What word is this
what word is this that sullies forth
its annual opening of eye
that generates such hope that more
meaning such to the hopeful gives
bandied before the year does end
but no end if known of knowing blend
what word is this that bleeds the heart
to pray suffer such indigent love unknown
yet same vein courses all life through
in never-ending beauty, unveiling of
eternal body splendid, that imperfect
diamond creator spirit shines
tis Christmas
Christmas!
where the forever gift is born
and in the perpetrators mind
becomes again that one great joy
everlasting in the flesh absorbed
Richard Scutter Advent 2021
No bull, this is real he looks at me chewing cud I look at him you have quite a bit of muscle
I’m glad the fence is in-between
how many press-ups, weights? or is all just natural with you he doesn’t ruffle to my thoughts and just goes on a-chewing
but I can imagine action,
I wouldn’t want to get in his way!
it reminded me, as a boy, when camping
with the ‘Scouts’ in Scotland
No bull, this is true history we pulled up late at dusk and hurriedly put the tents up in the corner of a field and were soon fast asleep
it was in unsuspecting morning light and you can guess! when opening the tent flap door to be confronted so!
No bull, it was shock of the first degree
then ‘Scout’ action never seen before
and ever since then I have, what can I say
a certain face-to-face respect.
Richard Scutter October 2021
The context of this poem is embedded in the text, what is more interesting is what prompted these words. We were visiting an historic cemetery in Canberra which entailed walking along a path adjacent to a paddock with this bull close by and the photograph above is of that animal. And by association it took me back to camping with the Scouts in Scotland. This triggered a latent experience long forgotten. And Scottish highland cattle are quite something to behold but this animal certainly had a touch of menace as I looked at him with interest.
A personal Haibun poem on depression – (a poem which incorporates text, an image and haiku)
We all have a wide span of emotive feeling. That is the natural way of life. It is just that some have very high extremes at both ends of the scale. And this can be quite devarstating to all concerned. This is especially so if medical intervention is required.
The following happened in the early nineteen fifties in England.
When we were growing up; I can’t remember exactly how old I was but still at primary school. I was probably around about nine or ten years old. I was behind the garage wall with my younger brother. We peeped around to the front of our house and saw our mother being taken out of the front door on a stretcher to be put in the back of an ambulance. We were young and did not recognise that it was in fact an ambulance.
She was taken to a ‘Fair Mile’, then called a Lunatic Asylum, near Wallingford in Berkshire and for many weeks our Father would drive us to visit her; mainly at weekends. I can remember summer days when the fields were full of wheat. Quite often my brother and I spent a lot of time in the grounds waiting for the return trip home in the Morris Isis. It is funny how you remember little things in life and I can remember the number plate. On the home front we children were looked after by one of my Father’s sisters, Auntie Gwen.
What is relevant to this text is the fact that something had to change with Mother so that she could recover and return to our home. Many years later Mother told me that she went into an empty church nearby and when she came out of the stillness something had happened inside, both in the church and in herself and it was the beginning.
damp afternoon reaching for the light switch depression
It is in his dying that existence extends that distance compacts that carried forward through the centuries Christ lives again in our minds along the road beyond Emmaus.
So, we pray again in hope against the block-stone of incomprehension and our continual nonacceptance. While within each stinging soul the suppressed mustard-seed like the empty tomb lies dormant waiting.
Richard Scutter
Well, Easter is the key day in the Christian calendar. It is that ‘forever day’ that gives hope to humanity. And of course it is a day of celebration!
The clocks have gone back an hour overnight with the end of daylight saving in Canberra. And according to your belief system we get more than an extra hour because of this day!
Enjoy in the knowledge of the magnitude of this day with family and friends!
Following on from my previous Post on John Keats and ‘Beauty’ and legacy … and recognising the so called ordinary in life’…
Anointing Ann Anonymous
when she was a child and she was quite sure that no one was looking she picked up a stick to scratch in concrete ‘I was here’
each day as she walked to school she would see her work and laugh to herself no one would know it was her in her teenager years she had that teenage crush and melting against his name cleared the dust on his car with words that only she could write ‘I love you’
She thought he really knew but she would never tell, in later years when thinking about him she would laugh inside with a little embarrassment she had a long and ordinary life a husband, children and memories to drown and if she could paint the sky these would be her words ‘life is beautiful’
Richard Scutter
Ann’s legacy – I was here / I love you / life is beautiful
Many have died from the virus. However far more have recovered, all be it a painful process. And as we reach the end of a very demanding year I have a feeling the world is now coming out of the virus.
Wallflower and Bee
Recovery Steps
the courtyard warms in the winter sun two disheveled cushions rest on the seat the garden is at peace with itself
waiting, confined to her room she has been waiting patiently
for the day after yesterday
to be out of bed for the first time
there is an immensity in each measured movement
she shuffles slowly forward steadies at the sliding door, grasps the handle painfully the door starts to give
she has a clear determined focus and is glad her nurse is not around and there is no one else about
there is enough space now and her dressing-gowned frail frame takes the few steps needed
struggling she reaches the closest armrest to slowly make her comfort known, she recovers from her exertion
a sigh spreads relaxation through her body, it is all fresh blue sky her eyes still on the beauty of a bee
absorbing the late morning sunshine all her being radiates her thanks a deep internal thank you
her contentment slowly dissolves to a doze, but before drifting into sleep she is gently disturbed
the sliding doors click-shut patient and nurse disappear, the courtyard reclaims the empty seat
Richard Scutter
Context Sylvia was in isolation for several weeks. She is a keen gardener and appreciated regaining mobility and access to the outside. I am happy to say she has fully recovered from the virus.
The virus has at times forced a closer relationship with the one you love. And this greater togetherness has had its positives.
elevation
I must thank the virus and a certain person for this would never have happened otherwise a positive personal high and I might suggest no higher possible
you see such an expletive may have been used in the past infrequently that is but the confines of isolation and a more integrated home life created the circumstances and I am thus duly elevated
often there is a rising of voice – Richard! for example, blocking the fridge when access is needed or forgetting to put out the garbage after making promises but for failings of far greater significance (I will not elaborate) a certain naming is obviously needed
I must emphasise that the following had nothing to do with me personally (not this time) just a bystander
actually, I was sitting nearby the computer was in communication a case of wanting to load images from phone to desktop a simple operation, and the thing was partner had done this before successfully
why isn’t it working (a little frustration evident) then strong expletives at this stage I thought it prudent to stay my distance and be calm, after all, too much help creates dependency
my word in your ear 