THE YEAR
Posted by anthonynorth on July 6, 2009
Including ABC Wednesday, Carry On Tuesday and Heads or Tails.
Have you had a go yet?
POLLY TICKS
A year is the time it take for Earth to orbit the Sun. Well, that
might be right in science, but the year is much more – it is the
ultimate form of control. Nature controls us through the seasons,
but man formulated the seasons into festivals which went on to
give us meaning.
Through meaning, we learn how to aspire to
something, so with Christianity, we find the
year taking on a new importance.
It became a continual, all-year-round celebration of the life of
Christ. This made us as one with the concept, proving a brilliant
way to define who we were. Such an ability was not lost on later
politicians, with the whole year becoming a calendar for prominent
political and cultural events. We see most of these as innocuous
celebrations, but they get under our skin and offer us meaning.
And the people who control this calendar control us.
Eye On the World
Writers’ Tips
The ‘Y’ Files
CRIME NEWS: Figures show UK most
violent country in EU. This is what happens
when govt tries to make a country what it’s not.
We’ve lost our soul.
WORLD NEWS: Italian leader picks earthquake hit venue for
next G8 Summit. I see something deeply Freudian in this.
BRIT NEWS: New MI6 chief in security error as wife
posts photos & family details on Facebook. One
hopes his staff are more security conscious.
THE TRAVELLER
Fiction: It seemed as if he had been traveling an eternity, everywhere
he had been a kind of spectral blur as memories flashed before him. ‘Is
there anybody there?’ said the Traveller, knocking on the moonlit
door. He waited, and eventually he heard the thud of heavy steps
approaching from within. Slowly the door creaked open and a pained,
harrowing face appeared. The man was stooped and the haunted look
extended to the interior of the house – an ancient house that must
have witnessed so much as the centuries had rolled by. The man
offered the traveler a drink, and noticing the obvious fear on his face,
said: ‘Don’t worry, it isn’t haunted.’ The Traveller felt at home here.
His eyes became translucent and a knocking seemed to envelop the
whole house. ‘It is now,’ he said.
SPIN
Spin the wheel, it’s how it’s done,
Offering tragedy, or maybe fun,
Sometimes you win, sometimes lose,
Giving you joy, or maybe the blues,
Spin the wheel, the wheel of life,
Could be happiness, or maybe strife
© Anthony North, July 2009
Linda may said
Spin the wheel, indeed Tony get into the lotto of life, if you dare. Either way there is no choice, just do it, for better or worse.
anthonynorth said
Hi Linda,
I think you’ve got that just about right
Melissa said
Anthony,
Wow I love this piece. Mystery, more than meets the readers eye. Loved the ending poem!
anthonynorth said
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for those kind words. Much appreciated.
paisley said
i often wonder just how it is we would have counted the days had the church not stepped in.. i think the sun would have been a guiding force,, but i would be interested in seeing what science came up with…
anthonynorth said
Hi Paisley,
A good question. Whatever system had been used, you can guarantee it would have had an ideology or creed behind it.
SandyCarlson said
The calendar–and that part of it called the clock–do indeed own us.
Twilight said
The calendar is a tool for many things, isn’t it? Also, I think humans must be wired to respond to regularity. We enjoy the repetition of festivals, be they religious or secular eg.Eurovision
From childhood, when we love to hear the same fairy stories over and over again, to adulthood when we look forward each year to Halloween and the rest.
I enjoyed “The Traveller” – nice twist!
anthonynorth said
Hi Sandy,
Yep, we all seem to be serving time.
anthonynorth said
Hi Twilight,
Thanks for that. Yes, we’re certainly hard-wired to lap it all up. Maybe that’s what makes it so easy to control us.
Even Eurovision
shraddha said
you are very good with words..
extraordinarily talented..
anthonynorth said
Hi Shraddha,
Those are very kind words. Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Old Grizz said
Anthonynorth
your blog is one of my favorites. your words and your spins show a great depth in your thinking. you always leave me thinking and in awe. “open a door and spin a haunted house’ life can be a real bitch sometimes. thanks for a time well used
James said
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_calendars
Quilly said
‘It is now,’ he said. Muhahahaha! Loved that!
Yes — every year as it cycles around, indoctrinates us just a little bit more. This is why the breaking of most habits takes a full year of diligence — all of those “first” to get through without the crutch. I really struggled to quit smoking right up until I moved across country — holly alone — and took up a new job. It was a new place with a clean new slate, no preconceived thoughts — and no paradigm insisting that I smoke to fit it’s parameters.
lostmermaid said
loved the fiction !!
anthonynorth said
Hi Old Grizz,
Many thanks for the kind words. Comments like that make it all worthwhile.
Hi James,
It’s amazing how many calendars there are worldwide, and all down to cultural control, one way or another.
Hi Quilly,
As for the old smokes, I still struggle with them. One day I’ll crack it.
Glad you liked the story
Hi Lostmermaid,
Many thanks. Much appreciated.
