A Potpourri of Poetic Curiosities
Viewing comments for Chapter 295 "The Skydiver"A collection of poems showcasing unusual words
18 total reviews
Comment from MissMerri
I have always wanted to take a brolly-hop from an airplane, but probably never will now. I do love flying in small aircraft though, and have done it a lot with my brother-in-law. This is a fun and frolicking poem that clearly explains the new word... new to me at least. Please don't buy a parachute. Keep writing poetry instead. Is your book out? I don't see it on your page. ;"(
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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I have always wanted to take a brolly-hop from an airplane, but probably never will now. I do love flying in small aircraft though, and have done it a lot with my brother-in-law. This is a fun and frolicking poem that clearly explains the new word... new to me at least. Please don't buy a parachute. Keep writing poetry instead. Is your book out? I don't see it on your page. ;"(
Comment Written 23-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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My book is indeed out, MM. It's there at the bottom of my profile page (both versions). Is there somewhere else I'm allowed to put it? I think any inclination I may have once had to hurl myself to the ground from 13,000 feet up has passed now. Not much danger of that :) Many thanks, Craig
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I?ve ordered your book. It should be here soon. When are you going to be here to sign it for me?
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I'm truly very grateful that you were kind enough to get the book, MM; I really hope you find it good value. Will you let me know when it arrives? I'd like to check with you if the printing and everything is ok, as Amazon won't ship to me here. I've no idea what the end (printed) product looks like! I am really hoping, for the sake of those who have forked out, that it's a good job. I have sold a few copies, but I have no idea to whom (besides yourself), so I haven't been able to check.
As for signing, I'd really love to. I'll have to check with my agent where my next book signing tour is going. What state are you in? ;-)
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Craig, we live in Northern California, which is almost like a different state from Southern California. We live in the foothills of the High Sierras, close to lakes and rivers and lots of trees and wildlife. You should come for a visit. I'm sure you'd feel right at home.
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Sounds wonderful, MM. One for the bucket list! :)
Comment from Sandra du Plessis
A very well-written poem about dreams that not always come true. Sometimes it doesn't realize for our own good to protect us from dangerous situations that may occur.
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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A very well-written poem about dreams that not always come true. Sometimes it doesn't realize for our own good to protect us from dangerous situations that may occur.
Comment Written 23-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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Thanks very much, Sandra. I don't need anyone to hold me back and stop me from hurling myself out of an aeroplane :)
Comment from Y. M. Roger
A fun write here, sir, that cannot help but put a smile on the reader's face! :) You've done a great job with the rhythm here...even though it is a simple one you've managed to give it a melodic lift with your word choices! :) ;) Thank you for sharing! :) Yvette
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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A fun write here, sir, that cannot help but put a smile on the reader's face! :) You've done a great job with the rhythm here...even though it is a simple one you've managed to give it a melodic lift with your word choices! :) ;) Thank you for sharing! :) Yvette
Comment Written 23-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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Thank you for the kind words, Yvette. Very much appreciated -- Craig
Comment from Pamusart
Hi Craig. This is exceptional. Your meter and rhyme are spot on as usual. Funny ending. But I knew a guy who died that way. He was a real misogynist. I wonder why men hate women so much more often than women do men. Must be the Oedipus complex. I was usually the lone female at chess tournaments in those days and I could beat men. A lot of men resented me. One poor guy cut off his hand because he lost to me. I should not, but do feel guilt and shed tears for him. I saw him about ten years later and his hand has been reattached palm up in slight fist held in place and twitched all the time. The sad thing is I do not even remember the game. And the first thing he asked me was if I remembered the game. I said I did not so he went on to describe it. It was sad. I had only heard a rumor that he did that from a trickster. I did not believe it until I saw him. Wow. Well, I digress. Thank you for sharing
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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Hi Craig. This is exceptional. Your meter and rhyme are spot on as usual. Funny ending. But I knew a guy who died that way. He was a real misogynist. I wonder why men hate women so much more often than women do men. Must be the Oedipus complex. I was usually the lone female at chess tournaments in those days and I could beat men. A lot of men resented me. One poor guy cut off his hand because he lost to me. I should not, but do feel guilt and shed tears for him. I saw him about ten years later and his hand has been reattached palm up in slight fist held in place and twitched all the time. The sad thing is I do not even remember the game. And the first thing he asked me was if I remembered the game. I said I did not so he went on to describe it. It was sad. I had only heard a rumor that he did that from a trickster. I did not believe it until I saw him. Wow. Well, I digress. Thank you for sharing
Comment Written 23-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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I'm not sure that more men hate women than vice-versa, Pam. I suspect it might actually be the other way around, and not without reason. Men have been, and to some extent, still are, pretty abysmal in the way they think of and treat women. It's not so much a hatred thing, as millenia of indoctrination about the "superiority" of their gender. Thankfully, things genuinely do seem to be changing, though that has led to some confusion on both sides. What an odd reaction from your chess-playing friend. Clearly the poor man had a problem before he cut off his own hand. Thanks for the wonderful rating, and for sharing that amazing story with me, Pam. Cheers, Craig
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What I mean is that female serial killers whose victims are exclusively men and rage is their motive are rare. Whereas many serial killer men kill exclusively women out of rage.
