To be-lie-ve agnostically
is always to remember
most likely current option
could be proved wrong
sometime in the future.
Believe is a good example of a perfect (same number of letters each side of inside word) shenel (word with another inside, like a nut’s shell and kernel I invented, without naming it after myself) with related words on outside and inside.
For more pre-shenel wordplay:
The fmpoetry.wordpress.com website has just updated the poetry reflections from Marc Latham’s 242 Mirror Poems and Reflections book with reflections 11-15, so we’d better keep a step or five ahead, and post reflection 20.
Mirror Poem Reflections
Hi, it’s William Wolfsworth, satirical comedy poetry correspondent at the greenYgrey inspired by legendary Romantic poet William Wordsworth.
Reflection 20 mirrored Summer’s Sunset Soliloquy, which mixed balancing mental health and sunbathing in the top half of the poem; with balancing positive and negative attitudes and behaviour towards people in the bottom half.
Here’s Reflection 20 of 121 in 242 Mirror Poems and Reflections:
Strength and Death
In youth I felt strong enough to die.
In middle-age I feel my strength dying.
In old age I expect to feel death strengthen.
Cycling the Tour de France must be a great way to travel, but hard work. Travelling independently for a long time is the same, but different, in a greenYgrey kind of way. Both can be inspiring, and inspire a feeling of freedom. It can seem an illusion afterwards, but was real at the time. All feelings are transitory illusions between birth and death; probably never based on the whole truth, or actual reality of a situation; not that there is an actual reality, as every event has many angles; to be observed from the inside or outside, left or right, up or down.
Old Mirror Poem Reference
Hi, it’s William Wolfsworth, satirical comedy poetry correspondent at the greenYgrey inspired by legendary Romantic poet William Wordsworth.
Reflection 19 of Marc Latham’s 242 Mirror Poems and Reflections was Travelling with Janis Joplin. Janis left an unhappy youth in Texas and found fame in the California music scene, but never really found happiness, becoming disillusioned with hippy hypocrisy before dying of a drugs overdose in 1970.
Travelling with Janis Joplin reflected the Folding Mirror poem Art of Humanity, which was posted on fmpoetry.wordpress.com in July, 2011; yes, nearly four years ago. The reflection was:
Existential travel
searching for confirmation
only freedom to lose.
New Folding Mirror Poem
It’s only a small reflection, so I thought I’d ask Marc to create something new for all you poetry and philosophy lovers, as you may have been waiting eagerly for new material since my last thrilling appearance on this here lil blog.
Marc duly obliged, writing a poem entirely about Janis Joplin, in a biopic kind of way. It provides some factual information about Janis told through an imaginary meeting.
Janis grew up in Port Arthur, Texas and had a younger sister who attended her wake in San Francisco. Janis started her California career singing in the band Big Brother and the Holding Company. Somewhere Near Salinas is part of the Me and Bobby McGee song made famous by Janis. Here’s the poem:
Happiness over Horizon, Jiving with Janis
on a memorable day of bopping
round clocking with Janis Joplin
at some Hollywood palace
of debateable excellence
I asked her if she treasures
memories from Port Arthur Texas
why did I ask, you really wanna know
forgetting love Somewhere Near Salinas
I remembered my past without fuss
boredom creates blues
feeling nothing to lose
replied singer in Big Brother
but I cherish Laura little sister
life seems without meaning
until you see death
providing a finishing line
and then the game begins
you choose your best side
trying to stay alive instead of die.
Hi, it’s William Wolfsworth, satirical comedy poetry correspondent at the greenYgrey inspired by legendary Romantic poet William Wordsworth. I hope you don’t mind a morsel of middle-age maudling in the above introduction.
