Haiku in Action 2

 Haiku in Action 2

by Robert Kingston

Haiku in Action 1

 

Haiku in Action 1

by Robert Kingston

 Riddles 31

By the Riddler

The Riddler has two puzzles for us today:

 

No 1.  Remove DAISY from the following sentence to form another flower ~ COY IRISH DAD. 

No 2. Lucy is now half her Mother’s age.  When she was 15, her mother was 37. What are their ages now?

 

Keep em coming Riddler

 

I Said to the Man…

  

I Said to the Man 2…

By Jane Goodhew 

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the  year.

“I don’t suppose you could move your rear.

As I need to get through and you are spoiling the view”

He looked at me with disgust and then with a huff

He moved to the side and said

“I am your guide”

And without further ado took me for a ride.

Over the lawn and around the lakes

On his oversized mower

For it was his garden that had won prize of the year!

Oh dear!

Accelerated Growth ( 300 Words)

 Accelerated Growth.

By Len Morgan

  It started in 2017 with Brexit and the disastrous crop failures across Europe and the resulting shortages in our shops.  Our Government decided we could not afford to be caught with our pants down again.  So the UK Agro-Science community was put to work.  In just a few short months it resulted in the development of the Accelerated Growth Hormone (AGH), to increase the growth rate of vegetation, allowing us to grow crops in days rather than weeks.  There were the usual protest marches through the major cities of London, Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff & Birmingham, demanding that we slow down and carry out clinical trials before using AGH commercially.  But we didn't listen even when the SNP threatened yet another vote for Scottish independence...

AGH was such a boon, plants grew at vastly increased rates and AGH was relatively cheap to produce so, it was broadcast on the land as fertilizer. 

Within months we were selling AGH to other countries, and distributing it free gratis to third world countries; benevolent souls that we were. 

Five years on, we learned the folly of it all.  AGH was ingested by animals, birds, insects, microbes, all showed signs of accelerated growth.  In addition, they displayed accelerated speed. 

Flying insects displayed increased metabolism.  They were able to out fly their predators, as a result many bird species initially began to die off, then they stabilized and began to catch up.  At the same time, rapid aging signs were witnessed, at which point the use of AGH was banned in the UK, EU, and the USA.  But, other Nations had their own agenda...

 .-...-.

Have you noticed how fast your grandchildren are growing up?  Always on the move, quick thinking, fast action, is it what I think or, is it just old age catching up on me?

Copyright Len Morgan 

Too Short for Comfort ~ (300 words)

 Too Short for Comfort

By Jane Goodhew

Rain was not forecast for today but that did not seem to stop it from tipping it down and now I looked like the combination of a drowned rat or a severely depressed person in need of some tender loving care!   There was nothing I could do about it as my interview was in ten minutes and I still had to find the correct building.  Of all days for me to be late in leaving home it had to be today.   Finally I saw number 300 so pushed the door open and went straight to the receptionist to introduce myself and apologise for my dishevelled appearance.  She gave me a look that said it all and I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole.  Instead, I smiled sweetly at her and asked if I had time to use the washroom before my interview?  She nodded and gave me directions but said to make sure I was on time because Mr Walker was very punctual.   With lightening speed I was there and back again and she looked in amazement when she saw the transformation the use of the hand dryer and some fresh lipstick could make.

“Miss Taylor”?  I turned in the direction of the voice and a tall, distinctive man was standing in the doorway, “please come in”.      The office was bright with natural light from the wall to ceiling. The windows had a view across London to the Thames.  He pulled the chair out for me and asked if I would like a drink, tea, coffee or something stronger.  I declined the offer and asked if perhaps he would like to give me more information about his expectations and if I was suitable when the start date would be?  Smiling and without further ado said “Tomorrow?”

Copyright Jane Goodhew

I said to the Man...

 I said to the Man 1... 

Barbara Thomas 

• I SAID TO THE MAN WHO STOOD AT THE GATE
•  
• GIVE ME A LIGHT THAT I MIGHT TREAD SAFELY INTO THE UNKNOWN
•  
• AND HE REPLIED “GO OUT INTO THE DARKNESS  AND PUT YOUR HAND INTO THE HAND OF GOD
•  
• THAT SHALL BE BETTER THAN LIGHT AND SAFER THAN A KNOWN WAY”
•  
• SO I WENT FORWARD HOLDING THE HAND OF GOD, TROD GLADLY INTO THE NIGHT.
•  
• AND HE LED ME TOWARDS THE HILLS AND THE BREAKING OF DAY IN THE LOVE OF THE EAST.

 

This poem was written by

Minnie Louise Haskins ~  1875-1957

 

What is very interesting is the poem

was spoken by King George VI in his Christmas 1939 broadcast to the Empire, these words struck a cord with a country facing the uncertainty of War.

 

The words were also inscribed at the entrance of the George VI Memorial Chapel, in St George’s Chapel in Windsor plus in the window at the Queen’s Chapel at the Savoy, Tunbridge Wells in 1957.

 

This poem was used at the funeral of Elizabeth, the Queen Mother in 2002

 

And what did the poem mean.

Believe in God

Tread softly into the unknown

I can relate to this as I pack-up all my belongings to a place I don’t know and never ever been there leaving the safe peaceful countryside, straight into a busy London Borough and just trusting  my faith that he will help me into the unknown.

 

Barbara Thomas  22.12.2025