This year our Ten Things series, on the tenth of each month, is concentrating on things which are wackier than usual, if not by much. From odd road names to Christmas carols by way of saints and scientists. So here goes with April; and for Easter I thought we should have …
Ten 16th Century English Composers
William Byrd (born c.1540) (right)
Thomas Tallis (born c.1505)
Christopher Tye (born 1505)
Orlando Gibbons (born 1585)
Thomas Weelkes (born 1576)
John Wilbye (born 1574)
Peter Philips (born 1560)
Thomas Tomkins (born 1572)
John Shepperd (born 1515)
John Dowland (born 1563)
If you’re interested to know more, all have Wikipedia entries.
This year our Ten Things series, on the tenth of each month, is concentrating on things which are wackier than usual, if not by much. From odd road names to Christmas carols by way of saints and scientists. So here goes with March …
Ten Entries from Ambrose Bierce’s The Devil’s Dictionary
Chop. A piece of leather skilfully attached to a bone and administered to the patients at restaurants. (right)
Dentist. A prestidigitator who, putting metal into your mouth, pulls gold from your pocket.
Cannon. An instrument employed in the rectification of national boundaries.
Noise. A stench in the ear. Undomesticated music. The chief product and authenticating sign of civilization.
Cat. A soft, indestructible automaton provided by nature to be kicked when things go wrong in the domestic circle.
Envelope. The coffin of a document; the scabbard of a bill; the husk of a remittance; the bed-gown of a love-letter.
Hand. A singular instrument worn at the end of the human arm and commonly thrust into somebody’s pocket.
History. An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools.
Opera. A play representing life in another world, whose inhabitants have no speech but song, no motions but gestures and no postures but attitudes.
This year our Ten Things series, on the tenth of each month, is concentrating on things which are wackier than usual, if not by much. From odd road names to Christmas carols by way of saints and scientists. So here goes with February, and especially for Lent …
This year our Ten Things series, on the tenth of each month, is concentrating on things which are wackier than usual, if not by much. From odd road names to Christmas carols by way of saints and scientists. So here goes with January …
This is the final episode, covering the last couple of days, of my 100 Days of Haiku challenge. And not soon enough, they all say! Anyway here’s the final round-up.
Monday 7 October
Nudity and sex
need openness, not taboo.
Healthy benefits.
Tuesday 8 October
Silent summer night
and a fox trots up the street,
snack sensor a-twitch.
Bonus
Turkish delight, such
subtly flavoured sweetmeat.
Seraglio’s best.
Here’s the tally of progress by week:
Week
Haiku Written
1
16
2
28
3
33
4
26
5
26
6
27
7
28
8
24
Week
Haiku Written
9
28
10
18
11
26
12
22
13
27
14
23
15
13
Total
365
So what now? Well … First of all I might put together a “Best of …” my 100 Days Haiku. The 365 written contain a lot of dross, and a few good ones that haven’t made the cut here. I shall see if I find any point doing this and then if I get to do it. Secondly, I have another 100 Day challenge lined up; I may delay strating it until the start of next month. So watch this space.
Meanwhile I hope this series provided some amusement – in whatever way!
So here we are at the penultimate instalment of our 100 Days of Haiku challenge. The 100th day is Tuesday 8 October and I’ll post the final results in the middle of next week. Meanwhile here is this week’s offering.
Monday 30 September
Felines emitting
zonkons. No wonder I sleep
all the afternoon.
Tuesday 1 October
Autumn eastern sky;
only two stars, just visible.
Too much urban light.
Wednesday 2 October
Life is suffering
but filled with such wonders:
blue sky and lightning.
Thursday 3 October
Sink and ye shall find,
the tap it is a-dripping.
Plumber required.
Friday 4 October
2AM. She sleeps.
I enjoy a quiet wank.
Ah! So much better.
Saturday 5 October
Three eager felines
awaiting their bowls of cod.
No need to wash up.
Sunday 6 October
October tolls the knell
of distant summer days, and
winter soon to come.
Here’s the tally of progress by week:
Week
Haiku Written
1
16
2
28
3
33
4
26
5
26
6
27
7
28
8
24
Week
Haiku Written
9
28
10
18
11
26
12
22
13
27
14
23
15
Total
352
Final instalment in a few days.
Eccentric looks at life through the thoughts of a retired working thinker
