Writing projects – 3 nearing completion

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Today I am putting the finishing touches to my fifth book of poetry.It is called POEMS and PEONS.

I am working on a last edit and then I will have it published. For all those regular followers of my blog you will recognise these poems. They are ones that I have been publishing over the last few months. I hope you will enjoy having them all together in the form of a book that you can hold and savour at leisure.

My poetry means a lot to me because it is a distillation of the thoughts, ideas, feelings and emotions that stir my spirit. It enables me to express them.

The second project I am busy working on is a book of Anecdotes. Anna Cottage is largely responsible for this. Once again, as with the poems, this came out of posting anecdotes on my blog. Some of these are rewrites of anecdotes that have appeared in various books and many are new. They are all designed to be self-contained short stories. Alongside the anecdotes are various other short writings that seem to be relevant. I have greatly enjoyed writing them. Some are humorous and some incredibly sad. Many are merely interesting episodes. I will be editing these shortly and maybe adding one or two more. I’m not sure what to call it. Perhaps Anna can come up with something or somebody else?

The third project is by far the most important. I am starting a rewrite of the Nick Harper book. I am very grateful to Paula Cuccurullo for her great help with this. I want this book to do justice to Nick and will be trying my hardest to get it as good as I possibly can. It will be out next year.

I am sending my Blues Muse off to a publisher today – Thanks to Andy for the great suggestion.

I will be trying to edit and sort the Roy Harper book. Hopefully Roy will do an introduction for me.

There’s a lot going on!

The Zeitgeist.

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I believe in the Zeitgeist. A connection between the minds of all human beings on the planet.

I don’t know how that works. But I believe it is a scientific principle.

I do not want the Zeitgeist to be the hatred, separation and viciousness of the fundamentalist.

I do not want the war, poverty, misogyny and racism of the establishment.

I want to build a world of love, freedom, justice, fairness, equality and compassion.

That is what I am striving for. It is the basis of my writing.

I want a positive Zeitgeist.

If that is the kind of world you want then put out the vibes and make it happen!

No more War, Hate, or Cruelty!

Love, Equality and Fairness for all!

let’s look after the planet!

I’m an idealist! But I believe it’s possible. We can make the world a better place.

Poetry – The fanatic with no doubt – a poem against hatred.

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The fanatic with no doubt

If it is written it must be true. It justifies everything.

All you have to do is select the correct texts.

With a little effort you can justify anything.

It is written down. It must be true.

It gives sanction to your every whim, every hidden urge.

It frees the psychotic to act.

How they flood to become involved, to get a slice of the action.

Public executions were ever most popular. The more agony the better.

There is a part of us that delights in the pain of others. If it wasn’t so we would not have invented bear-baiting, cock-fighting, badger-baiting, hare-coursing and snuff movies.

We are a cruel species.

We have a lot of civilizing to go through.

We find it so easy to justify our baser instincts. We wrap them up in religion, sport and entertainment.

What we love are screams and blood.

We have a lot to do to become more humane.

But if it is written it must be true!

I want a better world for my children. One that is less savage, less hating, more empathic and with much more love, peace and kindness.

Less fanatics would be a good start. Doubt is good.

 

The fanatic with no doubt

Line them up

Shoot them in the head.

Lie them down

Shoot them in the back.

Kneel them down

Saw through their throats.

Put them in a cage

Burn them.

If they are young

Rape them.

If they are old

Bury them alive.

 

There is no doubt.

It is written.

 

Opher 24.11.2015

Poetry – What god is this? –

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What god is this?

When I stand back objectively and look at the rabid actions of religious fanatics, typified by ISIS, but with plenty of others bidders of all persuasions throughout history, I see people who believe in a cruel, vicious god.

Religious people talk of a god of love but then talk of fear and horror – of eons of torture and torment. What person, in their wildest nightmares would wish that for their very worst of enemies?

If there was a god of such viciousness then I would have to view ‘him’ as insane and psychotic.

No sane being would demand such savage, barbaric actions of his subjects or impose such horrendous punishment on disbelievers.

