Month February 2014

Nip & Tuck – Friday Fictioneers

freyathewriter 28 Comments

Here is this week’s entry into the weekly challenge brought to us by the lovely Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.

Here are the rules: Use the photo as inspiration, write a hundred(ish) words – and share! Here goes my offering for this week – and I welcome your comments again!

hay-bales-sandra-c

Copyright – Sandra Crook

– Nip & Tuck –

“I’ll give her bloomin’ comfortable, stuck up little -“

“Now then, Silas, give ‘Er Ladyship a fair chance… she’s not used to the countryside, brought up in a town she was, and well you know it!”

“Alright, Lizzy m’love, stop yer grumblin’. She’ll need to knock those airs on the ‘ead though. ‘Is Lordship won’t have it.”

Silas watched as his broad-beamed wife trundled off to feed the hens, bless her heart. The new lady of the manor wasn’t a patch on her.

Urging his mares to walk on, he delivered yet another load of straw for Lady Rainsford’s mattresses. She’d learn the ways of the countryside alright, once the red ants started biting…

—-

Click on the blue froggy below to read others’ offerings!

Fair Game

freyathewriter 38 Comments

They swagger, these gifts of the gods
Draped in Savile Row
Handmade brogues squeaking
Signalling their advance
Sleek terminals flashing green and red
The latest billions to be made
Orchestrated by one perfectly manicured digit
A rarefied world, this domain of the trader
Tiger women diluting the testosterone just enough
To become the next female BSD.
(I don’t have the balls
In all senses of the word).
They all walk and talk a good game
Ride the highs and lows with aplomb
Possessing animalistic grace, a certain panache
Revelling in the glory, drowning the losses in Moët & Chandon
Or inside their bonus-bought classic car
Seats rubbed smooth with 90mph sex and cocaine
Shagging the pressure away in a City side street.
Rare beasts, these,
Stalking, hunting down that one trade
Chasing mammon, winner takes all
But I wonder, when it comes down to it
When I see those who drew the short straw
Carrying their belongings in a cardboard box
Incongruously shabby against their Cartier adornments
Leaving their ivory tower for the last time
Facing down the cameras as journalists hunt in packs
Trading titillation for the headline news
I wonder – do they think it was worth it, after all?
Probably.

*****

This week, Brian, our host at dVerse Meeting the Bar wants us to consider character – something more akin to penning short stories and novels, rather than poetry. Fabulous! I love a challenge!

My take is all about that much-maligned character, the City trader. I have worked in the Square Mile since last century (no, really!) and have met and seen a few in my time. Some are as bad as the press paints them, many are not. All of them have guts, that’s for sure! I haven’t based my poem on anyone in particular – consider it an amalgamation of many traits I have seen (in traders and other types) over the years.

I hope you enjoy my offering – and please do join us! The hosts all work extremely hard to make the community a success.

The Boss

freyathewriter 33 Comments

Oh dear Fuji-san – Fuji-sensei

Dark, brooding mistress of all you survey

Regal in bloodline, of that you are sure

Graceful in body and delicate of paw

We jump and dance to each nuanced bark

Pavlov would be proud, for you it’s a lark

You have your routines, for walks and to eat

Watch your humans sit down – Woof! – we jump to our feet

to pour out your water and open the door

You know what you want, sometimes we’re not sure

You’re not so demanding, we just need to know

Your presence is a gift that you kindly bestow

One inscrutable look and we soon understand

You’re the top dog, the queen, you rule this fair land

Most dear Fuji-san, honoured Fuji-sensei

You are the true mistress of all you survey!

******

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This is an ode to the majestic lady who takes centre stage above. I have recently been allowed to take up residence in her home, feed and water her and generally fulfil her needs. She is a bit of a charmer and I’m not sure I would like to know what she thinks of me! Fuji (named for the photographic film brand, not the mountain!) is a venerable Newfoundland, a true grande dame!

I will link up to the dVerse Open Link Night later today. Please do visit to enjoy some very fine poetry indeed – and be inspired… Join us!