Storm Cieran

Beware - Cieran's coming and he's bringing his mates
not nice mates so I hear - take care!
If you have hatches to batten down
batten them down now!
Cieran's mates are going throw stones at your shiny new car
lash that boat you worked hard to buy
pull at it's mourings
and maybe send it to the under-world!

Cieran's mates are going get into all 
those little cracks and crevices
they'll break into your house
under doors and through openings
they'll ruin that nice carpet you just had laid
lift those expensive tiles you had fitted in the extension
even leave stains your walls.

These thugs will disrupt travel
close river crossings
block roads and railways
close schools
cancel plans
howl through telephone lines
rip them down 
separating you from your world
trees will tumble
who knows where they'll land
they will lay waste to your gardens
damage walls and roofs - chimneys will topple!

But just who upset Cieran?
Did you say something?
Did you do something to make Cieran cross - enough to send his mates in?
Did you?




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




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!