h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A is the ache that I feel in mine eyes
when the tears have lost hope under pain-shattered skies

And A is the angel that walks me to Zed
The Alpha/Omega there in my head

And B is for breaking - the crack in the shell
The space that exists between heaven and hell

So you dress as Beauty and I'll play the Beast
Let is both take our place at eternity's feast

what? to be continued .....

Hi cactuscafe,

This is only the 'first canvas' of your word paintings, I presume?
Great, as far as it goes! Is it your intention to accept contributions from fellow researchers to complete the alphabet?
Or do you suggest that we might all start our own alphabetical anthologies? I seem to remember that you suggested projects that involved cooperative effort; that you like the notion of team writing with several making individual contributions to the whole. Am I correct?
Would a contribution from me be acceptable?

Ron

hullo Ron! frontiersman -

how are you sir! how was your trip? Charmouth would have been glorious in this weather, I think?

Ron - while you were away I read through some of your writings - cor.... you're a wordsmith kind of chap .....was in awe .... have you found all my little comments? attached to the end of some of your guide entries? like grim reaper, etc?

yes - this A-Z - was just notes to myself - (as was going to take interactive idea to games room) - but - delighted ----please play alphabet poems with me - pleeeeze - let me know how we shall proceed ...

gotta go Ron - we're away on the road again for the entire month of August - and am winding down in the next week or two - so be in touch as soon as you can - or else in September .....

nice to "see" you

Helen

Hello Helen,
It is nice to receive your lovely compliments about my puny efforts at the written word.
Yes, Charmouth was indeed glorious in the tropical spell of weather we have all enjoyed over almost the entire country. We drove to Beer for one of the days and walked over the hill from Charmouth to Lyme Regis for 2 of the days; and to use the vernacular, we were sweating Cob(b)s when we arrived! (I must apologize for the sweaty image this creates! And the poor pun to boot!).
We also drove to Bridport and its West Bay and were surprised to see the new concrete quayside opened earlier this year, by Prince Andrew I think, very modern of course but it has spoiled some of its quaint and characterful appeal, I am sorry to say!
I read some of your poems and your personal space again, to discover that we think in much the same way in our creative mode, if you don't mind my making the observation. We too will be away in Cambridgeshire for a week as from 25th July.
Let me say that our 'alphabet collection' (a suggested overall title for your consideration as the prime mover in the idea). You are the leader, and so I shall follow your trend and decisions about form and content. Let us try to recruit by example rather than a direct appeal to researchers. Volunteers are always the best recruits.
In the meantime I shall compose a few 'ditties' to help get it off the ground. It will be a long process, but there's never any hurry in such pursuits. I find a relaxed brain lets my ideas flow freely. One cannot force the pace along, I feel sure you would agree.
Let us leave the nature and subject of each piece as an independent entity; so no set themes and no rigid rules. That will make the excercise very interesting. But do not worry, I shall write very proper things, suitable for our wider forum in AWW. Do have a good time over your August activities. I hope the weather is kind.

Bye for now...'partner-in-poetry'.

Ron

morning partner-in-poetry!

great to hear from you - what's all this "puny efforts at the written word" bit then? you'd better be joking ...

I love the "alphabet collection"! Ron - will you take the lead? I'd much sooner follow .... honest ...

think I'll leave my first contribution as is - unfinished, on-going, never-ending in its alphabetical potential -

do we post them out there? even if they're a work in progress? I think that would be a good thing? let's face it, the work of the artist is never finished ....

let me know how to proceed. remember my map reading round the site is forever lost, so if its something I haven't done before you'll have to spell it out for me .... A ....B ......that's good, Helen .....C, D ...well done ...

I've had quite a time on the site, Ron, while you've been away - really hit the old slippy-slide for a while - all those inner-voices that tell me that creatively I'm no good etc. - like I have to start making sense, do it right - I am somewhat plagued with a thin-skinned sensitivity - but you know, I think that's part of growing for me, facing down my inner-demons - It's because I feel different, outside the mainstream - its been a very healing time ..and my friends here are amazing ...

yes, we're off on another work-trip - Greece this time! Chris does most of the work, but I try to look interesting ....no lap top, so will have to scrawl in my notebook, and read to passing strangers .....

hear from you soon, then, partner-in-poetry

Helen

Morning Helen: cactuscafe,

You really should Troy harder at always being positive in your own abilities! (Couldn't resist the pun; 'Helen' and 'Greece', a poor joke which you may have received many times before: sorry!).
All artists, be they writers, painters, sculptors or performing musicians have periods of self-doubt and feelings of worthlessness. It is a price to be paid for the artistic sensitivity that drives them forward to create their wonderful works. Great artists, even the giants of the Renaissance, have destroyed their own work, or refashioned it time after time to achieve the perfection they have left us as a legacy. 'There is no gain without pain', as the psychobabble goes!
I'm pleased you like the 'Alphabet Collection'.
Let us agree, then, that we can offer each other (and any potential volunteer contributors) advice on a 'better word here' or 'a more apposite phrase there' in order to hone and polish our poetic prose, or 'free verse' or whatever springs from fruitful minds.

