidiock
Tichborne composed his own perfect elegy, to be sent to Agnes his
wife together with a letter of loving farewell to her, and to his
five sisters and his child.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Thou shalt not kill,
the sixth commandment was not a consideration in the assassination
plan. It was given papal imprimatur, the affirmation to rid the
nation of the wicked heretical Queen, to damn her recusant Protestant
soul straight to hell to weep and moan and be tormented forever in
eternal fire; of this Catholics were certain. The Pope, Sextus V was
chosen by the Almighty, and those who died in attempted regicide were
assured a swift lift to those Heavenly gates.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">By crikey there was
hatred and fear back then. Blood and guts literally spilled over
English Christendom and the fate of the treasonous was to be dragged
on a tray by horse to the place of execution, then hung and while
still alive, eviscerated, that is disembowelled, the bits to be
thrown on a fire. Then they were quartered, each quarter to be placed
as a warning in a strategic location. Those Tudors did execution
with a flourish. And sometimes they lopped off other bits too,
reproductive organs, that sort of thing. I wasn't going to mention it
in case anyone is squeamish, but we need to reveal the full picture.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">So, to return to the
condemned Chidiock Tichborne at night in the Tower of London. He
somehow found the strength to write his own elegy knowing full well
that he would suffer the most brutal of deaths on the morrow
alongside thirteen accomplices. How did he do it? Well religion,
aside from causing his predicament could also bring solace. Maybe
that was it? When all is lost gimmie that old tyme religion. The
Bible holding Trump in front of the church knows it.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Back then in 1586 the
Christians were at each others throats as they had been since the
reign of King Henry V111 and his imposition of the Church of England. Bloody
Mary (Queen Mary 1 of England) had reclaimed Catholicism with gibbets
and the sword, then Elizabeth 1 had reinstated the Church of England and Protestantism,
and more was to come. In the name of power, wealth and the True
Faith, the heads of aristocrat and commoner fell to the axe, bones
cracked, blood flowed and live flesh fed the faggots.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">It was indeed a bloody
brutal age. Religious wars in Europe, Holy Roman Empire vs the
Islamic Ottoman Empire, torture, trial and executions at various
inquisitions to unearth heresy, and then witchcraft.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Witchcraft trials alone
were 80,000. At least 35,000 were executed in Europe between 1450
and 1750, mostly women. It was a dangerous time to be out plucking a
few herbs for the pot, la la la.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I know... but sometimes
a little black humour helps with the horrific. Besides it was so long
ago, and we're different folk now. Or are we? Are we? A thin veneer
of civilisation?</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYwFqo_52EThZNC5Z4_Y2gqEGGlt8XiBnO7iVbdRZHt8CrtjtfxBK_sPWMqi8yWEqBr5KptN6japDXwcXPRISrnqGulkjLI6QQZI-g3ZrqeIxNo2qR-YceFcuDG0PKoyz8x3_fQ/s1200/Scotlands-Unexplained-Witches.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYwFqo_52EThZNC5Z4_Y2gqEGGlt8XiBnO7iVbdRZHt8CrtjtfxBK_sPWMqi8yWEqBr5KptN6japDXwcXPRISrnqGulkjLI6QQZI-g3ZrqeIxNo2qR-YceFcuDG0PKoyz8x3_fQ/s320/Scotlands-Unexplained-Witches.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">You know... sometimes I
think that humans just need a banner to rally behind. Its a fault in
the design. Robert Graves' book Count Belisarius, about a sixth
century Roman general recounts how
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Rome had two factions,
the Green and the Blue. Non political, non religious. They became
religious later but initially they followed charioteers and
slaughtered each other in the thousands.</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">My wife Denise and I
visited the Great Uncle and Great Aunt in Glasgow in the early 70s.
On the way we had to stop for the (Protestant) Orange Day parade.
Fife and drums, hard faced slit eyed skinheads, and I suddenly became
conscious of my green jumper, our green car... We departed. Later
that night the Great Uncle Hughie stopped my Aussie song, The Wild
Colonial Boy. <b>'You'll nae be singing that in this hoose laddie.'</b>
He was tall, imposing with a sharp fine nose, bristling eyebrows and
flashing eyes. You wouldn't cross him. I didn't. The Great Aunt
explained in the morning that it is regarded as a 'Party' song ie.
Catholic, and there had been a recent stabbing close by of someone
singing a similar 'Party' song. The Irish 'Troubles' which killed
3600 fortunately did not spread to Scotland, apart from minor
outbreaks, but the sectarian divide was strong, you were either green
or orange.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZscPP5NUHlZCbJ4KQBekZBWDXHUf0LkmmonmPr6vDOWRY_eUMpPhHd-PUUB5bU719vs4_L5VS0iOtBXQFo2hD0d0oMzRPWS-qrcHZXqSTzMZI0eIZORAFveKFzx73CQDmoZorMw/s615/0rangeday+parade+glasgow.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="615" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZscPP5NUHlZCbJ4KQBekZBWDXHUf0LkmmonmPr6vDOWRY_eUMpPhHd-PUUB5bU719vs4_L5VS0iOtBXQFo2hD0d0oMzRPWS-qrcHZXqSTzMZI0eIZORAFveKFzx73CQDmoZorMw/s320/0rangeday+parade+glasgow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">My Dad told me that his
three uncles, Hughie, Harry and Tiny, all well over six foot, would
go down to the fine Proddie house on the corner each Orange Day while
the Orangeman was out marching, and snip the heads off his roses.
Aye, they were tall and feisty with a brutal sense of humour.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-uiTWuD9mb0wQsmCKSM1UTQymX_BfC1xXMFzh9SnUjc6lLTh2xkNAs4d2ozq-gVCiRIvZAjYSzyTm2l476JCSKZmJITXIL6rxzh9ZYevRB_KO0d1WdE8y78GLQiwZViBRVLg2A/s300/Orange+day+Glasgow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-uiTWuD9mb0wQsmCKSM1UTQymX_BfC1xXMFzh9SnUjc6lLTh2xkNAs4d2ozq-gVCiRIvZAjYSzyTm2l476JCSKZmJITXIL6rxzh9ZYevRB_KO0d1WdE8y78GLQiwZViBRVLg2A/s0/Orange+day+Glasgow.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Back to Chidiock
Tichborne, our condemned poet. Sir Thomas More, the great Catholic
humanist (and Protestant persecutor?), now saint and martyr was
beheaded for treason 51 years prior, in 1535. He refused to recognise
the supremacy of Henry V111 over the Pope. He comforted his
executioner with the words 'You will give me this day a greater
benefit than ever any mortal man can give me. Pluck up thy spirits
man. And be not afraid to do thine office.'</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">And Chidiock Tichborne,
he too had that faith, that he would soon be with God, his purpose in
life completed. The True Faith. At the least, he believed so. And
we can only hope that it served him well at the end.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The Babington plotters
were executed in two groups. Chidiock was in the first group. The
Queen, Elizabeth 1 was informed that the public were starting to
sympathise with the plotters, due to the barbarity of the execution
stages. Her Majesty then pronounced that the second group should be
hung until they were 'quite dead' (prior to evisceration and
quartering...).</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="background-color: #01ffff;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #121212;"><span style="font-family: Guardian Text Egyptian Web, Georgia;"><span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Tychbornes
Elegie, written with his owne hand in the Tower </b></span></span></span></span></strong>
</span></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="background-color: #01ffff;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #121212;"><span style="font-family: Guardian Text Egyptian Web, Georgia;"><span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>before
his execution</b></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #121212;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span></span>
</span></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="background-color: #01ffff;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #121212;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #01ffff; font-size: medium;">My
prime of youth is but a frost of cares,<br />My feast of joy is but a
dish of paine,<br />My Crop of corne is but a field of tares,
[weeds]<br />And al my good is but vaine hope of gaine.<br />The day is
past, and yet I saw no sunne,<br />And now I live, and now my life is
done.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="background-color: #01ffff;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #121212;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #01ffff; font-size: medium;">My
tale was heard, and yet it was not told,<br />My fruite is falne, &
yet my leaves are greene:<br />My youth is spent, and yet I am not
old,<br />I saw the world, and yet I was not seene.<br />My thred is cut,
and yet it is not spunne,<br />And now I live, and now my life is done.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;"><span style="background-color: #01ffff;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #121212;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #01ffff; font-size: medium;">I
sought my death, and found it in my wombe,<br />I lookt for life, and
saw it was a shade:<br />I trod the earth, and knew it was my
Tombe,<br />And now I die, and now I was but made.<br />My glasse is
full, and now my glasse is runne,<br />And now I live, and now my life
is done.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="background-color: #01ffff;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background-color: #01ffff;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="background-color: #01ffff;">To
the most loving wife alive, I commend me unto her, and desire God to
bless her with all happiness, pray for her dead husband, and be of
good comfort, for I hope in Jesus Christ this morning to see the face
of my Maker and Redeemer in the most joyful throne of His glorious
kingdom. Commend me to all my friends, and desire them to pray for
me, and in all charity to pardon me, if I have offended them. Commend
me to my six sisters, poor desolate souls, advise them to serve God,
for without Him no goodness is to be expected. Were it possible, my
little sister Bab, the darling of my race, might be bred by her, God
would reward her; but I do her wrong I confess, that hath by my
desolate negligence too little for herself, to add a further charge
unto her. Dear wife forgive me, that have by these means so much
impoverished her fortunes; patience and pardon, good wife I
crave—make of these our necessities a virtue, and lay no further
burthen on my neck than hath already been. There be certain debts
that I owe, and because I know not the order of the law, piteous it
hath taken from me all, forfeited by my course of offence to Her
Majesty, I cannot advise thee to benefit me herein, but if there fall
out wherewithal, let them be discharged for God's sake. I will not
that you trouble yourself with the performance of these matters, my
own heart, but make it known to my uncles, and desire them, for the
honour of God and ease of their soul, to take care of them as they
may, and especially care of my sisters' bringing up the burthen is
now laid on them. Now, Sweet-cheek, what is left to bestow on thee? A
small jointure, a small recompense for thy deserving, these legacies
following to be thine own. God of His infinite goodness give thee
grace always to remain His true and faithful servant, that through
the merits of His bitter and blessed passion thou mayst become in
good time of His kingdom with the blessed women in heaven. May the
Holy Ghost comfort thee with all necessaries for the wealth of thy
soul in the world to come, where until it shall please Almighty God I
meet thee, farewell loving wife, farewell the dearest to me on all
the earth, farewell!<br /><br />By the hand from the heart of thy most
faithful loving husband.</i></span></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background-color: #01ffff;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />
</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</p>BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-70095290996008975872020-08-31T21:45:00.022-07:002021-01-09T16:50:42.190-08:00A Proper Blog September 2020 - Neighbour Gatherings, Books, Music, Politics.<p> </p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NlckN3gwVYCabG6wIcnC8mFfpwR-AOc8NCuvr54JhKAwlZuTHncMmCtsRD4fBvDNLoWh_Wjjr_S8rMX1nU-h82-jNFAFnPGnaJSDfEKmKUZ_db9b9gsJgseIFYxIRehu7F0NyA/s2048/After+the+Rains.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NlckN3gwVYCabG6wIcnC8mFfpwR-AOc8NCuvr54JhKAwlZuTHncMmCtsRD4fBvDNLoWh_Wjjr_S8rMX1nU-h82-jNFAFnPGnaJSDfEKmKUZ_db9b9gsJgseIFYxIRehu7F0NyA/s640/After+the+Rains.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Ok. The standard Blog,
because I want to remember these rains when the fires come later in
the year. I want to remember a week of rain filled windy nights,
trees soughing like a mad sea. Dams on Cooleman Ridge
are full. Brilliant. The last time they were full was in 2014. Beanies, gloves and
thermal for my morning walk against the snow sharp winds.
