there was a daring young rake named Kent
who spent much time with a married woman from Trent
till it was said
they were caught in her bed
and the husband in his head put a dent
Canterbury
So long ago, St Martyrs Field Road was there my home
There is the huge Martyrs monument of witch burning, oh
Forty-three names on the stone, mine will be the new one
I am the forty-fourth, yes, very famous my life of witchcraft
So many times I watched from my room’s window this monument
I had an ominous feeling, always, very often and it happened
Canterbury a beautiful city, historian, part of world heritage
High street, churches, the cathedral, old houses and buildings
Parks, rivers, everything, traditions, old culture, time traveling
St Thomas catholic church was there my favorite place to contemplate
Sixteen years ago. Time is gone. Life goes on and on, Past far on
I never forget the beautiful tall blonde English lady’s coffee. I loved her.
A time I will visit again this city in Kent
Kent, picturesque landscapes, fantastic
Garden of England, says the saying
I will visit again Canterbury
Secretly, like incognito
I hope we will meet
Oh, amazing heart
A lubricious lady from Kent
one night to a nightclub she went;
there, she spied a young guy
thought she'd give it a try;
turned out, given that up for Lent!
So she lingered around at the bar;
when soon entered a Jolly Jack Tar.
Hello sailor, she said,
will you take me and wed?
He shot off, in his getaway car!
Ohio and Kent State
were far away from Australia.
But like America, the Vietnam war
hung like a noose around
the collective neck of the Nation.
We were fired by a cause,
an innocence born out
of a belief that a voice could be
louder than the gun.
Banners and protest choked
the commerce of cities,
chants rose like prayers
to drown out drums.
Governments saw something
dangerous in the swelling power
of the young.
Then bullets tore into the dream.
The images of death
that had for years soaked
television screens with the blood
of Vietnam, had come home.
Innocence was lost.
Our generation are old
men and women now, picking
over the bones of our dreams.
Some of us still know the words
of Neil Young's anthem, ‘Ohio’,
or Redgum’s ‘I was only 19’,
see the images of war
still bleed across
our television screens.
Come to live in Kent
A lovely place to be.
Close to the continent.
Next the lovely sea.
The garden of England
growing houses fast.
Come to see what's planned,
while the stocks last.
Houses on the down ridge
what a lovely view.
Not for the average,
only for the few.
Live next a reservoir?
Where's the water gone?
But here's our saviour,
bottled waters on.
Travel easy everywhere
on congested roads.
enjoy a slow journey. Beware
those heavy loads.
To the coast, enjoy a swim
in the brown smelly sea.
Only fools would jump right in.
Consequences not foresee.
Woods and fields all gone.
Sanitised in parks.
Streams no longer flow along,
now underground in the dark.
Come visit us before too late.
See our beauteous countryside.
Your senses still it will elate.
Soon downhill we will slide.
Ted Pries August 2022
My glasses, like some current styles,
Large, circular and black,
Are reminiscent of some frames
From quite a few years back.
I rarely wear them in the house;
My sight up close is fine,
But when I head outside they are
A signature of mine.
On FaceTime with my brother,
If I’ve just walked in the door,
He laughs and as he greets me,
I’m aware of what’s in store.
I guess my frames remind him
Of our early TV views,
When Superman dressed in disguise
Reporting on the news.
His Daily Planet cronies
Knew him only as Clark Kent
And his glasses looked like mine,
(Although that wasn’t my intent!)
When I look in the mirror now,
Instead of seeing me,
I see Clark Kent and know my brother
Wouldn’t disagree.
Try to picture one who repents.
It's like one who oneself repaints
Ten liters of paint is lot of money
Try to price it: It's not funny.
While good and bad paint cost a lot
What God just wants is "What we've got."
For those who finally repent
Your big house lost to a tent;
You return all the money lent:
Not just like that, voice of a gent,
For each new sin your fine robes rent,
Your guilty head readily bent.
Remember when you first kissed me -- in Spain
Why'd you have to put me through all that -- pain
You led me to believe
Now I just sit and grieve
Superman has swept you away -- Miss Lane
February 06, 2020
Your Best NEW Limerick Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Tania Kitchin
Yes I believe,
the fastest speed will evaporate your need-
you wanted nothing to complicate your heed,
you wanted what was best and to overcome greed,
yes I believe-
the fastest speed will evaporate your need,
nothing complicating your head or even the next bed,
nothing to spend because you know that's dead,
yes I believe-
in the fastest of the fastest next thing,
and your willingness,
and your forsaking the last blend,
because we know we know how to spend,
we know we know how to bend-
even back flip and trend,
tread waters that commend,
eating all the slaughter because who's Kent?
Kneeling, head bowed, the old
Knight remained still, though his
Knobby and enfeebled
Knees pulsed with pain, his worn
Knuckles ached, bloodied and
Knurled ... honored now, nigh his
KING ... he would ... not ... falter.
* FIRST PLACE in the "Pleiades K" Poetry Contest, Kim Merryman, Sponsor. *
Metropolis didn't have any more phone booths which wasn't fair,
Clark Kent now having to change out in the open air,
one day while he was changing,
elderly ladies started fainting,
thinking he was some stripper from Chippendales.
long hair a sign of rebellion
a leveler for rich and poor
"no money for a hair cut?"
"no problem - you're styling!"
the flannel credo
cheap and colorful
soft, softer, old and see through the
softest
the perfect place to ride
a rebel heart
a two-fingered salute
to the military industrial machine
haywire on testosterone
stick a daisy in that barrel buddy
sex, now that was a rebellion
guiltless sex lauded
"If you can't be with the one you love"
"love the one you're with -- "
take your third eye
use your second sight
put horns on Nixon's head
and fight war
for peace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs6aaaJBAv0
Four students were killed
On May fourth nineteen seventy
Antiwar protest
It’s true. We are the largest newspaper in the nation.
We are far and away number one in circulation.
We need an elite writer to fill this position.
There must be someone talented for the morning edition.
Mr. Kent, could you elaborate on each stint
since the Daily Planet went out of print?
I knew your last editor-in-chief Perry White.
He was quite an astute man and very bright.
Well, I have completely perused your resume.
You are one of many applicants I have interviewed today.
Unfortunately, to you, I have this to say:
You are a talented writer. That cannot be denied.
However, for this position, you are under qualified.
This paper must seek more experienced candidates.
This is something any human resources manager hates.
I thank you for coming in to see me today.
I know you will land another position someday.