Days Like These

I have put these poems (and a few stories) together because they share some themes...

 

Cherry

Americana

This is an old one, from well before "President Trump" became a distinct possibility. Looking back at it now, I think it shows the ground where such wild weeds can grow...
1 likes
Cherry

And Through the Door

As you see, I am not without words, but I am beginning to be without hope...

Better Than Chance

And still we play craps at the polling booths...

Brocken Spectre

Image source http://thenauticalphotographer.blogspot.com.es/2014/04/the-spectre-of-br... BTW I haven't spelt Broken wrong, Brocken is in the Harz Mountains...
Cherry

Clean Skin

A tiny square of printed circuit holds measurements and calibrations. DNA and iris scan, digitised fingerprints proclaim identity. I was born in...

Dénouement

"This is the end, beautiful friend, the end," The Doors
Cherry

Dream On

... if you can. The Footnote lists authors of inspirational/source material...
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Cherry

First

this... just this... Picture from http://www.charleslindbergh.com/americanfirst/ A quote from that site: " If any one of these groups--the British, the Jewish, or the administration--stops agitating for war, I believe there will be little danger of our involvement. " Charles Lindbergh- September 11, 1941 Best avoided.
Cherry

Hocus Pocus

Hocus pocus, flim flam... we believe, we believe
Cherry

Just a Shout Away

Why what Germany does will matter, and why it might not be good... For my own part, I do not accept that sexual assaults on a minority of women are an acceptable consequence of immigration. I am aware that some of the Cologne assaults were committed by 2nd generation citizens. Note, I do not advocate restriction of movement. I would advocate the prosecution to the fullest extent of perpetrators of this kind of crime whatever their circumstances. Whose side do you take? Do you understand the woman in this story?
Cherry

Keep Calm And Carry On

Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel... and what scoundrels we elect. Those who would wrap themselves in the flag should remember that for many it is a burial shroud...
Cherry

Kites and Knives

Inspired by an @salenagodden tweet on twitter today... We have such short memories... Image by oxfam international, licensed for non-commercial re-use
Cherry

More Trouble Every Day

Title is borrowed from a Frank Zappa song, a staple of his live shows throughout his career, written originally in 1967 after the Chicago riots... this poem was written this morning and will not be performed live ever. A line is quoted from the song.
2 likes

Murderous Stupidity

The title is from an Op Ed piece in the sundays today. Likely to offend. Just like a film called "Four Lions" did. Neither poetry nor prose, but I hesitate to say prosetry. Monologue.

One Nation

It is what it is... this is mid way between found poetry and allusion (or Ezra and Tom's Thievery) anyway...
Cherry

Others

The echoes vibrate, we detach ourselves, admiring the sleek lines of the train, preferring diesel-electric over steam. We forget the carriages and...

Outery (Salt of the Earth)

A companion piece to "Trumpery" I voted in, by the way.

Shadow of a Gunman

I'm not explaining this...
Cherry

The List

The Home Secretary's list will be nothing like Schindler's ...
Cherry

The Outbreak of Certainty

Certainty... a dangerous thing...
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Cherry

These Are The Days

Not narrative or lyric poetry... turn left here.
Cherry

Thumb Pricks

you know what that means and indeed it does...

Travellers

others...
Gold cherry

Trump Talk

he will win, I just know it...
Cherry

Trumpery

Why it might happen...
Cherry

When You're a Star

Do I really need to explain this?
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Cherry

Where Were You When...

this is more or less where I was... although it was two different ones.

The Kiss and the Money

Whatever happened to the Labour Party of the working class?
Cherry

Put Out More Flags

Posted on another site on the 6th of February 2015, over 2 years ago. Not so ephemeral, after all.

Believer

I am not.
Cherry

There, At the World's End

You can decide what it means... that's always fun, isn't it?
Cherry

Mysteries and Secrets

Not about flowers or butterflies, move along...
Gold cherry

Off the Isle of Hendiadys

It's not on the map, but then... neither are these people...
Cherry

Moab

Ah... well... blasphemous, perhaps... but the times we live in are only fit for blasphemy...
Gold cherry

The Chaos Intact

I'll stop soon... Companion piece to "Mysteries and Secrets", although everything in "Days Like These" has associated themes... (He wrote, hopefully). Image is gif, usage acc. wikipedia commons.

