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Overlooked Beauty

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Images printed with kind permission of Ray Kelly

Hidden away on our lush verdant hills are crumbling houses and derelict mills These ancient buildings are tumbling down, many people ignore them with a frosty frown! If folks just opened their eyes and they weren’t so aloof they’d learn a Tholtan’s a building that’s missing its roof! Tumbledown cottages covered with green velvet beauty I’m going to explore these old Tholtans, I feel it’s my duty! I saw a grinding wheel which milled grain when it turned and a charred fireplace where a blazing fire once burned If only walls could speak they would tell a story of a once thriving building in its original glory Inspired by a talk from Ray Kelly who has opened MY eyes to the hidden beauty of these Tholtans. Overlooked beauty contest Sponsored by Jesse Rowe 11/5/18

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John Castellenas

Date: 3/18/2019 4:33:00 PM

Photos and words. Outstanding. I like the ancient places. The story, these walls could tell.

Jan Allison
Date: 3/18/2019 4:55:00 PM

Thanks so much John, the poem was inspired by the talk by Ray Kelly it took me some time to locate him to get permission to use his awesome photographs:-) hugs Jan xx

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib

Date: 2/10/2019 12:09:00 PM

Back with Congrats! <3 The photos are gorgeous :) xomo!

Jan Allison
Date: 2/13/2019 2:53:00 PM

thanks Maureen I went to a talk/slide show by Ray and it inspired the poem:-) hugs Jan xx

Joseph May

Date: 2/8/2019 5:00:00 PM

Very nicely penned Jan..Congrats on your win

Jan Allison
Date: 2/9/2019 1:49:00 PM

thanks Joseph:-) hugs Jan xx

Janice Canerdy

Date: 2/8/2019 1:58:00 PM

CONGRATULATIONS on your well-deserved win! Janice

Jan Allison
Date: 2/9/2019 1:49:00 PM

thanks Janice:-) I've added some pictures today:-) hugs Jan xx

Line Gauthier

Date: 2/7/2019 11:25:00 PM

Wow looked up Tholtans... Very cool. Congrats on your win, Jan.

Jan Allison
Date: 2/9/2019 1:48:00 PM

thanks Line:-) I've added some pictures today:-) hugs Jan xx

Judith Kerttula

Date: 1/26/2019 2:03:00 PM

Nice, nice, nice...So many people do not appreciate things of the past. Thanks for sharing.

Jan Allison
Date: 2/9/2019 1:48:00 PM

thanks Judith:-) hugs Jan xx

Gershon Wolf

Date: 12/18/2018 7:57:00 PM

A treasure! Nicely-penned, Jan! Season's best. ~ Gershon

Jan Allison
Date: 2/9/2019 1:45:00 PM

thanks so much GW:-) hugs Jan xx

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 12/16/2018 3:26:00 PM

How I would love to hear the stories these old structures could tell. For the architecture alone, preserving some of them seems essential. Today's new homes are rarely as well constructed. Enjoyed your poem, Jan. Congratulations on your win in Brian's contest! Best wishes, Carolyn

Jan Allison
Date: 2/9/2019 1:44:00 PM

Thanks Carolyn to see the pictures makes you realise they are so beautiful!:-) hugs Jan xx

P.S. Awtry

Date: 12/16/2018 2:59:00 PM

Congrats Jan on your win. Old buildings have something to say and yes much overlooked beauty. I remember an old barn that leaned, and leaned, and leaned some more, for years...until it finally fell. Like a piece of art I'm sure it meant different things to different people. Well done :)

Jan Allison
Date: 2/9/2019 1:40:00 PM

thanks PS Awtry:-) I've added some pictures today:-) hugs Jan xx

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 12/16/2018 2:26:00 PM

I am so happy to see this wonderful poem get more attention Jan. Congratulations on your first place win! : ) xxoo

Jan Allison
Date: 2/9/2019 1:39:00 PM

thanks Connie:-) I've added some pictures today:-) hugs Jan xx

Wren Rushing

Date: 12/16/2018 12:58:00 PM

Well written Jan! Congrats on your win.

Jan Allison
Date: 2/8/2019 5:58:00 PM

thanks Wren:-) hugs Jan xx

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 11/11/2018 1:27:00 PM

You did a wonderful job describing these old buildings, Jan . I have so much yet to do today I am trying to only spend maybe 15 min. here!!