Exhilarating!</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Meanwhile Aussie fire
fighters are off to California to assist with the fight over there. A
reciprocal arrangement which sadly resulted in the death of two from
the USA earlier this year when their water bomber crashed.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">How are we coping with
the pandemic? So far ok. It's very frustrating not to able to visit our
daughter and family in Bali or our son and partner in Melbourne. But hopefully
things will change once a vaccine is available. Well the Catholic
Archbishop of Sydney has 'ethical concerns' with the Oxford vaccine
because of its development using an aborted fetus. You think a new
'enlightened' Pope might make a difference, but nope, it's the same
old Middle Age's hidebound beliefs. You might think the Archbishop
would have ethical concerns about putting so many Catholics at risk.
This is an organisation which enjoys tax free status, which is worth
at least 30 BILLION dollars HERE in Australia. An organisation which
fought tooth and nail by paying for the best legal bazookas, in order
to minimise sexual abuse compensation payments. Ethical concerns??
Business is booming.
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/catholic-church-s-massive-wealth-revealed-20180209-p4yzus.html#:~:text=The Catholic Church owns property,taxation%2C and minimal public accountability.">https://www.smh.com.au/national/catholic-church-s-massive-wealth-revealed-20180209-p4yzus.html#:~:text=The%20Catholic%20Church%20owns%20property,taxation%2C%20and%20minimal%20public%20accountability.</a></u></span></span>
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTo4u1Qxfe2JMUJzYunzWF-Q8POPuZ_zfA0cOxWSay-1MuARjccSF7JkSCHRW4A-O574GCRQrqU9hcLyX7h0gfq4hj8K-ADPNuwUtAqXDon9rFlyu1QdowWUBP9K1Gmi26TwSunw/s2048/IMG20200524174253.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTo4u1Qxfe2JMUJzYunzWF-Q8POPuZ_zfA0cOxWSay-1MuARjccSF7JkSCHRW4A-O574GCRQrqU9hcLyX7h0gfq4hj8K-ADPNuwUtAqXDon9rFlyu1QdowWUBP9K1Gmi26TwSunw/w410-h307/IMG20200524174253.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Here in Upper Holder
aka Number 9 Place we have been having regular gatherings of our
neighbours which has helped us cope with the restrictions of COVID
19. On average it has been about one night every three weeks. Some
nights have been chilly mid Winter weather but this has been
alleviated by a converted heater shell belonging to good neighbour
Geordie in which the wood burns like a cracker. A wine or two further
insulates against the elements. Another wine or two and you don't
feel anything really except love for your neighbour. Yes, we've
become biblical. May the chat and laughter continue, it has brought
the neighbourhood closer.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">At last night's meeting
we had a new heater courtesy of good neighbour Bryn who converted an
old heater provided by Denise and I. Denise spotted it outside a
house in Heysen St and we zoomed over and relieved them of it.
Midnight Heaters. Oh, also last night we enjoyed Bryn's slow roasted
pork, pork knuckle and chicken. Beautiful. Denise provided rolls and
a salad of cabbage, mint, apple, shallot with a dressing of sour
cream, lemon and olive oil. A perfect accompaniment.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Reading</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4qi1pnY8qcySZ4aM1bt66blAefCfWQtbxfiTmMVbUSlzc-_pCbnupIOjrEs5kOHSoJ3x2VU0BlpzmW1MlZO9MXKPH8_jGdEGBtRqWqJmsz37bPERKH8w5FnGq8yeESg0pKI2aA/s475/Dissolution.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4qi1pnY8qcySZ4aM1bt66blAefCfWQtbxfiTmMVbUSlzc-_pCbnupIOjrEs5kOHSoJ3x2VU0BlpzmW1MlZO9MXKPH8_jGdEGBtRqWqJmsz37bPERKH8w5FnGq8yeESg0pKI2aA/s0/Dissolution.jpg" /></a></div><br />I just finished
Dissolution by C.J. Sansome, the first in his Shardlake series. A
hunchback lawyer who solves crimes in Tudor times, the time of
dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell. It
was engrossing and of course begs comparison with the Cromwell books
by Hilary Mantel, particularly as one reviewer rated Sansome as the
better writer. He isn't, <span lang="">Mantel is poetic, she bedazzles and draws you into her warmth,</span> but he is very good. I'm just
about to start The Mirror and The Light, the third and final in the
series.<p></p>
<p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Also by
Sansome was his reconstruction of WW2 whereby England surrendered to
Hitler. Called Dominion I found it a fascinating and compelling read.
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Haruki <span class="markl6ppe5wrh" data-markjs="true" data-ogab="" data-ogac="" data-ogsb="" data-ogsc="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Murakami</span> is a Japanese novelist who is an institution in his own country. He is described by The Times as 'one of the most important contemporary novelists.' All of his books have been translated and are readily available – Harry Hartog's in Woden has a selection, or your local library. I have found some at Canty's in Fyshwick.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">The novels are compelling in plot, well written and almost casual in style, but allegorical perhaps, existential questions loom. He uses magic realism in some, and things may not be as they seem. Aphorisms pop up here and there, hidden truths to assist you in your journey. Delving into <span class="markl6ppe5wrh" data-markjs="true" data-ogab="" data-ogac="" data-ogsb="" data-ogsc="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Murakami</span> will take you on a unique journey quite unlike anything you have read previously.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span face="" style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: left;">My introduction was his 2014 Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, which followed Tsukuru in his quest to find the reason for his friends' dismissal of his friendship. A good place to start but if you want to dive full on into prime</span><span face="" style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: left;"> </span><span class="markl6ppe5wrh" data-markjs="true" data-ogab="" data-ogac="" data-ogsb="" data-ogsc="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Murakami</span><span face="" style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: left;">, the novels IQ84, or The Wind Up Bird Chronicle will get you there. The three books of IQ84 are available in a single volume at Harry Hartog for $20. The library has the separate books.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39BJo-SAgO3TZFbkpNRWD8pRXDttm0Y54eofWyTUCcwTjaK-8tEpBSvyGVfdI48WhkFTgDaR0nfPmmGHsSO167Z4sn8mZgfkOx5AovhDiAna9auSOiWqCsNVXewidhiemfzvKRw/s2048/colorless.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1329" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39BJo-SAgO3TZFbkpNRWD8pRXDttm0Y54eofWyTUCcwTjaK-8tEpBSvyGVfdI48WhkFTgDaR0nfPmmGHsSO167Z4sn8mZgfkOx5AovhDiAna9auSOiWqCsNVXewidhiemfzvKRw/w332-h512/colorless.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyugRhcipPAPHqUSZwnzYRDb_Ptje1m-e0eizTu7m8SImgHbuOE9yrCE8gZdVLgsD0K0Whq03k0smPT3Zdnb83sLcZH-uiISEtTrdC7RTEldlhocbOEagQ6X6PH0KL8NmRgph7g/s499/iq84.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="328" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyugRhcipPAPHqUSZwnzYRDb_Ptje1m-e0eizTu7m8SImgHbuOE9yrCE8gZdVLgsD0K0Whq03k0smPT3Zdnb83sLcZH-uiISEtTrdC7RTEldlhocbOEagQ6X6PH0KL8NmRgph7g/w262-h399/iq84.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3JRo0iMMo4fbNTGvqGEi8xW6AZYTi7yyTf7cxxPA_mm2B3KSSaLN3rJzJi4xbsf54sflPHUyOpuK0ZksBJHbAYmf58PjdRwECO0X7ZBRw3SeGJMkeK-MxuKTWIDw8Ychs7ZLIg/s444/paul+kelly+poems.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3JRo0iMMo4fbNTGvqGEi8xW6AZYTi7yyTf7cxxPA_mm2B3KSSaLN3rJzJi4xbsf54sflPHUyOpuK0ZksBJHbAYmf58PjdRwECO0X7ZBRw3SeGJMkeK-MxuKTWIDw8Ychs7ZLIg/s0/paul+kelly+poems.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I
bought Paul Kelly's Love Is Strong As Death, his choice of poetry. I
just love compilations. You can always find a gem in there. Paul Kelly is
very well read, as you'd expect for such a prolific song writer.
Almost everyone is within, from The Bible, Sappho, Homer, Shakespeare to
Blake, Whitman, Plath, Hughes, but no D.H. Lawrence. All the
major Aussies. Everyone you might expect. No Lawrence! He did live a couple of months at Thirroul down in The Gong and we've claimed him, as you do. D.H. Lawrence from The Gong.</p>
<p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I found
Sharon Olds, now 77, ripper. Very good, sexual and sensuous with humour and bite. And Hera Lindsay Bird, the young New Zealand poet with her
raunchy 'Keats Is Dead So Fuck Me From Behind.' Seize the day
indeed...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiod6vgYtMYqgOpD9IDFMbUP_WbpZkSHNPMp4MGUHNMBLHbYAbLcTqVHtDkeWwL074UgoZ3ck5yLPu3S0tYRkGH43dqKsSoa20GOp50gWSB9AJL_VG7MCxLyUDApeOiKMGRK88aqQ/s748/Bird+poet.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="748" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiod6vgYtMYqgOpD9IDFMbUP_WbpZkSHNPMp4MGUHNMBLHbYAbLcTqVHtDkeWwL074UgoZ3ck5yLPu3S0tYRkGH43dqKsSoa20GOp50gWSB9AJL_VG7MCxLyUDApeOiKMGRK88aqQ/w640-h608/Bird+poet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span><span lang="" style="background-color: black; color: white;">Another poetry
collection I bought is Poems That Make Grown Men Cry by Anthony and
Ben Holden. The second one of the 100 listed was 'Elegy' by Chidiock
Tichborne which was written in 1586 on the eve of the poet's
execution. I was astounded. The poem is perfect, and I wondered how
he could produce such a gem and be so reflective in the face of the
morrow's coming brutality? More than that, it opened so many
questions, but principally how a person who was surrounded by the
love of his wife and his five sisters and the love for his young
child could risk everything to murder another woman, his monarch? I
will put up a blog about this soon. The poem also appears in the Paul
Kelly book.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Our
U3A short story group has been tasked with compiling a list of our
ten most memorable books. Now that is a task I will enjoy! I'll add
them to this post once I've worked it out. Or maybe the following
one.</span></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Music on the speakers.