Time and Chance

Ecclesiastes 9:10-12 The scriptures inspire me, but only to write things...
Cherry

Cutting Velvet for Raincoats

hmm... another vignette of the horror show on the other side of the Atlantic. picture wikimedia commons.
Cherry

Wheatfields

I voted by post a while ago... For all the difference a drop can make... Image source is http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/ licence is creative commons CC0
Cherry

An I for an I

Lex Talionis: as out of date as the books which quote it. image is used in accordance/as required on its wikipedia commons page. Photographer Sven Storbeck
Cherry

They

I'm seen as stand-offish, because I don't actually join in these conversations at all... image released into the public domain by Magalhães at nl.wikipedia

Where is the Genius?

Image made with imgflip. by author. The words are Jonathan Swift's. Where is the genius? I can see where the confederacy is...
Cherry

The Rule of Three

"It seems that every day, is just another rotten mess, people say it's gonna end soon, but when it will I can only guess" More Trouble Every Day Frank Zappa 1967. Image is free stock image from http://www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/15715
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Cherry

Empty Manifesto

Read it out in the manner of Christopher Ecclestone reading Evidently Chickentown... clean the mirror afterwards. Image from Pixabay Free for commercial use, no attribution required CC0 Creative Commons
Cherry

"Meh-tha tur-ah?"

The title? You'll have to read it to see what that means... Picture is the Bridge at Belleek, which will form part of a hard UK Eire border, should it come to that. Source is wikipedia commons.
Cherry

Phoenix Night

Fake-news pioneer Paul Horner, whose hoaxes drew international attention on the Internet and during the 2016 presidential election, died in Phoenix on Sept. 18, officials confirmed. He was 38. Image photographer: Alan Stark used in accordance with Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
Cherry

Fall of a Monarch

Topical, huh... yesterday's chip paper... Image is wikipedia commons... Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 2.0 Generic
Gold cherry

The Road to Mandalay Bay

How many more times? Think of a number... Bold lines are a paraphrasing of Numbers 1:4 Image is wikipedia commons. Used in accordance with CC 3.0: image is by Kris 1123
Cherry

We

one more for "Days Like These" Image used in accordance with Creative Commons 4.0 : source Wikipedia Commons owner Venus Juanda

Pedal Ceramics

No more heroes, any more... (or we need to talk about KevinS) This image is in the public domain in the United States because it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1977 without a copyright notice . Source Wikipedia Commons.
Cherry

Understanding America

2 of the required 7 layers, if lucky... Image is a collage of two separate Pixabay.com images used in accordance with CC0 licence.

Paint and Pellets

New York, 31 Oct/1 Nov 2017 Image is collage made from two images taken from Wikipedia Commons. Paint pellets Qz10 in acc w/CC A-SA 3.0 BB slugs Ari x in acc w/CC A-SA 3.0
Cherry

Under The Blue Roof

More for "Days Like These"... walk on by... Image is from the British Museum and is in the public domain. I suggest you read that poem instead :-D
Cherry

Stand Up (Or Be Counted)

I say, I say, I say: when did you last hear a joke start like that? When the cheeky chappie tossed his career off a cliff. Remember the old Python...
Cherry

These Are The Days (Bombs and Pamphlets)

This the last thing to be posted in "Days Like These" (stop cheering at the back). image is in the Public Domain as it is an image produced by a US Govt department
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Cherry

so many incontinent words

"performance peace be upon you" image author's own
Cherry

Gabba Gabba Hey

Read carefully. If you are offended by the contents of the links in the footnote, then perhaps you haven't understood the poem, that's my fault. Image source Wikipedia Commons and is out of copyright.
1 likes
Cherry

These Are The Good Times

The flower is an Anemone... a symbol of forlorn hope, some say... Image is from Pixabay and licence is CC0 with no requirement for attribution
Cherry

The Man Who Knew Too Little

You can either read this first, or read it after... https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/10/style/the-man-who-knew-too-little.html It may not make any difference Image is from pixabay.com and licence is CC0

Who Indeed?

