Escape

This made me think of our social media escape route - now in the 21stC   - I wonder what Grandad would have thought ?

Why all this hunting for entertainment,

In theatres cramming, in novels dipping?

Why all this lust for hectic excitement,

Newspapers chewing, at races gambling?

I know it's a dire sign of the time,

And folk are aflame to stake on a chance

That might ease ever so little the rack and the pine,

And by basking in fiction the real world escape.

But dare not to look on the street about you,

Around, below, aghast to above,

Are hope and despair, Earth's grand creatures a-mildew;

The comic and tragic of perennial love.

Avaunt! Avaunt! The foeted hall.

Away! Away! The novelette.

Man is horse mettlesome chained in stall,

With powers stupendous - left to rot.

Autumn

Autumn spills a chilly blast

Out the tankard of the morning:

Bee and Man prepare for fast

That Winter threats, by vigorous storing:

Hoard they honey, flesh and fruit,

Edible Good, whatever suit;

Autumn spill your chilly blast,

The garnered store will warmth recruit!

Autumn sails before the mast:

Autumn viking his wild-blown locks;

Deep their nets the fishermen cast,

Heap they high the silvery stocks.

Swarthy arms the ripe-grain mow;

Whirl and eddy the tanned chaff blow.

Winnow grain! Spoil amass!

Like fresh red apples young cheeks aglow!

With sweetness bulge and juicy fall

Plums purple yellow, pears huge brown - flecked:

Yesterday's blossom is beyond recall,

With cherry earrings present Beauty deck:

Chrysanthemum blooms the lilies replace;

December rose will bud apace:

Like puppy unleashed the wind is in chase

Of springtime adornments, it leaps, scampers, pants:

Press out the cider! Fruition never recants.