There’s double news today, to match the double reflection that reflected The Futility of Life and Death in 242 Mirror Poems and Reflections. Futility of Life and Death was published on fmpoetry.wordpress.com in April, 2011.
greenYgrey Headlines Glastonbury Reflection 1 
It’s great that greenYgrey is headlining the poster of Glastonbury, England’s premier music festival, line-up bill this year, supported by the likes of Blondie, Metallica, Kasabian and Fatboy Slim.
The first part of Reflection 18, which mirrors my introduction more than Glastonbury’s fun vibe, although Lana Del Ray is playing there and has said similar recently, was: ‘I’ve fantasised about creating life, but dreamt about ending my own more. Suicide was my parachute, knowing it was there helped keep my plane on course when it was in trouble.’
South American Football Good News Story
After the Luis Suarez biting incident it could be easy to forget what a good world cup Brazil has provided so far, and the positives of South American football. Neymar and Messi have delivered for Brazil and Argentina, but the best South American football has probably been played by Columbia and Chile. 
There was a nice touch at the end of Columbia’s third game, when they sent on reserve goalie Mondragon for the last five minutes of the game. At 43 he became the oldest player to play at a World Cup, and also became the oldest player to gYgboo (greenYgrey boomerang) too! Not bad work for 5 minutes of time!!
Reflection 18 (2)
However, the second part of Reflection 18 is more in line with Suarez’s bite! Although it’s more about bipolarity and depression in the mind than actual vampires!!
Vampires are All in the Mind
Molars dig deep
through unconscious neck
into conscious brain
draining lifeblood from mood.
Hourglass inverted
serotonin drains away
you join the living dead
for another day.
There’s a new Folding Mirror poem on fmpoetrywordpress.com, and it’s one close to our hearts, as it combines the two things most important to a werewolf: a human and a wolf. Yes, it’s a poem created by a human about a wolf.
While there are many examples of wolves making friends with humans, and even bringing up human babies, such as the Remus and Romulus legend about the founding of Rome, there is no existing evidence of a wolf writing a poem about humans… or anything else for that matter. Wolves are too busy being wolves, and doing wolf things!
Wolf Mirror Poem
Hi, it’s William Wolfsworth, poetry correspondent at the greenYgrey inspired by legendary Romantic poet William Wordsworth.
Yes, Marc Latham has created and posted a new mirror poem onto fmpoetry, and I’ve imported it into the greenygrey world this morning. Here it is:
Wolves 2012 Calendar, October Star Wolf
fire melting gold
fall full flow
leaves oval shaped
seem to poke
fun behind rump
tongue-twisting
on thin reaching branches
both stand on rock, green and grey coloured
under strong running legs
tree-like
paws resemble plinths
keep head grounded
feminine tongue smiles
sunrise eyes shine
below mountain peaks
I am life, until I am death. It might seem that middle-age is half way between the two, but you are much longer dead than alive. In one body anyway. So in middle-age you are still life. Moreover, your life might live on through your descendants, or you could be reincarnated, or just your life remembered in memories, history and the arts.
Poetry Reflection
Hi, it’s William Wolfsworth, poetry correspondent in the greenYgrey world inspired by legendary Romantic poet William Wordsworth.
I hope you don’t mind the slightly maudling introduction, but I’m just trying to connect Marc Latham’s latest Folding Mirror poem with the next reflection from his 242 Mirror Poems and Reflections book.
I fear I may have indulged in a little introspective philosophising myself.
Reflection 16 mirrored Middle-Age Memories, a poem posted on fmpoetry.wordpress.com in May 2012. It was:
Our age is one of great importance,
for it is the only one we’ll know.
New Mirror Poem
That reflection does have some connection to Marc Latham’s latest Folding Mirror poem, freshly imported into the greenYgrey world today.
After the top half of the poem focuses on natural inspirations in the outer world, the bottom half focuses on how our mind interprets those prompts. Here it is:
Entrancing Haze, Thoughtful Phase
moon never told a story
ocean didn’t create a rhyme
but waves can sound sublime.
sun wouldn’t sing a song
air can’t write musical lyrics
but wind can breeze idyllic.
natural noise, interpretative imagination
hearing sounds sparks creative cell
nervous system neurons spark new
ingenious ideas begin to brew .
however our brains have evolved
knowledge from more silent times
cultural memes travelling laid lines.