It convinces me that these are the writings of medieval men living in some ancient, barbaric times where torture and ritual murder were the norm.

Give me love any day.

 

What god is this?

You will pray

You will kill

You will rape

You will torture

You will burn

You will destroy

You will conform

You will not think

All who do not adhere will burn in hell!

 

What god is this?

 

28.11.2015

Poetry – Bred on Hatred – A poem about fundamentalism.

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Bred on Hatred

Following the Paris atrocities it is quite apparent that we live in a different world. The fundamentalists declare a caliphate. They wish to impose medieval customs from the seventh century on the world. They believe that every word in the Qur’an is the literal word of god. They want Sharia law. They want to kill all apostates. An apostate is anyone who rejects the absolute word of Mohamed. This includes millions of Shia and Azidis.

They select their texts.

They claim Islam is under attack which justifies the application of these texts.

They claim that the Qur’an specifically justifies the murder, rape of young girls and torture. It is god’s will.

You cannot argue with an indoctrinated fanatic. They are not sane.

I say that any god who sanctions such things is unfit for office.

The hatred and indoctrination continue apace. The insanity of fundamentalist religion is the biggest evil we have invented (Christian, Jew, Hindu, Muslim – I make no distinction).

To bring up children to hate or fear is abuse.

Bred on Hatred

 

Bred on hatred.

Bred on lies –

Paradise and virgins

Pie in the sky.

 

Defending dogma –

Attacking the world –

Psychotic death wish –

Insane senselessness.

 

Merciless, heartless,

Callous, cruel,

Inhuman, subhuman,

In the name of god?

 

Intolerance, bigotry,

Unspeakable crimes

Nazi, fascist thugs –

Today nothing rhymes.

 

Rape, torture,

Attack on humanity.

Not even twisted ideology

Just tribal savagery.

 

Bred on hatred.

Bred on lies –

Paradise and virgins

Pie in the sky.

 

Opher 24.11.2015

Poetry – George did it best – Ten years since he died!

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George did it best

Sometimes someone comes along who does everything better than everybody else. They seem to be in a different league.

It was ten years ago to the day that George Best died.

I saw him play twice and I marveled at the man. They say that the best players make it look easy. George was able to deceive. He would glide past defenders leaving them sprawling in his wake.

Unfortunately he was undone by alcohol like so many before him. It creeps up on you.

George Best — ‘I spent a lot of money on booze, birds, and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.’

You have to love him.

George did it best

 

George did it best

Twice I saw him play

You can forget the rest.

 

Poetry in flow

As hips deceive

On which way to go.

He jinxed and twirled

Feinted and swirled

As he slipped by

And his opponents whirled.

 

So little time for decision

As he shot with precision.

 

He skips. He flips

Swerves and slips,

Dummies and flicks,

Turns and hits.

 

At all discerning request

It’s George Best.

 

29.11.2015

Poetry – The Uncaring Cruel – a poem about the heartless sadists who whip up the hate.

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The Uncaring Cruel

 

There does not appear to be a shred of humanity or compassion in the hearts of the sadists following the fundamentalist doctrine.

It is written – it will be done.

There is no argument.

The texts are carefully selected by those who wish to persuade. If you are careful you can make it say anything.

The case is presented. The gullible are hooked.

The strap on the vests, take up the weapons and are directed into action by the ones who are careful to stay out of the action.

They have better things to do.

They are the ones who smile to themselves as the body parts are counted.

The war stupidly goes on between Ishmael and Isaac.

The war stupidly goes on between Shia and Sunni.

The war stupidly goes on between Muslim and Christian.

Behind the scenes hate filled people stoke the fires, twist the meanings and inflame the passions.

 

The Uncaring Cruel

 

I wear an explosive vest

Around my chest.

I carry a Kalashnikov

And lust for death.

 

I shoot to kill the Kuffar

Those who do not believe

Deserve to suffer.

 

I am cold and lethal.

I see the terror in their eye.

They may be children

But they deserve to die.

 

There is only one god

And Allah is his name

And I’ll wake up in paradise

Without a shred of blame.

