a very skilled assassin — Daydreaming as a profession (Reblog)

The way she’d creep up on you and just appear from behind like some cat, you’d think she was some trained assassin or something I felt her punch my shoulder and then her other hand falling on my nape and squeezing “Hey, lucky boy. You should be so damn glad you ran into me.” In the fist that hit my shoulder she held a bunch of crumpled bills and brought them before my eyes “What’s that?” I said “Our tickets to the bar down the street. And you’ve the honor to accompany me there. Drinks are on me today. But you do owe me, don’t think otherwise, okay?” “Where’d you get that money?” I asked. “Why’s it so dirty?” “I stole ’em from Ol’ Horn Nose while he was taking a shit.” “What?” Ol’ Horn Nose was the homeless guy who roamed around the block, usually begging in front of the supermarkets and pharmacies She brought the fist to her nose and smelled the bills and then shrugged “You can’t be serious,” I said. Of course I didn’t believe her but just then the old man rounds the corner and spots us and points his crooked finger at us and screams Immediately two cops round the corner and approach us with big strides but by the time they get to us there’s only me The assassin girl was gone I haven’t seen her since but she does cross my mind every now and then Especially when I pay with cash at the bar

a very skilled assassin — Daydreaming as a profession

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Typing Out Poetry — (Reblog)

I recently read a book called, The Poetry of Strangers, it spoke about the slower process of typing out a poem, key stroke by key stroke. You can check out the book here The Poetry of Strangers Then I was gifted three manual typewriters, that came from an old house, and the tiniest house I’ve […]

Typing Out Poetry —

Poem: Pivoting

Photo by Herman. io on Pexels.com

We ran and ran
laughing headlong into the wind
which swept along the shore,
our arms held out like useless wings,
cheeks flushing with life and youth.

When we stopped
we could see where we’d been,
catching our breath
as the waves washed over our feet.
You held me and squeezed, your eyes
the colour of oceans
cool amid those blushing cheeks.

If moments are captured
and etched upon memory,
this was one such point in time
pivoting on eternity

Copyright Francis Barker 2020

Poem: Stop Being So Nice

Photo by Brenda Timmermans on Pexels.com

Kindly disposed
I blunder into scams and swindles.
Look, I wouldn’t wish to demonise wolves
for merely following their instinct to survive;
and I shall be a sheep no more.
Let’s say it how it is and I will respond in kind,
without kind words and flattery.
Put simply, I asked you to do something,
so would you be so kind as to complete it?

Copyright Francis Barker 2020

Remarkable English Church, Stainfield, Lincolnshire, Part 2

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Saint Andrew’s church in Stainfield is remarkable. It’s thought that Christopher Wren designed the building following a visit.

The church has been open since 1711 and is still a regular place of worship, though the burial ground these days is at nearby Apley.

This area of Lincolnshire is notable for its rich ecclesiastical history, particularly in regard to monasteries, the abbeys and priories that were finally dissolved by Henry VIII between 1536 and 1540.

Inheritance

There was a priory here dedicated to Saint Mary until that time, though not much detail of its history survives. The priory remains have not been excavated, though part of it is said to form part of the wall of the present church.

At the time of its dissolution, the priory was given over to the Tyrwhitt family, in whose hands it remained until about seventy years ago.

A most remarkable inheritance from that long period are The Tyrwhitt Tapestries, actually cross stitch embroidery work. Today they hang along the north wall of the church.

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The tapestries were originally made for the opening of the church in 1711 and consist of five religious pieces, including the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer.

The Ten Commandments piece was re-stitched some time in the late 19th century, and much rather difficult preservation work has been carried out on them since.

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