Ron

.... won't go another inch if you're going to come out with jokes like that ....mind you, Helen of Troy - she didn't crack the mirror did she ... who said mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?

yes, I'm fine with critique - I like people saying maybe put a word there or a sentence there ... I usually heed their advice - I don't offer that kind of critique myself because I have no academic knowledge of language (having daydreamed my way through my prime quality education) so I think its better for the writer if it comes from someone who has a bit of knowledge -

I'm in it for the play and the paintings and the pictures - that's what I try to offer back -

L is for love, yes that sweet wounded dove
and I can't get the next line yet .... .... from above ....

thanks for understanding sensitivity - makes me feel better that them renaissance people had it ....

keep me informed ...

Helen

p.s - Ron - just had a thought - what's your timescale with this project? you're off again soon, and I'm going to be winding down with it all pretty soon myself - till September

I just realised that as regards formal guide entries I said goodbye for the summer in my last entry - The Magician -

Is this going to be in the format of guide entries - or a conversation scroll or something entirely other -

not pulling out - just wondering about timescale - if its kind of formal, I'd be better leaving it till September - if its a collaboration, a bit of a laugh, a project that I can slink into, under your umbrella - then that's different -

trying to avoid burn-out here -

do you understand what I'm on about? if you do, then you're a better translator than I ...

hear from you soon

Helen

Hi Helen,

No, not at all formal and yes, a bit of light hearted fun with words, so don't worry at all about time-scales! There is no 'pressure' or 'obligation' intended. You are right about my also having commitments. We are expecting our second grandchild in mid August and we shall be travelling to Cambridge (Balsham) at least twice before that time, and probably a number of times after the baby is born.
So I agree that we should postpone our little joint word-play until a quieter time for us both.
Just drop me a line now and again to exchange 'news'. Have a good time and take care on your sojourn in Greece. Hope all goes according to plan for both you and your husband in your venture.

Ron.

Helen,
I know you won't be able to contact me from Greece, so I don't expect to hear from you for some time; whenever you get a chance to make contact. It probably won't be until September.


Ron

hullo ron!

how exciting for you and your family to be expecting a grandchild! I'll think of you all - and yes, see you in September ..

I really am excited about our partner-in-poetry project Ron - hope you don't think I have cooled - I'm like a pup, I go rushing into things, especially if it involves play and interaction, then I suddenly realised I was running out of time - and I want to give it my full attention and energy - I'll keep my contribution in the not-for-review guide entry space, and (hopefully) in the next few weeks scrawl some new lines into my notebook -

(God-willing) we will all be back at the drawing board in September - so I'll be in touch then - yes, no lap top I'm afraid - all cyber communication will cease ---- how will I survive?

I intend to slink and wink through the site for the next few days yet - so maybe hear from you before you go -



Helen

-- just had another thought Ron - you start the alphabet collection in August if you want and get it underway - you don't have to wait for me -and when I swan back in, all tired and dusty and in need of literary inspiration, I can see what you've been up to -

If you want you can have my contribution ready to post, then you can edit it and bung it in -

let me know - I'm not clicking off here for a few days yet -

Helen

Right Helen, I see where you're at, as they say.
OK, I'll play it by ear until you arrive back on scene.
We go across country to Balsham next Monday morning, and should be back late the following Saturday.
I think I'd prefer to leave your material alone until we can discuss form and content, etc. rather than rush into altering your art in your absence.
Sometimes reviewers can 'get the wrong end of the stick' and, through mis-interpretation of a piece, cut out the more subtle references or phrases that might be essential to the whole.
Please don't let my rather formal style of expression put you off. I am just a lover of our native tongue; even if on occasions I make a spelling or grammatical mistake of my own, which, believe me, I do!

Ron

I love your style of expression! I come from a very literary family on my father's side, and was raised with the finest elements of the English language as taken with a glass of the best amontillado sherry .......your use of language reminds me of quality ....

what happened to me? .... well ......

we are in fact most compatible as partners-in-poetry ....

Helen

I always wondered what happened to Frontiersman. He seemed a little on the older side. I liked his words...friendly, thoughtful...