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7y76CCsS8LpLjjw-zZ4aW1urzlpGjBpMhRAj50EjLD36cZntC2LTt-OTe_osA15U6l7PouegjqKesSTKDqvoe3Qlm59NLoWGDjjDtW3qltLDtBjfyarxzvyqPM0SCm3q5EM-KMQ/s2048/IMG_20200901_124901.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2012" data-original-width="2048" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7y76CCsS8LpLjjw-zZ4aW1urzlpGjBpMhRAj50EjLD36cZntC2LTt-OTe_osA15U6l7PouegjqKesSTKDqvoe3Qlm59NLoWGDjjDtW3qltLDtBjfyarxzvyqPM0SCm3q5EM-KMQ/w320-h315/IMG_20200901_124901.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">A variety,
it depends on the mood and whether listening in the car or on the
home speakers. At home I enjoy classical and jazz, Bach's violin
concertos with their deep cello sounds, Miles Davis – I found a
remastered version of Bitches Brew recently, such a mighty album. Any
of Patricia Barber's albums. I'm surprised she's not more well known.
A great composer, pianist and vocalist who uses poetic lyrics and a
fusion of jazz and rock, and chooses the best accompanists – she
deserves more acclaim.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7j0qKUb0WVgygPbUB8jZPb-ggB5vMK_n_XK2EMIZZyAPRg5ZquKFOoLo8-TU7CaVsQuznDIZC5SsopvR0rVtzLGuo3dqHuLGOYvRQQ6uyaPk2ziIrPK305xo-VILSSogVIURpA/s2048/IMG20200901125950.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7j0qKUb0WVgygPbUB8jZPb-ggB5vMK_n_XK2EMIZZyAPRg5ZquKFOoLo8-TU7CaVsQuznDIZC5SsopvR0rVtzLGuo3dqHuLGOYvRQQ6uyaPk2ziIrPK305xo-VILSSogVIURpA/w410-h307/IMG20200901125950.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><br /><p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I've
always admired Malian Rokia Traore and found her album Beautiful
Africa at the last Lifeline bookfair – a happy find, it's up with
her best. Great composer, sublime singer and good guitarist who
incorporates Malian sounds with rock - though note that there are
many styles in Mali.</p>
<p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Nick
Cave's recent Ghosteen follows on from Skeleton Tree as a meditation
on the tragic death of his
son. An amazing album and is possibly to rock music what Ulysses was to
literature. Achingly beautiful, it's not background music. I'm hoping
for a return to raw rock, maybe a stripped down Seeds in the form of
a third Grinderman album.</p>
<p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Simple raw
rock is what you get with the now finally released Creedence
Clearwater Rivival Live At Woodstock. John Fogarty initially opposed
the release – he wasn't happy with it for some reason, but it's
prime CCR with tracks from the first three albums including fabulous
extended versions of I Put A Spell On You, Chooglin' and Suzie Q.</p><p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=Av6x1RpN_TE&list=OLAK5uy_kl1reP0m6NAeTo4iFqc1aMudUcJMLM00w">https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=Av6x1RpN_TE&list=OLAK5uy_kl1reP0m6NAeTo4iFqc1aMudUcJMLM00w</a></p>
<p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The tragic
death of Justin Townes Earle last week lead me to check out his last
album, The Saint Of Lost Causes. It is a knockout for my taste. He
has eight albums I think of which I've heard maybe three others. I
need to check out more. He was here at the Byron Bay Bluesfest in
2010 and 2012. </p>
<p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">There's a
photo in the 2012 blog of old pal Len with Justin.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://barrymcgloin.blogspot.com/2010/05/byron-bay-bluesfest-2010-so-here-we-are.html"><span lang="">http://barrymcgloin.blogspot.com/2010/05/byron-bay-bluesfest-2010-so-here-we-are.html</span></a></u></span></span><span lang="">
</span>
</p>
<p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="http://barrymcgloin.blogspot.com/2012/05/">http://barrymcgloin.blogspot.com/2012/05/</a>
</p>
<p class="western" lang="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Politics</b></span></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">We're stuffed.</span></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We have a government that has no real climate change
policy, that discourages </span><span style="font-size: large;">alternative energy, that even now is proposing to build
coal fired power stations, </span><span style="font-size: large;">that has done nothing to encourage electric vehicles,
that supports fossil fuel to the hilt, all this despite the recent
fires which are of course a state responsibility... oh yes, blame it on the states, along with Corona virus health care, aged care, the Murray Darling etc.</span></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">LNP government is responsible to a large extent for the
aged care crisis and associated deaths, the careless, irresponsible and inhumane robo debt recovery with its associated grief and deaths, the under powered NBN, the cuts
to our national broadcaster, work choices and associated breakdown of
salaries and conditions, the sports rort corruption, the wreck that
is the Murray Darling river system, among other incompetencies.</span></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">When our family arrived in this country we were
welcomed. Australia was known as a friendly, welcoming country. Not
so much now. We lock up bone fide refugees in concentration camps for
years. Lately Commandant Dutton has sought to take away their mobile
phones, lifelines to their families. It is cruel and inhumane. Like
his treatment of the Sri Lankan family who lived in Biloela,
Queensland and were supported by that community. Their two girls were
born in Australia. They have been moved to Christmas Island, the sole
detainees.</span></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The LNP, principally Dutton supported by Morrison,
reopened Christmas Island at a cost of tens of millions. One
estimation was 130 million. Then 30 million since reopening. They put
130 Serco employees on the island initially, now down to 104, in
expectation of an influx, but in reality to guard the family of four.
</span>
</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/feb/09/biloela-family-wait-in-christmas-island-limbo-as-wuhan-evacuees-see-out-quarantine">https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/feb/09/biloela-family-wait-in-christmas-island-limbo-as-wuhan-evacuees-see-out-quarantine</a>
</span>
</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a bloody minded mean spirited vindictive
government. The ex ASIS whistle blower Witness K has pleaded guilty to spilling the beans on a deed which was illegal, unethical and an act of pure bastardy on a poor, friendly neighbour.
His lawyer Bernard Collaery is to be prosecuted. These two are
regarded as heroes in Timor-Leste. Howard and Downer should hang
their heads in shame for approving the bugging of the offices of the
Timor-Leste government. <b>They should be prosecuted for bringing the
reputation of Australia into disrepute.</b></span></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/10/witness-k-and-the-outrageous-spy-scandal-that-failed-to-shame-australia">https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/10/witness-k-and-the-outrageous-spy-scandal-that-failed-to-shame-australia</a></span></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Recently PM Morrison blindly acceded to a request from
the US President Trump to blame the Chinese for the virus. Note that
the virus could have started anywhere, the Chinese didn't manufacture
it, and they put in immediate measures to contain it which have
worked well domestically. Regardless, it is not Australia's place to
criticise, nor to blindly follow a faulty wired President who may be
ousted soon. I mean seriously, why would you criticise when so
much of our economy relies on Chinese trade? It shows an appalling
lack of foresight. It was amazingly ill judged, even for the LNP. And
where are the National Party, champions of the farmers? You'd think
they would be honking like the geese they are. Too busy dining with mining giants you think?</span></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Australia was one of the first friends of China thanks to Gough Whitlam. Both
Morrison and Trump will soon be gone, sluiced down the 'S' bend of
history where they belong. Gough Whitlam is, and will continue to be remembered as a PM with vision, courage and integrity, both here and in China. </span></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-22417206077959361312019-12-30T19:01:00.001-08:002019-12-30T19:15:22.515-08:00Kairos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSkLz58moq1FPa4AhXsJKiOU0KkhKUjY6lANr9zh-wbdagwq1MyrzaiIbaPCcem4DzaDXix5h9jla0mVLn8irKu8aFhadwAsGkA7zvamNWT7n4BdIYSHgX1m0HxgOKlGB1WN27Q/s1600/pc310102+Kairos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1492" data-original-width="1600" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSkLz58moq1FPa4AhXsJKiOU0KkhKUjY6lANr9zh-wbdagwq1MyrzaiIbaPCcem4DzaDXix5h9jla0mVLn8irKu8aFhadwAsGkA7zvamNWT7n4BdIYSHgX1m0HxgOKlGB1WN27Q/s400/pc310102+Kairos.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDK4KgMzx3t8ExXJMvR4AHucQCBM6Lb8aH02bxYG9W2HVTIC1VYaGuEzNjT9__N71GxGUMbYllNb5IYSCaomZ0SK2eLEiqJ6VACKnttAQN957IzmYi2IMUogaMVReJSOrU4y69w/s1600/pc310103+Kairos+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1289" data-original-width="1439" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDK4KgMzx3t8ExXJMvR4AHucQCBM6Lb8aH02bxYG9W2HVTIC1VYaGuEzNjT9__N71GxGUMbYllNb5IYSCaomZ0SK2eLEiqJ6VACKnttAQN957IzmYi2IMUogaMVReJSOrU4y69w/s320/pc310103+Kairos+text.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>Catch me
and fly or the moment
</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>will die.
I am Kairos and</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>I surmount
everything.</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b><br />
</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>I have
wings on my feet, I am</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>quicker
than the wind, I am</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>forever in
a hurry, catch me</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b><br />
</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>see me
flash by in a moment,
</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>I die in a
flash, you must seize</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>the hair
on my forehead</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b><br />
</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>or lose
your opportunity</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>to grasp
your chance, I have</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>no hair at
the back of my head</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b><br />
</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>and if I
overfly, you will</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>never
catch me again, no</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>matter how
much you call.</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b><br />
</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>I am
Kairos, I surmount</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>everything.
Forget me</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b>at your
peril. I am a moral to all.</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b><br />
</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>I have adapted these lines from those of the poet Posidippos, 3rd Century B.C.</b></div>
<br />BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-4717880425043056182019-11-14T17:43:00.002-08:002019-11-15T20:40:55.872-08:00John The Baptist in the Temple of Augustus, Pula, Croatia<br />
When we visited the port town of Pula, Croatia this year, we came upon the Temple of Augustus which had been built between 2BC and 14AD during the Emperor's lifetime. Surprisingly it had survived until 1944 when it was hit by a bomb. Rebuilt in 1947 it is now intactus once again. A large statue of John the Baptist by famous Croatian artist Ivan Mestrovic had been placed inside. I saw this as being somewhat ironic and imagined a conversation between the Emperor and the Baptist.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGj9POZETSdi9Xfk0e6EBwD9mWPuHvgKwnQ2CeQywmRZG2EtBwChYhmbBX25ENpfG-vKUigAywS3Ry4ku0nGnaMxbVo5o3IFBFkzOf0RT6UpuYJNLaR4Kk1Yuu20K3RBhqGGvs-Q/s1600/temple+of+augustus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGj9POZETSdi9Xfk0e6EBwD9mWPuHvgKwnQ2CeQywmRZG2EtBwChYhmbBX25ENpfG-vKUigAywS3Ry4ku0nGnaMxbVo5o3IFBFkzOf0RT6UpuYJNLaR4Kk1Yuu20K3RBhqGGvs-Q/s1600/temple+of+augustus.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
These walls are cold,
the wind howls outside.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Voices indecipherable
whistle around this chamber</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
ritual chant, some
moan, weep.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
An insistent murmur
becomes louder
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Baptist, Baptist! Did
you enjoy your locusts and honey?</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Why are you here? You,
a Jew. A vagrant
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
in my temple. You are
no God. I am a God,
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
you an impostor. Well
speak! Speak to me...