Since 242 Mirror Poems and Reflections was published Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has travelled Scandinavia for a Channel 4 documentary series. In the Denmark episode he interviewed Soren Malling, star of The Killing and Borgen, and asked him about the contrasting image of Denmark as the happiest country in the world and the dark side shown in Nordic Noir fiction. The episode is on YouTube:
Romantic Poet to Shock Rocker
The impression given by Malling and Fearnley-Whittingstall was that they thought it was healthy for a society to investigate and discuss the negative sides of their collective cultural psyche, and that it was probably their free press and open thought tradition that made Denmark one of the most free and progressive countries in the world.
Poetry also does this of course, including my human parallel, legendary Romantic poet William Wordsworth. Yes, regular readers will probably have guessed that it’s the greenYgrey poetry correspondent, William Wolfsworth.
This search for truth and meaning is often done in music too, and one of the most innovative and legendary proponents of self-analysis and exposition is Alice Cooper.
Mirror Poem Reflection
So, after Marc Latham’s first poetry collection had bipolarity in the title, Alice Cooper’s greenYgrey Alice Does Alice album cover showing his two sides reflecting each other seemed a good topic for a Halloween Folding Mirror poem in October 2010.
It was first published on fmpoetry.wordpress.com, and then in 242 Mirror Poems and Reflections along with…
Reflection 14:
The mirror image of personality and humanity has been a regular theme in Folding Mirror poetry. Vincent Furnier‘s Alice Cooper alter-ego allows him to investigate and release his internal demons; demons that once sent him into alcoholism and a sanatorium.
Societies that have the freedom to analyse and criticise themselves, with a free press and human rights, should be healthier in the same way as Furnier is now, while societies that do not have the same reflection and release will probably grow more demonic.
Is happiness a neglect of duty? It seems that avoiding bad news is the best way to be happy if you’re single, unattached and comfortable financially. Travel can give you that freedom to be happy, as you’re away from the usual concerns you have at home.
Mirror Poem Reflection
Hi, it’s William Wolfsworth, poetry correspondent at the greenYgrey inspired by legendary Romantic poet William Wordsworth and wolves.
At home you feel like you can and should try and make a difference, even if the political system ultimately seems to do what it wants anyway.
However, when travelling or on holiday you can have other problems, such as feeling isolated or hassled.
Even if you escape humanity you can be left wondering why the world is the way it is, and if there’s any point to existence.
Of course there are good times too; and times when the world seems all wonderful and perfect.
I think that’s what Marc Latham was trying to say in his Mine Bipolar Mind poem available from the above link on fmpoetry.wordpress.com and included in his 242 Mirror Poems and Reflections book along with Reflection 13, which premieres online below:
Reflection 13
You cannot escape –
thinking you’re free
one side of the mind
on the same body.
The seasons don’t fight against each other, or argue about allotted times, but that’s because they are human constructions, and don’t really exist; although they are useful in dividing the ‘year’ into different weather patterns. In reality, our planet is just circling the centre of our solar system, because the ‘sun’ is controlling us with gravity.
Human Nature
Hi, this is William Wolfsworth, poetry correspondent at the Greenygrey inspired by legendary Romantic poet William Wordsworth. The second sentence of the introduction was about Marc Latham’s latest Folding Mirror poem, which was inspired by hot sunny weather in Blighty over the last few days. The first sentence was about Reflection 12 from his 242 Mirror Poems and Reflections book.
Here’s Reflection 12, followed by the newly imported from fmpoetry into the Greenygrey world seasonal mirror poem. As with most of the topics, it is an observation and comment on universal human nature, not inspired by anybody in particular.