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Oh, well, that's certainly true. Who knows why serial killers do what they do? Or why the rage killers can't control their anger. Or why most of them are men. It seems to have been programmed into our species over a long time that men are the violent, aggressive ones, and women the caring nurturing ones. But that doesn't explain why men kill mostly women, and not almost exclusively other men. If it's purely a survival thing, that seems to go against the idea. Good question.
Comment from tfawcus
I spent years dispatching paratroops from aircraft, but never came across the term 'brolly-hopping'. I never had the slightest urge to follow their example either. A plane would need to be on fire before I'd voluntarily leave it!
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reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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I spent years dispatching paratroops from aircraft, but never came across the term 'brolly-hopping'. I never had the slightest urge to follow their example either. A plane would need to be on fire before I'd voluntarily leave it!
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Comment Written 23-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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Hi Tony,
According to my book, the term was first recorded in 1932, was popular among RAF paratroopers in WW2, and had pretty much died out by the 1950s. I guess perhaps you arrived a bit late on the scene to have heard it, although it does seem a little surprising that you wouldn't have run into it at some point. It makes sense, anyway -- I think it's kind of fun.
Comment from lyenochka
I can't even begin to analyze the etymology for brolly-hop. But I see in British slang a "brolly" is an umbrella. Okay, now I get it.
In my college days, a few Classics majors tried to get me to parachute but the cost of the insurance was too high for me and the practical side of me won.
Glad you stayed safe, too. Fun poen and fun word!
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reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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I can't even begin to analyze the etymology for brolly-hop. But I see in British slang a "brolly" is an umbrella. Okay, now I get it.
In my college days, a few Classics majors tried to get me to parachute but the cost of the insurance was too high for me and the practical side of me won.
Glad you stayed safe, too. Fun poen and fun word!
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 23-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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Thanks very much, Helen. All the persuasion it took for me to decide not to hurl myself from a speeding vessel from thousands of feet above the ground was a super-quick check of my back. "Oh look, no wings - ain't happening!" :)
Comment from BeasPeas
Hi Craig. I really got a kick out of this humorous and clever poem. Every line's a gem. My husband was a paratrooper. Liked your new word 'brolly-hop.' Marilyn
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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Hi Craig. I really got a kick out of this humorous and clever poem. Every line's a gem. My husband was a paratrooper. Liked your new word 'brolly-hop.' Marilyn
Comment Written 23-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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He obviously was a very brave man, Marilyn. And that seems to tie in very well with your chosen profession, too. A shared love of being a long way up. Many thanks for the delightful rating and comments. Craig
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Thank you. He was quite a guy.
Comment from Gloria ....
LOL, well I love your possibilities in this one, Craig. But a stiff upper lip is certain to get one out of those sticky situations like say when you parachute doesn't open.
A fine, cheeky poem in excellent metre and rhyme so tally ho no more.
Good stuff.
gloria
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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LOL, well I love your possibilities in this one, Craig. But a stiff upper lip is certain to get one out of those sticky situations like say when you parachute doesn't open.
A fine, cheeky poem in excellent metre and rhyme so tally ho no more.
Good stuff.
gloria
Comment Written 23-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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Haha. Thanks for the delightful rating and comments, Gloria. I'm reminded of the scene in Holy Grail... "'tis but a flesh wound!" Nothing like that good old stiff upper lip :) Cheers, Craig