National Poetry Day

National Poetry Day

The theme is work, but I chose this one for the season.
TO AUTUMN

SEASON OF MISTS AND MELLOW FRUITFULNESS.
CLOSE BOSOM-FRIEND OF THE MATURING SUN;
CONSPIRING WITH HIM HOW TO LOAD AND BLESS
WITH FRUIT THE VINES THAT ROUND THE THATCH-EAVES RUN;
TO BEND WITH APPLES THE MOSSED COTTAGE-TREES,
AND FILL ALL FRUIT WITH RIPENESS TO THE CORE;
TO SWELL THE GOURD AND PLUMP THE HAZEL SHELLS
WITH A SWEET KERNEL; TO SET BUDDING MORE
AND STILL MORE, LATER FLOWERS FOR THE BEES,
UNTIL THEY THINK WARM DAYS WILL NEVER CEASE,
FOR SUMMER HAS O’ER-BRIMMED THEIR CLAMMY CELLS.
by
JOHN KEATS

Song of the Shirt - a poem by Thomas Hood

With fingers weary and worn,
With eyelids heavy and red,
A woman sat, in unwomanly rags,
Plying her needle and thread
Stitch! stitch! stitch!
In poverty, hunger, and dirt,
And still with a voice of dolorous pitch
She sang the "Song of the Shirt."
Wednesday, 8th October

The sunny October weather continues.Got a phone call from Elsa, one of my university friends, to ask if it was ok to come down with her wee grandson after picking him up from nursery.Of course, I was delighted and expected her about elevenish. About quarter to twelve, she phoned to say she was at the top of Gardiner road and could I direct her to mine. What a laugh we had when she came in, but poor wee Oliver was shattered, so we tucked him into one of the chairs where he soon dropped off.I always enjoy her visits as it’s great to hear about all the things she’s involved in. Talked about her Book Group, her visit to Stratford, her visit to China,the Book Festival, the theatre and of course exchanged news about families and friends and losing Bobby and John to the same terrible disease and how we both cope. I gave her the Spanish novels for Oliver’s mum as she’s Spanish.

Went to choir at night but didn’t do much, as we were discussing changes being made in the layout of the church, moving things around etc. It made me think again about retiring as I joined the choir when I was in my teens and sometimes I feeI I can’t give of my best as I used to, plus I sometimes get a bit emotional at certain hymns which can be a bit embarrassing when facing the congregation! Anyway, I can still sing my heart out sitting in a pew.

Hurrah for Gordon! Showed his iron grip at last! Long may it continue!

My blogs just get longer and longer! Must cut them down a bit.