Wednesday 3 December 2008

Just a little something

After that really long last post...here's a quick one.

Go and have a look at the blog A Handful of Stones (I came across it via Bolts of Silk I think). There are lots of little pieces to read there and I like the idea of the whole project. As someone who may write quite a lot of little poems (there's a whole section on my website under the title 'little poems') I do also have a tendency to think about the bigger picture a lot of the time so I found writing a few pieces to Fiona Robyn's brief a good way of making me think about the smaller stuff, the details, the minor matters (that of course aren't necessarily minor at all). I have got a piece being posted up there later this month but hey, there's more to life than me...take a look any time...today, tomorrow, whenever you're free. Look at her instructions for writing 'stones' and send her some...or put a practice one in the comments box here if you're too impatient to wait for the whole send/be considered/wait for decision process (though actually she works through submissions very quickly by poetry standards).

p.s. Sick of talking about xmas yet? Dreading seeing the family? Wishing you lived on the moon till June?

19 comments:

Marion McCready said...

I really like the idea of that blog, will be checking it often I think. As for Christmas, it doesn't exist until after my birthday :)
Looking forward to the predicted snow blizzard though!

Rachel Fox said...

There's a lot of nature writing on H of Stones...as you know not my specialist subject...but something I could probably do with thinking about a bit more. I've always been more taken up with human nature than the rest of it...but humans can be plenty tiresome (self included...obviously...)!
x

Dominic Rivron said...

I hate to say it, but I like Christmas. And the thought of spending it on the moon seems quite attractive. The telly pictures might break up a bit, so I'd probably have to take all those corny old films with me on DVD.

Rachel Fox said...

I always want to like xmas...and sometimes I do...but it's all the expectation...all the enforced jollity that seems to send me in the other direction now and again. I think I'd cope with a fully pagan version better maybe (I bought a great greetings card in Edinburgh with 'Jesus is coming....look busy' on it. Well, I bought several.).

I like New Year...the whole new start thing. I always seem to need that...

hope said...

I like Christmas when you subtract commercialism. Okay, so there are one or two family members I'd like to ship to the Moon but I just go find the ones easiest to talk to and hang with them. The 9 year old nephew is a favorite. :)

swiss said...

it'd be kind of cool to see any of my family at xmas.

as it is my favourite xmas's are the ones where either i'm working or i get to be in the house on my own, phone off the hook, with twenty four hours where i don;t have to speak to anyone. bliss!

the thing that bugs me most about xmas is the greed. for me winter solstice is much preferable.

Rachel Fox said...

Hope...yes Small Girl is counting down to xmas as you might imagine! She and my Mum are really getting into xmas frenzy already (it's just me doing the Scrooge impression!). I will perk up later in the month...I just can't keep it going if I start this early! It's all xmas concerts and stuff soon...SG's class are singing the Wham classic 'Last Xmas'!

And Swiss...I once spent most of xmas day alone. I was working till late on xmas eve and I thought 'it's only xmas, I'll have a nice quiet day, it'll be fine'. By mid afternoon I was nearly out of my mind (with what? Not sure) and ended up going round to friends!
x

Crafty Green Poet said...

Glad you've had something accepted on a handful of stones, I'll look out for it!

Rachel Fox said...

And it's you today Juliet I notice. Happy coincidence!
x

swiss said...

going out of your mind! see, that's how it works its evil magic.

my solo xmas in the house experiences were treated with something like the joy of leprosy. people would offer to come round, invite me out, then they would start with the questioning, then the accusations. the person who poisoned xmas. yes, that was me.

the only positive input i ever had was in a phone call from a friend of mine (on boxing day obviously)who'd also had a solo xmas. it went something like this.

him : a good day?
me : i should say so
him : your gifts were acceptable
me : i bought them myself
him : as did i. your meal
me : pheasant. and you?
him : goose.
me : and after?
him : strong brandy and a jazz woodbine. yourself?
me : a bracing post prandial stroll on the beach
him : walking stick?
me : of course
him : damned civilised
me : but of course. are we not gentlemen?

oh yes, i should've mentioned the whole edwardian thing....

Rachel Fox said...

Quite charming my good man. Maybe if I'd bought better food I might have managed better. It was back in the days before I did cooking...

Unknown said...

Hi all - thanks for writing about the blogzine, Rachel, and thank you for your stones! All are welcome, just sent 'em through.
Warmest,
Fiona

Marion McCready said...

Swiss, Rachel - you miserable pair, lol! Tis the season to be jolly la la la...how can you resist the music, Rachel??

Rachel Fox said...

I'm sure some YouTube clips of you singing xmas songs would get us in the mood for festivities, Sorlil!
x

Dave King said...

I used not to write many short poems, but find I am increasingly doing so. Thanks for the link. I wish only that the whole family could be in one place for Christmas, but it becomes ever more difficult.

Rachel Fox said...

The whole family, Dave? Come on...isn't there even one person you can't stand?
x

The Solitary Walker said...

I hate commercial Xmas and I am going into a warm, dark, isolated place until January. Not Woolies. Or perhaps it could be Woolies?

Dammit, perhaps I'll retreat into my own mind instead.

Rachel Fox said...

Ah yes..hard though with an 8 year old who's giddy about it all! My Mum (who's 84) is going pretty giddy for it all this year too. I feel like housewife Scrooge!

Sorlil's comment about xmas music has got me thinking...maybe in the next post...
x

Jim Murdoch said...

It's an interesting site but I had more fun clicking on the links to the respective poets' websites. It's scary how much is going on even on this little island that we're quite unaware of.