
1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask...
2 ************************* INSTALLED: 23 JUN 85 *********************
3 Welcome to BWMS (BackWater Message System)  Mike Day System operator
4 ************************************************************
5 GENERAL DISCLAIMER: BWMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFORMATION
6                     PLACED ON THIS SYSTEM.
7 BWMS was created as an electronic bill board. BWMS is a privately owned
8 and operated system which is currently open for use by the general public.
9 No restrictions are placed on the use of the system. As the system is
10 privately owned, I retain the right to remove any and all messages which
11 I may find offensive. Because of the limited size of the system, it will be
12 periodically purged of messages. (only 629 lines of data can be saved)
13 To leave a message, type 'ENTER' and use ctrl/C or break to get out of the
14 ENTER mode. The message is automatically stored. If after entering the
15 message you find you made a mistake, use the replace command to replace
16 the line. To exit from the system, type 'OFF' then hang up.
17 Type 'HELP' to see other commands that are available on the system.
18 ************************************************************
19 
20  NET WITS  NET WITS  NET WITS  NET WITS  NET WITS  NET WITS  NET WITS  NET WITS
21 That's NET WITS not NE TWITS. But what the hay...AT THE TOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
22  NET WITS  NET WITS  NET WITS  NET WITS  NET WITS  NET WITS  NET WITS  NET WITS
23 
24 -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-
25       "Wisdom and the strength of wisdom.   [I] symbolize man in complete
26 control of [my] facilities and having complete understanding of the four...
27 By including all things under the control of one...
28             The symbolism is clearly of unity."       -F.D.G.
29 -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -JUGGLER-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-
30       I anxiously await your return, there shall be something here for you
31 once any have been seen.   A song perhaps?   Yes, that would do nicely...
32 -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-   -+-
33 
34 


klm.)   klm.)   klm.)   klm.)   klm.)   klm.)   klm.)   klm.)   

35 		Cut through the
36 		Dark, white-knife
37 		Ship, unchained by cold
38 		Free to go and come
39 		Come to the quiet harbor
40 		Rest until the wildness
41 		Returns, like shear-ice to the
42 		Wave, a turn of the head to the
43 		Open sea and the gray clouds, a
44 		Turn of the heart to the
45 		Farther shore.				- Jannet
46 
kml.)   kml.)   kml.)   kml.)   kml.)   kml.)   kml.)   kml.)   



47 
48 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
49      I  had fought the clinging dark jungle for what seemed  like 
50 forever.   Always that goal in sight, the hill atop which stood a 
51 most magnifacent mansion as any eye had beheld.
52      Oh,  how  I  longed to be there,  to lay upon  the  grounds, 
53 embraced by the sweet aromas I knew would be there.   To drink of 
54 the  cool  dark  loving  waters  of that  deep  well  I  knew  so 
55 intimately.
56      On  I  fought,  for I knew that I only need struggle my  way 
57 through this harsh jungle ever clinging,  always trying to  force 
58 me  back  to the darkness of the hell I had struggled so long  to 
59 escape.
60      An  imposing  wall of thick veins and underbrush now  did  I 
61 face, and with a resolve of will I began to make my slow progress 
62 through.   Finally,  I  had  broken through this  nature  created 
63 boundry,  only to find a stought wall of rock seemingly  recently 
64 built  by the still damp mortar.   Built as if my coming had been 
65 known, and was a despirate attempt to keep me out.  
66      I  beat upon the wall with my tools,  and then with my  bare 
67 fists.   But  it  had  been  solidly built,  as  if  to  keep  me 
68 personally  out.   I  beat  upon  it until my hands  were  but  a 
69 bloodied mess.   My screams turned into sobing,  until  exausted, 
70 unable  to go on,  I fell sobing at the foot of the wall  admidst 
71 the  tatered  remains of the jungle rotting already  in  the  hot 
72 humid air, and remains of the mortar yet still damp.  
73      I  barely even noticed the shards of broken glass that drove 
74 their  sharp piercing pain into my side.   Moving only enough  to 
75 ease the painful tearing.   The world seemed to be filled with my 
76 cry of despair, and the rivers flowed with my tears.  
