Dart and Soul

Tom Dylan


Notice of absence from Tom Dylan
Sorry if there is a delay in responses. Sometimes life gets in the way. As John Lennon said, life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.

I hold the dart like a pen,

taking aim at the board,

an image comes to my mind,

as sharp and clear

as a black and white photograph.

 

I see my grandfather standing at the oche,

a young man, his turn to throw,

throwing the arrows,

playing darts with his friends,

sipping pints of bitter and smoking cigarettes.

Flat-caps, suit and tie, pencil moustaches.

 

I hold the dart like a pen,

Working-class mathematicians

perform high-speed calculations

over a few pints of beer

and throw some darts.

Good arrers is a the highest compliment

you can be paid.

 

The darts thud into the board

with hypnotic rhythm.

One-two-three. One-two-three.

Treble nineteen, bull’s eye, double-top.

What does that leave?

What do I need to check-out?

The dream of a nine dart finish.

 

I hold my pen like a dart,

while others are at the board,

I scribble away in my notebook,

eventually attracting curious glances

from my fellow players.

 

You don’t have to keep score, you know?

The machine works it out for you.

I’m actually writing a poem, I answer.

He gives me a confused look then replies:

There aren’t many dart players who write poetry.

I look up from my notebook and say with a smile,

there aren’t many poets who play darts either.

  • Author: Tom Dylan (Offline Offline)
  • Published: January 23rd, 2025 07:57
  • Comment from author about the poem: I often try and combine my other interests with poetry and see if they fit. I have been watching and playing darts recently, and tried to write about it.
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 22
  • Users favorite of this poem: Tristan Robert Lange, Poetic Licence, Cheeky Missy, Mutley Ravishes
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Comments +

Comments9

  • sorenbarrett

    Not only a good story with a moral that applies. Poets need a vast inventory to draw off of, but a good metaphor as well. Hitting the bull's eye

    • Tom Dylan

      Thanks a lot for your comments, Soren. Really appreciated.

    • Tristan Robert Lange

      This one hits the bullseye, my friend. You are a poet...you play darts...there is now a poem about playing darts. As I see it, that is a natural progression. Thoroughly enjoyed.

      • Tom Dylan

        Thanks a lot for your comments, Tristan. Really appreciated. Yeah, I could be the first darts poet. šŸ™‚

        • Tristan Robert Lange

          You're welcome! You are in my book! šŸ˜‰

        • Poetic Licence

          A lovely entertaining read, taking us back to the day when darts was just a sociable game and pubs were just pubs, players played with what looked like bombs with feathers, no fancy shirts etc, and i would imagine there is a lot of poetry those types of characters. Really enjoyed the read

          • Tom Dylan

            Thanks a lot for your comments. Yes, I think you are right. Maybe back in the day, when darts was a pub game, there were poets who played darts. I could imagine Dylan Thomas playing darts.

            • Poetic Licence

              You are very welcome

            • Neville



              Excellent poetry Tom .. this must surely be a universal first .. and a bullseye to boot .. darts the way to do it .. pardon me pun .. Oh' have you ever played shove ha'penny by any chance .. Neville

              • Tom Dylan

                Haha, shove ha'penny! I used to play it with my dad as a kid. šŸ™‚ And the new darts champ is from nearby Warrington, so I think there might be something in the game of darts after all. A sport you can play in the pub, that is my kinda sport! Thanks as always for your comments, mate.

              • orchidee

                I thought you hada cold writng this (but I hope you haven't) as in 'By dose is blocked up!' geddit? lol.

                • Tom Dylan

                  Haha, nice one, Orchi. I dove you with all my dart! šŸ™‚

                • Tony36

                  Excellent write Tom

                  • Tom Dylan

                    Thanks a lot, Tony.

                    • Tony36

                      You're welcome

                    • arqios

                      Nice one Tom! The poems at times are darts themselves šŸŽÆ awesome combination and a well played dart šŸŽÆ game Iā€™d poetry itself! šŸ™šŸ»šŸ‘šŸ»šŸ•Š

                      • Tom Dylan

                        Thanks a lot for your comments. Yeah, I suppose you are right. Poetry is like a game of darts, we take aim and throw, hoping to hit the target. Nicely done.

                        • arqios

                          Cheers Tom šŸ™šŸ»šŸ‘šŸ»šŸ•Š

                        • Goldfinch60

                          Wonderful words Tom, I used to play dart for my pub back in my younger days.

                          Andy

                          • Tom Dylan

                            Very cool, Andy. I am lucky if I hit the board so very impressed you used to play for a pub team. Thanks for your comments, mate.

                          • Thomas W Case

                            Fantastic metaphor and symbolism. Escellent work, Tom.

                            • Tom Dylan

                              Thanks a lot, brother. Really appreciate the support.



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