Dover’s high
Cliffs reach towards the sky.
William the Conqueror breached the wall;
Spain, France, Germany…these waters held back them all.
Drake, Nelson, and Spitfire pilots in turns stood tall.
What do you call this battlefield trench?
The English Channel; French
Call La Manche.
Categories:
manche, england, hero, history, ocean,
Form: Verse
Tala tala jhardaichu
Jimdai bhayera pani mardaichu
Aafnu jindagi bada
Mo nai alik sardaichu
Kati din pachi ta manche le malie
thukkcha
Tei apman bata bachnu mo jasto
lukcha
Tara je sukai pani hos
Yo sabai le mero mutu dhukcha
Tara j sukai pani hos mo hardina
Maile kosaile pani manparos mo
telai tardina
Ani Jo sukai le malie chot pugaos
Mo telai kahile mardina mardina
Categories:
manche, absence
Form: ABC
ACHTUNG, MES AMIS
The islands resolutely isolated from the shore
had atmosphere : they were redolent of an insolence
which betokened ‘Do come and get me, if you damn well dare.’
Its minor mountains, be amazed, look, of an eminence
protruding from deceptively calm waters past La Manche,
scant altitude, but attitude, enough to sink their fleets;
with birds whose complaints and laughter would fill the Sunday rags,
and tempt to silly invasions - all coupled with defeats.
Come, ask yourselves, oh Latin Ones, on what does this depend ?
You win with words, or food; pr’aps you’re not right, quite, for the fight ?
Ye Krauts, at our shores your ambitions flounder to their end,
perhaps it’s time that you give up, kowtow, and see the light ?
For friends, that’s what, deep down, we know you really, truly are,
of course we’ll squabble, we’re close, that goes without being said.
Just as long as you give us space - without the laws you need -
with you we will even break our white, sliced, and pre-packed bread ....
Alan McAlpine Douglas
(Challenge words : island resolute isolated redolent
mountain amazed water birds laughter flounder)
Categories:
manche, funny, political,
Form: I do not know?
If I am ambitious, on one future day,
I will make the swim from Dover to Calais.
If I am ever granted carte blanche,
I will cross the body of water French call “La Manche”.
Many athletic swimmers have done it before.
If I do it, I will be just one more.
To fight the swift current between England to France,
will take the most audacious and determined chance.
However, there is one thing I need to remember.
The attempt should not be made in January or December.
Although I may be considered bold,
the water during those months will be too cold.
Categories:
manche, adventure, sports, water, water,
Form: Rhyme