77      Would I be finally stopped so simply of my life long search, 
78 by  an obvious statement of no admitance?   I screemed my pain at 
79 the Gods,  I begged of my sorrow to the earth and sky.  But there 
80 was no one to listen,  all ears were stopped shut.  And the Gods, 
81 but  laughed  their amusement of one so foolish to think  that  I 
82 could achieve the safty and comfort of this beautiful home.  
83      I  knew  it was there behind the wall,  it always  has  been 
84 there  for me to see.   But,  now I'm locked out with this  fresh 
85 built wall.  My goal so close that I can even now smell the sweet 
86 fragrance drifting through the air.   I plead to the Gods,  but I 
87 sobs are only returned as laughter.   Am I to forever be stranded 
88 in this hidious jungle?   So close yet so far from my goal,  this 
89 garden of eden amidst the clingling death filled jungle?  
90      The world is filled with my cry of despair,  the rivers flow 
91 with my tears.
92 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
93 
94 *@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*
95 *sniff* May you find a rope to climb the walls. And may the walls crumble
96 and you mat pass.
97 *@*@*@*@*@* The crying Minstrel *@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*
98 *sniffle* p.s. Willsomeone comment on my songs?
99 I wish to learn from dailure and wrongs,
100 to best improve my work,
101 to fix, repair, to cut and paste,
102 all with much and great xhaste,
103 I want to fix the trobules and all,
104 so that I may continue,
105 soo my work won't fall,
106 among the dust in lonely halls,
107 mind, blocked by walls,
108 of forgetfulness, and all.
109 *@*@*@*@*@* A minstrel for your t
110 (correction: that should read:
111 **@*@ A minstrel for your thoughts *@*@*@
112 ^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^
113 
	"With the eyes of a fool," he said,
114 	"You see the state you're in,
115 	And still you stumble through your stupid life,
116 	Still you laugh and grin;
117 	Vagabond on a winding road
118 	That only leads you down,
119 	Blind to the dangers and dismay
120 	That wipe the innocent smile away
121 	From the face of a laughing clown."
122 
	Imbecile, you are acting like a fool again,
123 	In a world of thieves all ready to run you down,
124 	Imbecile, they are waiting till you make the first mistake,
125 	And you're going to make it,
126 	That's why I'll always call you an Imbecile.
127 
	"You weren't always a sorcerer,"
128 	The joker then replied,
129 	"It seems to me you learned it on the way,
130 	You live by tricks and lies;
131 	Standing round in your juggler's gown,
132 	There seems no reason why;
133 	Flashing your eyes and casting spells
134 	With candles and signs and magic bells,
135 	Oh, you are the fool, not I."
136 	
Imbecile, you can call me that if you feel the need,
137 	But life is short and I am living it while I can.
138 	If it rains, I'll get wet but in the sunshine I'll be dry,
139 	It is you who are foolish,
140 	Just 'cause I laugh, don't call me an Imbecile.
141 
	"We both are right" said the sorcerer,
142 	"And both of us are wrong,
143 	For though we walk this road we don't know where it leads,
144 	We only know it's long.
145 	You have something to learn from me,
146 	And I can learn from you;
147 	You with your jokes and simple plans
148 	And me with my tricks and sleight of hand,
149 	Together we could get through."
150 
	Imbecile, we are dancing down a darkened road,
151 	Though the stars are out, not one of us knows the way.
152 	Imbeciles up ahead of us and millions more behind,
153 	And we're laughing and smiling,
154 	That's why I say we're all of us Imbeciles.
155 
	Mike Batt, 1980

156 ^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^|^The Hermit
157 
158                           101 EASY WAYS TO SAY NO
159 
160 I'd love to, but...

161    1   I have to floss my cat.
162    2   I've dedicated my life to linguini.
163    3   I want to spend more time with my blender.
164    4   the President said he might drop in.
165    5   the man on television told me to stay tuned.
166    6   I've been scheduled for a karma transplant.
