Home » Poems » Paul Callus » The Layabout

The Layabout

patiently, in silence
I build stone next to stone
course over course ~
the sitting idler 
watches and finds faults 

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A new hiku footle or tanka contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand
     Received an HM
© 5th November 2022

lifetanka

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Sneha Rv

Date: 6/26/2023 6:16:00 AM

your poetry builds that beautiful wall i think ... i really find it meditative reading them :)

Paul Callus
Date: 6/27/2023 12:59:00 PM

Thank you dear Sneha. Your string of visits have made my day!! Take care and keep your muse busy! // paul

FJ Thomas

Date: 1/8/2023 1:29:00 PM

Ah the often unnecessary words of the idle, yet nosy, person. Your words ring true my friend.

Paul Callus
Date: 1/12/2023 4:04:00 AM

Thank you, Flo. Talk comes easy for loungers...time for them to pick up their bums and start working. ~ Regards // paul

Susan Ashley

Date: 11/13/2022 1:24:00 PM

Dear Paul, indeed, your Tanka speaks volumes.. but of course no one can express a vast idea in so few words as you. Your beautiful brevity never fails to amaze me! Warmest wishes and hugs, my wonderful friend.. ~Susan

Paul Callus
Date: 1/12/2023 4:10:00 AM

Thank you for your complimentary remarks, dear Susan. On a lighter note said with a smile...the less I say the less mistakes I make :) Warm regards & Hugs my friend // paul

Valsa George

Date: 11/11/2022 8:11:00 AM

An idle person has plenty of time at his disposal to find fault with other people's works where as an active person focuses only on the work at hand ! A meaningful tanka, dear Paul

Paul Callus
Date: 11/11/2022 9:34:00 AM

You sum it up extremely well, Valsa! Thank you for stopping by, my friend. Best regards // paul

Linda Alice Fowler

Date: 11/10/2022 6:55:00 AM

Congratulations your win Paul! :)

Paul Callus
Date: 11/11/2022 8:33:00 AM

Thank you Linda. Best regards // paul

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 11/9/2022 11:15:00 AM

Excellent writing, Paul!

Paul Callus
Date: 11/11/2022 8:31:00 AM

Thank you, Andrea. Have a lovely weekend // paul

Mystic Rose Rose

Date: 11/9/2022 4:10:00 AM

hmm this happens all too often Paul, that is why I pluck on without looking sideways, lol, love and prayers :)

Paul Callus
Date: 11/11/2022 8:29:00 AM

Thank you, Vienna. Yours is the right attitude. There is an ocean between words and facts. Warm regards, my friend /x/ paul

Sara Kendrick

Date: 11/8/2022 2:04:00 PM

I like those two last lines. Way to go with this winner. Congratulations. Sara

Paul Callus
Date: 11/9/2022 1:25:00 AM

Thank you, Sara. It's always a pleasure when you stop by. Best regards // paul

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 11/7/2022 12:28:00 PM

Hi Paul, Quite unfortunately during South Africa's apartheid era, there was a lot of this going on. Thank God for change. Paul, a great Tanka. Hugs and warm regards, Jennifer.

Paul Callus
Date: 11/7/2022 1:04:00 PM

The Apartheid era and racial segregation were hard times...but you would know more about it than I do, Jenny! Thank you for stopping by, my friend. ~ Warm regards & Hugs // paul

Susan Lawrence

Date: 11/6/2022 1:18:00 PM

Yes the sitting idler who finds fault . I have seen a few of them . They have to point the finger at others . Sometimes it makes them feel more important or at least have a purpose for that moment in time . I love the poignancy here !! Big hugs Paul . I have missed your poems . Hope you are feeling strong and healthy again my friend . Love and all good wishes, Susan :)

Paul Callus
Date: 11/7/2022 7:34:00 AM

I love your insightful feedback, Susan. My health is on the mend (I have not been very active, but certainly have not been a *sitting idler* :)) Thank you for lighting up my page with your visit :) Warm regards & hugs, my friend. // paul

Len Gasun

Date: 11/5/2022 8:14:00 PM

Fault finders are always the villains in true to life story my dear friend Paul. Great tanka you've written my dear friend. I'm so delighted to read from you again. Thanks a lot for sharing. All the best in the contest my dear friend. God bless you always and your writings. Hugs

Paul Callus
Date: 11/6/2022 1:07:00 AM

Thank you for liking and commenting, my friend. Hope you are having a nice weekend. Best regards // paul

Panagiota Romios

Date: 11/5/2022 6:40:00 PM

Fault finders are like weeds in a beautiful garden of humanity! THEY DISAPPEAR anyway. I am sure, we poets have our human failings. Being judgemental is sewn into our fabric, the day we are born, but who will admit to that? We may not express it verbally but we do think it! ….best wishes. Pangie Pangie It’s always fun for me, anyway, to say THANK YOU FOR SHARING, LOL PANGIE

Paul Callus
Date: 11/6/2022 1:46:00 AM

Thank you, Pangie. Your comments are always a pleasure to read, and I always know where I stand with you. It is easy to be a 'fault finder' as most armchair critics are; I prefer instead to walk the path of encouragement. ~ Have a lovely day, my friend. // paul

Speaks Volumes

Date: 11/5/2022 3:32:00 PM

As bad or worse than a 'back seat driver' So annoying. Well said Paul.

Paul Callus
Date: 11/6/2022 1:15:00 AM

You are right, Wendy; both can be a pest! Thank you for reading and commenting. Regards // paul

Elizabeth Mccann

Date: 11/5/2022 2:00:00 PM

Absolutely, Paul. It was ever so! Only the fault-finder never seems to recognize that we know perfectly well his pose. Elizabeth

Paul Callus
Date: 11/5/2022 2:42:00 PM

Fault-finders are ever-present in our lives, Elizabeth. Talk is easy; facts are harder. ~ Warm regards // paul

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 11/5/2022 12:49:00 PM

- You are right, Paul ... great written :) - GL in the contest :) - hugs

Paul Callus
Date: 11/5/2022 2:39:00 PM

Thank you, Anne-Lise....glad you enjoyed. Hope you're enjoying the weekend. Hugs // paul

Ilene Bauer

Date: 11/5/2022 11:32:00 AM

So true, Paul, and so well described!

Paul Callus
Date: 11/5/2022 2:24:00 PM

Thank you, Ilene; pleased to have you popping in. Regards // paul

Tom Cunningham

Date: 11/5/2022 11:25:00 AM

Good one Paul, met a few of them in my time. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Paul Callus
Date: 11/5/2022 2:23:00 PM

Thank you, Tom. I used to do a lot of voluntary work, and that is the kind of attitude that I often had to deal with. ~ Best regards, my friend // paul