In my novel and supposedly written by English and from Yorkshire, William Willoughby in 1811 whilst fighting Napoleon's troops in Spain... and boosting morale using music he loves... this time Flamenco.

FLAMENCO

Passion of heart and soul… and nimble fingers,

Music from wood with curves of Woman lingers…

Cinders dance with hot flames as a heart again sings:

“Anew Gypsies found metal strings...!”

For Men of burning eyes, long hair and hard of nail,

Music is wine as dark clouds away do sail…

Whilst intoxicating songs of Life, Death,

Love and War…

Are every time told as never before…

And a strong hand of Man does suddenly slap,

The delightful form held gently over his lap,

As rhythms of memories and secrets full of pain,

In ancient faraway lands… of hardly any rain,

Anew become forbidden songs never forgotten…

Now an eternal legacy,

And timeless passion … Maybe…

In the shadow… of an ancient olive tree?

Do listen with closed eyes… And magic you will see…



Capt. W. Willoughby

TO ALL FALLEN BROTHERS

To all courageous lives ended with sword, cannon or bullets of lead.

To all Brothers… No longer our enemies instead…

For Power and Ambition even Friends will part.

To silent fallen Heroes always true to a loyal heart.

To Courage always ready to fight for what thought right.

To Brave Men convinced Honour is being Victorious,

Now certain bones on battlefields are never Glorious.

To Sons taught to hate by greedy, ambitious men.

To many a young Mate we shall never see again.

To gallant Officers who believed what was told,

Always willing to give, but hardly getting old...

Eloquence never asking: “Parlez vous…?”

Or merely educated: “How do you do?”

On battlefields God was indeed hard to find,

And we wondered; is He on your side or mine?

Perhaps never wanting to be near,

Seeing what we are really doing down here...

Again infinite bones in rotting uniforms everywhere,

Whilst no one hardly remembers or troubles to care...

What we believed in, how we spoke or who we were.



People even snubbing whether whatever left of you,

Is in the rags of a Redcoat, in dark green or French blue,

But needless to tell… still much of a man,

For yet your bones in a muddy field give what they can.

Whether an arm, a leg or a scull… all just grounded up,

To raise a much better crop… for Life will never stop.

Just dirt to dirt... Man again fertilizing Mother Earth.

All the same, said never to be found lying around…

Bloodied buttons and buckles secretly hidden in hay,

Are polished and sold by those in need on a rainy day.

Again virility of spring...

Is in autumn quite a nourishing thing,

For Life still goes around and around in ring…

Even dressed in proud red, white and blue… more than two…

Maps and Rulers changed in less than a hundred years,

Ludicrous is our Hate and our Fears.

Do let us in memory of Confucius agree,

For seasoned veterans of war and intellect are we thought to be,


Saluting in attention with infinitely more comprehension,

We Honour You Forever still certain Humanity might never understand,

Honor, Glory and Victory are in Brothers holding out a Loving hand.



Col. RCEF Sir William Francis Willoughby Lindesay   England

KG GCB KP KT



Col. RCEF Sir Robert Eowan Lochlan McGregor          Scotland

KG GCB KP KT



1st. Royal Life Guards  1807 - 1810

13Th. “Jolly Ruffians “Rifle Company On Foot 1810  Portugal, Spain

13Th. Mounted “Wildman“ Rifle Company 1811-1814 Spain

1st. Royal Life Guards

Royal Cavaliers-Elite Force   Secret Intelligence Service 1814



                          Willowbee Manor, Lindesay Hall, Yorkshire 1814





                                      CONFUCIUS 551 - 479 BC

                                                Golden Rule
                                     Basic Rights for Humanity

      Do not do to others what you do not wish to be done to yourself.



Copyright©2013 by Kari M. Knutsen

LIFE…

Without doubt,

I often ask what life is all about,

And if I so may say,

It seems much like a theatre play.

With humor a comedy,

Without… a tragedy.

Hypocrisy we get for free,

Sincerity, costly for both you and me,

So many lies... religion, politics... false history,

Often made by needy greed of Humanity?

Not only speaking of divine faith,

Fanatics love to hate.

Does anyone have the nerve,

To give us more than we deserve?

Souls with bodies not a body with a soul,

To convenient music we dance one and all.

Wretched yet sweet the melody,

Life... banquets of morsels… what shall it be?

Laughter or tears... So much a mystery...

