Napoleon's Hat

Napoleon's hat lies wilting

On a dusty shelf somewhere

Between Marconi's underpants

And a lock of Shakespeare's hair,

But savage dreams of empire

Still linger in its brim

And it mourns its former owner

And keenly misses him,

For Napoleon grew downwards

From his hat down to the ground,

And served as locomotion

For his hat to get around.

Emily Bronte

Emily Bronte wrote a book

(It's rather good,

Worth a look.)

Passion filled

With love insane,

It makes me think 

About her brain,

And what it was

That lead her to

Write such a 

Fascinating stew

Of madness, sex

And tragedy?

What dwelt inside?

What could it be?

What jungl'd heart

Beat within

That placid breast

Victorian?

Folk Surgery

All over the country they are springing up. Folk surgery clubs are being formed by enthusiastic amateurs keen on maintaining their link with the grand living traditions of surgery as handed down father to son to dog for generations, free from the pollution of professionalism and the cold clinical eye of modern science.

Like all folk traditions, many threads make up the fabric of folk surgery. Some conservative traditionalists will commit to nothing more than what was known to Galen from 100 CE. Admittedly their clubs are few in number, but their rigorous adherence to ancient surgery more than makes up for their rapidly declining numbers.

Some people prefer to dwell in those halcyon Victorian days with bright steel instruments unfettered by blind compliance with the upstart Pasteur. Such meetings do tend to be characterised by cheerful screams and noxious odours, but enthusiasts quickly become immune to such minor unpleasantness.

On special Fair days, different surgery clubs will set up their brightly coloured tents and practise their own favourite historical techniques on each other and the unwary passer-by. A wonderful afternoon can be had by the whole family for the trifle of a few minor amputations. How the children laugh to see father hobble so. Jolly times! Teeth extractions can be arranged for the squeamish who merely wish to dabble in this most delightful pastime.

God discussions

In discussions about God

I find it rather odd

That evidence demands such small attention,

Some accept uncritically

What from others they would see

As nothing more than obvious invention.