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Speak to your Emperor!
I can't stand this silence.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
This silence, deathly
silence of centuries</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
the clicking of
insects... at times</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
I thought I heard birds
calling...</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Lately my temple was
blown apart.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
We were rebuilt. There
are times I wish it
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
had remained rubble. A
god's life is a lonely one.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
I command you to speak.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
What would you have me
say Augustus?</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Emperor, Emperor! I am
due that respect!</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
At least. I am a God. A
God. You are</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
a peasant, a Jewish
peasant</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
placed here in my
temple like a god</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
your hand in gesture as
though you hold</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
the meaning of the
universe!
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Let us
see prophet what became of you.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
I can conjure it up now,
you see Salome dancing
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
your life away, an
entrancing sight..?</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
So charmed was Herod
that he granted her wish.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Now we find your
severed head on a silver platter,</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Ha – see the the
needles in your tongue,
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
an artistic touch, some
might say barbaric..?</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
But tell me, what did
you give to your people to</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
deserve this honour?
Speak!
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
What would you have me
say Augustus?</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
That I am a thief being
here? I was no thief.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
I am no god. Nor
Messiah. I gave my people hope.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Hope in the vengeance
and mercy of Jehovah.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
This, in the tyranny,
sword thrust and
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
blood lust of Roman
occupation. When all was despair</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
they had that sweet
swell of hope within</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
to sup upon, that one
day we would rise again.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
We did. But we lost our
belief in Jehovah.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Baptist you were the
fool. Humans are flawed.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
The common herd
requires direction,</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
requires a whip crack
across the back
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
a sword at the throat
to keep them</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
in line, to make them
obey. I gave them this.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
My gift. Thus we marry
order to duty.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
I also prescribed law
and made government.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
I built their cities,
their roads, their tunnels</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
bridges and canals,
their aqueducts. Yes, their prisons too.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
I conquered and
slaughtered their enemies.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
I gave them their
triumphs. I fed them, housed them</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
I built arenas for
their entertainment</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
trained the gladiators,
starved the beasts</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
so that they would
crack the bones, tear
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
the flesh and spray the
blood, of those who
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
would ruffle the robes
of our Holy Mother Roma.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
The herd loves to see
blood seep into the sand.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
It's cathartic. And you
Baptist? I ask you again.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
What did you do to
deserve this place in my temple?</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
You baptised the so
called Son of God?</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Yeshua was no more god
than you Augustus.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Jehovah was his god. He
was a good man.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
He lived by our Torah.
He brought</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
hope and food for the
soul to the poor,
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
the hungry, the sick,
the destitute. When
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
they had nothing he
gave them joy and the Holy Spirit.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
But Baptist, he was no
god. We know that now.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
He didn't die, I know
that. The one instance</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
we have of crucifixion
failing. He died</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
when we found him later
and made certain</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
he would never rise
again. Of course</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Tiberius kept it quiet,
we failed in our execution.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
He expected it all to
dissipate with time.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Now there's a god, my
son Tiberius.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
A cruel god, eh? No one
prays to him now.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
But those stories
persisted. And Yeshua
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
became Jesus Christus.
Temples everywhere.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
The most grand in Holy
Mother Rome. A travesty!
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Augustus, figuratively,
it was no lie.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
He rose again in his
teachings. But they</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
were tailored to Saul's
vision.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Some excised some
inserted, three hundred
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
years of shaping the
garment, to fit the plot
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
to clothe the
narrative.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
He would have been
horrified had he known.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Baptist, I still don't
know why you are here!</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
These walls are as cold as fate<br />
the wind howls outside.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">. </span>BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-24370705613771498962019-06-29T00:39:00.001-07:002019-06-29T00:39:16.988-07:00Haiku From The Far East <br />
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Sea swell
Osaka</div>
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liquid
lead and white</div>
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Suddenly
the sun</div>
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Tokyo.
Tokyo yo</div>
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So many
minted faces</div>
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One
could never know</div>
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Canals in
Suzhou</div>
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Gliding
fresh concubines to</div>
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Light
the royal wick</div>
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Japan to
Shanghai</div>
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Sea skin
smooth as mercury</div>
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Belly
full of fish</div>
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Tokyo
dolly bird</div>
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I smile
lift my camera</div>
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She turns
her head away</div>
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<br />BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-71394657582070277492019-06-19T01:53:00.000-07:002019-06-25T16:07:56.873-07:00Professor Bebe Hopo. Hat Fitz and Cara. C.W. Stoneking.<br />
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<span lang="en-AU">I
have decided to republish some of my reviews and publish new reviews. The corporate websites </span>
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<span lang="en-AU">which
published them originally cannot be relied upon to maintain them on
the increasingly over populated web. The first republished review,
Malian diva Oumou Sangare's Seya can be found at </span>
</div>
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<a href="https://barrymcgloin.blogspot.com/2019/03/review-oumou-sangare-seya.html">https://barrymcgloin.blogspot.com/2019/03/review-oumou-sangare-seya.html</a><br />
now replete with videos.<br />
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<span lang="en-AU">Also,
I wish to thank my fellow music blogger in Paris, Professor Bebe
Hopo, </span>
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<span lang="en-AU">for
publishing my review of Aussie blues performer C.W. Stoneking and my
photos of Hat Fitz and Cara on his generous website. </span>
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<span lang="en-AU"><a href="https://www.bebopo.biz/c-w-stoneking/">https://www.bebopo.biz/c-w-stoneking/</a>
</span>
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<span lang="en-AU"><a href="https://www.bebopo.biz/hat-fitz-and-cara-robinson/">https://www.bebopo.biz/hat-fitz-and-cara-robinson/</a>
</span>
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<span lang="en-AU">Check
it out. Do yourself a favour!! The Professor's website which some
might describe as zany – who uses 'zany' these days? – ok
idiosyncratic and some might say weird – promotes mainly American, British and French roots music ie rockabilly, rock n roll, soul, jazz, r'n b, blues etc
etc. It is a rabbit warren, some might say treasure trove, of </span>information, musical opinion, and links to the professor's playlists of rare and obscure tracks.<br />
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<span lang="en-AU">My
recent April 2019 post on Facebook:</span></div>
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A great night during
the week at the Harmonie German Club, 'Home of the Famous Pork
Knuckle', to see Hat Fitz and his partner Cara Robinson. I remember
Hat from his early days at the Byron Bay Bluesfest playing in the
packed, sweaty Juke Joint, bellowing like some old 20's
bluesman searching for his soul, Son House, Charlie Patton, some Blind Willie raging against
his fate. He and C.W. Stoneking were the real deal. Check out the early risque Yo Yo Blues with Itchy on percussion<br />
recorded at The Pot Belly in Canberra.
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Now, with Irish partner Cara Robinson, the sounds are more sophisticated, some soul, gospel, Celtic and still some blues, with power. Check out the version below from their first album of Blind Willie McTell's Deliah. Quite fabulous. Much better than Bob Dylan's version.<br />
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They now write their own material and here is their current single, the soulful Hold On.<br />
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C.W. Stoneking performed at the ANU here in Canberra a few weeks back, unfortunately when we were in China (although the China trip was great). Here is my review of the first
album King Hokum from C.W. Stoneking which can also be seen at the Professor Beeb Hopo link above. C.W. has had two releases since King Hokum, Gon' Boogaloo and Jungle Blues, both well received.</div>
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<span lang="en-AU">Here
in Australia we are blessed with some fine blues musicians, some
surprisingly in the raw, primitive, rootsy style. Three artists stand
out for me, Hat Fitz, the group Collard, Greens and Gravy and the
inimitable C.W.Stoneking. How does Oz produce living anachronisms
like Fitz and Stoneking when the genre emerged almost a century back
in the U.S.A. born out of the black experience? Well there may be
similarities in the culture apart from Australia’s natural
propensity to produce quirky offspring. </span>
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<span lang="en-AU">C.W.
Stoneking spent his early years way out of the Alice on an aboriginal
settlement, so the bio says. His West Virginian father was a teacher
there. The parents split up, his mother returned to the U.S. Who
knows, the bio may be Stoneking’s story to flavour his art, much as
Bob Zimmerman concocted his bio in the early years. </span>
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<span lang="en-AU">In
fact there are many similarities between early Dylan and C.W.
Stoneking. Both excellent songwriters, interpreters, singers,
musicians, appreciators and appropriators of roots music,
entertainers. Dylan with his Chaplinesque comedy on stage and C.W
muttering away between songs in a rustic black American/aboriginal
patois which requires subtitles and some tangential imagination to
follow. Both artists steeped in the form, in its many guises. Both
artists with a touch of sly wit, put on, hokum.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-AU">King
Hokum is an extraordinary album. C.W. Stoneking is a deceptively fine
guitarist and banjo player, not flash but subtle, spare and gutsy.
The years of solo performing bear fruit. The addition of the
Primitive Horn Orchestra on several tracks provides superb backdrop
which finds you immersed in a New Orleans saloon in the late 1920s.
The production by J. Walker is marvellously empathic; a warm
atmosphere where less is more – a lesser producer with a modern
brush could easily have ruined the album. Various ambient noises, the
caw of a crow, toll of a bell, bustle of a bar add to the atmosphere.