167    7   I'm staying home to work on my cottage cheese sculpture.
168    8   it's my parakeet's bowling night.
169    9   it wouldn't be fair to the other Beautiful People.
170   10   I'm building a pig from a kit.
171   11   I did my own thing and now I've got to undo it.
172   12   I'm enrolled in aerobic scream therapy.
173   13   there's a disturbance in the Force.
174   14   I'm doing door-to-door collecting for static cling.
175   15   I have to go to the post office to see if I'm still wanted.
176   16   I'm teaching my ferret to yodel.
177   17   I have to check the freshness dates on my dairy products.
178   18   I'm going through cherry cheesecake withdrawal.
179   19   I'm planning to go downtown to try on gloves.
180   20   my crayons all melted together.
181   21   I'm trying to see how long I can go without saying yes.
182   22   I'm in training to be a household pest.
183   23   I'm getting my overalls overhauled.
184   24   my patent is pending.
185   25   I'm attending the opening of my garage door.
186   26   I'm sandblasting my oven.
187   27   I'm worried about my vertical hold.
188   28   I'm going down to the bakery to watch the buns rise.
189   29   I'm being deported.
190   30   the grunion are running.
191   31   I'll be looking for a parking space.
192   32   my Millard Filmore Fan Club meets then.
193   33   the monsters haven't turned blue yet, and I have to eat more dots.
194   34   I'm taking punk totem pole carving.
195   35   I have to fluff my shower cap.
196   36   I'm converting my calendar watch from Julian to Gregorian.
197   37   I've come down with a really horrible case of something or other.
198   38   I made an appointment with a cuticle specialist.
199   39   my plot to take over the world is thickening.
200   40   I have to fulfill my potential.
201   41   I don't want to leave my comfort zone.
202   42   it's too close to the turn of the century.
203   43   I have some real hard words to look up in the dictionary.
204   44   my subconscious says no.
205   45   I'm giving nuisance lessons at a convenience store.
206   46   I left my body in my other clothes.
207   47   the last time I went, I never came back.
208   48   I've got a Friends of Rutabaga meeting.
209   49   I have to answer all of my "occupant" letters.
210   50   none of my socks match.
211   51   I have to be on the next train to Bermuda.
212   52   I'm having all my plants neutered.
213   53   people are blaming me for the Spanish-American War.
214   54   I changed the lock on my door and now I can't get out.
215   55   I'm making a home movie called "The Thing That Grew in My Refrigerator."
216   56   I'm attending a perfume convention as guest sniffer.
217   57   my yucca plant is feeling yucky.
218   58   I'm touring China with a wok band.
219   59   my chocolate-appreciation class meets that night.
220   60   I never go out on days that end in "Y."
221   61   my mother would never let me hear the end of it.
222   62   I'm running off to Yugoslavia with a foreign-exchange student named
223         Basil Metabolism.
224   63   I just picked up a book called "Glue in Many Lands" and I can't put it
225         down.
226   64   I'm too old/young for that stuff.
227   65   I have to wash/condition/perm/curl/tease/torment my hair.
228   66   I have too much guilt.
229   67   there are important world issues that need worrying about.
230   68   I have to draw "Cubby" for an art scholarship.
231   69   I'm uncomfortable when I'm alone or with others.
232   70   I promised to help a friend fold road maps.
233   71   I feel a song coming on.
234   72   I'm trying to be less popular.
235   73   my bathroom tiles need grouting.
236   74   I have to bleach my hare.
237   75   I'm waiting to see if I'm already a winner.
238   76   I'm writing a love letter to Richard Simmons.
239   77   you know how we psychos are.
240   78   my favorite commercial is on TV.
241   79   I have to study for a blood test.
242   80   I'm going to be old someday.
243   81   I've been traded to Cincinnati.
244   82   I'm observing National Apathy Week.
245   83   I have to rotate my crops.
246   84   my uncle escaped again.
247   85   I'm up to my elbows in waxy buildup.
248   86   I have to knit some dust bunnies for a charity bazaar.
