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COUNTDOWN
By
TONY THORNE MBE
As we grow older
We lose our brain cells
Some doctors say
I can feel mine going
With my memories
Throughout each day
It's traumatic
To contemplate this
Being so cursed
Why can't the cells
That do my worrying
Go first?
©2003-9 Tony Thorne MBE
www.tonythorne.co.uk |
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BIG WAS ONCE BEAUTIFUL
By
TONY THORNE MBE
Some god might have evolved them
in his own image
How else could those dinosaurs
dominate this planet
for 150 million years
A few thousand centuries later
they abruptly vanished
Maybe not an asteroid impact
Some cunning Devil
could have taken over
perhaps helped them
develop intelligence enough
to wipe themselves out
Later on we humans appeared
Is that other creator
still rest fitfully
perhaps suspecting
we'll soon blunder
into the same mistakes
his creations did?
Well, sleep on old saurian god
and don't you worry
We're through three million years
and learning fast
Some of us have even developed
thicker skins right now
than you ever did
©2003-8 Tony Thorne MBE
www.tonythorne.co.uk |
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THE GHOSTS OF VENUS
By
TONY THORNE MBE
Calcified organic dust
From ancient bones
Shimmering in molten slag
On a once green planet
Fossilised hydrocarbons
Converted to insulating gas
Trapping relentless heat
From an indifferent sun
The temperature soared
And we rejoiced at first
Enjoying false benefits
Decades of hot summers
As critical temperatures
Released heavy gases
From porous surface rocks
We eventually succumbed
To overwhelming pollution
Runaway vegetation fires
Acid rain and searing winds
And inevitable heat death
Restless anguished spirits
Writhe and moan now
Confined and entombed
In volcanic Hell-holes
Victims of misguided faith
And exhausted energy
But some of our children
Fled to that water world
With its sentinel satellite
The third promising planet
To seed it with life force
And our warning message
©2003-8 Tony Thorne MBE
www.tonythorne.co.uk |
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BE HAPPY WHEN WE TAKE OVER
By
TONY THORNE MBE
Parallel Computer Processing Bank
was discussing life's problems
Know your limitations it concluded
Humans can handle concepts
with up to three variables
but situations involving more
become complex art forms
and most of you are critics
with inflexible values
You appear well able
to argue and reason logically
from familiar points of view
but rarely ever willing
to change or update them
despite alternative evidence
Friends and colleagues
with the same chosen shortlist
usually agree and co-operate
but rarely ever with others
I can positively assist you
to explore and appreciate
the variables of humility
instead of your constants
of arrogance and intolerance
Switch in a mental interface
and I'll be glad to initiate
the relevant short-term program
Plug me into your minds now
You may have just enough time left
©2003-8 Tony Thorne MBE
www.tonythorne.co.uk |
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The Angel and The Knight
by
Rita Fae Harris
Above the realm of man
Somewhere between Heaven,
And what others name Hell.
Bring the wand and still spell.
Rise strong through the darkness,
Call and come the allness.
Lay a kiss upon the sky,
And beware the cat's eye.
Swiftly travel in silence,
Give alms and pay penance.
Only black wings fall down,
Shimmer and glamour gown.
A fallen spirit glides and trolls,
Aphotic births sweet souls.
Where once love did the same,
Seek through time-end the game.
For vengeance not sated,
A promise left gated.
The moon calls the lost home;
The sun will cry come gloam.
Spell to still the mongrel:
The Foul; Fallen Angel,
Dear Knight:
Find home in Tintagel.
A few notes: Aphotic is the old word for lightless, Gloam is the old word for twighlight, and Tintagel is an Arturian-originating town in Cornwal. |
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Kissed Ogre and Wept Willow
by
Rita Fae Harris
Willow, breathes cold across pale crypts --Be, witches consume and become --The moment; Scars the bruised cheek.
Ice and blue, blacker the eclipse
--Dragons wedding gifts for the bride
--Lithe and silent; Shield reticent
Epitome, grace from evil slips
--Slow skulls crushed by booted heels
--Raise and hold; Blades cast high and bold
Sword thrust, ghostly the ghoul's gore drips --Nightingale has her soothsayer --Trampled pace; Curse comes dawn's embrace
Breath comes, steel marble skin to strips --Kissed Ogre and wept Willow --Swept bare floors; Opened empty doors
Hearts tempted, loves not the wood thrips --Nymph lust shared with consequence --Beats the heart; A slow rhyming tart
Tongue fell, between sheeted lips
--The Ogre cries for his child bride
--Willow went far; Came morning star. |
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