Matching socks

And why do you want this job?

The interviewer earnestly asked
(I thought the knighthood) 

But said

the pleasure of working for such a worth-while cause...and no bonus 

And what are you most proud of?

The interviewer inquired as if interested
(I thought getting here on time with matching socks)

But said

my passionate commitment to customer satisfaction

And what would success look like?

The interviewer probed with an air of self satisfaction
(I thought avoiding public scandal and cirrhosis)

But said

improving productivity and quality at the same time as reducing costs 

And what are the barriers to achieving success? The interviewer quizzed smugly
Me convincing you I can do the job and then finding out  I can't and we both look complete fools I said before I could stop myself.

That's the problem with living in a parallel universe and talking to people in the other one.
Bu**er

Matching socks

Interviewers question	Immediate thought	What I said
And why do you want this job?	the knighthood	My passionate commitment to customer satisfaction
And what are you most proud of ?,	getting here on time with matching socks	The sheer pleasure of working a 72 hour week for such a worth- while cause...and  no bonus, I said
What would success look like?	no  scandal or cirrhosis	Improving productivity and quality at the same time as reducing costs I said.
What are the barriers to success?	(Me convincing you I can do it and then finding I can't and we both look complete fools) I said before I could stop myself.

That's the problem with living in a parallel universe and talking to people in the other one.

(Bugger!)

© Liz Redfern

All rights reserved

Artistic Indulgence

"Artistic indulgence of whatever kind is the antithesis of artistic unity. Artistic unity is the practice which holds that there must be nothing in the story that is irrelevant to the plot; that there be nothing mentioned that does not contribute to the meaning, texture, or final result of the story. Artistic unity is the weaving and ultimate uniting of all the puzzle pieces, and every good plot has plenty of it. In short, if you’re going to draw attention to a thing, make sure it pays off, otherwise readers will feel like Alice chasing the White Rabbit down a hole, only to find nothing at the end."

from  Hooker Boots, White Rabbits, and Artistic Unity « jsascribes:

Hold on just a little while longer

Hold on just a little while longer

-         breaking the speed limit

 on a light August day,

running to the ticket office -

tell the ferry to wait -

my heart bursting through my chest -

  

Too late.

You were at my birth –

I wanted to hold on

to your hand -

when you died.

  

© Valerie Taylor 8/2/12

All rights reserved

‘Hold on just a little while longer’

Christ!
Where was it?

Unless he did it by the book
it would be useless.

He needed his mother’s wisdom
her lack of attention to detail.

He knelt to pray
whistled their theme tune.

♫ Hold on ...
… while longer ♫♪

And she came, told him how
to make a Fiona Fricassée

without the head he’d lost.

© Sophia Roberts

All rights reserved

HOSPITALITY SKILLS

For a young person leaving school who wants to gain a skill

I strongly recommend that hospitality may fit the bill

Language & communication skills may serve you very well

Particularly if you should decide to work in an hotel

Some special skills cannot be learned from merely reading books

And there is always work for young people who are trained as cooks

So I suggest you learn such skills when leaving your school’s 6th Form

Who knows … they may have been your destiny … from the time you were born

© Kenneth Campbell 2011

All rights reserved

Counterpoint

Hold on.
These storms will pass;
Just wait –

                                   

                                    What for?

                                    Some rescue?

                                    No!  Too slow.

                                    I shall endure –

                                    That’s different, though.

Hold on.

Good times will come;

Anticipate –

                                    I must?

                                    What we expect may never be.

                                    So seize the day;

                                    The now is all we have

                                    Before we turn to dust.

© Gill Dunstan
All rights reserved

Jehu-like and in grim silence he urged the Volvo towards the ferry port

He had blamed her for setting off late; she argued that he had turned back to check the front door was locked. Much swearing when she directed him down the wrong exit from a roundabout.

Behind, the children whimpered, appalled.

If they caught the ferry they would laugh hysterically.

If.

© Tim Scott
All rights reserved

Flowers from a Book

Opening slowly as a forgotten murmuring dream
Undressed, naked in its sepia hidden secret years

Of once bright orange stamen, now stained, ingrained
As an old nicotined finger of petal thin skin
Pointing it’s impress to words of once love of a lost memory
Sacrificed in a last act of submission
Inscribed by copperplate indigo ink that has paled
As lost old eyes that no longer see, now to be found

By other fingers that have touched the soul of sorrow
Kissed by lips that have tasted hopelessness

English Bakery Boracay Philippines15th February 2012

© Harry Mills
All rights reserved

Midnight Rainbow

Is this your name, Peace?

Then show me your night sky

Let me ride the bright star

Let me kiss your black lips

Then arc me tenderly with your midnight rainbow

3c English Bakery Boracay Philippines 10^th February 2012

© Harry Mills

All rights reserved

Henry Miller's Commandments, from Henry Miller on Writing:

1. Work on one thing at a time until finished.
2. Start no more new books, add no more new material to “Black Spring.”
3. Don’t be nervous. Work calmly, joyously, recklessly on whatever is in hand.
4. Work according to Program and not according to mood. Stop at the appointed time!
5. When you can’t create you can work.
6. Cement a little every day, rather than add new fertilizers.
7. Keep human! See people, go places, drink if you feel like it.
8. Don’t be a draught-horse! Work with pleasure only.
9. Discard the Program when you feel like it–but go back to it the next day. Concentrate. Narrow down. Exclude.
10. Forget the books you want to write. Think only of the book you are writing.
11. Write first and always. Painting, music, friends, cinema, all these come afterwards.