FORTUNE - MISFORTUNE
Perhaps you think, like many folk
Your path through life's your own.
Perhaps you treat it like a joke
When the runic stones are thrown.
Tarot cards were once the rage
If you desired your fortune told.
Their interpretation by a gypsy sage
Made strong men's blood run cold.
Phrenology or (reading your bumps)
Was deemed a most reliable test.
But the position of your cranial lumps
Has gone the way of all the rest.
Tea leaves, sticks and new turned ground
Were read to indicate your fate.
But was the only thing to be found
--Your own gullibility rate?
Author notes
This is just a question from someone who is still not sure. I have had some odd experiences but each has a possible, though unlikely, rational expanation.
I know there are people out there who are sure one way or the other. If you're one of those I am happy for you and am sure you will realise the answer can only be found in ourselves and will allow me to ponder the question in my own way.
JS
In a list
A contest entry
- Phrenology: the language of bumps by macandrew.
400 points, ended June 25, 2007, 4 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 11 of 11
-
This had a smooth flow to it which I quite enjoyed.
A pleasure to read.
John -
-
Thank you John!
Jim
-
-
And I thought that no way anyone would have a poem that mentions phrenology to post as prewrite in this contest.
Many people like to have their fortunes read by some way or other. I personally even don't read the horoscope, but have had, in the past, the tarot cards played for me once or twice. Don't think I want to know my future anyway, I like to think it'll turn out the way I plan and work for.
-
-
Perhaps it was pre-ordained
Fortune telling is a subject I would like to scoff at but there are enough bizarre coincidences to make one think twice.
Jim
-
-
Thanks for reading and writing.
Jim S -
Feel free to ponder… personally I think it is very simple, if the future is fixed – i.e. predictable then it cannot be change and there is no point knowing, if it is malleable, alterable by your/our actions, then it cannot be predicted with certainty. The problem is only one of perspective since much in fact is inevitable and predictable, sunrise, tides, phases of the moon, star positions – the main point though is that we – humans, life, the planet (take your pick) are utterly irrelevant to any of it¡!
Oh and thought provoking topic – lol.
-
Thanks I am glad you liked it. I'm quite proud of this one as it was the first to be accepted for publication.
Jim S -
wow this is really nice, i really love the second stanza....i feel like its taking me into a fantasy world. nice job!
-
I like to read the dictionary as a pastime, particularly when I'm getting a bit "cocky" : it has a humbling effect.
R. -
I agree with your first two points but when I read it out loud that "ALL" is a stress point and there isn't (I haven't found)a relacement.
I've changed this version but the poem was my fist in print when it was anthologised a couple of years back and those books are still out there and irredeemable.
BTW Do you know I've used the dictionary more times since hearing from you than I have in months. You are a positive influence on me.
JS
Edited on Jun 07, 8:53 because ''. -
An interesting write Jim - and this coming from a bloke who used to own a chat line and a tarot line.
I've even sat down at the phone myself, when we were busy and, with my years of sales technique, ascertained an awful lot about people simply be asking pertinent questions and listening very carefully.
I got quite "into" it at one point, and DID believe that I had some sort of gift, but I suspect it was just the gift of being able to "suss" people out, and what they wanted to hear, rather than a "medium" thing.
The poem's flow is spoiled in places, and I would like to make a couple of suggestions which you may or may not wish to use.
The first two stanzas are perfect.
I would change the 2nd line of the 3rd stanza to "Was deemed a reliable test".
I would drop "all" from the 4th line.
I would drop "your" in the 2nd line of the 4th stanza.
I think these changes would make the flow perfect.
Hope you don't mind my making the suggestion.
Good poem.
R.
Adding your comment:
1 - 11 of 11
