northie

*the 'musician' entrances the zombie with subtle music* You obviously have no taste if you like it. Shiny needs to be with me!

*introduces the penguin to ballet (on ice) ... waits until the inevitable happens ...* mine, I believe

*the 'musician' pokes the lemur with her instrument (of torture).*

* the 'musician' saunters past playing a fine tune and suddenly...* mine!

*insulted 'musician' cloud surfs, biffs LBO and snatches the shiny from the lemur* Mine

*plays an amplified lullaby to send the lemur back to sleep* Mine, again ...

*serenades the bear so badly that she drops the shiny while putting her paws to her ears* Mine!

but not very good guards Mine, thank you!

The water lilies are gorgeous, the tree roots faintly bizarre. Thanks for sharing the extra photos, Addy.

I'm ashamed to admit that I read it when it first came out and then forgot about it. . I read this post and thought I'd give it a go, went to the story and saw that I'd both rated it and liked it. As soon as I started to reread it, the story came back to me and it is really good. Just, I think I've read so much since then that my brain's had to make room ...

*wears ear protection against the whistling cat* mine (again)

I've just finished my gardening. Look what I've found .... *Picks up the shiny from the fleeing bear* Mine

I'm glad that there was a 'health warnng' when I read this, otherwise I think I would have found it even more upsetting. As I was reading I teared up gradually – for you. For your past and for the present you were living when you wrote and posted this. Your lack of self-worth was what got to me most – I don't know you but I'm getting to know your writing and so, some echo of you. You are talented, your writing has humour, emotion and truth – even this piece, written from a very dark place, conveys so much. Did it help you to write it out? I hope so.

Get a room, the pair of you! I'll look after the shiny ...

*the Borderer trips up the dancing moggie and waltzes off* mine, all mine

*An unknown Border raider walks past the penguin and nicks the shiny, goo and all*

ergonomic

peep

drunk

I largely drink decaffeinated coffee and plain water. Sometimes, diluted fruit squashes or tea. I find most colas, pop and similar undrinkable - on taste grounds or simply because the sugar is so dominant. I went through a period at work when I couldn't get through the day without caffeine. At the end of that particularly stressful period, I weaned myself off the caffeine as soon as possible - I really disliked the idea of caffeine being a crutch.

I first knew it from Britten's choral setting in Rejoice in the lamb. It is C18 free verse - just, nobody knew about it ...

This just reinforces the fact that they were all individuals with their own lives - not just one of a number. Thanks!

Well, the Hardy was offered as a complete contrast to the King so it's not surprising that one appeals over the other. Hardy was writing as an old man, firmly rooted in the Victorian age; the poets of WW1 had lived most of their lives in the C20 and the horror, bitterness, and grief of that conflict forced them to find new ways of expressing their feelings. I have a special place in my soul for their verse. Just before I revert to my role as observer of this thread, I will leave you with one last poem. If any of you are cat lovers or cat observers, think about giving this a go: Christopher Smart For I will consider my cat, Jeoffrey https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/jubilate-agno-fragment-b-i-will-consider-my-cat-jeoffry (you will need to scroll down, and consider having a quick look at the poet's biography - it gives some context). And, thanks for having me.

It depends on your screen resolution (amonst other things), I think. On my laptop I can see what I said on my original entry, on my phone I can see all three quite clearly, on my tablet I can barely see two words ...

The theme of 'Crossing the line' is invoked in multiple ways in this story – sexually, culturally, educationally, legally ... The first way made me feel faintly ill - there are still many countries where my revulsion is inverted and used against people whose only 'crime' is difference. Daniel and Ibi's decision to marry and their ad hoc wedding arrangements made me smile – they were so touching and simple but still with storm clouds around. For the Seneca Nation to defeat the federal authorities and demonstrate common humanity, was a fitting conclusion to a thought-provoking yet tender tale.