 

I am an indoctrinated fool,

Taught to hate in my school,

Used by the powerful

As a superfluous tool.

I’m waging war

On behalf of the uncaring cruel.

 

Opher 24.11.2015

Poem – God speaks – A poem about fundamentalism

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I do not write these poems to cause offence to those with religious conviction. I respect your right to believe.

God Speaks

I do not believe the words in the religious texts written centuries ago. One only has to read them to see the misogynistic values of a primitive society.

Yes – there are wise words, poems and advice within those books but they are mixed with brutal and despicable acts which have no place in a caring society.

The gory, unpleasant parts are carefully glossed over by most people. We no longer go sacrifing people or smashing baby’s heads on rocks. We no longer condone rape or slavery. We have become wiser and more civilized.

These words are not the words of god. They were written by men. And even if they were the best that those men could produce – we have surpassed their knowledge and their wisdom.

The fundamentalists, who are gullible enough to believe every word, and blind to the hypocrisy and contradiction, use the texts to justify their actions.

They insanely believe that their god condones raping children, torturing people and brutally killing them.

If there was a god of love and compassion he would be appalled at the intolerance and inhumanity.

We are one species, one people, one race. It is time we became more loving and civilized.

God Speaks

 

God sends an ultimatum

Believe

Or you will die.

I send my riposte

All that’s written

Is a lie.

 

Power

Is the purpose

Behind divine decree.

Men create the words

Not some deity.

 

A machine gun

In a restaurant –

Two wrongs can’t make a right.

A bomb

Inside an aeroplane

Blowing children out of sight.

 

No justification

Can forgive

Such monstrosity

Terrifying

Whole countries

Putting millions to flight.

 

Opher 14.11.2015

Poem – Bombs and Guns – A poem about terrorism and its inevitable end.

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stop

Bombs and Guns

You can destroy people with bombs and guns but you cannot destroy a spirit that lives in their hearts.

The need for liberty, equality and tolerance is bigger than any medieval text. It has been fought for and won over centuries; it will not be relinquished.

Democracy, even in its partial form, is always better than theocracy.

I believe in a pluralist society based on tolerance and equality.

The terrorist have a narrow view of their religion based on medieval texts. There is no room for rational thought or pragmatism. There is no love, mercy or room for doubt.

The indoctrination is complete. They really believe they will bring about the apocalypse. They really believe they will murder and rape their way to paradise.

They are deluded.

 

Bombs and Guns

 

Bombs and guns

The terrorist way

Targeting civilians

Everyday

For daring

To believe

The wrong

Ideology.

 

Righteous

Blindness

Converting profanity

Into

Religious insanity.

 

Intolerant

Fundamentals,

Who are always to blame.

Behind them

Powerful leaders

Seeking fame.

 

Gunmen

Spraying

The innocent

With lead.

Medieval

Callous brutes

Who’ve

Gone wrong

In the head.

 

Opher 25.11.2015

Poem – I’ve got a new TV. – I wrote this for the mindless celebrity culture and the entertainment industry.

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I’ve got a new TV.

Everything is newer, bigger and better. But it is empty. The quality diminishes.

We consume.

Celebrity culture robs us of creativity.

We are guided into a wish for fame but it has no substance or purpose. All the fun is simulated. All the squeals and laughter added or orchestrated through a seies of mindless pap that is supposed to entertain.

I am not entertained.

I want something real, with depth and meaning, passion and integrity.

I want to become involved emotionally, intellectually and creatively. I want to be stimulated. I want something that addresses the real problems that we are faced with.

I don’t want to consume – I want to experience!

 

I’ve got a new TV

 

I’ve got a new TV

It’s bigger than me.

It tells me

Who I want to be.

 

It has twenty three thousand channels

And all of them are crap

All in super 3D

And HD with Soap overlap.

 

I can watch the Game Shows,

Sport and MTV,

Filling all my hours

With tasteless wannabe.

 

My new TV is great

It fills my whole head

With everything forgettable,

Where nothing,

Absolutely nothing,

Of any consequence,

Is said.

 

Opher 15.9.2015