Category: poetry

Flat Earthers

Ian Hunter1 Comment

I had a brief encounter with FaceBook

for a few years I was part of this community

collecting friends and liking their posts

but then I became disillusioned

I did not appreciate the way my feed was being manipulated

algorithms were deciding what I should see

with the sole objective of keeping my attention

so they could push more ads into my feed

at first I just stopped posting but then I stopped reading

next I deleted facebook from my phone and computer

eventually I closed my account

it was a great relief to break free

now I make my own choices of what to see

its not just FaceBook that uses algorithms

YouTube does the same thing

using artificial intelligence to determine what keeps you interested

this might be harmless for the majority of the population 

but its a different story for individuals with strange beliefs

without social media these people generally remain isolated

they typically browse the internet for conspiracy theories

algorithms feed them more conspiracies 

eventually they latch onto one like believing the earth is flat

these individuals find comfort in joining a community of flat earthers

research has shown that most flat earthers stumbled upon the conspiracy via social media

what kind of world are we creating for our children and grandchildren?

where did the silence go

Ian Hunter1 Comment

Sometimes you just want silence

Escape from all the noise

Turn off the radio

Close all the windows

Lower the blinds

As you get closer to silence

Even the quietest noise becomes deafening

Clock ticks like a drum

Airplanes scream from the skies

The phone rings like a firehouse alarm bell

Somebody is hammering next door

Its not going to work

Fill the bath with water

Put in earplugs

Submerge your head

Noise still travels through water

Strange muffled sounds but still no silence

Desperate to breathe

You consider your options

Drown in the bathwater

Or drown in the intense noise outside

You wait until your lungs are imploding

Your breath sounds like a hurricane

Loud noises fill your head

Close your eyes and it gets louder

You decide on a new strategy

Stop listening and ignore all the noises

It works for a short while

Until your thoughts start shouting inside your head

Summer meadow

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In the heart of summer lies a meadow so grand

Where wildflowers bloom and butterflies prance

The sun shines bright gently warming the land

As nature puts on a glorious vibrant dance

The grass sways gently in the warm breeze

A symphony of green and gold

The air filled with the buzzing of bees

Nature’s beauty to behold

Birds sing sweetly from the trees

Their melodies filling the air with natural sounds

A harmonious chorus that carries on the breeze

An orchestral delight to entertain these grounds

The meadow is alive with colors so bright

Purples, yellows, reds, and blues

A masterpiece painted in the soft light

A canvas of nature’s vibrant hues

Children laugh and play in the meadow so inviting,

Running through the fields of pure green grass

Their joyous shouts explode like thunder and lightening

A picture of innocence you could never surpass

As the sun begins to set in the west

Casting a golden shroud over the meadow

Nature’s beauty at its very best

A sight that will forever in your mind’s eye echo

In the summer meadow time stands still

A moment of peace and tranquility

A place where nature works its will

A sanctuary of harmony and serenity

So here’s to the summer meadow so sweet

A place of beauty and grace

Where nature’s wonders all meet

A precious enchanting magical space

Insomnia uninvited

Ian Hunter1 Comment

Awake 3am

Tossing turning

Body tired

Thoughts churning 

Bathroom break

House quiet

Lay down

Close eyes

Count sheep

Give up

Too many

Mind wanders

Negative emotions

Quickly banished

Think positive

Check time

Still dark

Breathe deep

Happy thoughts

Invite sleep

Sleep declines

Sip water

Stay hydrated

Check time

Almost 4am

Open phone

Big mistake

Start surfing

Read emails

Mostly junk

Check calendar

Full day

Need sleep

Phone off

Close eyes

Need sleep

Body fatigued

Mind racing

Check pulse

Normal rate

Feels faster

Another mistake

Now listening

Heart beating

Ears tuned

Loud pulse

Face throbbing

Drink water

Stay hydrated

Must pee

Bathroom tiles

Feel cold

Bare feet

Lay down

Check time

5.30am

Dawn breaks

Birds sing

Sleep hopeless

Get up

Make tea

Open laptop

Write poem

Quick edit

Publish now

Cheeky Monkey

Check time

6.30am

Today will

Be long

Will sleep

Well tonight

Red dress in Times Square – Part 3

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Emily told Egor not to reach out to the CIA again