To be or not to be... Can anyone tell me...



Copyright©1995 Kari M. Knutsen






“Life is often a bumpy ride. Smile when a door closes. Open a window and let your heart and soul fly. They will find a remedy.” - Granny Kari

Copyright©2014 Kari M. Knutsen

WORMS

Hello! Chester here… Missing you so,
A bookworm am I,
Oh, yesss, today just sliding by…
With spectacles on my nose,
I do both poetry and prose.
Want to hear more about me …
And my family…?
So awfully lovely to see you again,
Perhaps a few secrets for you, my friend?

Plump cousins I have in the strangest places,
On blue Stilton cheese are not only their faces…
There’s even a cousin with a thousand little feet…
The shoemaker thinks he’s a treat.
Mostly here somewhere, we always share…
And war seen so many times before,
Just like greedy maggots, ended battles we do adore,
And there is even more…

Not a treat, some worms you never want to meet,
A part of the family is really mean,
Trust me, they're the worst worms you’ve ever seen,
For those eat dead people really clean!
Others just eat wood and all they ever could.
And don’t let me start,
With Mr. Snooks… worming into Miss Prissy’s heart!

Once there was even a tapeworm from a whale,
100 feet long, both sexes… He and She were for sale!
Just like people… large, short, skinny or hairy,
Some worms fancy meat or plants… others dairy.
Seeing ample aggravation… there was an invitation…
And all I have to say today… Now on my way…
To the cemetery without delay,
But I’ll be back, Sweetheart… Someday...


Copyright©2013 Kari M. Knutsen


.

A KISS...

Why such commotion for only a kiss?

Asking that do know this;

It was the most earth moving thing,

It was summer and winter, autumn and spring.

Something truly special many will miss.

It was Christmas and May and unending bliss.

It was heaven and earth, fire and ice,

Ten thousand fold more than only nice.

Eloquence without a single word,

Mad secret frenzy... never heard,

Warm lips even caressed by tantalizing fingers,

And a certain feeling that not only lingers…

Hurried urges up and down a spine;

"Be mine! Be mine!"

Both exuding passion and infinite charms,

Being close with much more than only arms.

It was me and you what else did we do…?

Indeed done too…

But with a kiss it all begun,

And now my Sweet Bessie we are One.



With Love and then some...

Always Yours,

Willoughby



Copyright©2013 by Kari M. Knutsen

LOVE

WILLOUGHBY'S MARRIAGE PROPOSAL...

Do not only believe... Know I Love You for I Do!
My eternal love, my true heart, my revelation,
Do not only believe... Know this is a real Celebration!
Do not only believe I am grateful for your Love eternally true,
Know my heart, mind, body and soul without end will thank You.
Do not only believe I merely hold out my heart in my hand,
Know I offer my life and everything I have and am.
Do not only believe in true love from your man,
Know forever defending you, your devoted Knight I am.
Indeed longing to give you the earth and the sky,
Know for You I will live and even die.
Sweet Love, my Brightest Star and my Goddess you are!
Do not only believe great joy there always shall be,
Know I promise happiness to the utmost of my ability.
Embraced in velvety skies among stars we shall soar,
Convinced our love is forever more.
Do not only believe these are merely rings you see,
Or simple golden circles from me...
Know these are One Indestructible Loving Bond,
Honoring You and Us Forever and Beyond.
My heart and soul are now asking you respectfully,
To please receive this golden bond and marry me.
Do accept your William Francis Willoughby Lindesay!
I solemnly promise to Honour and Faithfully always LOVE YOU,
For my heart, mind, body and soul insist I definitely WILL and DO!

Willoughby is mad as hell... in 1940... Ooops...


WAR ... AND MORE...


Ever seen the letters W... A and R together before?

Oh yes... Anew not only those are making WAR.

Will that frequent horror ever pass?

That inexcusable "Thing" on Humanity’s ***!

An everlasting incurable boil ghastly sore,

Oozing the worst of Humanity and more?

Constantly coming and going like the tide,

But when and where just a few decide.

People are masters of hate and grisly deed,


Never taught what is wanted might not be of need.

Power and ambition never ask permission,

Whilst irrational hate use provocation,

And millions of lives face elimination.



Eloquence and Hypocrisy firmly hand in hand,

We call Diplomacy... politicians understand.

Greed for power mortal weapons do invent,

And again from brave men in the skies,

More death and hellish horrors are sent,

As angels with devastating metal wings,

Abolish infinitely more than things…

Am I still asking is a God truly up there?