</span>
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<span lang="en-AU">Musical
highlights are many. Mike Andrews’ piano, particularly on the
boogie piece ‘Goin The Country’, Chris Tanner’s clarinet on
‘Rich Man’s Blues’, Kirsty Fraser’s sassy vocals on the
vaudeville blues pieces, the rich, loose punctuation of the Primitive
Horn Orchestra, but above all C.W.’s vocals and playing. His voice
is tough and ragged, loud and languid. You hear echoes of Son House,
Charlie Patton, Blind Willie Johnson and Blind Willie McTell and in
‘Bad Luck Everywhere You Go’ the screech of the Memphis recorded
Howlin’ Wolf – used also by Tom Waits, if memory serves me. In
the guitar work you can hear Robert Johnson, Lonnie Johnson and
Memphis Minnie.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-AU">His
dialogue intros depict a rare understanding of the form and are witty
and droll. There is a danger of pastiche but C.W. is too clever or
honest for that. In the 20's style the double entendre and sexual
metaphor is present, however it will fly over the heads of any
teenagers listening. Unless you laugh. In which case you may have to
explain why Willie’s long necked lizard went limp or why she wanted
a cockatoo!! </span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Each track
is a gem, delivering more with further listening. Such conviction and
artistry would lead lesser bluesmen to the crossroads. C.W. Stoneking
is in his early thirties. We can look forward to further expression
of his art. In the meantime, give praise.<br />
<br />
This is Stoneking's unique recording of Seven Nation Army, recorded for the Triple J 'Like A Version' series.<br />
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<br />BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-14074814567529911112019-05-14T01:05:00.000-07:002019-06-18T01:11:57.576-07:00Elegy For An Honoured Guest<br />
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<br /></div>
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Our blue
bowl beauty cracks under the sun;</div>
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it groans,
and constricts before our eyes</div>
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scientists
warn that its time has come,</div>
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yet Keith
'Riff'' Richards is still alive.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The
Rosella turns brown beneath this heat</div>
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the bees
diminish and lose their direction</div>
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the ants
have retreated beneath the ground</div>
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and old
Keith still gets no satisfaction.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Our rivers
are stagnant the fish are upended</div>
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heaving
and gasping one eye to the sky</div>
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in dark
green pools of still putrid waters</div>
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once fresh
and flowing, now somewhere to die.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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The loony
deniers still dance their denial</div>
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of
science, in greed and gormless myth.
</div>
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It's said
that Keith smoked his old man's ashes</div>
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just one
more swaggering rock and roll riff.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Is that
what we're doing with our inaction,</div>
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smoking
the ashes of a wonderful world?</div>
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Is this
the gift we pass down to our children;</div>
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a danse
macabre: a disaster in twirl?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Whose
world transfigures through our excesses?</div>
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We've
fired the leaves, fouled water and air</div>
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no gods
will warn us, scorn us or save us</div>
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we reap
what we sow: no less than despair.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This Earth
will receive an honoured guest</div>
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When Keith
'Riff' Richards is laid out to rest.<br />
<br />
<br />
Note: The final two lines are reworked from WH Auden's elegy for WB Yeats.<br />
Keith Richards is a member of the Rolling Stones rock band. He was infamous for his dissolute lifestyle, apart from his music. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-12761570402319462942019-03-21T19:34:00.001-07:002019-03-22T20:46:57.834-07:00Absolution: Cardinal George Pell and the Pontiff<br />
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsw9uPMQY_1Za0fJzKGWEkL7qeAqwQCaG9o4TkB6TGba58tcbdQHOR9oRCpY97KI3kUOolFJezA6Co3HSmnnRjTT-sJFXS8A4ocNt1rbpCHKE_MgsIOchJq8NO7XgBLlD6dLRB3w/s1600/pell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="155" data-original-width="325" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsw9uPMQY_1Za0fJzKGWEkL7qeAqwQCaG9o4TkB6TGba58tcbdQHOR9oRCpY97KI3kUOolFJezA6Co3HSmnnRjTT-sJFXS8A4ocNt1rbpCHKE_MgsIOchJq8NO7XgBLlD6dLRB3w/s320/pell.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Absolution is the
conclusion</div>
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of the sacrament of
Penance,
</div>
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a jewel of the seven
sacraments.</div>
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<br /></div>
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If a Cardinal lies to a
Pontiff...</div>
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a minor
misrepresentation perhaps..,
</div>
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or all that his memory
provides...
</div>
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We are nothing if not
imperfect beings.
</div>
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If he lies for the
Church? A venial sin surely..?</div>
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The Pontiff senses the
existential crises.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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The reputation of all
that was blessed
</div>
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is shredded by special
commissions laying
</div>
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bare the beasts within,
those who succumbed
</div>
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to the works and pomps
of The Devil</div>
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those who entertained
their base nature</div>
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those who made the
little children suffer,</div>
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the innocents who
should have been sheltered</div>
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and were horribly
violated.</div>
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<br /></div>
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You must return and
clear your name,
</div>
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if you are certain as
you claim,
</div>
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that you are snared in political folly,<br />
a victim of those who would harm our Church?</div>
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<br /></div>
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I am, Your Holiness.
But despite
</div>
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my innocence, the
rumours and the press
</div>
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have painted me guilty.
It is impossible
</div>
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to receive a fair trial
now. It is quite possible
</div>
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that I would be
imprisoned, probable
</div>
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in fact, the scales are
tipped against me.</div>
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And I am old now, my
health is ragged
</div>
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Your Holiness, it
deteriorates rapidly.
</div>
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A pacemaker regulates
my heartbeat.</div>
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<br /></div>
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There are popes and
there are popes. This one
</div>
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is too moderate... too
holy perhaps.
</div>
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If only Ratzinger were
still here, he would say
</div>
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let them rattle their
cages,</div>
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let them stack their
faggots,
</div>
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let them howl for
blood, you are here within
</div>
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the bosom of Mother
Church; rest easy, within.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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For some reason an
image of that girl,
</div>
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the one mother made me
take to the final
</div>
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primary year dance,
appears now.
</div>
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She wrote as an 'old
friend with a word of advice'.
</div>
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The rumours have
embarrassed her;</div>
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if only I would return
and clear my name.</div>
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God was with me, God
will care for His own.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Priests are lonely
people, and some more than others.</div>
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Some, like Ridsdale are
weak. Everybody
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has his Achilles Heel.
I kept it under
</div>
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control, mostly. An
occasional lapse.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I despised the weak.
Man up! I said to him.</div>
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Say a decade of the
rosary and ask
</div>
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for the grace to
overcome temptation.
</div>
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It was in his nature
and I forgave him.
</div>
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A priest's life is a
lonely one.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But George, he said,
there's no one else here.
</div>
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I am afflicted, why did
He make me like this?</div>
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I told him, I said,
During the sacrament
</div>
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of confession you will
address me as 'Father'.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I was hard on the weak
in the confessional.</div>
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Mine was the Voice of
God. That girl, the one
</div>
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made pregnant by her
father, so she said.
</div>
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I told her. If you have
an abortion
</div>
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I cannot forgive you.
So I will go
</div>
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to Hell? She asked. You
will receive your just
</div>
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punishment. But what
can I do? She asked.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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These are simple folk.
The flock ha. Humanity.</div>
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Beer, footy and a root
on a Saturday.
</div>
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They need to know where
sin lies. You sin,
</div>
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and you risk damnation
for eternity.
</div>
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My God is to be feared.
He is not a loving god.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
All that Vatican 11
kumbaya skippy stuff.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Not for My God. That's
why we are where we are.</div>
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The rabble needs rules,
a stiff rod.</div>
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In essence they are
stupid. But they can lynch you.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
The pack mentality. I
hear them now,
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
they slaver and howl.</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCafDAnb9OeyUq_inV5tNo7YYu4YEMKHmfy1OcFmgR7NP22GPyDEbO0YpD06MMVg7gpFNgxCfYH4hGqT9vI4-USUWDwVdARlGqGNsmIObBStBu27V7r05mvlPGB9KTvszGBZO5Gg/s1600/pope+francis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="700" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCafDAnb9OeyUq_inV5tNo7YYu4YEMKHmfy1OcFmgR7NP22GPyDEbO0YpD06MMVg7gpFNgxCfYH4hGqT9vI4-USUWDwVdARlGqGNsmIObBStBu27V7r05mvlPGB9KTvszGBZO5Gg/s320/pope+francis.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
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Cardinal, our flocks
diminish, our shepherds die.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
You must return, for
your sake and for the
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
sake of Holy Mother
Church. Say a decade
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
of the rosary and ask
for God's mercy
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
understanding and
blessing in your future trials.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Dominus noster Jesus
Christus te absolvat...<br />
<br />
So, that's it. It has come to this. Me...<br />
The Sacrificial Lamb. Such heavenly irony.<br />
<br />
Well, my lawyers will see about that one.<br />
I will be Pontiff one day. The Church needs<br />
my guiding hand. My God knows it. </div>
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<span style="background-color: #999999; color: #666666;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-67014274800058084212019-03-05T18:23:00.000-08:002019-03-05T18:23:53.620-08:00Remastered<br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">When I die there will be no more
tinnitus.</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">The insistent ringing will be replaced </span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">by a limitless space, the peace and
silence </span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">I knew as a child in sleep, and if a
voice </span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">were to say 'Welcome home my son, step
inside</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">and rest now from your journey,' I need
not reply</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">'What was that? I'm arrested for a
burglary?' </span>
</div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Vision. I shall cast away my specs. Done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">I will have the eyes of a raptor. I can
spot </span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">a prey miles away. And remember where. </span>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Oh yes, my memory will be mint perfect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">No more 'Oh where did I put those keys, </span>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">my wallet, my specs, my phone, my knees? </span>
</div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">My white hair will flush back to red.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">But not the freckles, oh no. The skin
will be </span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">brown and tough, or maybe black and
tough. </span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Tough is good so I can walk barefoot, </span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">no more white Scots' thin skinned
impediments</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">of broken and knitted bones which feel </span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">every seed and stone no, now I can bound </span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">from rock to rock claiming territory.</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">My voice shall have a rich resonant
quality,</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">a presence. I shall cast away ego as
something</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">superfluous. Dispatch conceit with a
raised eyebrow.</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">I shall have a messianic aura. Part seas</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">or simply walk over the top. Ladies will</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">flock to touch the hem of my garment.</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Chaps will seek to crucify me. </span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Yea next time I come flying down the tube</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">I'll be six foot two in bronze and as
strong </span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">as a bullock and as quick as a fish. </span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">With a dollop more intellect for math </span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">and science, and artistic too</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">with an outrageous sense of humour</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">and drop dead Adonis. And the Grandda </span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">will say, 'Where'd this lad come frae,
oor Dot?</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">We dinna breed 'em like that in Glasgae.'
