Poet of the Fortnight #11: Michael (Nov 10 - Nov 24)

All makes total sense Michael ... but you should really scan those pics and email them to yourself. I'm the same with precious photos! Great answers x
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More questions Michael ...

Do you have any party tricks or unusual skills (other than your fantastic poetry!)?

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

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hello again Miss Kitty K, and nice to you bac here :)

Yes a good idea-scan and save :) thank you.

ah, such a lovely compliment. well I can catch 35 two pence pieces from my elbow to my hand haha! A couple of good card tricks.

If I could live anywhere in the world Miss Kitty, it would be good 'Old Blighty' we have a very special country. with areas so beautiful, that I have yet to explore. Cornwall is one place I love, and I could happily live there :)

I would like to spend some time living in Italy, being that is where half my stock comes from. However give me a sustainable/self sufficient commune, and that would be high on my list haha.

thank you again for great questions Miss Kitty
Much love
Michael x :)

Everything you wrote make sense, and I appreciate your taking the time to write such in depth and thoughtful responses! On to the next questions.

Question #4: Do you think animals have morals?
Question #5: Are there any smells that never fail to bring back memories? Smells that transport you to a different place or time? Smells that remind you of someone or some place important to you? (For instance, the smell of fresh jasmine reminds me of home and my dad. He built a wooden arch leading to the door of the house I grew up in, and then grew jasmine across it. Over the years, the jasmine has taken over most of our front yard.)
Question #6: If you could travel back in time just once & only for 24 hours, where would you choose?

Hi Jane :)

if only animals could talk eh :) I really only can comment on my dog, who was really part of the family. He had an incredible way with the children, when they were young, although he was gentle-mannered in nature. He would also almost show signs of 'empathy' if I wasn't feeling well, or the rest of my family. he would come and nudge his nose under my arm, or just want to be closer. the same goes for when Floyd wasn't feeling well, it would be that he loved extra attention.
Animals have instinct and senses far far greater than humans. I have wondered myself whether they possess the emotion of love, so hard to know. But I felt Floyd 'loved' us as we interpreted love. And who knows, another week with someone other than us, who loved and adored him, we would be forgotten so to speak. A great question, I feel I cannot answer for sure haha!

Smells - I really do feel that any of our senses, memorise experience. Smell is an interesting one. I have on occasions had a waft of scent, and I think wow that was so familiar, but who or what? I do love the smell of old books, as my grandfather had a study, and lots of aged books. I remember I always used to take a sneaky whiff, and that has stayed with me always. Certain perfumes remind me of a former girlfriend, by this I mean the subtleness, not necessarily the same brand, if this makes sense.

Travel back in time- I answered a similar question from Em, earlier in the thread. But for only 24 hours, for definite I would love to re-visit the birth of my children- that's it! :)

thank you Jane again for great questions

Much love
Michael x :)

Dear Michael..
Other than your children and overcoming (I know it's a long haul) addiction; what else have you done in your time on earth that you're proud of?

Excuse me if it's been asked.

Em :)

Nice to see you back here.

Well.. I was certainly proud of myself when I read one of my poems at the Cheltenham Literature festival haha! nervous to say the least, with many fine poets reading their poems. But it was something I just wanted to do, and yes I had a proud moment with myself (and people clapped haha)

I feel that when I spent some time working as a support worker, in various establishments has a sense of feeling proud about myself. I worked in a homeless hostel for 16-25 year olds, I worked in a homeless family centre and community support too. I enjoyed this challenging role, and gained some great experience, with people and their situations.
I feel proud that I have worked with people in real-life circumstances, and helped them through support. I would see a few move on to better their life, but not the case with all, however if you help one person, and support them through a situation, that's worth being proud of I feel. Its a nice work actually Em, it says more about something, that what a role in job has to do. Its about feeling proud, that I have at least done something and given something back, without a favour owed or waiting for something in return. Hope this makes sense :)

and thank you again Em for a great question.
Much love
Michael :)x

Great answers. Truly nothing beats the smell of old books.

Question #7: Who is your oldest friend? How long have you been friends, how did you meet, and how would you describe your friendship?
Question #8: Do you think it's important to keep up with politics and world news?
Question #9: What types of poetry do you feel yourself most drawn to reading, and why? (E.g. Formed, free verse, love poetry, sad poetry, etc.)

Hi again Jane :)

Haha! old books, such a scent of essence.

My best friend is a lady (Harriet). We have been friends for 16 years. I met her at a party, and took quite a liking to her, but soon got told 'none of that funny business' haha! we just then talked all evening, and from there we became great friends. I referred to fate earlier in the thread, and I feel this is one of those times, and glad to say that nothing further developed other than friends, to which I'm so grateful :)
Our friendship, feels like we are brother and sister, and great for our own relationship woes :) She has a heart like no other person I know, a very caring, loving lady, but with a very strong personality. She is a great and wonderful artist, however like some of us, has had issues personally and battled through very tough times. We have always been there for each other. In truth Jane, a great friend can be the missing links when in a relationship with someone. A great friend can fulfil other requirements (not anything weird or saucy! haha) but some of the things that do not come through a personal relationship. A great friend can help with a healthy relationship, after all Harriet has been through a few of mine, and been there when things were not so good, but also supporting my relationships, and vice-versa. I could write pages on this subject, but I hope you get the picture and all makes sense :)

World news/politics.. ummm, in truth I cant ignore what goes on in the world. I do not watch TV (box-sets-Netflix only haha). But I listen to the radio everyday while driving my cab. To me Jane its the same old tiresome, sad news day after day. There is a third world war with terrorism, we really don't need a chemical or biological war. But I wouldn't like to say that this wont happen, as too many trigger happy powers are very itchy and makes the world a nervous place. I'm not into politics a very great deal, but I will reflect now and then in my writing how I see and feel the world. We only have hope for a better world to live in (my opinion) :)