249   87   I'm having my baby shoes bronzed.
250   88   I have to go to court for kitty littering.
251   89   I'm going to count the bristles in my toothbrush.
252   90   I have to thaw some karate chops for dinner.
253   91   having fun gives me prickly heat.
254   92   I'm going to the Missing Persons Bureau to see if anyone is looking for
255         me.
256   93   I have to jog my memory.
257   94   my palm reader advised against it.
258   95   my Dress For Obscurity class meets then.
259   96   I have to stay home and see if I snore.
260   97   I prefer to remain an enigma.
261   98   I think you want the OTHER  [your name]  .
262   99   I have to sit up with a sick ant.
263  100   I'm trying to cut down.
264  101   I have to stay home and sharpen pencils.
265 _____________________________________________________________
266 just a little something I downloaded from CIS...
267 ______________________________Leonard______________________________________
268 Yes, but one-hundred-ten lines of it?  This was a new disk only 3 hours ago!
269 
270 :::::: Leonard, be carefull.  We all have lists like that just
271 laying around the house, and waiting to be be entered :::::::::
272 
273 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
274 
275 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
276 Leonard:  a LITTLE something?
277  
278      All right!  Who accidentally dumped MacHinery's negative response file?
279                                P. Trov
280 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
281 090900090909090909090909090909090090909090909090909090090909090090909
282     Carmichael did a passable immitation of gaping in amazement.
283     'What did he do; park on the wrong side of a dry wash?' He asked, tryg
284 to lighten the mood, (or did the highway patrol catch him with a joint) he
285 was thinking to himself.  Most of these little burgs were ok if you watch
286 yourself but occasionaly there were quaint local customs one had to be ca-
287 ful not to offend.
288      'We were hoping to avoid this', his 'host' spoke ominously, 'but I'll
289 have to ask you to come with me.  Walk on aheadand do exactly as I tell you
290 and I might avoid seriosly injuring you.'
291      'Always chereful to oblidge', was Carmichael's flipant reply, instany
292 rewarded by a half expected kick, poorly aimed.  As he reached to take -
293 vantage of his 'host's' careless balance, he discouvered that his guide
294 this desert wonder-land had multiplied.  This point was brought home by hd
295 wood billy accross his temple.  Not hard enough to save his feet the troue
296 of providing transport, just enough to assure him that he would not get lly
297 any time soon.
298      Outside the first door he was guided away from the way he had come.
299   Carefully he negotiated the rough hewen narrow steps leading downward io
300 the unknown.  His worries as to a possibly assisted too rapid decent were
301 cut short by a briliant flash which turned him into a blind man.
302      Had he been climbing the stairs, his sightlessness would have been p-
303 menant.  As dim and hazy vission of sorts returned slowly, accompanied by
304 the grand daddy of all excedran headaches, it became descustingly obvio
305 that the object which had fallen against his ankles, had reciently been the
306 lower torso of Bill E. Club!  Of 'mister Master of Cerimonies' there was 
307 no sign.  Neither for that mater was there the least evidance that the abe
308 ground portions of the structure to which he had so receintly been confined
309 had been more than a figment of his warped immagination.
310      The time table, on which he would soon be falling behind was no prodt
311 of personal delusions however.  How he was to cross the remaining 50 miles
312 of open desert in the next two hours remained to be seen!
313 0909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909
314 
315 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^     (is one really there?)
316      Caught between the words in his tale to the boy, there was the glint
317 of a reflection in the eye of his mind.  For the moment he had thought that
318 the one that stood by his side was that which had been met in another land,
319 in another time.  Words flooded thorugh him, losing the ones he had struggled
320 to prepare for deliverance.  Washed clean, they would not surface now.
321 The words had risen, but now had fallen... gone from recall.  Damn.
322      Looking to his side, the Guardian now only saw the one that was Francis,
323 the boys elder brother.  He now sees a boy when a moment ago he had seen...
324 had he seen her?  The mind is a terrible vastness that conspires to create
325 what we want most to see when we are scared, when we are confused.  Alone?