just to go about your normal business and wait to be contacted

he left room 407 a few minutes before another man arrived

Emily answered the door and let him in

he sat and watched TV with no sound

while Emily activated the speaker simulating their conversation

she removed the video recording device from the bathroom

plugged it into her laptop and downloaded the data

the recording was converted to a transcript

Emily checked it for accuracy

before encrypting an email to CIA HQ

her fake client left after an hour of watching silent TV

soon after another fake client arrived

the speaker played more fake conversations

 while Emily hacked into the hotel security cameras

she saw the listening device being removed from outside her door

she continued writing her report after the second fake client left

her back up team was in the bar downstairs

she read the text from them

The Russians just left we can stand down now

Emily wrapped up her report

recommending that Egor’s data be followed up

she noted his watchers had given up at 1.30 am

the lazy KGB agents concluded that Egor was just seeing a hooker

a few days later there was chaos on Wall street

a virus shut down all the trading computers

stocks were sent tumbling

Russian short sellers made millions

the parlor

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step into the parlor

relax and enjoy lively parlor conversation

appreciate the parlor decor

feel the love that created the parlor

raise a glass in honor of the parlor decorator

feel the energy woven into the parlor fabric

admire the parlor artistry of the color and texture selections

listen to cool parlor jazz as you sip on fine wines

play loud rock music with your parlor Manhattan cocktail

cruise the blues with your parlor moonshine whisky

tell your tallest parlor tales as friends listen intensely

share your parlor secrets with trusted confidents

spill the beans in the parlor without staining your reputation

create your own safe parlor confession booth

sleep over and wake up contented

drift back into the parlor at dawn

watch the parlor sunrise

drink your parlor morning coffee and plan the day

chill a while in the parlor

take afternoon tea with the parlor ladies of leisure

read a good book in the parlor

write a parlor poem or a short story

the parlor hears all

but the parlor never tells

welcome to the parlor

planning the mountain climb from my chair

Ian Hunter1 Comment

somedays I wake up with low energy

feeling lethargic and unmotivated

particularly after a restless night

stumbling through the day in a fog

I used to push back hard on those feelings

forcing myself to get things done

desperately trying to overcome the lethargy

threatening myself with guilt for under achieving

I have learned to embrace the low energy days

when my body cries slow down l now take heed

I do not answer the door when Mr. Guilt comes knocking

no need to climb the mountain today

the list of things to do for today can be rescheduled

pushed onto a high energy day when I will get more done

besides its good to sit back sometimes and just look at the mountain from my chair

I will work out the path for the big climb tomorrow 

booze cruise

Ian Hunter1 Comment

Sunny day

Party planned

Friends arrive

Load boat

Party supplies

Lively conversation

Smiling faces

Boat launch

Calm waters

No wind

Booze cruise

Happy people

Loud music

Endless laughter

Motoring on

Slight breeze

Music louder

Crazy dansing

Serving shots

Inhibitions lost

Stiff breeze

Choppy waters

No panic

Party continues

Captain drinking

Radio blinking

Strong winds

Big waves

Boat heaving

Alcohol flows

Party continues

Skies darken

Big storm

Heavy rain

Lightning strikes

Party stops

Worried faces

Gales blowing

Massive waves

Boat heaving

Panic strikes

People overboard

Boat capsizes

Wind calms

Storm over

People clinging

Against hull

Boating rescue

All survived

Boat destroyed

Lives saved

Lesson learned

Check weather

Before boating

happiness recipe

Ian HunterLeave a comment

I came across this recipe recently. Its very simple and anybody can make it. Interestingly the ingredients do not include relationships, money or material possessions.  Note that it recommends serving to everybody you know which implies that you will achieve your own happiness by giving to others. 

Ingredients

2 heaped cups of Patience

1 heart full of Love

2 handfuls of Generosity

1 headful of Understanding

a dash of Laughter

an endless supply of Kindness

plenty of Faith

Instructions

Combine patience, love, and generosity with understanding. Add a dash of laughter and sprinkle generously with kindness. Add plenty of Faith and mix well. Spread over a lifetime and serve everybody you know.

Random Song lines (and the memories they bring me)

Ian Hunter2 Comments

Nights in white satin

(School days studying at home in the summer heat)

Anarchy in the UK

(college days and punk rock)

Let me introduce to you, the act we have known for all these years

(Liverpool city centre drab shops)

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away

(my first love affair)

Lets go surfin now

(California sunshine)

Donald where’s yer troosers

(Crazy fun Robert Burn’s birthday parties)

You’ll never walk alone

(grown men crying at the start of Liverpool football club games)

I’ll give you all I’ve got to give

(rainy days at school)

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas

(Snow, log fire, tinsel, sherry, mince pies and presents)

Don’t stop believin

(singing really loud and off key with inebriated friends)

Excuse me while I kiss the sky

(the smell of funny cigarettes)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

(Family new year’s eve parties with lots of Scotch whisky)

Love is the drug for me

(My wedding)

Parklife

(Patricia and Norman arrival celebration)

School’s out forever

(my last day at school)

Livin on a prayer

(Dancing in the sand and spilling beer at Seacrets in Ocean City)

My heart is drenched wine

(Getting divorced)

You would never break the chain

(Watching formula One motor racing on BBC TV)

Its

(Monty Python)

Smoke on the water

(Boating on Turville Creek with Norby and Maria)