Topical, allusory. Walk on by. Image is from maxpixel.com and licence is CC0 Minor edits Sat 24 March 2018

Drums Across the Mohawk

Goodbye for a while... Image is pixabay.com and CC0

Ogre

Atop Pike's Peak Margaret wrote a poem: sure are crowning their good with brotherhood, nowadays, huh? Image is CC0 from Pixabay.
Cherry

Mayday

It's not about aeroplanes... Image is from wiki commons.

Waiting for George

Capra is one of my favourite directors, but I don't think many politicians have watched his films. Image source is wikipedia commons and in the public domain. WIP 0830 edited 7 Dec 2018:
Cherry

Jump Rope Politics

What it says... WIP Image is from the National Archives at College Park [Public domain]
Cherry

A Diet of Worms

Political, pass by, if you like. Image published in book authored by Bernhard Rogge - Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77201586

#

you'll have to read it to find out then, won't you? Image is from pixabay, no attribution required
Gold cherry

Shouting at the Television

What it says on the tin. Relieved now, aren't you? Image source is wikipedia.org used in accordance with fair use attribution , https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17602459
1 likes
Gold cherry

These You Have Loved

yeah, well... image is copyright John Garghan https://www.flickr.com/photos/johngarghan/14897236961 licence is CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Cherry

Obverse

nothing new here, carry on... (Carry On... now there's an idea, Carry On Leaving. Politics as double entendre). Anyway, as the image used is from The New European's downloadable Brexit Horror Masks, one would assume permission to use it here is implied, since they don't mind if I download a copy to wear.
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Cherry

St Boris's Day

Just effing read it. (I snarled) Image is in the public domain. Source wikipedia commons.
1 likes
Gold cherry
Poem of the week

Store and Save

Well then, the government will be sending out a "What to Do in the Event of No Deal" leaflet. I expect it will be as useful as the old "Duck and Cover" campaign, eh? Image out of copyright source wiki commons.
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Cherry

words

yeah well, sticks and stones and all that... sure... Image source is flicker https://www.flickr.com/photos/londonmatt/27634194840 photo by Matt Brown used in acc. w/ Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
1 likes
Cherry

Twice In a Lifetime

Well,you know... Days like these.. Image from Kenneth Clarke's Twitter account copyright TheBrexitComic.com (worth a visit).
Cherry

Blatherskites

Image author's own. More state of the nation stuff I'm afraid.
Cherry

We Fools

Oh yes, still banging on about this kind of thing... Image from flicker.com. No known copyright issues, part of internet book archive, original source 1903 edition of Tragedy of King Lear.
3 likes
Cherry

Friday Afternoon in The Fleece

A bagatelle, don't bother if you don't feel like it. I took the photo, so I'm using it.
Cherry

The Stealth of Great Misfortune

Ah yes... well. It's what's happening, so I can't avoid writing about it. No-one's forcing you to read it though. Image source Pixabay.com public domain.
Gold cherry
Poem of the week

Imbecile Rapacity

Compliments of the season. Image attribution and licence Jim Champion / Christmas lights on Lyndhurst High Street, New Forest / CC BY-SA 2.0
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Cherry

Full Sail

Let's hope it doesn't turn out like this. Image by De Windstoot, in the Public Domain as it's such old art.
Cherry

We Are Awaiting Developments

The planned 500,000 dwellings will go ahead: these will all be affordable housing, subject to credit and criminal record checks . The 50,000 nurses...

Numpty Dumpty

Silly. However, ridicule is the only weapon some of us have. Image concocted by the Doggerelist from PD Elements...

