Tag Archives: Oxford Blues

MIDWINTER’S DAY IN THE BOTANIC GARDENS

Posted on December 20, 2021 by Universal Octopus

Hippophaewith clusters of orange berrieson spiky twigs. Set in this ancient, yellowstone wall,which separates the formal walksfrom the marsh garden to the south,is the gateway (with gate long gone).At its base, nerines – all mauves and reds –spill over on … Continue reading →

Posted in Blondin, Oxford Blues | Tagged Blondin, Botanic Gardens, Brian Taylor, Cherwell, Magdalen, magnolia, medicinal garden, Merton, mid-winter, Oxford, Oxford Blues, winter jasmine, yew tree | Leave a comment

ARMISTICE DAY

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Universal Octopus

“Died some pro patria non dulce non et decor.”So Ezra Pound adapted Horace’s linesfor those whose sufferings for their nationhad bred a dull, dark, painful generationwith gloria cauterised from their minds. In the calendar their deaths are still recorded.Poppies and … Continue reading →

Posted in Oxford Blues | Tagged Armistice Day, bombs, deaths, dust, Ezra Pound, Flanders, gloria, grief, human litter, Martyr's Memorial, medals, November, Oxford, Oxford Blues, past and present, poppies, pro patria, services, spirits, St Giles, transcendental | Leave a comment

THE ONE AND THE MANY

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Universal Octopus

If there is only One,nothing can be special.If there is Nothing,what then? .

Posted in Oxford Blues | Tagged many, nothing, One, Oxford Blues, special | Leave a comment

UPWARDLY MOBILE CAT

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Universal Octopus

The cat sitsin the Provost’s chair! Wisdom,being devoidof Right Understanding,has become Worldly Savoir-Faire. (poem from OXFORD BLUES) .

Posted in Oxford Blues | Tagged cat, moblie, Oxford Blues, savoir-faire, understanding, wisdom, worldly | Leave a comment

WAITING

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Universal Octopus

Magdalen’s groundsare full of life,full of space. Space, which is mownand cleared,tended and enclosed,its waterways unchoked,brown and sparkling clear. It is home to ducksand coots,to dragonflies and deer. Grass and paths and gatesand streamsand yesterday’s undergraduatesare waiting. Not for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Oxford Blues | Tagged being, dragonflies, ducks, future, Magdalen, Oxford, Oxford Blues, past, peace, space, undergradutes, waiting, waterways, Yes! | Leave a comment

AREOPAGITICA

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Universal Octopus

The Vice Chancellor is leaving!And the mourners go about the streets,throwing their mortar boards in the airand waving their gownslike bullfighters’ capes. In the Vivisection Laboratory,the faintest of grey lightsslants through the bars of cageswhere animals waitto be scientifically torturedfor … Continue reading →

Posted in Oxford Blues | Tagged Chancellor, God, laboratory, makind, Oxford, Oxford Blues, scientifically tortured, Vice, vivisection | Leave a comment

T.S. ELIOT AT 4.00 PM

Posted on March 3, 2020 by Universal Octopus

Ten thousand pieces on the floorreconstruct his own jigsaw,each one shaped at the five sense doorsto compose the picture he is looking for.Achensee with snowflakes?Earl Grey tea and cakes? He cannot hide.He cannot escape into the seascape’s swell,nor is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Oxford Blues | Tagged cakes, drabness, dull and empty, Earl Grey tea, five sense doors, jigsaw, mountainscape, Oxford Blues, snowflakes, Sunday afternoon, T. S. Eliot, Vision of Eternity | Leave a comment

CHINA BOUND GIRL

Posted on January 30, 2020 by Universal Octopus

China-bound girl,not-yet-happiness-made-her-found girl.Airport-station-taxis girl,brand-new-outside-sensations girl.Three-plus champagnes-anything can-do girl,anywhere-go preferably-Katmandu girl.From-past-sadness-ever-fleeing girl,balanced-on-the-very-edge-of seeing girl.Wonderful-from-the beginning girl,so-afraid-of–losing-she-must-be-always-winning girl.So-shy-her-confidence-is overwhelming girl,she-keeps-her-captains-firmly-at their-helms-ing girl. China-bound girl,Love at her heels, how does she think what she knows she feels?Glides like an image one flower ahead … Continue reading →

Posted in Oxford Blues | Tagged Airport, China, China-bound girl, confidence, happiness, Katmandu girl, love, Oxford Blues, sun-mist, winning | Leave a comment

COLD FROST

Posted on January 26, 2020 by Universal Octopus

We fill the time twixt sleep and sleepto stop the thoughts dig down too deepfor they have messages to keepthat what you sow is what you reap. .

Posted in Oxford Blues | Tagged Brian Taylor, frost, messages, Oxford Blues, sleep, sow and reap, thoughts, Time | Leave a comment

MAKE THE MOST OF IT

Posted on November 9, 2019 by Universal Octopus

Said the Junior Dean. What is “It”that we should make the most of it?What have wethat we can justly boast of it? We have inherited our share of wealth;and karma and good sensehave brought us health. Time weighs not on … Continue reading →