326      The confusion was being lost now, the words to the tale would return,
327 but the feeling was getting harder to hide.  The Guardian squeezed his eyes
328 shut to supress the tears that would now flow from that illusions absence.
329 The presence of the illusion in the mind was almost enough, but far too much.
330      "Where was I this time?  Oh...  Yes.  It was Edric..."  The tale 
331 would be told for that was all there was, the telling of the tale.
332 Isn't it so?  Isn't that what we are all here for?  The telling of our lies
333 and creations?  No, don't answer, I am not here either.  None of me are.
334 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^     --->the effete Guardian     (175:08)
335 spluttering, egalitarian thoughts...  enough mottling for now.    (:ex)
336 
337 ________________________________________________________________________
338 words that have been spoken may be kept between the two that have ex-
339 changed them. you already know that. letters and interaction that have
340 been seen over the silvery-green screen may be kept between the few that
341 have seen and sent them. you are safe. you already know that.
342 a secret. many exist and many shall be on their own. you are there and i
343 shall remain here. i will wait to lend you the use of my hand or the use
344 of my pen. any pen will do will it not?
345 someone has said that this is the place where brilliant stories die. i 
346 see that this may not be so. hidden words that i have seen tell me
347 otherwise. many stroies shall conclude. as well as many characters. will
348 the brilliance be lost in their conclusion? prehaps the gleem of the 
349 concept exists only in its future potential. ending removes all doubt.
350 they destroy the question of "what if?". my confidants and confidantes
351 shall proceed at their own cost. whatever that shall bring.  o the pain.
352 ____________________________________________________________________mg__
353 *@*@*@*@*@*@ The Minstrel *@*@*@*
354  
355 A scarlet feeling,
356 escaped his mind,
357 searching out,
358 find,
359 with no caring,
360 joy,
361 or love,
362 shooting down,
363 the peace dove,
364 The feeling cried,
365 all this,
366 tit'S moment died,
367 it'S xhour missed,
368 and once again,
369 the world went right on,
370 doing what it must,
371 spinning upon,
372 spinning upon,
373 fear, greed, pain, love, and lust.
374 @*@*@*@*@ The pain filled heart 
375            of the minstrel *@*@*
376 p.s.: Please comment on my songs!
377 *@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@**
378 ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
379 Minstrel:  Quite good!  I enjoyed them so much, that I captured them and put 
380 them on a disk.  Keep up the good work!
381 Milch:  Sorry about taking so long, but....
382 ??????????????? The Doctor ???????????????????????? June 24, 85 at 3:48 ???????
383 @*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
384 Anotehr story you say,
385 anjourney of the imagination?
386 I fear the day,
387 hads gone by,
388 txe time is going,
389 hours fly,
390 And I must go,
391 destony,
392  I am the Minstrel
393 *@*@*@*@*@*@* the Minstrel *@*
394 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
395 Doctor: That's all right, I'm just becoming even more wrinkled and grey than
396 I am now.
397 ++++++++
398 (I want a new duck- one that won't try to bite, one that won't chew a hole in
399 my socks, one that won't quack all night...(from "I want a new Duck", Weird 
400 Al's "Dare to be Stupid" album)
401 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar ++++++++ June 24, 1985 +++++++++++++++
402 ===================================================================
403 As a long-time lurker, away for a few weeks, I have an observation:
404 BW seems to have been taken over by the kiddies.  Not necessarily, of course,
405 the "juvies" of old, just kiddies.  Is this really as it appears?  Is there
406 anyone out there over the age of 17?  What happened to the adults?
407 ========================== Justa Lurker ==========================
408 
409 !*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*
410 Ahhh...to be seventeen again!
411 !*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*
412 In case anyone cares:  Yosp is Hoojib is Minstrel is Yosp is Hoojib is Minstrel.
413 
414 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
415 
416     From Prometheus; Aged
417     So there is a difference between Juvies and people seventeen and younger.
418     Not being one to argue, I agree, but as far as Backwater having been taken
419 over by the Juvies ( Oops, under seventeens )  I think not.