El Nuevo Realismo No Realiza la Realeza*

Ah... well... it is what it is... Image created by me. Please look at the Nuevo Realismo section on Antonio Berni's wikivisually page
1 likes
Cherry

The Wisest Fool in Washing Town

What it says... image is by rept0n1x source: wikipedia commons. Used under:- Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
Cherry

"___"

That's got you thinking... sorry if you're disappointed.
1 likes
Gold cherry

The Low Men

Well, I am... Image has been released into the public domain by George Hodan (publicdomainpictures.net)
1 likes
Gold cherry

A Hymn for Silent Bells

No explanation needed, surely? Picture is from pxhere.com and is free to use. CC0 PD
Cherry

The White Knight is Speaking Backwards

I'm sure you'll work it out. It's less a rabbit-hole, more a rabid-hole that we've gone down. Image in PD, source is https://spartacus-educational.com/PRmosley.htm
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Cherry

Powerhousing II

Part one is just called "Powerhousing": it comes before this one. I'm sure you'll find it if it's that important to you. image created by mar_d @ pixabay.com CC2.0 A
Gold cherry

Bonesack

Fairly self-explanatory. Inspired by a book by a fellow Unbound author and Guardian journalist. Author's permission for image use requested.
1 likes
Cherry

Scapegrace

Image is wikipedia commons CC.2.0
Gold cherry

Patience

I won't be engaging with any comments on this piece, just so you know. The more patience we have, the fewer patients there will be. Pandemonium and Pandemic have their roots in Ancient Greek Image is in the Public Domain, source Wikipedia Commons.
1 likes
Cherry

The Age of Every Thing

Rant. Please note the title contains the words every thing, rather than everything Image is in the public domain, painted by Francis Danby, an Irish romantic artist of the 19th century.
Cherry

This Is The Sound

You'll work it out. Image composed by author from pd elements.
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Charivari

yes, well, I clapped too. Image source Wikipedia. Artist Grandville - public domain

In This Dark Tomb

Keep going. Image from Pixabay by 41330
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Cherry

Foundling

Odd. Just scroll on. Image is form flicker.com and used in acc. w/CC BY 2.0
Cherry

badges

I think you know what this is about. Image Alan Splodge used in acc w. CC-SA International 4.0
Cherry

Archipelago

I'm sure you'll work it out. image source wiki commons, created by Treehill, licence CC-SA 4.0
1 likes
Cherry

Put Out More Flags

Just listen to yourselves. (I'm talking to you). Image source flickr.com, photographer Ian Patterson. Licence CC2.0 BY SA
Gold cherry

Now the Cars Are Moving.

Caw, Caw, Caw... Image free for non-commercial use from MaxPixel.
1 likes

Club Country

when the music takes you strange places await... image source distractionsoflola.tumbler.com no known copyright issues
Cherry

On the Shores of Chiasmus

Best read alongside this, or not. You can do as you like, after all https://www.abctales.com/story/ewan/isle-hendiadys Image is free for non-commercial use from pixabay.com
Gold cherry

Won't Get Foiled Again

I was going to call this a rant, but only because I couldn't find "Howl of Existential Rage" as a category. So I'll say it's one of Miss Sal A. Neous's. Image created by author from PD elements.
2 likes
Cherry

1966 and All That

And it wasn't all that. Image is free for non-commercial use from needpix.com
Cherry

Pataphor

It's derived from Pataphysics, it's more than a metaphor. Pataphysics is a fore-runner - not to say a strand - of surrealism. There, that's my title justified. Image is a screenshot, is it my copyright or wikipedia.org's? Good question. I take full responsibility.
Cherry

Follow The Leader

I have the feeling that I've seen everything, but failed to notice the elephants. (Anton Chekhov) Image source Pixabay Photographer Rob Glenister.
2 likes
Cherry

"yinno"

It's about... you know... image source pikrepro.com

Good King Borislav

Thought I'd write something festive... Image source wikipedia commons.
Cherry

A Life Like That

Freewrite, checked for spelling and grammar. Image source Pinterest.com. no known copyright issues.
Gold cherry
Poem of the week

DILLIGAF?*

*With thanks to Kevin Bloody Wilson, who coined the acronymous term some 18 years ago AFAIK. It's very suitable for SM, LOL https://youtu.be/SKBct77-nYY (contains swearing). Image: CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) dedicated to the Public Domain by Glenn Carstens Peters.
Cherry

