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Monday 3 June 2013

Three Shorts


From mindlovemisery the theme: Personification

ONE

Spring came early that year,
didn't stop for pleasantries,
but wiped her wintry feet
on our new "WELCOME" mat
then sallied back into the fray.
Resumed hostilities.

Almost a prisoner of war
when next we met.
Winter now her jailer.
His grip more tightly round her.
No thoughts of her release.


TWO

My car a Super Beetle --
second hand but crafted by
those clever
Vorsprung durch Technik people --
inspite of which:
it went jerkily to school one day.

Lunch time and with the cowling up
I'm poking at the engine bits
and stroking them
and crooning in my smoothest voice.
Unseen behind me
one interested pupil, very small.

What y'doing then, sir?
"I'm talking to her very nicely,
hoping she will go for me."
What, she knows English then, sir?
or you knows German?


"A bit of each Paul. She hears
the friendly sounds in voices
and likes to please them, see?
At least, that's what I'm hoping...
all done by love and kindness!"
My mum says things like that about our cat!
"Very wise, your mum. Listen to her, huh?"


THREE

Ask any of the locals,
They will tell you how
she always has those evil glints
in her dark eyes
when she's about to flood.
Below the cataract,
behind the foaming white,
just where the water lies
the blackest it can be
and still,
you'll see the double glint
where moon and sun
have both spat in her eye --
Sure sign she'll soon come raging down the valley
full of spite.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow!!!! I love them all the 1st and 3rd poem are so gorgeous I can't even pick a line from them they are all perfection you are extremely talented! I will read this more than once for sure!

The second one is very amusing and has so much character =)

Vanessa Victoria Kilmer said...

I like the variety of these. Each one has such a clear voice.

Brian Miller said...

nice...1st and 3rd are my favs as well....the glint in her eye in that last one, ha...yes....spring wiping its feet on the welcome mat, and prisoner of the war....genius...

Mary said...

I'm with Brian. First and Third speak loudest to me. The first really reminds me of our weather here. We are still prisoner of winter.....hoping soon to be released to the care-taking of spring!

Ygraine said...

These are absolutely wonderful, Dave!
I, too, especially love the first and third. They speak volumes to me.
And as for the second...that had me laughing out loud: it so reminded me of the way I regard my car as my best friend and am forever speaking to her! Haha:D

George S Batty said...

I enjoyed them all but 2 captured my mind. Maybe because I never spoke kindly to any mechanical thing I ever worked on. I suppose my instructors never really understood the mechanics of tender loving care.

annell4 said...

I liked to read these!

Anonymous said...

Well done on all three, David. Love the flood one, but the one about the car... I never talk that nice to mine when they're being cantankerous!

Carl said...

Lovely. The second is my favorite!

Anonymous said...

So very charming, Dave - I liked all of them--I have a soft spot for the car one as that would be the only way I could possibly fix a car, and I love the idea of the child asking about German.

The double glint is very palpable in the last.

I am in upstate New York - we've had some very warm days - following super cold ones - so the water (for swimming) is like ice. I go, but my ears are feeling the worst of it right now. I cannot resist water, but it is hard to stay in long. k.

Anonymous said...

So very charming, Dave - I liked all of them--I have a soft spot for the car one as that would be the only way I could possibly fix a car, and I love the idea of the child asking about German.

The double glint is very palpable in the last.

I am in upstate New York - we've had some very warm days - following super cold ones - so the water (for swimming) is like ice. I go, but my ears are feeling the worst of it right now. I cannot resist water, but it is hard to stay in long. k.

Tommaso Gervasutti said...

Something new and unexpected these lines David and delightful, actually the first bit is also splendidly ironical.

Cloudia said...

such a nice life well noticed.


ALOHA from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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A Cuban In London said...

Is the first part a comment on our current season? :-)

I loved the second short. You should have said "mein Liebes" and das Auto would have immediately sprung to life. :-)

Greetings from London.

Elephant's Child said...

Loved them all. And smiled at speaking gently to the car - my father always abused his. And the lawn mower. Particularly the lawn mower. (Which worked better for almost everyone else.)

Susie Clevenger said...

Goodness you got creative. I love them all but one and three really speak to me. I bow to your creativity! :)

kelvin s.m. said...

...the first one has to be my favorite sir... loved the notiob of pris'ner of war.... & winter her jailer... fantastic personification there... smiles...

kelvin s.m. said...

...oops...dyslexic spelling... that should be ***notion.... smiles...

Unknown said...

One is most touching...

Dave King said...

Thanks everyone.

Again I have to ask your indulgence of my inability to reply individually - as indeed, the quality and variety of your comments would require. I ado get a great deal from reading them. For me they are an important aspect of my blogging.

jabblog said...

I hadn't fully appreciated how much we personify objects until I read these verses. All so different, all so true - hat off to you, sir.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Wonderful trio Dave - but 1st and 3rd outshine for me too.

Anna :o]