Tell
Two versions
of the same
story

Men
Talk for
Three minutes
then they put on
their Mr. fix-it hat
Ready to give you the
bottomline straight answer

Women on the other hand,
Take a circuitous approach
Telling the same story
However give you
every vivid detail
along the way
an hour later
they get to
the point.!

Inspired songs

1)The long and windy Road 1970
By The Beatles

2) A day in the life 1967
By The Beatles

Not as easy as you think
To speak honesty to the brink

Divers amusement for young and old
Unpacking what media told

Poking the bear on radio air
Without consequence or care

A Personality talented in fast tracking
A growing fan base not lacking

Calling media out to their face
Putting the lies in their place

Opine wit accuracy of fact
Rarely do they need to walk it back

What they represent today
Valid points of view THEIR way

A measure of character achieved
When captivated people believed

When they admit they’re wrong
Correction sings truth serum’s song

Wanderlust their show can travel the world
Allowing their freedom flag to fly unfurled

Several personalities take time to familiarize
With the nomenclature of every nature

Based solely on their character

Bringing issue to the light of day
Many of which the media hides away

FYI
I’ve been lackadaisical not doing my word in a day daily as I should. I thought it was more of a challenge to do several days together, but I like just bringing one word to light not to convolute the various words. However, I do appreciate a good challenge. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.!

Footnote
I was never one of those who listen to radio news. My parents did( as I a child). I thought it was a waste of time. Now I hardly ever watch the regular news. It’s so slanted one way or the other.
With these broadcasters, I mentioned they tell you they’re a personality not a news broadcaster I think that’s interesting. People are fed up with the way it was. I know I am.

The Great Rush Limbaugh
Dan Bongino, Tucker Carlson, Glen Beck
Sean Hannity,
To name a select Few….

Inspired songs;

1) Here Is the News
Electric Light Orchestra 1982

2)Bad News 1970
Johnny Jenkins

3) New York, New York (spreading the news)
Frank Sinatra 1978

God
Give
Us
A
Brain         He      expects
Us

To

Use

It

~
January 2025
HP Poet: Rob Rutledge
Age: 35
Country: UK


Question 1: A warm welcome to the HP Spotlight, Robert. Please tell us about your background?

Rob Rutledge: "Hi, thank you for having me. I’m Robert Rutledge. I’m 35, the youngest of three boys (sorry mum), born in the south of England to Irish parents who emigrated to the UK just before I was born in the late 80’s. At nine years old we moved to Manchester in the north of England where I would find a love for music, literature and general mischief before moving back down south in my 20’s. Where I have been creating mischief ever since."


Question 2: How long have you been writing poetry, and for how long have you been a member of Hello Poetry?

Rob Rutledge: "I started writing poetry in secondary (high) school, I was really lucky to have some excellent English and Drama teachers who made it an easy subject to love. But like everything it was a journey, one very much entwined with my love for music and lyrics. At some point or another I realised I enjoyed playing with words, annoying everyone around me with puns and questionable jokes. Poetry became a natural extension of that while also providing an invaluable creative outlet. At home we had a framed poster of IF by Rudyard Kipling which seemed to mean something new every time I read it and really helped my appreciation of the written word. I often found the same joy in coming up with a riff on guitar as writing a stanza that I thought sounded epic and quickly realised there was a lot of crossover with rhythm, themes and metaphors between poetry and music.

I joined Hello Poetry in 2012 and have seen many ups and downs with the site but I also found an incredibly welcoming community, and I can say with all honestly if it wasn’t for the kindness and feedback of users here I doubt I would still be writing today."


Question 3: What inspires you? (In other words, how does poetry happen for you).

Rob Rutledge: "Inspiration can come from anyone and anywhere but more often then not I find a single line or two may come to mind. Most of my work will contain a nod or a reference to a line that I’ve either borrowed or downright plagiarised from a book, a song, a rhyme and I use that as starting point. Iain M Banks is one of my favourite authors so when I’m struggling for inspiration I will pick up one of his many excellent books and will find a beautiful phrase or image that I can use as a starting point."


Question 4: What does poetry mean to you?

Rob Rutledge: "Poetry to me is an opportunity to create, to convey a piece of myself and share it with the world. To have made something of meaning even if it only means anything to me. A painting on the wall of the cave, a contribution to the world and something that says I was alive. Its the art of putting emotion into words and if I can impart that feeling to even one person the way other poetry has made me feel then it’s even more worthwhile."


Question 5: Who are your favorite poets?

Rob Rutledge: "I tend to love poems rather than poets the notable exception would be William Butler Yeats. There is something about the romantic idealistic nostalgia of his writings that has always spoken to me. The juxtaposition of his Anglo-Irish heritage hits close to home and I think is reflected in his wistful writings. T.S Eliot, William Blake and H.P Lovecraft (only his poetry, not a very nice chap) deserve honourable mentions as well, Eliot references feature heavily in Iain M Banks’ work and helped bridge my interests between literature and poetry."


Question 6: What other interests do you have?

Rob Rutledge: "Other than Poetry, Music is my jam both playing and going to gigs / raves, I love everything from classical to jungle and everything in-between. I also enjoy computer games and sci-fi in particular. I used to play a lot of Rugby."


Carlo C. Gomez: “Thank you so much Robert, we really appreciate you giving us the opportunity to get to know the person behind the poet! It is our pleasure to include you in this Spotlight series!”

Rob Rutledge: "Thank you for the opportunity."




Thank you everyone here at HP for taking the time to read this. We hope you enjoyed coming to know Robert a little bit better. I most certainly did. It is our wish that these spotlights are helping everyone to further discover and appreciate their fellow poets. – Carlo C. Gomez

We will post Spotlight #24 in February!

~

Lack luster tongue tied
Word Dribble hackneyed slogans
Quaint concepts, obscure



Traditional Haiku
Three lines
5-7-5 syllables



There are times when I can’t get it right. It will sit in the draft mode until it’s ready. Other times I just throw it out to the masses anyway