Ink Blots and Red Rings

(muse has got me back at primary school)

it may come as a surprise

to find a maroon fountain pen

became a life changer

for a ten year old

a far cry from today's expensive

electronic gadget must haves

for educational needs

for all those young brains

keen to absorb knowledge

like a wet sponge

painstaking strokes with a

designated school pen 

whose cheap nib constantly

misbehaved to leave a trail of

inky blot destruction as well as 

tears in exercise books

not to mention teacher's

contribution where every

mishap was ringed in scarlet

stand out red for added measure

such pleasure it gave her

great story, presentation poor

you can do better

every letter carved in memory

forever shamed for the sake

of a decent pen

Reviews

[Dave Brown]

I was one that went from messy pen and ink to the early, everywhere leaking, ball-point pens
Even at that, they were much more preferred and a quick press on the spring-loaded end, let the writing end slip back up into the pen body.
Pure magic!
The teacher found everybody constantly doing that clickity-click sound super annoying
Another good memory proving you aren't coming close to losing your mind quite yet!!

[Chris Shaw]

Good to know I still have my marbles Dave. Oh what grief I suffered with that school pen. The nib always overloaded with ink. It splattered everywhere. Thanks for sharing your own pen nostalvia too.

Chris

[Neville]

This is absolutely a stroke or two of pure poetic genius Chris & scores top marks on so many levels including originality, historical accuracy, craftsmanship and neatness .. it is also brimming with nostalgia .. I swear I could smell chalk powder & the taint of those empty free milk bottles stacked high in their crates warming in old sun .. For me, this has everything .. and I want you to remember this chuck .. those numerous scarlet rings so deliberately laced were Mr. or Miss so and so's attempt to either practice making circles, or a mean attempt to deface something bigger and better than they were .. or maybe served as a marker indicating where they had got up to before nipping off for a f*g .. Oh' and remember also, it all worked out in the end .. 10/10 Neville

[Chris Shaw]

This is a wonderful review Neville. Thank you so much. Those red rings hurt me more than you will ever know as an under ten. Took a long time to erase them. The teacher? I think she delighted in what she was doing. When I got my maroon osmiroid fountain oen,I won first prize in the Brooke Bond PG Tips, handwriting prize lol. It all worked out in the wash. Have a lovely day.

Chris

[Neville]

I think I may have come last but one .. You too :))

[Ana Papaya]

It was a long time before I was allowed to use ink because my penmanship was horrible.
Only those with good penmanship were allowed ink, the rest had to practice with pencil.
I was shamed in a different way. Those memories last...

[Chris Shaw]

Great teachers back then Ana. Shaming sticks don't it? Many thanks for your visit.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

Ah yes Chris, I remember those scarlet circles on my page, especially in math. I didn't cry, but was very embarrassed. If only he/she had a decent pen; things might have been different. A lesson to learn but memory to try to forget. Well done Chris Best, Betty.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Betty. I fear I am scarred by black and red ink :)) How sensitive I was as a child. Rely appreciate your visit.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

Kids can be very sensitive!

[Robert Trakofler]

Oh Chris, if you only read all of the red that my pages would produce as a young man:) this line gave me such a chuckle...where every
mishap was ringed in scarlet
stand out red for added measure
such pleasure it gave her

when i write write i only use a bic uniball vision elite pen it drips like a fountain pen i love it my pages still would make rorschach blush or at least seek counseling:/

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Bunny, I am so pleased I wrote this poem. It appears I was not the only one who suffered. Smiling at you and thanking you for your visit. Have a good weekend.

Chris

[barleygirl]

You have just painted the school-hood nightmare for every perfectionist writer (& many writers tend to be perfectionists with a heavy helping of OCD) who has ever re-copied an entire paper over becuz of some unfortunate blotch or erasure! To get it back with all that RED! That may be the reason why it's not wise to over-edit a cafe posting, even if it may need it, becuz overly-corrective behavior has a soul-shattering effect on some sensitive poets *wink! wink!* Fondly, Margie

[Chris Shaw]

Laughing so much Margie at your OCD comments. Thinking of all the bits of paper with odd words I have binned over the years. Thank you so much.

Chris

[augustus]

Absolute joy was experienced when i got my first fountain pen. I can remember the first day at school when I had occasion to use it in an Engklish lit lesson. To write with it was magic! Thanks for evoking such pleasant memories!

[Chris Shaw]

That's how I felt too Augustus. My brother and I took all the empty bottles back to the off licence and with the money, I purchased my first fountain pen. No more ink blots or red rings. I was overjoyed. Please to bring you some happy memories. Take care a d many thanks for the visit.

Chris

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

oh my goodness...long hand writing...something that is lost in today's world.

I still grade papers by writing all over them...but I never use red...has bad connotations....
stop, danger...i remember in grad school getting papers back covered in red, figuring I flunked them...and then it would be a B and I would heave a heavy sigh of relief...
Penmanship was a beautiful thing, once.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

All that effort that went into handwriting back then. Pleased to hear you don't use a red pen to mark papers Jacob. Yes, red for danger. Thank you so much.

Chris

[Dave]

Ugh!! Practicing cursive writing in those booklets! Today, it seems the only time you need cursive is to sign your name to a check!
Take care of yourself - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Hours and hours spent practicing those italic letters Dave. My school pen caused misery. Thank you as always my friend for checking in. Keep safe and well.

Chris

[Dave]

Always a pleasure and you too.

Take care my friend - Dave