Samhain

Samhain - pronounced “Sow-win” is a pagan religious festival originating from an ancient Celtic spiritual tradition.

It is pagan holiday 

In the past, people wore costumes and masks to disguise themselves as harmful spirits so to avoid harm themselves 

"Sow-win" is celebrated at sun-set

over the night of October 31st

as children are out "trick or treating"

dressed up in costumes

collecting sweets from willing participants.

"Sow-win" celebrates the Celtic new year

welcoming in the harvest 

ushering in the "dark half" of the year

and the long cold winter nights ahead.

It is traditional to set up an altar for the dead, 

often featuring offerings, 

photographs 

memories of relatives who have gone before

the perfect time to honor nature, 

life and rebirth.

Bonfires, feasting and drinking play a large part in the festivities

The bones of slaughtered livestock were once cast into a communal fire

household fires were then extinguished and started again from that communal bonfire depicting a re-birth.

Those who believe

believe that the barriers between the physical world and the spirit world break down during "Sow-win" 

allowing more interaction between us and humans of "The other world"

I like to take time with the family photos I have 

and reflect on those in my family who have gone before me.

Rules of War (It matters who you kill)

(I have taken the main text of this piece from a piece by the ICRC.org

"The rules of war, or international humanitarian law (as it is known formally) are a set of international rules that set out what can and cannot be done during an armed conflict" 

and edited it for poetic effect

The rules of war.

All parties must distinguish at all times between combatants and civilians. 

(It matters who you kill)

Civilians must never be the target of an attack

(It matters who you kill)

The target must be a military necessity

(It matters who you kill)

Military necessity 

an attack or action must be intended to help in the defeat of the enemy

(It matters who you kill)

it must be an attack on a legitimate military objective 

(It matters who you kill)

the harm caused to civilians or civilian property must be proportional

a distinction must be made

(It matters who you kill)

Distinction 

a principle under international humanitarian law governing the legal use of force in an armed conflict whereby belligerents  must distinguish proportionally between combatants.    and civilians

(It matters who you kill)

Proportionality 

a principle under international humanitarian law governing the legal use of force in an armed conflict

(It matters who you kill)

belligerents must make sure that the harm caused to civilians or civilian property is not excessive and is humane

(It matters who you kill)

Humanity 

a principle based in the Hague Conventions which places restrictions against using arms, projectiles

or materials calculated to cause suffering or injury...

(It matters who you kill)

...manifestly disproportionate to the military advantage realized by the use of the weapon for legitimate and honorable military purposes.

(It matters who you kill)

Honour

a principle that demands a certain amount of fairness and mutual respect between adversaries...

(When you kill to these rules 

               ...you do so with honour)

                      ....so it matters who and how you kill 

but not that you kill

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Tipton St John

the village carpark is full to bursting 

the shop door is jammed open

Saturday overtime is being put in at the village garage

man walking his dog has a furtive cigarette as he goes

as a mother walks with her son

late and lazy breakast smells 

exit from extractor fans

smells emanating from the village pub - draw you in

as does the sign reading  "10:30 coffee club"

competing with teas and coffees on sale at the cricket pavilion 

long passed the cricket season being called OVER!

the churches graveyard

full with headstones

loving words written

people remembered

graves tended

flowers left

sat overlooking the village school 

perhaps known to those who take eternal rest

a school sitting quietly 

awaiting the end of the half term break

as a lady on a horse

ambles passed the former railway station 

now unwelcoming of patronage 

hiding as it does behind a tall hedge

its last train long since departed

now a much loved home

the former level crossing obvious only to those who know

alongside the river 

quietly passing

as water babbles in the brook behind the main street 

joined by the chatter from groups of cyclists as they pass

and a sunny Saturday morning 

busily takes shape - as if people know about the incoming rain

(Haiku)

Lady walking with

the aid of a stick and a 

bottle of vodka

Why Must Life be so Hard

Why must life... (sigh)

             ...be so hard

I've got so much to do

the staff are "oh-so-slow"

It's such a job to organise them

I've got to choose the red for dinner - the Malbec or the Bordeaux?

Why must life... (sigh)

             ...be so hard

The children take up so much time

nanny's not much use!

there's always so much that they need

where are they now - has nanny let them loose?

Why must life... (sigh)

             ...be so hard

Freddy needs new glasses

Timmy's under the "doc"

Lottie needs t'muck out the horses

and Cynthia at a birthday bash - tore her lovely party frock 

Why must life... (sigh)

             ...be so hard

 

There's nothing out for supper

I don't know what to do!

Cook is on her Friday off

I could go down and have a bash - but I simply don't have a clue!

Oh why must life be so hard!

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Mist

The early morning mist wraps itself 'round trees

following the contours 

poking it's nose into rabbit holes!

Mischievous 

mysterious 

indecisive

Keeping its head down

on the run - impossible to catch

unsure of its intentions!

Transient

on its way somewhere

but never sure where!

Flooding valleys

painting fields white like frost

illusive

here then gone

...fleeing from the sun that will take it from us