420     The writers are mostly in their twenties, and those that aren't, are going
421 headlong into it.
422 
423     Daring to be stupid,
424     Prometheus Juvie Hawthorne

425 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
426 17! Lesse now... that'd be back in 72... Right! I'd just gotten into a no-
427 credit Fortran course for high school students at Gonzaga University. We got
428 to punch our own card decks & wait for the IBM 360 to crank out the results..
429 _______________
430 As for the list.. 
431 1. That kind of thing used to be the main content of BW disks (check the 
432 archives!)
433 2. Enter? whadda ya mean enter... I just pipe the incoming text from CIS
434    to BW.... (of course, it *does* need a little buffering...)
435 _____________________________Leonard_______________________________________
436 *@*@*@*@*@*@*@* The Minstrel @*@*@*@*@
437 A ship sailed at dawn,
438 Grestigast bay,
439 it's name was "The Fawn",
440 it shone and it's hull was hit by the spray,
441 Of the ocean's waves,
442 the turning, churning mass,
443 a hand that saves,
444 or kills with it'S grasp,
445 It flew out of the dock port,
446 in splendor and grandure,
447 it's captain was a man,
448 with a noble stature,
449 But even he,
450 could not hope to defend,
451 ainst the mighty sea serpent,
452 that would bring about their end,
453 and so the ship worried,
454 as it cxurned over the sea,
455 It's sails open to the wind,
456 txe breeze flowing free,
457 until that huge monster,
458 In a plume of the brine,
459 turned up and attacked,
460 for the men of the ship, txis would be their last time,
461 to see the sun,
462 to see the stars,
463 things they took advantage of,
464 whe~ veiwed froma afar,
465 on a distant shore,
466 some miles away,
467 from the sea and the chores,
468 toil of every day,
469 crubbing the decks and fixing the sails,
470 these men were brave,
471 but all harts fail,
472 to the might of the sea Dragon,
473 not closing with speed,
474 "Ram the Dragon" shouted the captain,
475 "An attack I shall lead,
476 against this foul creature,
477 of the dark sea,
478 we'll see who will win,
479 who's soul will be free,
480 It shall be my men and me!"
481 And with that he turned the wheel,
482 of the boat,
483 And it headed for the surreal,
484 form of the dragon as it attacked.
485 He prayed to his lord,
486 that they might yet live,
487 or stop txis foul demon,
488 he asked for diliverance to give,
489 to them all.
490 The dragon was gaining speed,
491 the dragon's mouth opened wide,
492 nough space to swallow the boat inside,
493 With a final triumphAnt blow,
494 the boat struch the dragon,
495 The creature's anger did grow,
496 It thrashd about and did it's best,
497 to remove the boat lest,
498 it have it stuc{k there for the rest,
499 it's days..
500  boat is still there,
501 the Dragon is not,
502 it's souk was sent,
503 to someplace rather hot (hehehe),
504 It's gone for good,
505 no need to fear,
506 it's ugly maw,
507 for you did hear,
508 of how the noble captain grand,
509 saved his ship,
510 ossibly his land....
511 *@*@* The Seafaring Minstrel *@*@*@*@*@
512 All: PLEASE!!!! COMMENT ON MY WORKS!!!
513  The minstrel looked on at the people of Backwater and asked 
514 "I have told some stories that I know. But are there any subjects that 
515 you would like me to sing about? Anything
516 at all?
517 *@*@*@*@*@*@ The questioning minstrel *@*@
518 `,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,
519  Does being 17 and a half cut it?  Maybe, maybe not... it all depends on what
520 I just finish reading.  Sometimes you just have to be a little strange, it's
521 okay if it doesn't hurt anyone else.  It lets some of the pressure of ordinary
522 life escape.  You might as well have some fun doing it.
523 
524 - Minstrel -  Have faith in yourself!  You don't have to look to the outside
525 to find satisfaction, look to yourself.  See how you like your songs.  If you
526 read anything that is negitive, just remember that you can't please everyone, 
527 not all at the same time.  It's appreciate the saying 'you have to appreciate
528 yourself before others will appreciate you.'
