Bring On The Dancing Horses

My heartfelt congratulations to the author on the event of his daughter’s wedding.

Most sincerely yours,

David Emeron

MishaBurnett's avatarmishaburnett

This Saturday my oldest daughter is getting married. I don’t really know the young man very well, but he seems a decent enough sort, and my daughter is a savvy young woman, I trust her judgement.

I’m excited for them, really.  I think they will have a good life together–not an easy life, mind you, no one really gets that–they have plans that seem reasonable and achievable to me.  Life is going to kick them in the teeth from time to time, of course, but I think they are committed to working through things together.

They’re good kids.  Smart kids, who are getting into this thing with eyes wide open.  Plus, they’re really in love, and that always helps.

It makes me feel old, though.  It makes me feel like I am entering the last phase of my life. Child, youth, father, graybeard.

I’m okay with that.  I can’t really lay claim to any…

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When The World Broke | Dean J. Baker – Poetry, and prose poems

I think finding a few, here and there, that actually enjoy ones work–or even many–is its own reward. My reason for writing sonnets has more to do with love than anything else. I has been yet another way in which my sweetheart of the better part of a century may have as much as, of me, she wishes. I do love sonnets and writing them. I love my sweet wife even more than that. This type of writing reminds her of her background and education, which is quite wonderful, and is a type of which one might covet. It was my love for her that took me away from time to time, from science–which is my background–into her world of words, history, literature, etc. Being a young student of science, It seemed as though poetry would be my fastest way into this world. The works are, overall, quite short, very often stunningly beautiful, and span the centuries reflecting their times, much as do other forms of art. This makes for a fine “foot in the door,” as it were, to her world which, when I was quite young, was unfamiliar, and that of which I had no understanding or appreciation apart from my desire to know and to love everything about her.

I have most enjoyed reading your work and will, I’m sure read more of it. I have also enjoyed reading, on this adventure, the work of others. So much has happened in these months. I have been reminded of poetic forms of which I had forgotten; I have learned, in fact, I do learn something new every time I read someone’s work; particularly when it is a new author which which I am unfamiliar. I have, most surprising of all, enjoyed answering questions and responding to comments of others very much,; as, I have found that oft-times it will help me to order my thoughts. I do have to be careful though–I need energy left over to write my sonnets daily, try to make them such as my sweet heart will enjoy, and, of course, many other things, some related to writing, some not.

Regarding being well known, I did gather somehow, upon skimming through some of your other blogs that, although you yourself might not be well known, you may have more than a few acquaintances or friends who are; which I can see, as I believe was (perhaps) your point, might prove something of a “springboard,” so to speak, if desired; Or not, of course, if not so desired.

Throughout all of this, I have found people on wordpress to be, although I’m not sure how or why, much more enthusiastic, and much more kind, even to those with whom they do not understand nor agree. Such followers as I have, are, as one might put it, “all over the map,” both artistically and in, perhaps, all other ways.

I feel quite fortunate to have made your acquaintance in this way.

via When The World Broke | Dean J. Baker – Poetry, and prose poems.

When The World Broke

Ah well, young man! You seem quite adept–at this blogging process as well! One might say you hardly need a follow from me. Quite the contrary! I have had a look around at your co-blogs. Quite a diverse collection! You encourage me, in a most peculiar way. I do not have my web presence in order to become well known. I should think it could hardly happen given my anachronistic subject matter. I wonder, how came you to my humble sonnet page? Since I have set myself this task, and that in largest part, for my sweet wife, I have encountered quite much unforeseen!

Reflections

I have often wondered such things, young Miss; however, having reached an advanced age, I may reflect on the most happy moments–quite unique and irreplaceable–which would without doubt never have occurred, had but one tiny change–for better or worse–been made.

Unknown's avatar

I have often wondered such things, young Miss; however, having reached an advanced age, I may reflect on the most happy moments–quite unique and irreplaceable–which would without doubt never have occurred, had but one tiny change–for better or worse–been made.

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Jingoism – Villanelle

A worthy offering. I am afraid I have gotten rather verbose in the comment section, however, as follows:  (and I believe I have done the reblog in such a way where the post below does not appear twice.  This, by means of a edit/copy/paste after the reblog was already done.)

Very interesting. More serious than your usual work, I see. This reminds me very much of the days–still here, I’m afraid, but also those long past…. The posters of the leader, or dictator everywhere. The loudspeakers barking away at all hours. This kind of writing gives me nightmares, (even when it’s me that does it.) but that means it’s good writing, and it works well.)

Regarding some of the “tweaking” suggestions, I believe I like your solution. Improving scansion (the flow and meter of lines, for those learning these terms)  is one thing but altering ones genuine sound is another. I personally like what you describe as your “Swinglish,” because it sets you apart from other poets. As you know, I am hardly satisfied with any result I achieve myself. I tend to engage in acts of “lucasing” over time, until I am happy with the result. So even after posting, you will often notice, I’m sure, that I tend to change a word or two.

Your subject matter brings to mind that the US has always been much different, I think, than this. Our brand of patriotism, even when rather extreme, has almost exclusively been regarding a love of freedom, and a fear of its disappearance. This is what I’ve felt, myself, and this is what my sweetheart has felt also since coming here permanently.

Our current administration causes us, for some reason, to differ from this in some ways. This, by the way, is not a political observation. One can debate a left or a right-leaning policy, and, whatever our position, and regardless of whether, in the long run, such policies turn out to be ill advised, such things can be weathered, as the country has weathered, I think, far worse things prior to the last handful of administrations here.

Strangely, what concerns me is not at all political. It is the pictures. There are images of our current president everywhere. Large, small, and in-between. Very unusual for this country. Very reminiscent of dictatorships we have seen around the world. Like the man, or not; agree with his ideas or not; this is what concerns me. And it concerns those of my friends who come from other countries. And I should say they do vary greatly in politics.

One friend describes it as a personality cult; and whereas I would perhaps not go that far, still this is most unusual. This did happen once before in the country to some degree, Some of us loved FDR, some didn’t, but most of us, were spooked by the personality phenomenon. The more we thought about it, the more spooked we were; which is why we were able to easily pass a term limit amendment for the President here. Two four-year terms, but not more than 10 years, in the case of a succession. President Ford, for example had two and a half years into his succession, had he won his first presidential election, which he did not, he would not have been able to run again.

Björn Rudberg (brudberg)'s avatarBjörn Rudbergs writings

I am playing around with different verse format. This time a Villanelle, I choose to write it in tetrameter. It is based on a prompt on twitter called liblit. and it was “a doll, and bonus word is Jingoism – “extreme patriotism”. Personally I find that very dangerous and there is usually a master behind that stand to gain from “patriotism”.
Picture is Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd’s famous sculpture on non-violence. Many copies exist, but this one is from Malmö Sweden. Picture is taken from Wikimedia commons.

a puppet master has control
the marching dolls they just obey
in jingoistic glory stroll

the masses they have lost their soul
and they will never walk astray
a puppet master has control

the patriots are screaming: “troll”
and herd the actors in the play
in jingoistic glory stroll

the leader people can cajole
and also violence display
a puppet master has control

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