</span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91NKMng5X__ZwQD5NW-HLHJj5m-TVQrWWKfEP6IaACOwCce2lu7xppm8SYFfk-RTcwu5YUC3dyUVvtEoiYleCqFCfFKesCkUV5XUjWXqQbPhZmqPrqi3dBRyRXvvUkXrvZcHxIw/s1600/IMG_3167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="985" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91NKMng5X__ZwQD5NW-HLHJj5m-TVQrWWKfEP6IaACOwCce2lu7xppm8SYFfk-RTcwu5YUC3dyUVvtEoiYleCqFCfFKesCkUV5XUjWXqQbPhZmqPrqi3dBRyRXvvUkXrvZcHxIw/s320/IMG_3167.JPG" width="196" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apollo eh bro?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtc56rridvfOKgUtYZWJ25FQlLj6Rvbw9FILLtRHMXlW3a7i6PQH2l8tFggjcyv3bL0y70Da_6JgjX3aUwSlgeFFIEvZPg9ocXJ9iFyZ0a4_hL_cVDx7__D87TYfVQXZPji-3lg/s1600/IMG_3170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtc56rridvfOKgUtYZWJ25FQlLj6Rvbw9FILLtRHMXlW3a7i6PQH2l8tFggjcyv3bL0y70Da_6JgjX3aUwSlgeFFIEvZPg9ocXJ9iFyZ0a4_hL_cVDx7__D87TYfVQXZPji-3lg/s320/IMG_3170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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</div>
<div style="font-size: x-large;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
'Ok dudes. Who's got it??'BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-61649858152122858712019-03-05T16:54:00.003-08:002019-06-19T02:10:48.869-07:00Review Oumou Sangare - Seya<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-4NxkPS_nAvJrBXcSsUwcUBn9xQuwn8WVPQ2oUneH4oqWKAFr1mwsRX0CxfCzhlwdwIuKqw3fgRLZKrjrFndIXFZWfi9gSPXaWJeLjxslctFKERHzs6loOGBL7GmZvAbe-DlcQ/s1600/seya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; float: left; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="260" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-4NxkPS_nAvJrBXcSsUwcUBn9xQuwn8WVPQ2oUneH4oqWKAFr1mwsRX0CxfCzhlwdwIuKqw3fgRLZKrjrFndIXFZWfi9gSPXaWJeLjxslctFKERHzs6loOGBL7GmZvAbe-DlcQ/s320/seya.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This is a fabulous album, so musically rich, vocally, instrumentally and lyrically; the production is superb. Savour it and allow it's beauties to unfold. We have been fortunate this year in that two Malian divas have released albums, Rokia Traore with Tchamantche and now this, Seya by Oumou Sangare, each different styles, each excellent.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This is Oumou Sangare's fifth release including the Oumou compilation from 2004. She is called the Songbird of Wassoulou, a region so</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">uth of the Niger known for its music which has developed from traditional hunting songs. On this album Oumou writes her own material, some based upon traditional songs, but make no mistake, this is modern music with modern themes.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">In her songwriting she assumes the responsibility of her position, as she sees it, by using lyrics to address complex and traditional social issues such as the forced marriages of young girls, emigration, family unity, hope and support within the community and general respect for women. Indeed the song Koundaya is about using God given luck well, as though she reminds herself to do so. The lyrics are rich with metaphor, morality tales, proverbs and local sayings. I imagine that Oumou might have some resistance within her community from conservative elements.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Although the lyrics may appear weighty, the overriding impression is one of joy and hope. Seya itself means Joy. The music is exuberant with both male and female call and response, buoyant and colourful with a mix of traditional and modern instrumentation, and above all Oumou's supple, muscular voice sweeps, soars, dives and punctuates. It is a rhythmic vehicle, unforced and natural.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">She is accompanied by 49 musicians over the 11 tracks, including Pee Wee Ellis, Tony Allen, Cheick Tidiane Seck and Bassekou Kouyate, and the blend of the traditional n'goni, balafon, flutes and percussive instruments with organ, guitar, sax and trombone is organic, not ornate, vibrant but not jarring.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The CD is attractively packaged and includes English and French lyrics with an explanation of each song, although not Oumou's singing tongue(s), however you can easily enjoy the music without following the lyrics. If you are new to African music this is an excellent starting point. Mali is blessed with rich music from it's cultural diversity; there are 32 ethnic groups. If you wish to delve further into the variety which Mali offers I suggest you try the following, mainly recent, releases:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">the late Ali Farka Toure - </span><a class="a-link-normal" data-hook="product-link-linked" href="https://www.amazon.com/Savane/dp/B000G1R3BW/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Savane</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">,</span><a class="a-link-normal" data-hook="product-link-linked" href="https://www.amazon.com/Talking-Timbuktu/dp/B00000062H/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Talking Timbuktu</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">(with Ry Cooder),</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Rokia Taore - </span><a class="a-link-normal" data-hook="product-link-linked" href="https://www.amazon.com/Bowmbo%C3%AF/dp/B0002M5T9I/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Bowmboï</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">, or the latest </span><a class="a-link-normal" data-hook="product-link-linked" href="https://www.amazon.com/Tchamantche/dp/B001C0NMY8/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Tchamantche</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Salif Keita - </span><a class="a-link-normal" data-hook="product-link-linked" href="https://www.amazon.com/The-Mansa-of-Mali-A-Retrospective/dp/B000024CWT/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">The Mansa of Mali...A Retrospective</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">, or </span><a class="a-link-normal" data-hook="product-link-linked" href="https://www.amazon.com/Moffou/dp/B00005UW5X/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Moffou</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Bassekou Kouyate and N'goni Ba - </span><a class="a-link-normal" data-hook="product-link-linked" href="https://www.amazon.com/Segu-Blue/dp/B000LSA8HG/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Segu Blue</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Toumani Diabate - </span><a class="a-link-normal" data-hook="product-link-linked" href="https://www.amazon.com/In-the-Heart-of-the-Moon/dp/B000AQ69DG/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">In the Heart of the Moon</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">(with Ali Farka Toure), </span><a class="a-link-normal" data-hook="product-link-linked" href="https://www.amazon.com/The-Mande-Variations/dp/B0012K1IQC/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">The Mande Variations</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Amadou & Miriam - the popular </span><a class="a-link-normal" data-hook="product-link-linked" href="https://www.amazon.com/Dimanche-a-Bamako/dp/B0009K7RL6/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Dimanche a Bamako</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> (produced by Manu Chao), or their latest Welcome To Mali(I haven't heard it yet, but it had good reviews),</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">or the desert blues band Tinariwen - Aman Iman: Water is Life, or Amassakoul,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">or anything by Issa Bagayogo, the Malian boogie man - Mali Koura, Tassoumakan or Timbuktu.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">These are all differing styles and all appealing, and this is just Mali! To delve further into 'world music' check out the UK Songlines (with free CD of sample tracks from recent releases) or fRoots (also with CD) magazines and/or the two Rough Guide publications called World Music. There is a whole world of music waiting to enrich your life; get into it !!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">An earlier track, Djorolen - sublime, from Oumou Sangare. </span><br />
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BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-41119468583348613842018-12-14T21:21:00.002-08:002018-12-14T21:21:46.600-08:00<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jZ4WWJbhdV7UpBuzZJPhcheR2DCEC5Hx1lj8D6-zKbFB_ufzIc75wNdzQggi50SphS6nuP4b0Lu6BlvYeJmoLvefDRWW2FrYg9V03IByiFpa_1o0DaD50P_UlLINd2W8-5c00w/s1600/P1260071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1382" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jZ4WWJbhdV7UpBuzZJPhcheR2DCEC5Hx1lj8D6-zKbFB_ufzIc75wNdzQggi50SphS6nuP4b0Lu6BlvYeJmoLvefDRWW2FrYg9V03IByiFpa_1o0DaD50P_UlLINd2W8-5c00w/s320/P1260071.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Impossible
Gift</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is
not the smoke of colonial rod</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
of scarred
encampments, the prodding stick,</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
of the
fires where infants were tossed.</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is
not the smoke of the gift of grog</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
of
paternal authority, of children stolen</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
of lubras
raped, of smug denigration.</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is
not the gift of denied genocide</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
of suicide
in the white washed cell</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
of herding
and terror and shrieking mothers.</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
No! This
is the gift of purification</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is
the gift of cleansing the spirit</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is a
blessing, an impossible gift.
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-44477620815213699562018-12-05T21:08:00.002-08:002018-12-06T15:15:26.920-08:00Clean Hands<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5CA2FHPKRt49jQ9WmvddElxgZZuZlOiEOFl3niIgAzMYE-iNiXUh2z0RmiJkUAkTzMN6BAYCYUNZfjEVLqqp-X4wpvkHpNa_GvOuW0ilM-iFmZXMQ5zxOPVQNQnJCv4TFVRBsQ/s1600/DSCF2672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5CA2FHPKRt49jQ9WmvddElxgZZuZlOiEOFl3niIgAzMYE-iNiXUh2z0RmiJkUAkTzMN6BAYCYUNZfjEVLqqp-X4wpvkHpNa_GvOuW0ilM-iFmZXMQ5zxOPVQNQnJCv4TFVRBsQ/s320/DSCF2672.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOZ7-X_GyckRUWaORcJFVp4S0GiSObEomo8feG3TbCXh0oGwulaM7708hcRbzP-6Zml_TEezgyVZvuVZNdcYJZc70t9Ot0qGKooaDbOha4MTBr4EJrq5Gy-Sz92jFh8J55JLeOA/s1600/IMG_4362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1600" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOZ7-X_GyckRUWaORcJFVp4S0GiSObEomo8feG3TbCXh0oGwulaM7708hcRbzP-6Zml_TEezgyVZvuVZNdcYJZc70t9Ot0qGKooaDbOha4MTBr4EJrq5Gy-Sz92jFh8J55JLeOA/s320/IMG_4362.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Clean
Hands</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
They
hover, tentative at first, these hooded</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
birds
pecking for sustenance on the shore</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
of the
South China Sea.</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Massahh
papa? Foot massahh? Pedicure papa?</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
You buy?
They show me their beads and bangles
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
their
packets of crinkles, chips, their cold drinks,</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
their
pineapples on sticks. They carry their hopes</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
across
their shoulders, these slight pecking
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Vietnamese
ladies.
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Massahh
mama? Foot massahh? Pedicure mama?</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Just over
there a plump golden dame from WA</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
is showing
pictures of her grand house,</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
with
gilded bathroom taps, her awesome garden
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
and
swimming pool to these slight creatures.
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A lot of
work from hubby and more than a little
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
luck
honey, if you get my drift? She winks.</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
How much
is your massahh for an hour sweetie?</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
You have
to be kidding me. I'll pay you half.</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I hope
your hands are clean.</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-1948083580856351602018-08-20T18:39:00.002-07:002018-10-01T21:59:44.873-07:00Cats of the Forum Romanum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-q-V5ed_jTkytD9CtlzdhjlzxgxGJrJmQ12AR3amLR5M_JzDVSCjSi-YDFdOEkrowlorkejUhdvb_6ESK4vq9W6LIhKfeEeZ8Yz4xFm2MUd3Eo8sXzeM1UnHUSQ9gVElU6NG5Q/s1600/cats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="482" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-q-V5ed_jTkytD9CtlzdhjlzxgxGJrJmQ12AR3amLR5M_JzDVSCjSi-YDFdOEkrowlorkejUhdvb_6ESK4vq9W6LIhKfeEeZ8Yz4xFm2MUd3Eo8sXzeM1UnHUSQ9gVElU6NG5Q/s320/cats.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b style="background-color: white;">There
were strange lights in the sky in the early</b></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><i>hours
of fifteenth of March, 44BC, </i></span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><i><b style="background-color: white;">flashes
of crimson, hues of blues and yellows,</b></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><i><b style="background-color: white;">they
had been seen before, when Rome was the prey.</b></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><i><b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">The
temple cats stirred and became restless</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">looking
upwards then quickly darting down</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">to
vanish beneath the sacred buildings, </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">hierarchies
and animosities forgotten.</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">In
the chill of morning they watched the sixty </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">senators
stride past led by Brutus and </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Cassius.