529 `,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`Mark`,`,`,`,
530 Ah, 17.  If I only had the intervening 15 years between then & now to do
531 over again....   sigh.
532 :::::::::::::O O:::::::::::::voyeur:::::::::::::::::::::O O:::::::::::::::::::::
533 -(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(-(
534 Minstrel:  I agree with Mark--If you derive personal satisfaction from your
535 poetry then you shouldn't worry about what others think.  This is rarely the
536 case, though.  I'm sure your purpose involves entertaining readers, and when 
537 possible, causing them to stop and contemplate.
538       The most important thing you have to work on, in my opinion, is rhythm.
539 I find the stories you have to offer interesting, but I get  tangled up in the
540 widely varying line length.  This problem even tends to impair your rhyme
541 scheme as the reader's mind creates an end-of-sentence where one was not 
542 intended. (sorry for the vague explanation)
543      The rhythm of which I speak (or meter, as I believe it's called) is the
544 most time consuming factor I face when writing poetry--It is, however, the key
545 to fluency.
546      Keep up the work, Minstrel.  I believe you have a talent or insight or 
547 gift or something which has prompted me to leave this message -- something I
548  ery rare y do.ng which has prompted me to leave this message -- something I
549 very rarely do.
550 -)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)-)
551 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
552 ... but then again, poetry doesn't have to have a set, concrete rhythm.  As
553 many write it, poetry can have shape to it (ie words describing a tree,
554 collected into the form of a tree rather than stanza or paragraph), or it
555 could be fully freeform, or as above, using the metered forms and rhyming
556 patterns such as ABAB, AABBA, ABCB, ABBA, ...    I tend to regard poetry as
557 any collection of words that are not strict prose; even then, some prose is
558 very poetically written.
559 
560   Mooncloud I call you
561   You smile in your youthful way
562   And call me Sunchild
563 
564        Mooncloud, One who is there
565        Sensed by millions
566             but seen only by one
567        Living of the energy
568             of an everlasting sun
569                    
570                   The One that sees you
571                        is a dreamer
572                   A dreamer of Sunclouds
573                          and Moonchildren
574  
575  
576                                  Dreams fulfilled only
577                                           by you
578  
579 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Emu
580 
581 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
582 Roses are Red
583 Violets are blue
584 You think this will rhyme next?
585    You're wrong
586  
587 Because it won't
588 Rhyme where you 
589 Expect it to
590  
591 Having fun with words
592 Is what poetry is all about
593 It can really be boring 
594 When you can guess the
595 Next word coming out
596  
597 Dependable
598 Meter
599 Is just
600 As bad
601 
602 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
603 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
604 mg:   what art thou thinking?
605 ^^^^^^^R.V.R.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
606 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*By any other name*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
607 Yes; I'm still here though I dwel more oft in other climes these days.
608 Emu: great poet tree (i wonder if thats something those druids came up with,
609 or was it Dryads???)
610 Mynstral: more more
611 Justa: Nothing is Ever ENTIRELY as it seems especialy in such rarified -
612 virons as these.
613 When I was 17 it was NOT such a very good year.
614 Vietnam was frying in napalm and THE DRAFT was an empending doom on my 
615 personal horizon.  One the other hand, fresh breezes of the spirit were 
616 quickening all the popular arts to hights not even aspired to in thair then
617 newly popular genras!
618 as it is written: those were 'interesting' times!
619 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
620 0909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090
621      Carmichael managed to shuffle cautiosly down the narrow stairs t
622 cool and welcome shelter of a modest underground labrenth.
623      Exploring from end to end, he found himself to be the only living soul
624 prescent.  His main regret was the time it was taking his overloaded eyes
625 to return to normal.  He made two most welcome descouveries.  One was enoh
626 supplies encluding preserved foods, to keep a small army on the move for
627 years!  The other was a well equiped comm room.  With the breadboarding 
628 spaires at hand he let his hardware hacker's immagination run wild.
629 090909090909090909090909090909090909DRAT!!!!!09no ROOM left0909ARGH090909

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