Vitam et Mortem

From yesterday,

Born Oct 28. in 1780, James Boswell, Scottish writer and biographer of Dr. Samuel Johnson.

Meanwhile departing this life in 1998, Ted Hughes, who held the post of Poet Laureate for 14 years.

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Dies Natalis

On this day,

In 1903, Evelyn Waugh, satirical novelist, author of, “Brideshead Revisited.”

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Dies Natalis

On this day,

Birthdays come thick and fast today.

In 1914, Dylan Thomas, proudly Welsh poet, writer of, “Under Milk Wood,”

In 1932 Sylvia Plath, poet and novelist, formerly the wife of Ted Hughes who committed suicide after their separation.

In 1939, John Cleese, writer and comedian, achieving cult status as a member of the Monty Python team on British television.

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Crimson’s Creative Challenge #259 #Morose and Meaningful

The ivy clambers up the walls

broken gutters take their bow

once children’s laughter filled these halls

but all is strangely silent now

look through the broken panes of glass

for many, memories remain

of sitting with their friends in class

until the home bell rings again

for this was once the village school

introducing either fun or fear

for some of whom it gave the tools

to get by throughout their years

while spinsters armed with just kind hearts

instructed all in the three Rs

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Literatus Obitus

On this day,

Geoffrey Chaucer, poet, courtier and diplomat died in 1400 at his home in Westminster Abbey whilst working on a poem about a group of pilgrims journeying to the shrine of Thomas a’Becket and their varied stories.

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Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie #Photo challenge #487

Hans Veth via Unsplash

Surely tis the Spring

cranes perform the dance of love

no words are needed

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Ronovan writes #Haiku weekly prompt

Before he can read

the young man knows right from wrong

words can be weapons

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Sammiscribbles weekend writing prompt #334 # Conscience or cowardice

This story which I shall now relate

of an abbey on an island in a lake

and the tale of a generous potentate

who’s dead wife in the church was laid

so bequeathed to the abbey her silver plate

a gift much welcomed by the old prelate

that was put in the charge of an initiate

but he with the silver did absquatulate

hoping that by night he could escape

then mindful if captured of his likely fate

he left the treasure at the gates

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Dies Natalis

On this day,

Born in 1722, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, poet and friend of the Wordsworths, composer of, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”

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Dies Natalis

On this day,

Born 1822, Thomas Hughes, author of, “Tom Brown’s Schooldays.”

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