Homework 20/2/17 Old Man Time
Moderator: Shelley Hansen
- Wendy Seddon
- Posts: 446
- Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 5:20 pm
- Location: Medowie NSW
Homework 20/2/17 Old Man Time
The old man sat on threadbare mat,
his joints too old to kneel.
With pince-nez perched, his fingers searched
one tiny golden wheel.
He scoffed at time when in his prime,
awaits no man they said.
He tried to flee fate's cruel decree -
it reeled him in instead!
No maiden's bait to relocate
from rooms below the stairs.
His shopfront signed upon the blind -
"All watch and clock repairs"
Rebirthing clocks in thrice darned socks,
fights memory's group attack.
But hours that chime for Old Man Time
can never be wound back!
his joints too old to kneel.
With pince-nez perched, his fingers searched
one tiny golden wheel.
He scoffed at time when in his prime,
awaits no man they said.
He tried to flee fate's cruel decree -
it reeled him in instead!
No maiden's bait to relocate
from rooms below the stairs.
His shopfront signed upon the blind -
"All watch and clock repairs"
Rebirthing clocks in thrice darned socks,
fights memory's group attack.
But hours that chime for Old Man Time
can never be wound back!
Wen de Rhymewriter There is nothing mundane about the ordinary.
- Shelley Hansen
- Posts: 2269
- Joined: Sun May 04, 2014 5:39 pm
- Location: Maryborough, Queensland
- Contact:
Re: Homework 20/2/17 Old Man Time
Excellent metaphorical verse, Wendy! That technique of blurring the line between the real and the figurative is so poetic!!
Well done!
Shelley
Well done!
Shelley
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com
"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com
"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")
- Wendy Seddon
- Posts: 446
- Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 5:20 pm
- Location: Medowie NSW
Re: Homework 20/2/17 Old Man Time
Thanks Shelley.
A new thing for me. Thought I might give it a go....the prompts inspired me into it!
A new thing for me. Thought I might give it a go....the prompts inspired me into it!
Wen de Rhymewriter There is nothing mundane about the ordinary.
- Maureen K Clifford
- Posts: 8156
- Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:31 am
- Location: Ipswich - Paul Pisasale country and home of the Ipswich Poetry Feast
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Re: Homework 20/2/17 Old Man Time
Nicely done Wendy 

Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/
I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/
I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.
- Shelley Hansen
- Posts: 2269
- Joined: Sun May 04, 2014 5:39 pm
- Location: Maryborough, Queensland
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Re: Homework 20/2/17 Old Man Time
Hi Wendy
Have you read Kay Gorring's poem The Harder Road? It was highly commended in last year's Ipswich Poetry Feast (and again in this year's Blackened Billy) and you can read it here: http://www.ipswichpoetryfeast.com.au/20 ... bush_5.htm
This poem is a very personal account of her own battle with cancer and it is a real gem. Apart from the emotive aspects, what I really like about it in a poetic sense is the way she personifies the different qualities, feelings and reactions involved. So it is as if all these things were real people marching in and out of her life, disrupting it in their own particular ways.
By the way, by navigating back from that link I gave you above, you can also read all the other placed poems from Ipswich (including junior sections). Well worth the time (and a good excuse for a cuppa!)
Cheers
Shelley
Have you read Kay Gorring's poem The Harder Road? It was highly commended in last year's Ipswich Poetry Feast (and again in this year's Blackened Billy) and you can read it here: http://www.ipswichpoetryfeast.com.au/20 ... bush_5.htm
This poem is a very personal account of her own battle with cancer and it is a real gem. Apart from the emotive aspects, what I really like about it in a poetic sense is the way she personifies the different qualities, feelings and reactions involved. So it is as if all these things were real people marching in and out of her life, disrupting it in their own particular ways.
By the way, by navigating back from that link I gave you above, you can also read all the other placed poems from Ipswich (including junior sections). Well worth the time (and a good excuse for a cuppa!)
Cheers
Shelley
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com
"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com
"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")
- Wendy Seddon
- Posts: 446
- Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 5:20 pm
- Location: Medowie NSW
Re: Homework 20/2/17 Old Man Time
Great poems Shelley and I do really like 'The Harder Road'
Such talent out there!
Hmmm...head spinning now!
Such talent out there!
Hmmm...head spinning now!
Wen de Rhymewriter There is nothing mundane about the ordinary.
- Shelley Hansen
- Posts: 2269
- Joined: Sun May 04, 2014 5:39 pm
- Location: Maryborough, Queensland
- Contact:
Re: Homework 20/2/17 Old Man Time
Yes, Wendy, that's how reading good poetry affects me too ... sends me back to my "blank sheet of paper" to see what I can do!
Cheers
Shelley
Cheers
Shelley
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com
"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com
"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")
- DollyDot
- Posts: 215
- Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2010 5:30 pm
Re: Homework 20/2/17 Old Man Time
Nice Wendy,
Very stirring! I keep going back and reading it. thought provoking.
Dot
Very stirring! I keep going back and reading it. thought provoking.
Dot
- Wendy Seddon
- Posts: 446
- Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 5:20 pm
- Location: Medowie NSW
Re: Homework 20/2/17 Old Man Time
Thank you Dot.
These pages are so encouraging! I am so happy you liked it.
These pages are so encouraging! I am so happy you liked it.

Wen de Rhymewriter There is nothing mundane about the ordinary.