Poetry Inspired by the Dragon Chronopage – Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge No. 50 #Haiku #Tanka #Haibun: VOICE & WATCH

I’ve had a fantastic week, on Monday I met the esteemed inventor Dr John C Taylor, OBE.

What an experience, Dr Taylor is an extraordinary person. He is an inventor, pilot, adventurer, photographer, architect and philanthropist. After meeting him it’s no wonder that I’d be inspired to write a Tanka poem about one of his amazing Chronopage inventions. He has three in total, the Corpus Chronopage below resembles a grasshopper and features on the front cover of my novel.

Here I am with Dr Taylor by the Corpus Chronopage in King’s Parade, Cambridge.

IMG_20170911_141118_840

Below is the Midsummer Chronopage, a huge mythical fly-like creature with intricate wings and a sting in its tail.

http://johnctaylor.com

http://www.johnctaylor.com/the-chronophage/midsummer-chronophage/

And the interactive Dragon Chronopage does everything a dragon should short of breathing fire and flying away.

DrTaylorwiththeDragonChronophage

Here’s a close up of the dragon’s shiny blue tongue with pearl!

http://johnctaylor.com

and now for the eye!

http://johnctaylor.com

http://www.johnctaylor.com/the-chronophage/dragon-chronophage/

Isn’t the Dragon Chronopage fabulous?

Using Colleen’s prompt words this week – voice and watch – I wrote a little Tanka poem. I used statement instead of voice and I kept watch even though I had chronograph.

Tanka (9)

Before I tootle off I’d just like to say that Dr Taylor has some magnificent stamps that you can order and collect featuring his wonderful inventions – all proceeds go to the Teapot Trust – a worthy charity – art therapy for children with chronic illness:  http://www.teapot-trust.org/

Here’s the link to order @DrJCTOBE  stamps: https://www.iompost.com/stamps-coins/collection/invention-and-innovation-dr-john-c-taylor-obe/

All funds received by Dr Taylor from sales of these stamps will be donated to the
Teapot Trust.

To read more about Dr Taylor’s Philanthropic work here’s a blog post I discovered about his professorship of innovation: https://venitism.wordpress.com/2017/04/28/professor-of-innovation/

To join in Colleen’s weekly poetry challenge follow the following link:

https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/09/12/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-50-haiku-tanka-haibun-voice-watch/

Many thanks to the lovely Tina Fotherby at Famous Publicity for emailing me the wonderful images of the Dragon Chronograph and Midsummer Chronograph.

Photography Credit: Dragon Chronograph, Midsummer Chronograph – Dr John C Taylor, OBE.

If you’d like to vote for me in the WritersDB first line and cover contest here’s the link to my blog post about that: https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com/2017/09/08/please-vote-for-me-in-authorsdb-first-line-contest/

Bye for now dearest clock and dragon lovers don’t forget to leave a fiery message below.

Much love,

untitled

85978B3EEB2A2F45468E6707CEAFE70D

My social media links:

Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time

Instagram

Facebook

My Friday Secret Images: The Corpus Christi Clock

WP_000327

WP_000330

WP_000331

In my earlier blog post today, Secrets and Lies, I mentioned that I would be revealing one of my secret sources of inspiration. Well here it is, The Corpus Christi Clock in Cambridge, a stunning timepiece that is featured in my writing. The clock is a very popular tourist attraction that’s frequently photographed. People tend to respond to the clock in many different ways. I found the grasshopper thought provoking and weird looking. What do you think? Are you enticed by its fine gossamer wings, or repelled by its stinging tail?

I discovered a couple of interesting videos on Youtube about the Corpus Christi Clock and I’ve shared these on my Tumblr site, here’s the link: http://kyrosmagica.tumblr.com/.

I’m not going to tell you any more about the grasshopper other than to say he plays a very interesting part in the mysterious Crystal Cottage.

I’m excited to say that writing inspiration can be found everywhere, all you have to do is look with a keen eye. Museums, Art and Photography displays can provide such a wonderful source of ideas. In fact, I’m desperate to visit the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge to view the Silent Partners Artist & Mannequin from Function to Fetish exhibition. Sounds weird but interesting! It’s free too, where else can you get entertainment for free? Ok, libraries you say. C’est Vrai. Absolutely.

Here’s the link and trailer about the Fitzwilliam’s Silent Partner’s exhibition: http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/whatson/exhibitions/silentpartners/

Enjoy. Have a very Happy Weekend, and if you’ve been shopping this Black Friday hope you’re aren’t too exhausted. I’ve ignored the Blackest of temptations and stayed well away from the shopping queues. How about you?

Photos: My own.

The Clock of Life Affirming Energy

head-70184_640

There’s a clock inside my head,

Ticking, slicing,

The cogs keep  turning,

The metal never stops

 

head-70185_640

 

I talk to you, a white divide,

Your lower lip is  open,

My voice clamped shut,

Rigid, a metal brace

clock-102054_640

 I see blue,

Dreams of you,

Your perfection astounds me,

I clench my jaw and scream.

 

eye-92894_640

 My eye is blue, black, iris,

My legs black in motion,

My lashes mascara thick,

I cannot blink.

system-71228_640

 

The pathway of  my life,

Is a cobweb’s mesh,

Fine, illusive,

A Gossamer dream

water-178095_640

 

Those Dandelion seed heads,

Stand atop metal,  blue sky stalks,

My time piece floods,

A blue black rust.

hourglass-152090_640

 

 My hour glass is nearly empty,

It slips and slides,

Filling up,

Last threads of life affirming energy.

Copyright – Marjorie Mallon.

All images courtesy of http://www.pixabay.com