The Golden Age

Not very subtle. Image is by Rory112233 source is wikipedia commons licence CC-SA by 4.0, I have edited it.
Cherry

A Message from the Prime Minister

"Talk, talk, talk, it's only talk, Elephant Talk" King Crimson Image tinkered with by author from PD imagery.
Cherry

The Green Man

If I explain it... well let's just say poems are like jokes, explain them and they don't work. CCA-SA 3.0 Licence Source Wikipedia SiGarb ( talk | contribs )
Gold cherry

Jabber Wiki

Going for my jab today. Image created at Photofunia.com
Cherry

Caper On

It's not night-time, it's not midsummer, but this dream is a nightmare. Licence CCA-2.0 source wikipedia.org. creator Matt Brown
Cherry

A Tragedy Indeed

I think you'll work it out. image source wiki-commons Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

If We Found the Next Pele

Likely to offend. There are two sides to every debate, it would be nice if there were common ground in the middle, rather than just No Man's Land. Image by Thomas Nugent source: Wikipedia. Licence CC by SA 2.0

Keyboard Addick

Aren't social media great? The Addicks is the nickname of a London-based football club. Picture is of a Spoons called - appropriately enough - Spouter's Corner Image source is from flicker.com: the licence is CC-SA 2.0 and, by a charming coincidence, the photographer is one Ewan Munro.
Cherry

Respect

Yes, it's a rant, nothing new here. It's not subtle, but like I said, it's a rant... Oh, and satire. Levelling up? Dream on. Image source flicker.com. Licence CC2.0 attribution: Diego Sideburns
Cherry

The Patel Protocol

Not very interesting, but not improbable. Image from pxhere.com
1 likes
Cherry

The Myth of Olympians

I have played and followed sport all my life. I am thrilled by the endeavour, skill and sheer bloody-mindedness it takes to be the best at any sport. I just can't see the point of these Olympics, which are devalued by how they will be conducted. I really think a cancellation would have been better. Thousands of disappointed Olympian athletes, I know, but still... Image from wiki-commons fiddled with by me. Licence: CC BY 2.0

In the Kush

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Image from Public Domain Pictures CC-PD 1.0

Bad Objects

I'm sure you'll figure it out. Image created by me at cooltext.com
Cherry

Mostly Stalinist Conditions

Self-explanatory Image made from pd/free to use components by me.
1 likes

Anniversary Rhyme

I actually wrote this for a different numbered anniversary. Found it today and changed one letter to a capital. [See if you can guess which. A puzzle too, eh?] I may record it if I get around to it. Image is used in acc. w/ CC-by SA 2.0
Cherry

Imagine

Yeah, imagine. These are linked hai kan'ts, because hai kan't stand much more of this. Photo used by permission in exchange for attribution
Gold cherry
Poem of the week

A Northern Song

Not by The Beatles Image is in the public domain - and I would like to see the real thing one day.
1 likes
Cherry

A Carnival

"Weeell... Ah ain't never seen such a bunch a' hucksters, flim-flam artists, 3-card monte, double dealing scoundrels in ma life" A visitor to our own very special Carnival in the Palace of Westminster. Image: No known restrictions. For information, see U.S. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black & White Photographs http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/071_fsab.html
2 likes
Cherry

Playing the Cocks

I might have spelt a word wrong in the title. Image created by author from PD elements.
Gold cherry

It Seems Our Leader Is Unwell

Rant. Read by a very poor voice artist here... https://soundcloud.com/user-224867227/boris-for-soundcloud Image from wikicommons.org by Ikastolak1 : CC-SA 4.0 licence
3 likes
Gold cherry

But I Am Not Writing Today

Well I'm not. Image is in the Public Domain.
2 likes
Cherry

Moving to Poverty

Not yet, but who knows..?
1 likes

F*ck All The People!

Likely to offend, image created by author from non-copyright parts.
2 likes

Let's Hear It!

