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Friday 4 February 2011


This is the prompt for this week from Magpie Tales

My apologies if I am not seen around quite so much for a day or two: I am in the throes of setting up a new computer, exploring the mysteries and wonders of Windows 7 and - more to the point - re-establishing the network!

Put your cash in bricks
my Grandpa used to say -
though Grandma wouldn't let him.
I see it from both angles:
collectively bricks can beguile,
seduce the not-too-wary, make
all the right approaches with
their artful colourings,
their patterns and their textures,
subtle weathering
and how they look so solid
and dependable. We're here,
they seem to say,
for the long haul.

They are a perfect metaphor
for all that seeks -
collectively - to lure
us from the wider world
the way that words may do
or painted shapes
or harmonies of sounds.
We ply the trowel and brick
by brick confine ourselves
like priests of old
in tiny holes
away from sumptuous rooms.

18 comments:

CiCi said...

Grandma probably wouldn't have minded if the bricks were gold, right?

Tess Kincaid said...

Sometimes it's good to throw all bricks and caution to the wind!

anthonynorth said...

Perfectly said.

Louise said...

Solid and dependable, caution to the wind, or somewhere in between? Another good one Dave, good luck with the computer set up!

Nana Jo said...

This a wonderful poem. So true: We do build brick walls around us which lure us from the wonders of the world. I really like this line:
"like priests of old in tiny holes".

Helena said...

One of the best pieces to the prompt! 'Here for the long haul' indeed. Magic!

Windsmoke. said...

We build a brick wall around ourselves to keep out the terrible nasties of the world, but on the other hand the brick wall keeps out what's good in this world, you just can't win :-).

Kathe W. said...

nicely done! Good luck with your techy work!

Gerry Snape said...

Dave...I loved the sound of the rain on the windows in the night and the soft moan of the wind as it blew it against them. lovely british weather. I really need the seasons of this land of ours to take me through the year. I can only cope with so much blue sky every day!

Dave King said...

TechnoBabe
Not in the least, she wouldn't have!

Tess
My Grandparents weren't like that, though. Either of them.

anthonynorth
thanks

120 socks
Depends on the strength of the wind, I'd say! Thanks.

Nana Jo
Hi Welcome and much thanks for the comment.

Lena
Welcome Lena and my thanks for the feedback.

Windsmoke
What we want is a filter, not a brick wall, perhaps!

Kathe W
Hi, thanks for visiting. Good to have you aboard. Much appreciated.

Gerry
Yes, I'm with you on that. It's just that sometimes...

Susannah said...

I really liked this especially the last few lines, how true!

We ply the trowel and brick
by brick confine ourselves
like priests of old
in tiny holes
away from sumptuous rooms.

I really enjoyed reading this, nice magpie. :-)

Dave King said...

Hi Susannah
Good to have you visiting. Thanks for the comment. It's always useful to receive feedback.

Maggie said...

There is something about bricks. Basic, strong, worn, but still beautiful.

Loved your take. : )

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

Glad to see your grandpa's wisdom extended to your generation.
cheers.

a homely take on the prompt.

Kat Mortensen said...

Really nice one, Dave! I love that "long haul" pun. It is weightier than it seems.

Really strong ending too, with the priests and "sumptuous rooms" sounds decadent to the ear and tastes so on the tongue.

Kat

Kat Mortensen said...

P.S. I think you missed my comment on your photographs in the post below. I was hoping you'd check out Sepia Saturday, but it's not too late!

The Blog of Bee said...

This is so good! My parents once lived in a four hundred year old cottage. Whilst renovating they found the 'priest's cubby hole'.

Lovely piece of writing

girl daydreaming said...

I can't quite remember that saying about building your castles in the sky and then grounding them, or placing a foundation beneath them.

I just love this piece you've created... it inspires one like me who tends to dream to remember a bit of foundation, so that my dreams can exist and be here to stay...

lovely and insightful piece!