The black tom, known as Magnus </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">Lux, the Great Light, was heard to remark</b></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">'Yon
Cassius, hear his slack bones clack, </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">methinks
he needs a good feed and fuck.' The cats</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">of
Rome, like the plebeians, were known for their</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">vulgarity.
They watched as Julius Caesar passed</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">and
heard his taunt to Spurinna the Haruspex</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">that
'The Ides of March are come.' The Haruspex, </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">a
seer in entrails, had divined danger for Caesar</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">and
so replied 'Aye Caesar, but not gone...' </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">The
cats, a clowder of mewling and yowling </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">orphans,
a ragbag of feline protestation</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">sensing
assassination in the ribbed </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">and
clacking air, followed the gathering</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">'By
the bollocks of Jupiter' said Magnus Lux</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">'This
day will be marked in metal and bone.'</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">And
when Brutus thrust his weapon up high</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">into
his father to forge one of the </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">twenty
seven wounds, to ensure he would</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">not
rise again, the general and god had spat</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">with
blood 'And you child?' And so the deed</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">was
surely done and gods, and cats, all slinked away.</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">In
the ensuing centuries the cats witnessed</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">the
wars and fires, the murderous retributions,</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">the
excesses, and secret assignations;</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">the
screech and the scream of metal on bone,</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">all
of the triumphs and trials, processions</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">and
condemnations, the memorials, the shrines</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">the
arches and the grandeur. More strange lights, </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 13pt;">the raw vermilion of war, and the cats</span></span></b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">cowered
among smokey ruins. Roman gods </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">were
thus deposed and history rewritten. </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">Yeshua,
a Jewish mystic who was</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">executed
by the state became the god </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Jesu
Christus, and the masonry of </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">forum
temples was used to build churches </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">in
his honour. The twelve guilded deities </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">of
the forum and the myriad minor gods </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">were
replaced by statues of apostles, </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">angels
and saints. Some said Yeshua</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">would
awake in horror at his deification</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">and
return to cast the new temples asunder.</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">But
they were put to death for heresy.</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">Magnus
Lux remarked that 'the new boss</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">smells
like the old boss.' And the temple cats </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">slinked
around and slept among the ruins. </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">They
lived those millennia being fed </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">each
day by the Gattara, a Crazy Cat </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Lady,
dressed in black and murmuring </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">in
Latin, of news and scandals of papacy </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">and
politics and the curse of inhumanity,</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">how
the paupers had become princes</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">how
the princes had become corrupt</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">and
how nothing changes through the ages.</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">And
how the rule of power and corruption </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">has
persisted from age to age. And the black tom</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b style="background-color: white;">Magnus
Lux would reply 'Carpe noctem'</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">that
'We cats will always seize the night'. </span></span></span>
</b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><i><b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></i></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-80470564137086369992018-08-13T18:49:00.000-07:002018-08-17T19:24:01.295-07:00The Distorted Mirror?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mCsxaAfpAFrurWwD8R-tD9dfQ2-DMowvdvvD0SsaHnoAUB5q0gIsgmcHpqhwRq1oFKZ2db2l_V2Pz3YAGtKp4eGzi4KB4xZeKHJ2ree6lTZFppPuqwOCmjVGh3oKMmu_JaU9Wg/s1600/IMG_2140_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="1600" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mCsxaAfpAFrurWwD8R-tD9dfQ2-DMowvdvvD0SsaHnoAUB5q0gIsgmcHpqhwRq1oFKZ2db2l_V2Pz3YAGtKp4eGzi4KB4xZeKHJ2ree6lTZFppPuqwOCmjVGh3oKMmu_JaU9Wg/s320/IMG_2140_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><u><b>The
Distorted Mirror?</b></u></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A pair of
Pardalotes flew outside my window,
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
their
black crowns sparkling with snow white dots</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
the female
beaked hay from the hanging pot
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
while the
cock flew at his reflection
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
thrusting
his bright yellow breast against the glass
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
saying
'Look at me, look and see. What a buck I am!'
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Then he
glanced in the mirror on the courtyard wall
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
and
spotted a rival - what a handsome chap
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
with his
fine night head festooned with stars
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
and he
said to the female, his new found mate</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
'Check out
this boy, such an impudent fellow</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
to flutter
so close with his looks and his charm</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
so utterly
gauche when our deed is done,
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
sure his
breast is brown where mine is yellow,
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
a golden
sun to warm your nest, and the down
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
of our
young.' Then the female she dropped the hay
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
from her
beak and flew in the face of the mirror.
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
'Here's a
fine looking gal, far better than I,
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
she will
turn his head but I'll live with that.
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I so want
the cutie who appeared before
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
instead of
Old Mate with his bangs at my door.'</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And the
pair of Pardalotes were up and away.
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Was this a
game that each year they play?</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I really
don't know. They are just birds.</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I simply
relate all I saw and I heard.</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidNFjQj1a5NlTDd5MwiEfPIRRO1B5WZ8fjdXECg59Qe4SJDM5IAq0t89ClBNh7dcg_d1EJIUS0jR6EuqOBqYgg78qAW0ckRMkIFPQhRfq9zeUOldA5vWydr2sJ4gFYDNFW1MaTw/s1600/IMG_2139_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1318" data-original-width="1600" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidNFjQj1a5NlTDd5MwiEfPIRRO1B5WZ8fjdXECg59Qe4SJDM5IAq0t89ClBNh7dcg_d1EJIUS0jR6EuqOBqYgg78qAW0ckRMkIFPQhRfq9zeUOldA5vWydr2sJ4gFYDNFW1MaTw/s320/IMG_2139_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgTj9qgVFI7ptgvq8-pJU_PXKlOrBfScarKM-t2H33gsLYjvh4GCDPckX7AfUxoyQ3mebxGxJnU-naE_8LcsQGqNGzyTRcwu1X6DZuA3vtSmpYiFpu3XGzI9q0beSUA-iNxTF5Q/s1600/IMG_2142_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1548" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgTj9qgVFI7ptgvq8-pJU_PXKlOrBfScarKM-t2H33gsLYjvh4GCDPckX7AfUxoyQ3mebxGxJnU-naE_8LcsQGqNGzyTRcwu1X6DZuA3vtSmpYiFpu3XGzI9q0beSUA-iNxTF5Q/s320/IMG_2142_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-20672470561170464032018-08-03T01:12:00.000-07:002019-08-19T20:27:48.757-07:00Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Lovely Creatures Box Set - 3 cds and 1 DVD. Superb!<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I wrote this review for Amazon. But I can't post it because I haven't bought the required USD50 or GBP50 over the last 12 months. Postage is a killer. I bought it locally at JB Hi Fi for AUD37 (from memory) and it is well worth it. So, the review had to go somewhere and here it is. </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIqkmj33ucn9Oy66vFLlwYjhcnwkWO7UZg0DV5MGZ4ew-L9NzJ9AXWfaWWrMNeVVB5U7-JKhhCgZLracy1NZv4iArgad_mGgtmrySGt3YTRoMihKiDn9DeRbFrcVNQ22QroNeMA/s1600/nic+cave1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1571" data-original-width="1149" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIqkmj33ucn9Oy66vFLlwYjhcnwkWO7UZg0DV5MGZ4ew-L9NzJ9AXWfaWWrMNeVVB5U7-JKhhCgZLracy1NZv4iArgad_mGgtmrySGt3YTRoMihKiDn9DeRbFrcVNQ22QroNeMA/s320/nic+cave1.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-N2jkGgQqxCHxXnj4tJnKzP8yiAt0NqLDKtVhdiKqGldzcHxLXn4V5u2W3-au9Q47KXh3P79Gpwz7vrmCwEQ6jkNAyDGIQqh1NU1UhgJfUX1JBoBA3SG3ogsD3lQkzTlI3wk-A/s1600/nic+cave2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1565" data-original-width="1146" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-N2jkGgQqxCHxXnj4tJnKzP8yiAt0NqLDKtVhdiKqGldzcHxLXn4V5u2W3-au9Q47KXh3P79Gpwz7vrmCwEQ6jkNAyDGIQqh1NU1UhgJfUX1JBoBA3SG3ogsD3lQkzTlI3wk-A/s320/nic+cave2.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Well this really is an
embarrassment of riches, 3CDs plus a DVD of prime Nick Cave and The
Bad Seeds. There are a couple of reviewer complaints that some fave
tracks are excluded - Henry Lee I think was one mentioned - but it's
an indication of the band's quality of output that this is so. I
don't know any other band that has such a high quality in terms of
rock, lyrics, and performance, given their longevity. Check out the
alternative box set of 3CD B sides and Rarities, it's a treat! Ok,
its all subjective but that's my view.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Nick Cave, a superb
lyrist, vocalist and performer is really without peer IMHO. Dylan
and the late lamented Leonard Cohen are on a par lyrically, maybe
some of Paul Simon, Elvis Costello and Richard Thompson, but do they
reach such heights as vocalists and performers in a rock sense?</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Your decision. And The
Bad Seeds who Nick regards as one equal unit, are beyond any other
rock unit in terms of delivery and imaginative interpretation. Yes?
No? Its all subjective, whatever pushes your buttons.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
How do you choose a
'best of' for this band from an output that spans thirty years? Well,
this excellent compilation was chosen by Cave and Mick Harvey with
some input by the current Bad Seeds. To quote Nick from his website,<span style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">“</span><em><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This
release is designed to be a way into three decades of music making.
That’s a lot of songs. The songs we have chosen are the ones that
have stuck around, for whatever reason. Some songs are those that
demand to be played live. Others are lesser songs that are personal
favourites of ours. Others are just too big and have too much history
to leave out. And there are those that didn’t make it, poor things.