Yeah, well. Compromise is not a dirty word. Image free to use from Pixabay.com
Cherry

Another Country

I wrote this in May 2015. I have crystal balls. I do not know this past, save through the prism of books written at the time they're supposed to be depicting. For it was not like any past I experienced first hand. Nostalgia is seductive, reductive and contains the nationalist propagandist's biggest lies. Image created from CC0 original.
1 likes
Cherry

I Will Ride

Anybody see Boris's bus crash interview with Susanna Reid? Unbelievable. image wikipedia commons.
Cherry

Being Galileo

Where we are. Image source publicdomainvectors.org
1 likes
Cherry

This Circus Must Leave Town

Why did anyone think this buffoon would ever change?
1 likes
Cherry

No Chips Left At The Westminster Casino

All in it together? No, it's us and them, and that's how they like it. Image created at photofunia.com

What Is Remembered?

What is remembered is what is ... Image created by author, here
Cherry

The Lower Third

The lower third refers to any graphic including moving text that appears at the bottom of your TV screen...
Cherry

Winning Through

Sitcom as metaphor. I expect this one has a few episodes which would remain on the shelf should the BBC ever repeat them and that's fine too. Image is from the National Army Museum website.
Cherry

the small moments

What a day! How have we ended up with that gurning gargoyle in charge. Not even a pretence at having intellect or rigour. Jeez... Image made at canva from CC0 image.
1 likes
Cherry

The Cincinnatus Kid

Well, it was the blond buffoon who mentioned him first. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Quinctius_Cincinnatus Image from wikipedia and in public domain.
1 likes
Cherry

A Confederacy of C*ntses

Image created by me from PD elements Audio available.
Cherry

IQRA (Read, Educate Yourself)

Photograph is by Twitter/@ZohalAzra No known copyright issues. IQRA is allegedly the first word revealed to Mohammad by God. It has the same arabic root letters as Qu'ran, the book.
2 likes
Cherry

The Ecumenical Atheist

No layers of meaning here. Image made with PD elements by Author at canva.com.
1 likes

The New Maths Project

I wonder what really bad news this is distracting us from? Now with added audio! Image made by author from PD elements, at Canva.com
1 likes
Cherry

More Politics For Beginners

The image reads " William was frankly bored. School always bored him. He disliked facts, and he disliked being tied down to detail, and he disliked answering questions. As a politician a great future would have lain before him. " Richmal Crompton predicting the rise of Boris Johnson in 'More William', first published in 1922. Image author's own.
Cherry

Not Much Cop

The barrel needs changing, it's not enough to claim there are just a few bad apples... image has no known copyright issues
Cherry

A Vicious Circle

When did centrism become such a bad thing? Why? Image is PD from PD Vectors.
Cherry

And We Move On

How it is. Image by storyset on freepik
Cherry

Women's Day

I think you'll know where I stand. No characters living or dead are based on anyone YOU know. Image by me from pd elements. .
Cherry

And The Fingers Point

No show without him... Unfortunately.
2 likes
Cherry

Mirrors for Princes

(Brunellus and) The Mirror of Fools is a satire written by Nigel de Longchamps sometime around the turn of the 12th Century. What is this about? Hold it up to the mirror... it won't help. More old stuff. Image is PD
Cherry

Perhaps

I have no answers. If this provokes outrage, then that's good. Israel has the worst possible leader at the worst possible time. Why does a nation of Persians feel so strongly that Israel should not exist? (I am being disingenuous, it is nothing to do with ethnicity, surely we all know that?) Anyway, if your outrage leads to ill-thought out comments, I won't be answering them. No known copyright issues.
4 likes

Burnt Words

Recent update concerning the following appeared in the press at the weekend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herculaneum_papyri Base image a detail from wikipedia.org. Image "composited" @canva.com
1 likes
Gold cherry
Poem of the week

Empty M_______o

Well, I'm sure you'll work it out. Image made at canva from PD elephants.
1 likes
Cherry

Boats

Yes, let them come. image CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 source Flicker.com
2 likes
Cherry

"That's Entertainment!"

I'm sure you'll work it out. Image is PD!!! By some 19th century geezer called Guillaume.
1 likes