Guaranteed He is near and with many side,

Billions in His glory sanctimoniously hide.

Believed defended by forgiveness and love,

Many are blessed by a man Holier than Thou.

Wars good business throughout history,

Merciless souls hardly thought that a mystery.

Nothing was ever nailed unshakably tight,

Even souls are bought if the price is right.



Most never find meaning in being too meek,

For hardly anyone will turn the other cheek.

As for Humanity’s desperate, everlasting quest,

The God called Power was always the best.

There was never a War ending all that is War,

And just as the forgotten ones in times of yore,

Will you later give a **** what this one was for?

Yet dispensable battalions will always fight,

For pay, honor and what insisted is right.

Brave soldiers always proud not to complain,

Are heroes dying well in seas, mud and rain,

As one more profitable War must be won,

Still wonder… Why the hell all of it begun?


Willoughby

Christmas Eve 1940



Copyright©2013 by Kari M. Knutsen

March 1989...

GOODBYES…
I never kissed your lips… or closed your eyes,
Refusing to whisper any gentle goodbyes.
Never done when my beloved Brother so dies...
The phone rang and a man simply said:
”Hello… I’m afraid your brother is dead.”
Professional, again kind humanity evaded me,
But shock and despair were instantly there.
Already dead, a silent body had to wait,
For a funeral two weeks too late…
Pink roses on a closed coffin,
So white in the dark night…
Why not goodbye…?
In heartbreaking sorrow bowing my head,
It was my screaming soul that cried instead:
“Why…? Oh, why are you dead?
Instead of such tragedy,
Why…? Oh, why didn’t you talk to me?

Where are you now? Where did you go?
Alone, there’s no one left… I miss you so!
Always an adventurous Viking, tall and strong,
What went wrong…?”
Now without a home… the world I shall roam,
Belonging here and there… not anywhere,
Different… just a stranger from far away…
Many will smile and say.
Needless to tell a white orchid my last farewell,
So it shall be… making no difference to me,
My brethren now Humanity.
And knowing what I know,
Brother, I could have told you so,
Riches never gold…
The greatest treasure is Love… billions fold.



March 1991

Today, I could cry,

Not saying Goodbye,

And never said long since...

Farewell and So Long, Sweet Prince.



Copyright©1992 Kari M. Knutsen

DEAD AND GONE

Dead and gone,

My life is done.

Could not take there,

What is still laying here.

If dear to me and one I knew,

Loving farewell for now to you,

If not… The same,

You’re not to blame.

Here for a while and happy to be,

You can forget or remember me,

But always with Love my Friend,

And more from “Somewhere” I send,

For one day again smiles we shall see,

And perhaps forever together be…

You and… me…



Copyright©2012 Kari M. Knutsen

Not easy... most of us have said Goodbye to someone... Forever... not really wanting to do so... even so we do... and must. Sometimes however, others choose to say Goodbye... to everyone and everything... certain our lives are our own... but are they really...?



March 1989...



GOODBYES…
I never kissed your lips… or closed your eyes,
Refusing to whisper any gentle goodbyes.
Never done when my beloved Brother so dies...
The phone rang and a man simply said:
”Hello… I’m afraid your brother is dead.”
Professional, again kind humanity evaded me,
But shock and despair were instantly there.
Already dead, a silent body had to wait,
For a funeral two weeks too late…
Pink roses on a closed coffin,
So white in the dark night…
Why not goodbye…?
In heartbreaking sorrow bowing my head,
It was my screaming soul that cried instead:
“Why…? Oh, why are you dead?
Instead of such tragedy,
Why…? Oh, why didn’t you talk to me?

Where are you now? Where did you go?
Alone, there’s no one left… I miss you so!
Always an adventurous Viking, tall and strong,
What went wrong…?”
Now without a home… the world I shall roam,
Belonging here and there… not anywhere,
Different… just a stranger from far away…
Many will smile and say.
Needless to tell a white orchid my last farewell,
So it shall be… making no difference to me,
My brethren now Humanity.
And knowing what I know,
Brother, I could have told you so,
Riches never gold…
The greatest treasure is Love… billions fold.



March 1991



Today, I could cry,

Not saying Goodbye,

And never said long since...

Farewell and So Long, Sweet Prince.


Copyright©1992 Kari M. Knutsen