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Fog

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Originally published: 29th September 2019

Image by LIMAT MD ARIF from Pixabay

This Poem was placed 1st in the "STRAND CHOICE 12" Poetry Contest sponsored by Brian Strand (Judged 29th February 2020)

I kept on the grass Away from the road There was silence wherever I walked. My school balaclava Covered my head And I “smoked” whenever I talked. Assembled that morning We'd sung about Jesus And I prayed I was on the right track. As the freezing cold mist Invaded my senses I met myself coming back. I heard a cough And it got louder A figure with torch and dog Appeared from nowhere Through the blanket Of that 1960s’ fog.

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Terry Miller

Date: 1/6/2022 6:36:00 AM

Extremely well-crafted poem congratulations.

Gary Radice
Date: 1/6/2022 6:53:00 AM

Thanks Terry your comments are very much appreciated. Cheers - Gary

Joanna Daniel

Date: 1/5/2022 9:38:00 PM

Oh yeah, love the fog anytime, it has a sense of mystical magic around it, well written, Gary, congratulations:)

Gary Radice
Date: 1/6/2022 2:54:00 AM

I agree about fog Jo - I love it too - Except when I'm driving :) Thanks Jo! Cheers - Gary

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 1/5/2022 7:25:00 PM

Fog has such intricate mystery. I grew up navigating the fog on early mornings walking to school when we couldn’t see our hand in front of our face. I enjoyed your winning poem. Congratulations Gary, on your second placement. New year blessings xxoo

Gary Radice
Date: 1/6/2022 3:01:00 AM

Thanks Connie. That's the type of fog that I remember too. Exciting and mystical and..waiting for a poem to be written about it. :) Cheers - Gary

Mystic Rose Rose

Date: 1/5/2022 7:04:00 PM

What a great memory you shared here, congratulations on your winning poetry, Well done. :)

Gary Radice
Date: 1/6/2022 3:06:00 AM

Thank you Mystic. I can recall memories from childhood and describe how I remember them but ask me what I did last week and I'm struggling. :) Cheers - Gary

Terry Flood

Date: 1/5/2022 3:23:00 PM

Oh how I remember those fogs, you could actually taste them. Really like this Gary. Congrats on your win. Terry

Gary Radice
Date: 1/6/2022 3:09:00 AM

Hi Terry. Thanks for your comments. I can still taste them too..The burning of coal fires and smoke from chimneys probably didn't help but..."it never did us any harm." (And now I sound as old as the 60 year old that I am) :) Cheers - Gary

Jo Chamberlain

Date: 1/5/2022 12:26:00 PM

I remember as a child I absolutely loved the fog. I also loved breathing smoke in the bitter cold, like a dragon. Well penned.

Gary Radice
Date: 1/5/2022 12:42:00 PM

When life was simple. Who needed a mobile phone when you could pretend to smoke? :) Cheers - Gary

Justin Clason

Date: 1/5/2022 8:18:00 AM

Very visual, great job

Gary Radice
Date: 1/5/2022 9:05:00 AM

Thank you Justin. Much appreciated. Cheers - Gary

Bryan Norton

Date: 1/5/2022 8:12:00 AM

Hi Gary, I liked this a lot. I could feel the misty morning. Good flow and rhyme. Take care, friend.

Gary Radice
Date: 1/5/2022 9:07:00 AM

Hi Bryan! Thank you. I just shut my eyes and I was back walking through that sixties' fog. I just wrote what I imagined. :) Cheers - Gary

Brian Strand

Date: 10/6/2021 12:27:00 AM

Yes Gary,I remember those pea-soupers..before the clean-air act took hold

Gary Radice
Date: 10/6/2021 12:39:00 AM

Health aside I preferred the atmosphere of walking in pea soupers ..great atmosphere..droplets of ice, mist..ok..smoke but I just loved the silence and 'imagery'...I find more to write about bleakness than I do colour..it's more 'colourful. Cheers - Gary

Sam Kauffman

Date: 3/30/2021 10:37:00 AM

Life can be a "fog" oftentimes both walking through it and our lack of clarity. Love the "torch and the dog" - a light in our fog. You have created that sense of fog, "smoked when I talked" with a simplicity of image and story. Congrats and kudos on your win as the fog clears.

Gary Radice
Date: 3/30/2021 11:11:00 AM

Thank you Sam for your very insightful comments. I really appreciate them. Cheers - Gary :)

David Kavanagh

Date: 3/30/2021 2:13:00 AM

I remember them fogs from my childhood too Gary, but I think it was more smog back then, I particularly like the line meeting yourself coming back, really brings clarity, to a somewhat spiritual ethereal poem, great piece of work, cheers David, oh and congratulations as well

David Kavanagh
Date: 3/30/2021 3:15:00 AM

I was never picked up from school from the age of 6, come hail rain or snow, different times back then, besides I’d have missed all the scraps outside, ha

Gary Radice
Date: 3/30/2021 3:05:00 AM

Thanks David. Yes..smog..remember that. This from a time when school allowed pupils to go home if there was a thick fog. I'm sure pupils had to be picked up by parents but I remember walking home by myself a few times so not sure how that worked. :) Cheers - Gary

Greg Gaul

Date: 3/29/2021 4:37:00 PM

Gary, this was cleverly crafted controlling the reader with manipulating time and with rich imagery. Masterful work here, congratulations.

Gary Radice
Date: 3/29/2021 10:43:00 PM

Thanks Greg for your encouraging and kind words. I often 'go back" to childhood in my poems in an attempt to explore and understand how it has shaped me today. If that all sounds a bit deep and pretentious it's not meant to be. I had a very happy childhood and find it a great source for ideas. Cheers - Gary

Elaine George

Date: 9/6/2020 4:08:00 AM

You have a way of taking the reader with...I felt like I was there...could see it so vividly. You, a great writer, Gary!

Gary Radice
Date: 9/6/2020 5:01:00 AM

Thank you very much Elaine. I truly appreciate your feedback. I always set out to try and create an atmosphere in my poems so it was lovely to read your comments. Cheers - Gary

Line Gauthier

Date: 2/22/2020 6:48:00 PM

Well done, Gary. Love your poem.

Gary Radice
Date: 2/23/2020 4:57:00 AM

Thanks Line. My attempt at placing focus both on the very thick fogs we had back in the '60s and also a child's 'fog of confusion'.

David Holmes

Date: 10/12/2019 10:27:00 AM

Gary, really enjoyed your poem, well done, especially this line: "And I “smoked” whenever I talked." DHolmes

Gary Radice
Date: 10/12/2019 11:27:00 AM

Thanks David. If there is one thing I associate with freezing fog as a child it was the Carbon Dioxide (and the desire to get home as quick as possible of course) Cheers Gary