Dr. John said
I don’t think anybody controls our festival calendar. Though politicians will show up at them spo they can be seen.
anthonynorth said
Hi Dr John,
Oh, very true, those politicians can’t miss a photo opportunity.
lissa said
THE TRAVELLER – I didn’t get the end at first, had to reread, but what a great way to end this piece
The Dark Lord said
Great post there… Indeed, a year is much, much more than a mere scientific occurance.. I never thought of it before, but your post did make me realize its way more controlling… and significant to us, humans..
Then, that poem was awesome… superb flow and rhythm to it.. simple, yet lavish.. and the words rhyme so well!!
anthonynorth said
Hi Lissa,
Thanks for that. I do like my twists
Hi The Dark Lord,
Many thanks. I’m pleased you liked the post. Yes, most things that become ‘accepted’ in the year inevitably have an element of control by giving us meaning.
andy. said
Hi Tony, like the ’spin the wheel’ and the line with the double spin, works so well!
I just read your last ten posts, I didn’t realise I’d been away so long.
anthonynorth said
Hi Andy,
Thanks for that. I hope it was a rewarding read
Simone said
Spinning the wheel of life – like that thought – at first I feel like I want to rebel against the thought of life just being mere chance and then I remember that I cannot control or predict events – I can only choose how to respond to where the spin stops.
anthonynorth said
Hi Simone,
Thanks for that. Sadly this is how it is.
sandy said
so true that spin Anthony!!
Skittles said
You can also spin the wheel or buy a vowel.
anthonynorth said
Hi Sandy,
Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Hi Skittles,
You can indeed. Life is often like a game show, I find
Sue said
I was thinking wheel of fortune too! Yep, life is a big gamble in some ways. Great post! Thank you for stopping by, and your comment Happy HOT
anthonynorth said
Hi Sue,
Thanks for that. Yep, I was actually thinking of the roulette wheel when I wrote it, but Wheel of fortune is just as relevant.
Karen said
I used to do fairly well with the Wheel of Fortune at the casino. I don’t see them any longer. They must have gotten wise to me. LOL
anthonynorth said
Hi Karen,
I gamble very rarely, but when I do I seem to be lucky. I convince myself that it’s because it’s not very often.
bundleocontradictions said
Personally, I sometimes wish that wheel would stop!
Great post as always.
Lani said
hi Anthony… is this spin poem your heads or tales????
It’s very good! L
anthonynorth said
Hi Bundleocontradictions,
Thanks for that. The wheel can often be cruel, I admit.
Hi Lani,
Many thanks. I guess as I like writing tales, it’ll have to be that
Tumblewords said
I’ll be forever wary of travellers. Stay at home ghosts are far preferable to those who move out and about! Good post!
anthonynorth said
Hi Tumblewords,
Thanks for that and very true. They’re such restless spirits
Roger Green said
Five thousand, 25 hundred, 6 hundred minutes, it says in Rent. I’ve been fascinated by the year ever since I realized that there are so many of them: Chines and Jewish calendars, school years, church years, fiscal years. all go through the same cycles but at seemingly different points in their years.
anthonynorth said
Hi Roger,
Yes, there are so many interpretations of the year, and all with that little bit of control and formality within its particular culture.
Sherry said
Years seem to travel differently.
This one is traveling at just the perfect rate…fast enough for change but slow enough for me to enjoy each moonrise.
I bought a spinning wheel in February. I spin wool roving in the afternoons. It makes for a nice meditation time. My ghosts are only my memories.
ALways a delight to come to your words.
Sherry
anthonynorth said
Hi Sherry,
Thanks for that. Yes, the year passes just about the right speed for me nowadays, too.
Vic said
You seem to have a knack for those “short and sweets”; “spin” was fun. Thanks for sharing.
anthonynorth said
Hi Vic,
Yes, I like this form, and I assure you it has nothing to do with me being lazy
Jay said
I totally agree with the ‘Crime’ piece – you cannot force a culture into a certain path. We’ve been rolled up for sure.
Do I detect a teeny bit of plagiarism in your short tale? I wanted to continue ‘ … as his horse in the silence champed the grasses of the forest’s ferny floor’! LOL! But I liked the story, and as usual, didn’t guess the ending.
anthonynorth said
Hi Jay,
Yes, it’s wrong to try to make a culture what it isn’t. All it does is make us lose direction, and in that way trouble lies.
Do you mean these words by Walter de la Mare?
‘Is there anybody there?’ said the Traveller, knocking on the moonlit door.’
If you check the link to Carry On Tuesday, above, the challenge is to write a story with those words in it.
Jay said
Aaah, so that’s it! I might join in with that sometime!
Dee said
Interesting juxtaposition – the control of the calendar year and the fickleness of the wheel of chance. As usual, the twist is masterful in your fiction
anthonynorth said
Hi Jay,
Yes, it’s great fun. You should have a go.
Hi Dee,
Many thanks. I do love my contradictions in the posts
Selma said
You are definitely King of the Twists. Loved the Traveller’s Tale.
anthonynorth said
Hi Selma,
Thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated.