Looking at symbols

Looking at symbols

A Poem by Beccy

The trouble with symbols
is that they are a necessary evil;
and there are so many now,
thirty one million, two hundred
and sixty eight at last count, (sic,)
red octagons my least preferred,
the variable 'x', in a mathematical
equation, my all time favourite.
Though the 'golden arches,'
comes a close second when
a sudden hunger pang strikes.

Sometimes, I ponder an
oblate spheroid without a
back up, then chide myself
for not knowing its shape;
that squiggly lines on a map,
would simply remain squiggly lines
leading to goodness knows where,
semiotics and constitutive rhetoric  
being something I only touched on
and which held little interest,
unlike the poetry I read and love.

One day, I will invent a symbol,
do my bit, as it were.
Perhaps a combination of a
'badgers crossing,' road sign and
the 'all-seeing eye of providence,'
which I would imbue with magic
powers, so I could drive as fast as I
desired on winding country roads.
Secure in the knowledge that
henceforth, badgers would be
safe from the vagaries
of my vehicular progression
after closing time.

Yes, that's it! That's the one,
so I shall get busy on the
design this instant.
I mean, where I live, aside
from two really nice pubs, 
there are an awful lot of 
badgers roaming the roads,
and like many a symbol
they are jolly hard
to see in the dark.  :))

© 2020 Beccy


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Featured Review

I loved reading this refreshing spillage of ideas about all-pervading symbols - now also icons - in our lives. Acronyms are another feature of daily life these days, including chat abbreviations, which I often struggle to work out the meaning of... wyd? ttfn.. When lol started to be used it took me a while to work it out!

Badgers are such lumbering creatures - but I am very fond of them, mainly because of 'Wind in the Willows!

I enjoyed emmajoy's review as well. She is so right-on. ttfn.

Posted 3 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.




Reviews

Hello, Beccy! :)
This was a fun read. I wish you and your local wildlife safe travels. We dont have badgers here, but mother ducks trailing their chicks.

Posted 2 Years Ago


First, I'm kinda glad you didn't include emojis, the new proliferation of symbolic nonsense! I don't get into emojis much. I prefer people to communicate with words, not symbols. But for quick action, such as road signs, symbols are necessary (as you show in your poem). What makes your writing so fresh & original, you pick the most unexpected ways to show (such as picking a badger) where others may go for the more commonly seen deer, when it comes to road hazards. Also, starting out with a broad interpretation of symbols, I enjoyed that walk down memory lane (red octagons, x's & arches)! Always an unexpected walk with you! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

Posted 3 Years Ago


Yeah, they're everywhere now; intrusive buggers. Best thing to do is ignore 'em when you can,though I would definitely take notice of yours, I mean, badgers are quite cuddly little things, aren't they?

Posted 3 Years Ago


A clever imagination... sometimes I see a black and white Skunk when
I only imagined one perhaps driving on a country road. After all, I had a Pet Skunk when I was in 5th grade that had been de-scented by a Vet when the wee skunklet was lost and I found the little darling.
So the symbol of a Skunk would be mine. By the way.. when my Skunk grew up, I took him to The Washington National Zoo close to the State where I lived. Their accepting my Pet was unprecedented, and many years ago, truly, Pat

Posted 3 Years Ago



In my very humble opinion, 'Looking at Symbols' is just about as good as this poetry lark gets our Beccy.. tis very cleva indeed.. for a moment I thought it might be about a daydreaming drummer or sumpfink .. you certainly got me thinking... just the thought of them golden arches makes me salivate.. yeah I'm luvin it.... :)

Posted 3 Years Ago


If squiggle is a symbol, then it is both my favourite symbol and sound, followed a close second by question mark eyebrows, which are most likely not on the official list of symbols, but have universal meaning for confusion.
Your all seeing eye symbol I would like to see, but it wouldmost likely lead to other versions, perhaps in pub windows, with a big red line through them, making the badgers feel unwanted when the original meant the opposite.
We do live in a world of bearoc... Byoorockras... Red tape after all 😀
Ps... This isn't a symbol either, but a favourite sign I once saw in Glasgow. It simply read "this sign is not in use"


Posted 3 Years Ago


Wonderfully imaginative write my friend; really gets the little grey cells thinking of all the other symbols about and in use. 'Badger Watch' signs … now that is a thought; but the most curious one for me is seeing an exclamation mark on a sign; what marvellous imaginations one can conjure up from that one! Bless ... :-)

Posted 3 Years Ago


ugh, more and more of them as time marches on. i think a representation of what man and society has become. this made me think and laugh as it meandered along. those badgers are precious. everyone knows the golden arches - especially when hungry. with technology and all those symbols - why are things such a mess? cell phones have added a plethora. clever, thought provoking and enjoyable read ... :)

Posted 3 Years Ago


Horus ain't Providence.
Save a badger, run over a field hand!
Clever amusement, B.


Posted 3 Years Ago


Beccy

3 Years Ago

Just as well, would really turn Christian iconography on its head if he was; and can you imagine him.. read more
Jimmy Yetts

3 Years Ago

Masonic mischief.
There is much on a dollar bill that is both unAmerican and unGodly.
This is quite magical Beccy particularly the badger bit. It's a gift to just give your mind free rein and see where it takes you. A rare skill. I suppose I'm in thrall to symbols too being a fizzicist. Perhaps they were part of Adams job lot from the serpent! By the way, are you counting words as symbols?
Take care.
Alan

Posted 3 Years Ago


Beccy

3 Years Ago

Ah yes, trust a fizzicist to notice the thirty one million two hundred and sixty eight number. :))read more

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Added on April 9, 2020
Last Updated on April 15, 2020

Author

Beccy
Beccy

United Kingdom



About
I'm forty four, single and have a lovely fifteen year old son called Charlie. I've been writing poetry and short stories since I can remember. I have always been an assiduous reader of poetry and real.. more..

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