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Friday, December 30, 2011

For Real Toads: New Year challenge

Mary has a new challenge—Mary’s Mixed Bag—for the writers’ group Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, and for her first Friday, which is the last Friday of the year, she has chosen “Ring out the old, ring in the new” from the poem In Memoriam by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892).
Two of Tennyson’s lines called out to me:
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
I’ve written a little verse in no particular style, with these timely subjects in mind. I have found that life, in the final analysis, is made more satisfying by offering people a helping hand.
Everyone has something to offer to someone, be it helping with crises in places like Kenya, to which my blogging friend Joyful devotes much of her time, or just helping your neighbor. We have a neighbor who brings his snowblower over now and then, and when I thanked him the first time, he said he wanted it to be "anonymous snowblowing" but it's a little difficult to disguise the sound!

As Tennyson's poem continues:
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land

Here, then, is my submission to Mary's first Mixed Bag prompt.


www.antiqueclipart.com

out with the old, and in with the new,
I'll have a new job and a new house, too.
I’ve worked so hard and I’ve saved so much
my friends all worry I’m out of touch.
but I’m not gone, I’m not on the shelf,
I’ve just reached the goal I set myself:
a cute little house with a basement flat
(big help with the mortgage, I thought of that)
and work in a field that’s more fulfilling,
in a help-others job, I’m more than willing!




I am also linking this to the meme Weekend Writers' Retreat at the blog Grandma's Goulash.



13 comments:

Mary B. Mansfield said...

Very nice, Kay! I think lots of us have the same wishes.

Mary said...

Very nice response, Kay. May you have all the best in the new year. And I agree with Mary M.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Ha, very clever, especially to have a built-in suite, hee hee. I have yet to tackle this prompt but you inspire me.

Marian said...

sounds great, i'll take it!
happy new year, kay!

Unknown said...

Well done, I enjoyed reading this.
And I agree I think most of us have the same wishes.

Happy New Year.

Ella said...

Happy New Year Kay!
I enjoyed your response~
Yes, I have some of the same wishes!

Maude Lynn said...

I love the optimism of this!

Happy New Year!

kaykuala said...

Kay,
Similar sentiments felt. Happy New Year to you and lots of travels I'm sure!

Hank

Kerry O'Connor said...

The rhyme and graphic lend a classical touch to your words.

Joyful said...

Hi Kay, You are sweet to mention me. I found your little poem charming.

I've been very busy at this year end but managed to get through most of what I wanted/needed. I never thought it would be so busy over the holiday (teach me to stay home, perhaps?, lol).

Let me say a very Happy New Year to you and Lindy and the man of the house ;-) Hugs, P

Ostensible Truth said...

haha a great piece - the rhythm is spot on and addictive - a great response to the prompt - happy new y ear!

Doctor FTSE said...

I hope it all works out for you in terms of your cheerful poem. Thank you.

Grandma's Goulash said...

I had to smile when I read the line about the basement flat. The merits of income property in rhyme. Pretty clever, Kay.

I'm so glad that you are posting to WWR too. I always enjoy your entries.