A Hollow Log or a Rocky Cave?

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Stephen Whiteside
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A Hollow Log or a Rocky Cave?

Post by Stephen Whiteside » Sun Mar 25, 2018 4:36 pm

A Hollow Log or a Rocky Cave?

If I had to choose into which I’d creep
Between these two for a good night’s sleep,
A hollow log or a rocky cave,
I can’t say I would really crave
Either one, for they both sound poor,
And I’d give them each a terrible score.
But if I really stood to lose
My life, and simply had to choose,
Though it would hardly give me bliss,
I think I’d simply answer this.
It all depends on the relative size,
And the most appealing before my eyes.
For a hollow log, be it wide and dry,
Might just be enough to get me by.
Then again, a rocky and draughty cave
Might rescue me from an early grave.
Yet still, the log might be a mistake.
What if it harboured a venomous snake?
The cave at first might get me by,
But what if it floods when the tide is high?
And what if pirates have buried treasure
Inside the cave, and they spoil my leisure
By bursting in one pitiless night
And giving me a terrible fright
By shouting and swearing around the place,
And brandishing cutlasses in my face?
A rocky cave, or a hollow log?
Why, neither’s fit for a mangy dog,
And if I felt the night so black
Wrap round me on the homeward track,
I’d pull my coat around me tight,
And bravely then defy the night
To do its worst. I would prevail
In spite of snow or sleet or hail.
Onwards, gamely, filled with grit,
I’d plod, and make the best of it,
Until, at last, as dawn once more
Arrived I’d stand before my door.
I’d then collapse into my bed.
No log. No cave. My home instead.

© Stephen Whiteside 25.03.2018
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au

Neville Briggs
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Re: A Hollow Log or a Rocky Cave?

Post by Neville Briggs » Sun Mar 25, 2018 5:48 pm

As Winston Churchill said " Domicile, Sweet Domicile " :)
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.

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Shelley Hansen
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Re: A Hollow Log or a Rocky Cave?

Post by Shelley Hansen » Mon Mar 26, 2018 2:53 pm

Shades of tenting again, Stephen??

For some reason "The Princess Bride" rose forcibly to mind as I read this poem.

I definitely concur with the comfort of bed at home!!

Cheers
Shelley
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com

"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")

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Stephen Whiteside
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Re: A Hollow Log or a Rocky Cave?

Post by Stephen Whiteside » Mon Mar 26, 2018 6:41 pm

Saw a vaguely tempting hollow log on my travels yesterday...

"The Princess Bride"? Have to check it out.
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au

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Shelley Hansen
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Re: A Hollow Log or a Rocky Cave?

Post by Shelley Hansen » Mon Mar 26, 2018 10:33 pm

Oh, Stephen, you would just LOVE "The Princess Bride"! It is a parody of all the best fairytales, and so, so quirky!! It has “dread” pirates, kings, villains, young lovers, vengeance, poison, sword fights, dark forests and a bloke who ends up "mostly dead" (a very medical diagnosis!)

You must watch it!! It has a lot of great actors - Peter Falk, Mandy Patinkin ...

Cheers
Shelley
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com

"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")

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Stephen Whiteside
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Re: A Hollow Log or a Rocky Cave?

Post by Stephen Whiteside » Tue Mar 27, 2018 6:38 am

OK, will do. Sounds great. Thanks, Shelley.
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au

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