Types of poetry- In truth Jane I love all styles of poetry, and have learned far more on PnQ than anywhere else :). I started out with rhyming poetry, and wanted to break and try other styles, It wasn't easy to break away from rhyme (which I still love and always will) but I really enjoy free-verse. It feels deeper to me for some reason, and I can really play around with my writing for it to flow as best as possible. I am a huge lover of 'Love' 'Sadness' and Depression. I feel I have spent most of my life working through emotions. Beautiful times and memories, but also dark and mysterious with of course very tough times in ones life. I love also opening my imagination and challenging myself to write about a subject. I love acrostic style, they really fill my mind with whats behind that word, if this makes sense :)

Once again Jane thank you for such mind- provoking questions :)...

And as this is my eve before I leave
this wonderful thread, which you have led (Jane)
I'd like to say a great big thank you
and hope its helped, and given a clue
a little insight to Mr R
you are all wonderful..
you really are :)

Thank you again Jane (even that rhymes haha) Its been lovely, and I have really enjoyed being POTF!!
Much love
Michael xxx :)

I've enjoyed reading your answers, Michael!!

Since there's still one more day for questions-
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

You get stranded on a desert island... name 3 things you would definitely have with you and 3 things you wish you'd have brought...

what is your favourite place in the world.. maybe one you have visited or one place you'd love to visit and why

great replies :)

Hi Poetess :)
Thank you and nice that you come to visit.

A super power. Good question, well I would certainly would like to know how it feels to fly. The beauty of taking to the skies and soaring above the clouds, and if really super, super out into the universe. Imagine flying around near stars, the moon and planets, what an incredible experience. Give trips to children, I bet they would love it (my two would haha)

But one super power that reaches above all, would be to have the power to bring peace and harmony to our world :)

Thank you again Poetess for your question
Much love
Michael :)x

Hi Em :)

Great to see you back, and with interesting questions :)

Things I would definitely have on a desert island- that gets me thinking haha! Crossword books ! haha. A radio and well certainly writing tools.
Things I wish I bought- an inflatable dingy haha, survival book and an air bed haha.

I would love to visit India (which is a bucket list:). I would like experience the culture, and also visit the 'slums' I feel this would put a lot of things into the perspective of life. Spend some time with families and children. Also explore further, and visit the wild-side. A good safari trip would be amazing :)

Thank you again Em for great questions
Much love
Michael :)x

Michael, you've been a great sport and generously given each person thoughtful responses. Thank you. I have a final question...

Question #10: Are there any hobbies you've always wanted to pick up, but haven't (yet)?

Dear Michael I hope it is not too personal if I ask: Do you think that human beings should be equal to one another?

Hi Jane :)

I am actually starting to paint :) I'm not bad at drawing, so will be treating myself to Christmas presents full of art haha! I love how we as poets use colour in our writing, and the way they are described. So I would like to work with colours, they are so expressive and carry many emotions, as does poetry. My best friend is a wonderful artist, and we have thought about poetry and art :)
The other interesting thing, is that I went to a 'Poetry in movement' night. Poets had there written work, voiced over by a reader and a film-maker puts moving images to the poem. It was amazing to see, and this really interests me. One poet wrote a poem just about 'water' and the visuals were beautiful, from images of lake, streams and the ocean. Simply beautiful :) A lot to learn tech-wise, so give me another few years with that haha!

Thank you again Jane, great questions and wonderful thread
Much love
Michael x :)

Hi Frank :)

This is actually a question, I have questioned in my mind a few times. I've often wondered, that if we were all the same- features/ looks/size/height etc, how would the world be. It makes me think about judgement, jealousy, envy etc. If we were all equal in this way, how would our emotions work. Would we be able to love easier?

I also wonder if we were all equal, would the humanistic world be a better place. I guess when we look at the animal kingdom, they live to the nearest continual circle I know. All animals look the same over and over again ( a few differences) but pretty much a 'lion' from the next 'lion' are almost identical. Their pattern of survival is the same ( weather can be an exception) and they breed the same. And this is also whether I do really wonder if animals have emotions. It would be a very interesting world to experience, from our now point of view, however if it was we wouldn't know any difference. Maybe there is a 'parallel' world to us where its all the other-way around. We as humans live the animal way and they live our way haha! I hope this makes some sense :)

Thank you for your question Frank, very thought-provoking
Michael :)

Such sincere answers. I think that is the aim of threads like this. We do not want to solve the puzzles of the world . We want to get to know each other in most sincere ways.
When years ago I came to Canada a Chinese classmate of mine asked: why do you Italian all look the same. I responded: first I am not Italian, second WE (my people) do not look the same in the eyes of each other. I tolled her I thought that about Chinese. And that was true I could not distinguish who was who in first, but after few weeks, they did not look the same to me no more. I say this, in regard to your lion example. The lions look the same TO us as perhaps we look the same to them. Our eyes first catches the similarities, I guess, till accustom themselves with the differences.
I totally agree with you that we need verities otherwise life would be boring if we all were the same like factory products. But I strongly feel we should all have equal opportunities in order to get the chance to flourish as individuals.

Thank so much for responding Michael. Your Fortnight was such fun.

Thank you, Michael, for being an excellent PotF. You took special care to answer everyone’s questions thoroughly, and in a timely manner, which speaks to who you are almost as much as the answers themselves. You’ve led an interesting life that’s shaped you into a generous and kind person. I’m thankful you chose PnQ as your poetry home!