Those who feel hard done by
often seem to want to get even
not necessarily with whoever
caused their upset
but with anybody
who’ll balance the books
return their equilibrium
as they see it
for the unloved to feel love
for the bullied to feel powerful
for the unlucky to feel lucky
for the poor to feel rich
for the insane to feel sane.
Spring or Summer, Sun flares Whenever
summer can’t arrive too soon
although not expected until June
sun doesn’t know northern reasoning
each hemisphere’s split seasoning
it just sits centre burning fuel
although solar winds wave like fool
our planet circles fusion fire, life on Earth reaching higher
comets dance around gravity bound moons
shooting stars whiz space like loons
judged on falling brightness
without knowing journey light years
hot weather come what May
spring doesn’t claim every day
Marc Latham’s latest Folding Mirror poem needs no introduction.
If you follow the tale
to the end of the tail,
you may get the idea
but you might also fail.
Limits of Freedom Poetry Reflection
The above is the introduction to Marc Latham’s Tale of the Weakness Tail Folding Mirror poem posted on fmpoetry in July 2012. I wish its reflection didn’t need an introduction, as I could be out enjoying the delightful spring sunshine, but we believe in doing things properly at the Greenygrey, and time waits for no-one in the fast-paced modern rebranded greenYgrey world… and by the end of writing this post I had found a happy place…
Hi, regular readers and garrulous greenygreyliens might already have guessed that it’s William Wolfsworth, satirical comedy poetry correspondent at the Greenygrey inspired by legendary Romantic poet William Wordsworth.
What is Freedom?
Freedom’s just another word, for nothing left to lose sang legendary songstress Janis Joplin. Having escaped a negative upbringing, she found fame and success, but it helped drive her over the edge. Would she have been happier if she’d sought a normal life? I don’t know.
Legendary travel writer Jack Kerouac found freedom On The Road, but lived long enough to reach its end; ending up disillusioned with the counter-culture’s helter-skelter spiral towards self-destruction at the end of the 1960s.
British homes children under the New Labour government thought they had more freedom, but many ended up being enslaved by child grooming gangs. Their social workers believed in them having freedom, so they left them to the mercy of the groomers, who only believed in their own freedom, and cared nothing for anybody else.
Limits of Freedom
When birds have freedom
they don’t fly into the stratosphere
but sometimes bump into windows.
Reflection 11
Yes, the above Limits of Freedom was reflection 11 in 242 Mirror Poems and Reflections, reflecting the mirror poem Tale of the Weakness Tail.
Eagle-eyed readers might be scratching their heads, as they may think that reflection had a totally different meaning to Reflection 10, which wrote about seeking the mind void.
The greenYgrey
They will have forgotten that this is the greenYgrey world, where like in a parallel universe, two ideas and theories can coexist, and sometimes even merge.
Explaining this in human terms, Marc Latham has lived a life of youth, and now crossed the hinterland into middle-age. Crossing from one world into the other doesn’t mean he has left all his youth behind, or forgotten how he felt then, so he is in some ways living two lives; or three if you count the transitional stage.
Is There Anybody Out There?
once sang Pink Floyd. It’s impossible to tell if searching in the void brings any benefits. Although it can seem as if it brought new insights, it’s not really possible to separate them from other factors: such as ageing, life experiences, education, physical changes, world events and exercise.
I remember reading about an enlightened Buddhist monk who thought that recreational drink and drugs in modern society were short-cuts to what he searched for in life. He didn’t regret the time he spent meditating. I guess that’s because he enjoyed it.
I recently read Mark Rowlands in Running With The Pack write about finding and loving that kind of mental place when writing and running.
Now my time in that place must end… but I’m off to get ready for a run in the sun now… the transitional stage spent in the ‘real world’.
I guess that at it’s essence, Reflection 11 is saying that freedom is about having the freedom to choose, and not necessarily choosing the most extreme option.
mistYmuse 