The dictionary describes poetry as, ‘the art of rhythmical composition, written or spoken, for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative, or elevated thoughts’.

My earliest memory of poetry is from school, we were subjected to learn parrot fashion, ‘If’ by Rudyard Kipling. Although the whole process was utterly repulsive due to the fascist nature of the teaching, you could not help, but feel the passion and undeniable quality, of possibly the best poem ever written. That experience although tainted has always made me think of poets and poetry as something to be revered.

So the third ‘first’ is to write a poem.

At an open university course, some ten years ago, I was tasked with writing a poem whilst on a personal development and team building program. I can still say this is a first though because on that occasion I cheated and copied the lyrics from my then favourite composition ‘Affirmation’ by Jones and Hayes (Savage Garden). Total rip off I didn’t even change a word. I really thought someone would recognise the words and I was ready to be shamed. It was a very strange situation as the group thought it was an excellent composition and I was duly congratulated.
I did confess in the bar later that night, here are the lyrics would you have known?

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem
I believe you can't control or choose your sexuality
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy
I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold
I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires
I believe forgiveness is the key to your own happiness
I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed
I believe that God does not endorse TV evangelists
I believe in love surviving death into eternity
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye.

Yes, its good isn’t it, did you remember it?

Ohh well this is me…

Damn, damn, damn, this is where there should be a meaningful poem but after four days of typing, cutting, pasting and finally deleting, nothing I would dare to post. Scratching the surface did not reveal masterful poetry writing of any sort. I did enjoy the research which had me reading Milton, Blake, Emerson and others. The time not wasted so all I can do is leave you with this..

Though thou loved her as thyself,
As a self of purer clay,
Tho' her parting dims the day,
Stealing grace from all alive,
Heartily know, when half-gods go,
The gods arrive.

From - Give all to Love - Ralph Emerson.

Thanx for reading, hope it makes you find a poem to love. until next week xx

As they say, best laid plans.. My original ‘first’ for this week was ice skating, not life changing.. No, but a first and as I set out I thought it would be easily achievable. I was hesitant with the sun shining and wondered if an indoor activity was the correct choice. As I approached the rink I realised someone with more influence than I had thought the same thing, it was closed to the public!
Having parked up in Blackpool and resigning myself to the fact I was not going to be gliding across ice like Bambi. I needed to re-evaluate the choice of something to be my ‘first’. Not inspired in any way by Ronan Keating, but by the fact I was stood below the highest roller coaster in the country, I decided to ride ‘The Big One’ as Blackpool’s pleasure beach describe it. Then the question of, is it technically a ‘first’, as I have been on different roller coasters before. The benefit of only having yourself as referee in these matters is that you can basically and absolutely make the decision. As said previously the whole concept of doing ‘firsts’ is to question and test ones own view of oneself and the society in which we exist. So onwards to the queue and join the visitors, who had made their choice to ride the biggest and fastest roller coaster in England.
It is very strange that if you ever find yourself alone in a crowded holiday environment the only people who choose to speak to you are either drunk, psychotic or both. But then how refreshing to find someone willing to strike up a conversation which was interesting, relevant and funny ! It went along the lines of ‘are you scared, its high and fast, and I am going on with my dad’ bless, I think she was about twelve. At what point do we lose the ability to converse with an open mind and a freedom which goes with the innocence of youth. How sad we have to protect our young by corrupting the beauty of their thoughts.
After taking my seat on the ride and the starting skyward, second thoughts were to late. The memory of the time I had to conquer a fear of heights to climb a neighbours ladder and rescue their cat which had decided to climb out of a bedroom window and just sit purring in the gutter. Nerves put to one side I was very confident as I lifted poor Jet out of the gutter and started my descent, and then released the feline to freedom, but as a classic comic film director would have loved after less than ten minutes of his dramatic rescue he was sat in the gutter again. This time he was left to his own recovery, which annoyingly he found very easy. He did not look down once as he scrambled back up to the open window.
It may not pacify an adrenaline junkie, but the height and the speed of that ride is awesome. I would recommend the ride to anyone, please if you ever go to Blackpool take the ride !!

Hopefully next weeks ‘first’ will be better planned!!

Whatever, wherever, I will let you know how the third ‘first’ happens.

As always please keep a smile close to your mouth.

Curious how ‘the first time I have done that feeling’ makes you feel younger and somewhat mischievous. I would recommend trying something new at least once a month, or if you can stand the excitement once a week. Once a week or fifty two new things a year would require a great deal of planning. Where would you start…
At the very least it requires some thought and examining of priorities and commitments. So my ‘first’ this week was starting this blog, next week - well that would be spoiling the fun if I put it here. If you could make a list of new things to do how long would it be? Would it start with something extraordinary or something simple, but still as meaningful, like a change of appearance or changing your surroundings? I don’t think ‘firsts’ need to be life changing, but the train of thought that leads you to decide what the ‘first’ should be opens the mind to new experiences if only for seconds.
Some ‘firsts’ also have to be ‘lasts’ and are definite mistakes - like the first time I chose to wear white jeans… big fashion mistake which I couldn‘t carry off, most folks who looked were wondering where the rest of the cricket team had gone. And the first time I decided to paint each wall a different vibrant colour Gaudi style in the lounge.. didn’t work as it was such a colour rush you could bring on a migraine within an hour. These errors would be best forgotten, as I remember they carry a certain amount of embarrassment, but ‘firsts’ are ‘firsts’ and therefore valid.
It is one thing to decide what your ‘first’ will be, it is quite another to put it into practice. If it is going to be a true ‘first’ it stands to reason that you might not know the rules or etiquette required or perhaps not have the equipment needed. Research is fun and most likely you will discover another ‘first‘ for future use. As for blogging I am unsure of the way you get people to read it or indeed how much one should write!
‘Keeping it real’ may have found its way to the urban dictionary but this is a perfect example of its relevance. Dreaming ‘firsts’ that are clearly impossible in your current situation may open ideas for future development but can lead to frustration. Your list has to be achievable and offer challenges to your mind and/or physical.
My own ‘firsts’ limitations are governed by the fact I would not want to bring any negative effect to any person or animal. The fact that we as a society seem to want to set targets for everything - from young children learning to read and write or too when a war should end - should we set targets for our ‘firsts’. I thought ‘first’ blog should I target ten readers? I then realised that this not the point, the objective was to complete the task. Job done.

My ‘first’ second blog should be here next Sunday, angels willing.

Please let me know what your ‘firsts’ are, on twitter at markad1

Keep training your thought and smile at a stranger it might be me xx

It has been quite a long time since I have experienced 'The First Time I Have Done That' feeling but here it is again. Cool.