You're my funny valentine,Sweet comic valentine,You make me smile with my heart.Your looks are laughable, un-photographable,Yet, you're my favorite work of art.Is your figure less than Greek?Is your mouth a little weak?When you open it to speak, are you smart?But, don't change a hair for me.Not if you care for me.Stay little valentine, stay!Each day is Valentine's … [Read more...] about My Funny Valentine
Poetry corner
…For the rain it raineth every day.
[Apropos of only the weather--but it's a good reason to reach for the Bard. Some have interpreted this as a call to persist in the face on inevitable headwinds.] When that I was and a little tiny boy... (Feste's song) from Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare When that I was and a little tiny boy,With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,A foolish thing was but a toy,For the … [Read more...] about …For the rain it raineth every day.
[A notable swim from history…]
Byron's "Written After Swimming from Sestos to Abydos" [In 1810, Lord Byron (George Gordon) imitated the legendary swim of the hero in Ovid's Hero and Leander across the Hellespont in Turkey]IF, in the month of dark December, Leander, who was nightly wont(What maid will not the tale remember?) To cross thy stream, broad … [Read more...] about [A notable swim from history…]
[with apologies to B. Springsteen]…
Some guys they just give up living, And start dying little by little, piece by piece, Some guys come home, put on their Speedos, And go racin' in their suitsTonight, tonight the pool's just right I want to win my seeded heat Summer's here and the time is right For racin' in our suits … [Read more...] about [with apologies to B. Springsteen]…
Sea Fever
[Apropos of this month's profile subject... and, perhaps, open water swimmers? And just because your editor loves to be reminded of this every now and again.]Sea Fever By John MasefieldI must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by, And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the … [Read more...] about Sea Fever