Today's poet

[Old Whippet]

sign outside a London block of flats

Honestly, do we have to spell it out?
No tents, space-hoppers, orgies, Brussels sprout
enthusiasts, no sponsored squirrel fights,
no Ayurvedic quacks, no woolly tights,

no weeping for the joy you think you’re owed,
no winking at the house across the road,
dividing rainbows into seven strands
of single colour, no quick show of hands,

no pastry-cutting, origami, chess,
no taking pleasure in your own success,
no sand, no shark impressions, no culottes
no Christmas pantomimes, no liver spots,

no lurking in the shadows by the shed,
no improvised salutes, no olive bread,
no weightless floating with an auctioneer
in the small pond. No ponds. Hope that’s now clear.

Pessimism for Beginners, Sophie Hannah (Carcanet, 2007)

This poem is called No ball games by Sophie Hannah.
I have often seen this sign and wished i could convert the sign into a poem.I think Sophie has done a great job.

brilliant WC. I think she's pretty much covered all bases!

[stevefoster]

Still wishing people
A Happy New Year. Blimey!
January gone!

Slow down Harry, last year went too fast for me!!!
January gone, February looming
March, April, May, June
Soon be Christmas
Me Mum was reet, the year's fly by when your an old gimmer

[Hes]

Your better off without
Mrs N. Mouse
One day you'll see the love you give,
Returned, and happily you'll live

I think A Nonny Mouse would greatly appreciate the kind words said here. I've heard she is doing ok but occasionally needs this kind of reassurance...I will pass it on.

[Hes]

sign outside a London block of flats

Honestly, do we have to spell it out?
No tents, space-hoppers, orgies, Brussels sprout
enthusiasts, no sponsored squirrel fights,
no Ayurvedic quacks, no woolly tights,

no weeping for the joy you think you’re owed,
no winking at the house across the road,
dividing rainbows into seven strands
of single colour, no quick show of hands,

no pastry-cutting, origami, chess,
no taking pleasure in your own success,
no sand, no shark impressions, no culottes
no Christmas pantomimes, no liver spots,

no lurking in the shadows by the shed,
no improvised salutes, no olive bread,
no weightless floating with an auctioneer
in the small pond. No ponds. Hope that’s now clear.

Pessimism for Beginners, Sophie Hannah (Carcanet, 2007)

This poem is called No ball games by Sophie Hannah.
I have often seen this sign and wished i could convert the sign into a poem.I think Sophie has done a great job.

Thanks William, that is a great poem and I have felt the same when I've seen those signs too.

[Hes]

Slow down Harry, last year went too fast for me!!!
January gone, February looming
March, April, May, June
Soon be Christmas
Me Mum was reet, the year's fly by when your an old gimmer

January has passed so quickly and it has really frightened me! I have lots of things that I am looking forward to this year, I want to savour the anticipation and not have them come upon me sneakily and be over in a flash. Maybe we could all run in one direction and slow the world down a bit...never was any good at science!

[stevefoster]

January has passed so quickly and it has really frightened me! I have lots of things that I am looking forward to this year, I want to savour the anticipation and not have them come upon me sneakily and be over in a flash. Maybe we could all run in one direction and slow the world down a bit...never was any good at science!

Good idea, remember Superman flew round the world and turned back time so that Lois Lane was still alive, anything's possible

[Hes]

Good idea, remember Superman flew round the world and turned back time so that Lois Lane was still alive, anything's possible

Of course...it was Superman! Brilliant, thanks Merry, right, now we just need to start a 'on the count of three' thread and get everyone running in the same direction at the same time. Kind of like a lot of hamsters in a wheel. Should make February the longest in history.

[Old Whippet]

January has passed so quickly and it has really frightened me! I have lots of things that I am looking forward to this year, I want to savour the anticipation and not have them come upon me sneakily and be over in a flash. Maybe we could all run in one direction and slow the world down a bit...never was any good at science!

reminds me of my favourite Neil Young lines from Comes a Time "this old world keeps spinning round,
It's a wonder tall trees aint laying down"

[Hes]

reminds me of my favourite Neil Young lines from Comes a Time "this old world keeps spinning round,
It's a wonder tall trees aint laying down"

I like that OW although I'm not too familiar with Neil Young apart from the music he improvised for Dead Man which is a great film starring Johnny Depp and with a lot of William Blake poetry in it.

[Hes]

Gosh, I don't have the stamina tonight and so I'll be having an early one Good night all.x