They are the ones you must discover by yourselves.”</span></span></span></span></em></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The tracks are in
chronological order, a total of 45, from 15 albums with 3 session
tracks included, the double Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus being
counted as one album. I wasn't familiar with some of the earlier more
manic rock tracks, 'The Carny', 'I'm Gonna Kill that Woman', and 'Up
Jumped the Devil' but they provide a reflection of where the band was
at, which was some liberating place of intense release, a cacophonous
maelstrom of deliverance. Such purity, ha, is balanced by a sly dose
of black humour and songs of beautiful melodious melancholic majesty.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But the cream on top
for me is the DVD with 25 performances and 14 interviews approximate
running time 2h 5m. Most of the interviews are short, providing song
writing and performance background. Cave is a wordy songwriter,
'swallowed a dictionary' as they say here in Oz, and like similar
songwriters, Cohen, Dylan, Shane McGowan, Elvis Costello, you wonder
how they remember their lines. But he does, like a cinematic narration I guess, but it's his performances that are stunning. I've
seen those artists mentioned above and they were all great, Cohen and
Costello particularly, but I haven't seen Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
yet. On my bucket list. I have a number of their DVDs, top
entertainment.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And this one will do it
for you too. As Kirk Lake describes Cave in his insightful essay,
'ever the stick-thin, jack-knifing, marauding malcontent.' The DVD
does not run chronologically which is a good thing. Most are
excellent in terms of sound, photography and production but a couple
look like Utube phone caught, and you're looking at the performances
of course.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The book is cardboard
bound, nicely designed, which includes the aforementioned literate
insightful essay on the origin and development of Cave and the band,
lots of rare photos, plus track and video information. It is superb!</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Note that there are no tracks from the two Grinderman albums, although at least four could have fitted well here, but Grinderman is a stand alone stripped down unit, and one which may be savoured in the safety of your own parlour. Sorta like durian really. Hey, there's a whisper that another is on its way. Lawd be praised. </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-12795794927059350212018-04-22T03:33:00.000-07:002018-06-25T00:23:51.476-07:00Silence ANZAC Day 2018<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.5cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzopWi7p_65Kyy5de2RidyOXPr8gK22n5q3yN58Y4gbzAG5mtueAufrGFitWH9cJdA1zlEA8vIuo7r-ctpD7g2hEELi2GseAS7CxsNyehMadvqinJu59D_gYyxHGi8bocLoGPnQ/s1600/Dad+with+captured+Stuka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="322" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzopWi7p_65Kyy5de2RidyOXPr8gK22n5q3yN58Y4gbzAG5mtueAufrGFitWH9cJdA1zlEA8vIuo7r-ctpD7g2hEELi2GseAS7CxsNyehMadvqinJu59D_gYyxHGi8bocLoGPnQ/s320/Dad+with+captured+Stuka.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
My dad was silent about his place in the war<br />
<br />
<br />
except to say that shells whizzed through the night<br />
<br />
<br />
over El-Alamain seeking the army<br />
<br />
<br />
of the Desert Fox. And that, sleeping on<br />
<br />
<br />
those cold night sands, if you could, you would <br />
<br />
<br />
wake to find a brace of scorpions <br />
<br />
<br />
under your bedroll each morning. The tales of <br />
<br />
<br />
my Uncle Don by contrast would enthral <br />
<br />
<br />
us kids, how he'd dived behind a tank<br />
<br />
<br />
with bullets ricocheting around his head...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
No, my dad was mostly silent about<br />
<br />
<br />
his place in the war. He had seen a Bedouin<br />
<br />
<br />
carrying in a basket much prized eggs for sale<br />
<br />
<br />
walk too close to the makeshift runway<br />
<br />
<br />
and a Spitfire while landing had lopped his head<br />
<br />
<br />
and everyone had jostled for those eggs.<br />
<br />
<br />
I think that vision stayed; summed up war for him.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
He did say that when the allies liberated<br />
<br />
<br />
Rome he stood for hours in Saint Peter's Square<br />
<br />
<br />
at a papal mass in celebration<br />
<br />
<br />
of peace. Now, whether it was the fierce heat<br />
<br />
<br />
or perhaps he was just overwhelmed,<br />
<br />
<br />
he fainted and found himself inside the Vatican<br />
<br />
<br />
where a kind and grateful priest gave him<br />
<br />
<br />
a heavenly wine; scooped from the spring at Cana.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I recall that he and a fellow Airforce<br />
<br />
<br />
mate were returning to base along a <br />
<br />
<br />
valley track, maybe from a night out<br />
<br />
<br />
in Perugia with those friendly effusive<br />
<br />
<br />
Italian girls or maybe from a visit to Assisi,<br />
<br />
<br />
'just us,' he said, 'not a soul to be seen' <br />
<br />
<br />
and out of the sky swung a German fighter<br />
<br />
<br />
with jackhammer canons raking the ground. <br />
<br />
<br />
They dived in a ditch. 'What sort of human..?'<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I recall as a young lad being on a hot<br />
<br />
<br />
pebble beach at Deal where the Romans<br />
<br />
<br />
had landed in 55BC. Granddad<br />
<br />
<br />
had a handkerchief over his bald pate,<br />
<br />
<br />
and a single engined plane zoomed over.<br />
<br />
<br />
'Eee, exclaimed our Nan, 'I thought Gerry were back.'<br />
<br />
<br />
We all laughed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
No, my dad never<br />
<br />
<br />
celebrated ANZAC Day despite being<br />
<br />
<br />
urged to do so by his boss.<br />
<br />
<br />
In Dad's opinion <br />
<br />
<br />
such marching and celebration<br />
<br />
<br />
ratified the inhumanity of humanity.BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-11129130883865151882018-04-22T03:09:00.000-07:002018-08-20T21:22:17.574-07:00<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73nRxqhmf7OOvGRK5vhQLXrbu0JUgz5Ov0Tnht3x_OHulFHMZxgF6VHmRXgbgnKizbDpRaeEfhunWdG74wSBMWDpc92_RcgZv4KphvlbaAuqpcEYpBtnZ8mWAfqbX6uuup-xzLQ/s1600/P8090058a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73nRxqhmf7OOvGRK5vhQLXrbu0JUgz5Ov0Tnht3x_OHulFHMZxgF6VHmRXgbgnKizbDpRaeEfhunWdG74wSBMWDpc92_RcgZv4KphvlbaAuqpcEYpBtnZ8mWAfqbX6uuup-xzLQ/s400/P8090058a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><b>Balloons, Sunday 18 March 2018</b></u></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In the pre
dawn half light the headlights</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
wash the
road, and maybe the kangaroo
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
was
mesmerised but knew where she had to go.</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I swerved
and almost collided with a cab<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
and the
young one followed her mother as
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
she knew
she must and slammed into my wing.</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I braked
hard, and she bounced off then bounded</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
and
collapsed by the roadside, her tail
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
rising and
falling, once, twice, three times</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
signalling
the end before she'd barely begun.
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I wondered
whether the mother waited
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
dismayed
like me, waited for her young one</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
to rise.
There are those who would say</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
oh well,
they're a pest, it's only one less...
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And so, I
drove slowly down to the lakeside</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
to await
the gentle rise and drift</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
of the
colourful balloon spectacle.</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Down there
the day was peaceful and still</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
with
sunrising walkers and joggers,
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
and images
mirrored upon the water,
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0MJxtYIpkNqqx6xD4ceqzOusVyS1Xk-IuG53rDprb-6Lc6Jny7MC3FTdGp_K-_DFbzy-j7dJpIWtQAXvp-I5U_1GjqWwOBsd8Tj37yMp1DmfdyM5o1aGm6MK0oA9nTWNA3bNxw/s1600/P3140034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="1600" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0MJxtYIpkNqqx6xD4ceqzOusVyS1Xk-IuG53rDprb-6Lc6Jny7MC3FTdGp_K-_DFbzy-j7dJpIWtQAXvp-I5U_1GjqWwOBsd8Tj37yMp1DmfdyM5o1aGm6MK0oA9nTWNA3bNxw/s320/P3140034.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
which
betrayed the image in my mind.</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And I
waited for the balloons to come
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
and play
upon the placid lake.</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And I
waited for balloons to come.</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17259284.post-65323120557617737772017-10-28T23:46:00.002-07:002018-09-17T21:40:13.640-07:00Snared<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i><u><b><br /></b></u></i></span></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i><u><b><br /></b></u></i></span></span></span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i><u><b><br /></b></u></i></span></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i><u><b><br /></b></u></i></span></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i><u><b><br /></b></u></i></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqGxUGU2E0dSt9ZsSuKgTYNbdong_neMCM6i4E-qhpxcM1X4_63dVHXPrza4CIKI2rjTwLQD3qV8_WmmldxYe9cjTM33KgDRa54MSYckygOgDuafPp_6frJ3cazAW35pYBW7i1w/s1600/P9280059web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1319" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqGxUGU2E0dSt9ZsSuKgTYNbdong_neMCM6i4E-qhpxcM1X4_63dVHXPrza4CIKI2rjTwLQD3qV8_WmmldxYe9cjTM33KgDRa54MSYckygOgDuafPp_6frJ3cazAW35pYBW7i1w/s320/P9280059web.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i><u><b><br /></b></u></i></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i><u><b>Snared
</b></u></i></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">That
little nymph statue laced with web </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt;">holds
indented prints of the sculptor’s thumbs</span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">when
he formed her flesh and curved her thighs </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and
smoothed her breasts with strength and love </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and
tenderness to place her proud at the </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt;">Governor's
wharf. And now in shoulder curve</span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt;">and
tilt of head a spider drapes a lucky web.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"> </span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A
board decision cast a cement plinth </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt;">to
fix this lithe ephemeral nymph</span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">who
watches unblinking those cruises arrive </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt;">they
come and they leave in the bay of her eye</span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt;">now
filled with us and our fiddly lives</span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">being
shunted along through gardens and lawns </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">vacuumed,
filleted, stamped and endorsed </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">by </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">imprimatur</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> of reign and rule </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">our
route defined by steam cleaned walls </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and
paths and if you wander beyond </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">you'd
be flung like a sinner into </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt;">the
water or flogged like a felon,</span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">a
sculptor perhaps, on that old triangle </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">of
truth and justice and clemency </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">this
our U3A </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">convener</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> warns </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">mischievously</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"> on this smiling morn</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: white;">where
the warmth of the sun albeit strong</span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">on
those lissom limbs can raise but motes </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and
memory of sculpted nymph</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> and sculptor </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">his
firm and loving thumbs forming her into </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">perpetual
life both model and sculptor </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">conjoined
each day in viewers' eyes </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">like
ours where art will jostle with fiddly lives </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt;">and
we, replete with our sunhats, cameras</span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">concerns
and </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">knee-jerk</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> 'NO', just cannot affirm </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">this
moment thumping with Life and YES </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt;">before
it passes and the nymph oh the nymph</span></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">she
understands well and would comfort </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">with
welcome limbs and whispers </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">but
snared she is by silk of spider and </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">muted
tongue, and snared by atrophy </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">of
circumstance and cautionary twirl </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">of
his final thumbprint with its solemn </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">imprint </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">forbidding</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> her flesh and will </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">to
move as it would but to cast instead </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">caution
as currency into her form. </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt;">Yes,
oh yes she would whisper softly</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt;">into
his ear... as she did. </span></span></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0WuMnflQZJEIKgQeZ-rM16sIbsHWmwXf6Cw05-WpbQR8gpu_UgwwFAp8bGvQREjdfJhKmuNSbOQuaTZPiMxc7a2bXDhP_Hhc2W2d_X2XKDSBvrg1pUMChgNFCmw0WMg9HSEOGA/s1600/P9280018.ORF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0WuMnflQZJEIKgQeZ-rM16sIbsHWmwXf6Cw05-WpbQR8gpu_UgwwFAp8bGvQREjdfJhKmuNSbOQuaTZPiMxc7a2bXDhP_Hhc2W2d_X2XKDSBvrg1pUMChgNFCmw0WMg9HSEOGA/s320/P9280018.ORF.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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Adapted from a prose poem by Neva Kastelic.<br />
The beautiful statue is at the head of the Governor General's landing in Yarralumla, Canberra. </div>
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BARRY MCGLOINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530577772616491513noreply@blogger.com0