Work (The Greasy Pole)

They kick you out of education

and you go looking for a greasy pole to climb

to earn some money 

because you need to buy things

like...

accomodation

food and drink

and a mobile phone

a sort of Maslow's Hiarachy of Needs  - but for modern times

those are the important things

the things you must have

and so you leap full tilt at the first greasy pole you see

not the greasy pole of your interests

your qualifications - if you have any

your hopes and dreams

just the nearest greasy pole you can find

and you cling on tightly

scrambling hard try to avoid slipping down 

or falling off completely

if you manage to hang on at all

you try to climb

but a greasy pole is hard to climb

ah but wait!

maybe you lept onto the wrong greasy pole

maybe that's why it was so hard to climb!

So you jump across onto another greasy pole

and another

and another...

until you find one where you can hang on

and you can avoid slipping down

or falling off

one you can hold your place on

one,

maybe you can climb 

after all - you have been on several greasy poles now

you've got some experience 

and you have been able to hold your ground on this particular greasy pole 

and so

you have been able to buy things

some of those important things - like a mobile phone!

and then you think

this new greasy pole doesn't seem as greasy

for

on this particular pole

you've been able to climb - a bit

and they've given you more responsibility 

they aren't paying you any more - yet

but you're sure they will

and so you start to climb

and you climb

and you think that this one  maybe is the one for you

and they do - eventually 

give you more money

a little more

every month

allowing you to save - well save a little

OK spend most of it 

and you don't really feel like you have more money than before

especially as your workload has increased

but you are still on this particular greasy pole

and climbing it

so you climb

and earn more

so you have more to spend

so you spend more

you buy a new car

you buy a house

you take foreign holidays

and work harder

and earn more

...and 'round

and 'round you go

and you meet someone

maybe they are also clinging to this particular greasy pole

and maybe you move in together

in an attempt to save money

but you don't

so you work harder

to pay for it all

and you have kids

and so your partner has to hop off this particular greasy pole for a while

and so you have to climb higher 

and earn more...

and more...

and then...

one day

one day you wake up

it might be several years into your working life

and you might have made it in your life - so you think

you might be at the top of your particular greasy pole

you might not be

you might have slipped down every greasy pole you've ever been on

you might have grown-up children who are also starting to look for a greasy pole to hold on to

you might not have

but you wake up this particular day

one day like all the rest

and you look around

at all you've worked hard for

you reflect on all those greasy poles you've managed to climb

all those ones you've slipped from

and you think 

about all that grease you're are now covered in

from all those greasy poles

...and you think

...and you think - you think

...what the hell was all that about?!

(Haiku)

"Who am I to judge?"

Signed: Lord Chief Justice Dury

K.C. O-M-G!

Speeding Through Cornwall

Speeding through Cornwall

on the G-W-R

warm and comfortable

and quite near the bar!

Stations we stop at

some we fly through

wind turbines spinning

powering the view

Woods, estuaries 

a church with a steple

the back garden views

and roads full of people

Ponies in paddocks

sheltering in hedges

sheep in the fields

with trees 'round the edges

Viaducts and bridges

branchlines that go

to seaside destinations

with names that you know

Passengers baggage

cases on wheels

dogs in their harnesses

and women in their heels

Staring at mobile screens

tapping away

checking connections 

for the rest of the day

Speeding - no wait!

this stop wasn't planned

an announcement about something

I don't understand 

Dam and blast!

now this just won't do!

...so pour me another 

I'm getting sick of this view!

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Those Who

Those who were dancing

were thought - totally insane 

by those who could not

the sweet music; hear

Those making the music

were thought - a vertuoso

by those who could not

those instruments; play

The teachers; their motivation 

were thought -  most

inspirational

encouraging their students 

those instruments; to learn

The parents who saw passion

were thought - so suportive

giving their children

the backing; required

The craftsmen who made 

were thought - highly skilled

by those who made music

and their instruments; played 

Those the music touched

were thought - exquisite 

dancers

compelled to express

the music, most fine!

Yet 

...those who were dancing

were thought - totally insane 

by those who could not

this sweet music hear

Tweaked Scientific Formulas

You seem distant

unless you divide yourself with time

then you'll be speed!

You're time

Unless you divide yourself by the change in velocity 

then you're accelerating!

You are a mass

unless you multiply yourself by acceleration

then - you are a force!

You're an energy!

unless you are divided by time

then you become a real power!

You are a mass

unless you multiply yourself with velocity

then you become momentum

This mass

when multiplied with gravity

makes you a weight

You're time

unless you multiply yourself by force

then you're a change in momentum 

You are a mass

unless you divide yourself by volume

which makes you density

Remember - you matter!

unless you multiply yourself by the speed of light

then you're energy!

I'm force!

Unless I'm multiplied by distance

Then - I'm work done!

Take To Your Bed

Take to your bed

for winters cold dark days cometh

and with it 

that jolly rogue "Jack Frost" 

He'll set about his antics

bringing a chill 

which taketh from us 

the old and the frail

freezing their final breath before their very eyes

His playful 

devil-may-care manner

will nip at your fingertips

yet leave beautiful "iced ferns"

to decorate your windows

he'll freeze your pipes

but colour white

the thatched roofs of the cities houses

take to your bed - wrap up warm

for "Jack Frost" slips in unbeknownst 

under doorways

blows in through draughty windows

billowing curtains

darting hither-and-thither

confusing our minds

slowing us down 

with fumbling fingers

and impaired judgement 

reach for your warmest attire

but take to your bed 

and so

with a hot beverage

don't let "Jack Frosts" mischief

...take you away

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