Poetry For Now

Truthful, humorous and insightful poetry to uplift and brighten your day. Hosted and written by Martin Strasmore. The resounding gongs, played by Kassandra Strasmore, offer an experience of peace and tranquility. Good poetry can open up the mind and heart to new ways of seeing the world, accepting difficulties and embracing opportunities for transformation. Each episode is intended to support and uplift the world and to renew our respect for each other and nature.

All Episodes

Poetry For Now

THE TIME TRAP

December 12, 2021 • Martin Strasmore • Season 2 • Episode 14

Trapped in the sequencing of time, poetry for now becomes poetry for when? I wait, sinking in the quicksand, of poetic inspiration about the Danube trip and our daughter’s wedding. The truth is poetic inspiration and words happen in a moment - which is “Poetry for Now”.

So I am going back in time to recreate the moments through my journals and photographs, reliving the scenes and times. These poems capture a few special and poignant experiences rather than being a travelogue of our 3 weeks through Europe.

Support the show

Episode 14 THE TIME TRAP

So I am going back in time to recreate the moments through my journals and photographs, reliving the scenes and times. These poems capture a few special experiences rather than being a travelogue of our 3 weeks through Europe.

WEDDING ON AMMERSEE

Sparkling couple

against brilliant blue sky

sparkling water

Loving parents

delighted friends.

A ceremony of delight and laughter

A resolution to live together

to share a vision and future

to support and love

whole heartedly

Exquisite wedding lunch

dishes that pleased the tastebuds

and the eyes

One would expect no less

from the two loving foodies.

Then the horses

Prima Rosa and Parodie

the horses and carriage

like love and marriage

to the wedding cake we go

more great food

Charades, Karaoke

laughter and music

May celebration and joy never end.

(Blue Danube Waltz)

SURREAL REALITY

6 days on the river

time drifts, floats, disappears.

gliding through Hungary and Austria,

Bratislava and Slovakia.

in Germany now.

In early morning mist

passing tall white columns

a greek revival building

Valhalla, the German hall of fame.

Under steel bridges

darker than the grey sky

passing idle barges

then neat family homes

grey, beige, yellow and white.

the onion topped church

meticulously painted

pale green and white

broad staircase leading into the river.

Every day landscapes shift

rolling hills and steep cliffs

fortresses and castles

churches and monasteries

forests and vineyards

Every inch of this land

has a story to tell

embroiled in centuries of wars

ruled by lords, kings and emperors.

Now all seems peaceful and quiet,

industrious religious people

who remember their mistakes

and say

never again!

SWEET DANUBE

Glide into Vienna

Sacher torte

Apple strudel.

Plod through Nuremberg

chewing Lebkuchen

honey, ginger, chocolate

perfectly combined

Under the Wertheim Castle

Onion Bread and grape juice

from the 8th generation bakery

On the river bike path

the beer garden delight

home made plum cake

energy boost coffee

And off we go.

THE JEWISH TOURS

This was the Jewish quarter

There is the plaque

There is a gravestone

High up in that wall

Their cemetery is gone.

That’s where the temple was

They were important people

Gone forever

Never again

PASSAU

Passau is a treat

Hearing the sound of ringing bells.

and the largest organ in the world.

The surprising glass museum

Artisans’ work from workshops

in Bavaria, Bohemia,

Austria and Silesia.

Full of unimaginable color and shapes

each period builds on the other
Baroque, Rococo, Empire,

Biedermeier, Historicism,

Art Nouveau,Art Déco.

We walked up the hill

the covered passage

pilgrims stopping and praying

to the church of st. Michaele

to the Mariahoff monastery.

there we looked down

seeing the whole town

unfolded below us,

surrounded by water

the Danube, Ins and Ils. rivers

swirl around and under bridges

before the next inevitable flood.

HIGH POINT

Floating still and silent

im watching the moons reflection

drifting in out of morning mist

passing barges and boats are gliding

with bright lights blinding

still we are waiting

motionless.

Are we waiting for the moment?

or is the captain snoozing?

Has the ship run out of gas

Like my pen out of ink?

Everything is alright

we move slowly ahead

as a wedge of swans

paddle past in the misty golden light

and the bright whit moon

slides down behind the tall oak trees.

Soon enough we arrive in Werzberg

breakfast on a Sunny day, clear blue sky

baroque churches, sumptuous palaces

Back on the river again

More locks lift us up and up

More towns to be seen

Ancient Regensberg

The musician on the roman bridge

happily at home in his van

free to play and live his dream

Reaching Nuremberg

Justice was completed here

The highest point of the river

before flowing down to the North Sea

To Amsterdam