The Pillars of the Earth ~ Poetic Review

Twelfth century England...
Baudy confusions and
Debauched hangings and
Wars
Stage the rise of
Kingsbridge cathedral

William thwarts peace with greed
King Stephen barely rules
Maud is a an intimidating shadow
And King Henry keeps royalty firing

But

Prior Philip finds his identity
And his purpose
Tom leaves a legacy beyond his dreams
Ellen of the forest and Aliena of the castle
Colour the medieval world with
A "no nonsense" female voice
And Jack builds a bridge with
European fashion

Finally
William thwarts William when
Thomas Beckett becomes
A martyr
A hero

The final sign that
Building pillars on earth
Can only be
A beginning...

My Latest Helium Article on Charles Kingsley's "The Water Babies"!

Like the work of fellow 19th century writers Charles Dickens and Mrs Gaskell, Charles Kingsley’s “The Water Babies” (1863) highlights social injustice. Like Charles Dickens, Kingsley took particular interest in the plight of the “child soldier” labourer. Dickens created workhouse orphan and pick-pocket, Oliver Twist, and Kingsley created Tom, the chimney sweeper. Dickens’ child conquered sordid reality while Kingsley’s child escaped into a fantasy world... READ MORE!

Holiday Reading ~ "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"

Carry on Tuesday #19 ~ Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.
~ Albert Camus
~
There are those who dwell on
The fringes of life
Wide-eyed
Gently rocking
The sexual and mental cradle of identity ~
Painting the usual questions
(And answers) in
Luminous watercolours
Until
Addition
(Aside) Don't walk behind me; I may not lead.
Subtraction
(Aside) Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow.
Multiplication and
Division
Sport
No
Absolute
Boundaries
~
(Aside) Just walk beside me and be my friend.
~
For one year
Letters to some dear friend
(From teenage Charlie)
Spill into
An emotional
Void
~
I keep quiet most of the time, and only one kid named Sean really seemed to notice me.
(page 7)
~
Imagine the impulse of
Stars on
A pane of sky
Imagine the impulse is like
An orb of echidna quills
~
I will call people by different names or generic names because I don't want you to find me.
(page 2)
~
Small
Emotional
A reader
e. e. cummings
Catcher in the Rye
Walden
To Kill a Mockingbird
~
And I know that my aunt Helen would still be alive today if she just bought me one present like everybody else. She would be alive if I were born on a day that didnt snow.
(page 92)
~
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
~
And somewhere in the melting pot
(Maybe the equation) is
A psychiatrist
~
Epilogue
As we went into the tunnel, I didn't hold up my arms like I was flying. I just let the wind rush over my face. And I started smiling and crying at the same time...And I was really there. And that was enough to make me feel infinite.
(page 213)
~

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