Jan Allison
Date: 11/11/2018 2:15:00 PM

I need to rewrite my 8 x 8 I have a new idea based on my original thoughts! Hugs Jan xx

Gershon Wolf

Date: 11/10/2018 7:44:00 PM

Nicely done, Jan. Evocative imagery. I can sense the walls speaking. Just love these kind of places, dripping with history. :) gw

Jan Allison
Date: 11/11/2018 2:14:00 PM

If you can see beond the crumbling walls there is so much hidden beauty:-) hugs Jan xx

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 11/10/2018 12:49:00 AM

This is excellent Jan. It flows like honey off the tongue. There is such enchantnent in ancient ruins, even more so when the history is known! Bravo! : )

Jan Allison
Date: 11/11/2018 2:13:00 PM

Thanks connie, im still waiting to try and co ta t ray kelly for permission to use some of his pics:-) Hugs Jan xx and

Maurice Rigoler

Date: 11/9/2018 6:26:00 PM

I feel the same way about discarded old things left only to rot. Good flow to your lines along with good rhymes, too. Thanks for reading about "Poor Margo" and her sunning tube demise. BTW, Hell is a mistranslation of the Greek Hades, which, like Hell, doesn't exist, so you won't be going there at all. Best to you. / M

Jan Allison
Date: 11/11/2018 2:12:00 PM

thanks for the info maurice... as im being cremated i know ill be going somewhere hot lol:-) Hugs Jan xx

Charles Messina

Date: 11/8/2018 8:49:00 AM

I love the imagery in this, Jan. Excellent write a fave. Best wishes for a win...hugs // Charlie xx

Jan Allison
Date: 11/11/2018 2:11:00 PM

Thanks so much for the fave charlie! Hugs Jan xx

Eve Roper

Date: 11/6/2018 2:40:00 PM

Great write, Jan, luck in the contest :)

Jan Allison
Date: 11/11/2018 2:10:00 PM

Thanks eve:-) Hugs Jan xx

W.A. Cholt

Date: 11/6/2018 7:21:00 AM

Distracted as we are in this modern world, we miss out on so much. Time to stop and appreciate the beauty around us.

Jan Allison
Date: 11/11/2018 2:10:00 PM

I never knew about tholtans until i went to a talk on them a few weeks ago:-) Hugs Jan xx

Mike Gentile

Date: 11/5/2018 12:08:00 PM

Jan, this was such fun to read. Great composition and lovely imagery. A terrific idea for the contest Happy Monday xxoo

Jan Allison
Date: 11/11/2018 2:09:00 PM

Thanks mike:-) Hugs Jan xx

Chris Green

Date: 11/5/2018 8:22:00 AM

I have always been enthralled and enticed by old abandoned buildings and structures. I find a surreal beauty in their history and in their existing condition. But then again, I seem to find beauty in a lot of things other's don't. I never knew they were called Tholtans. Nicely done Jan.

Jan Allison
Date: 11/11/2018 2:08:00 PM

They are called tholtans here on our island, im not sure what others would call them apart from derelict ruins:-( Hugs Jan xx

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib

Date: 11/5/2018 8:15:00 AM

Very cool poem Jan. good luck in the contest! xomo

Jan Allison
Date: 11/5/2018 8:20:00 AM

Thanks mo I hope to post some of Ray's stunning photos with the poem:-) hugs jan

Tom Cunningham

Date: 11/5/2018 8:09:00 AM

A shame that old buildings are left to rack and ruin. Love it when someone takes it on and restores them to their former glory. Good luck. Tom.

Jan Allison
Date: 11/5/2018 8:15:00 AM

There is so much beauty and history still remaining especially agricultural machinery which is still in situ. I'm hoping to get permission from Ray Kelly to use some of his pics which really reveal the breath taking beauty of our Manx Tholtans hugs Jan xx

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 11/5/2018 7:39:00 AM

So cool! Funny how we love the new but also the old!

Jan Allison
Date: 11/5/2018 7:41:00 AM

There is so much history in these Manx Tholtans and Ray Kelly has written three books with absolutely stunning images. I've mailed him to ask permission to post some with the poem:-) Hugs Jan xx