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Home / Poetry and stories / The Ship of Fools
Posted on March 11, 2019March 11, 2019 by admin

The Ship of Fools

We stood on top of the World
Under the joyful sky,
In thunder and rain and heartache and pain
And the Ship of Fools sailed by…

A part of the Fable and Folklore collection

Category: Poetry and stories

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Previous post: Temet Nosce (know thyself)
Next post: The Magician
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For all overseas shipping please contact me before purchase.

Please get in touch if you are interested in purchasing any of my artwork which is not for sale in this shop.

mr.cronch
WELCOME TO MY WORLD 16: Popping into the toilet, t WELCOME TO MY WORLD 16: Popping into the toilet, the barrage of artyness never lets up! Here we have four framed prints by Tamara de Lempicka, and one by me. This colourful 'Millennium Mandala' is one of a limited set of twenty prints, given to nineteen friends/family members to mark the year 2000. I cut the original artwork into twenty puzzle pieces, and there's a single piece behind each print, which makes each one unique - just like the people who received them. . . . . . #creative #creativity #instaartist #artistsworld #artist #artistsoninstagram #artistic #imagination #myhome #toilet #instaart #arte #arts #create #welcometomyworld #colourfulhome #creativelife #creativeart #artistsworld #contemporaryart #myart #mycreativeinterior #mycolourfulinterior #artsy #acrylicartwork #acrylicpainting #mandala #buddhistmandala #decorativeart #artinthetoilet #tamaradelempicka
Here I am at my parents' home, holding the fort wh Here I am at my parents' home, holding the fort whilst they're both in hospital. This sudden isolation resulted in a healthy dose of me deciding to adopt some heroic poses in the lush greenery of the garden to keep my spirits up. NB: if you look VERY carefully you will see that I AM actually in the third photo - I'm simply deploying my finely honed skills of concealment. They don't call me 'THE SHADOW' for nothing. . . . . . #nostalgia #childhood #parents #garden #nostalgic #gardening #childhoodmemories #instagarden #gardenlife #instagardenlovers #homesweethome #malvern #malvernhills #artist #naturalliving #nature #mumanddad #worcestershire #englishgarden #countrygarden #arsingaround #beingsilly #lockdownlife #goinghome #socialdistancing #appreciatingfamily #posinglikeatwat #poseur #heroic
WELCOME TO MY WORLD 15: Once again in the tiny 'ha WELCOME TO MY WORLD 15: Once again in the tiny 'hallway' outside the bathroom, we find a second portrait of me, @cathymccd and her beloved black and white fluffball cat Millie (his tail only) with we humans in fancy dress. Sort of. I actually DID have a devil costume, which I found when we cleared out Cathy's grandad's house after he passed away. And yes, that IS a little bit creepy... . . . . . #creative #devilcostume #creativity #instaartist #artistsworld #artist #artistsoninstagram #artistic #imagination #myhome #artistsstudio #artstudio #instaart #arte #arts #create #welcometomyworld #colourfulhome #creativelife #creativeart #artistsworld #contemporaryart #myart #mycreativeinterior #mycolourfulinterior #artsy #familyportrait #acrylicartwork #acrylicpainting #doubleportrait #portraitofacouple
WELCOME TO MY WORLD 14: Stepping out of the kitche WELCOME TO MY WORLD 14: Stepping out of the kitchen into the tiny 'hallway' outside the bathroom, we look up and find a portrait of me, @cathymccd and her beloved black and white fluffball Millie grinning down at us from above the door. Framed in blue fur, this is a lovely reminder of the days when Cathy bought her flat in Leicester in 1994 and we both climbed onto the first rung of the property ladder. Note the small framed postcards of watercolours by David Hockney that brighten up the little room every day. . . . . . #creative #homesweethome #creativity #instaartist #artistsworld #artist #artistsoninstagram #artistic #imagination #myhome #artistsstudio #artstudio #instaart #arte #arts #create #welcometomyworld #colourfulhome #creativelife #creativeart #artistsworld #contemporaryart #myart #mycreativeinterior #mycolourfulinterior #artsy #familyportrait #colouredpencildrawing #pencilportrait #doubleportrait #portraitofacouple
WELCOME TO MY WORLD 13: In amongst the fridge magn WELCOME TO MY WORLD 13: In amongst the fridge magnets, postcards, and letters stuck to the fridge door, we find this cheeky portrait of yours truly, aged about 4 years old. The smile I was sporting here was rumoured have lit up entire rooms, spread happiness, joy and warmth far and wide, and to have melted even the hardest of hearts. Or at least this is what my mum told me. . . . . . #creative #homesweethome #creativity #instaartist #artistsworld #artist #artistsoninstagram #artistic #imagination #myhome #childportrait #instaart #arte #arts #create #welcometomyworld #colourfulhome #creativelife #creativeart #artistsworld #contemporaryart #myart #mycreativeinterior #mycolourfulinterior #artsy #toddler #littleme #kidportrait #youngerme #littleboy
The new video on my sister account @agitate.art - The new video on my sister account @agitate.art - 'THE ROOTS OF ALL EVIL' by fellow artist/activist (and co-creator of Agitate) @helen.ara A beautifully rendered, intense and damning piece of art. Please pop over to Agitate, watch the video, and get informed/agitated/angry/active! . . . . . #protestart #artactivism #artforchange #capitalism #fuckcapitalism #capitalismsucks #contemporaryart #artistsoninstagram #animalrights #animalliberation #animalart #artistsforaction #speciesism #endspeciesism #environment #climatechange #environmentalart #environmentart #climatechange #climatechangeart #pencildrawing #colouredpencilart #colouredpencildrawing #cattle #factoryfarming #animalagriculture #veganart #veganartist #veganartivist #activistart #animalactivism
WELCOME TO MY WORLD 12: Now we're in the kitchen, WELCOME TO MY WORLD 12: Now we're in the kitchen, by the window looking out onto the lane, and here there's a small print of my (much larger) ink drawing of 'The Gar Tree' (one of the many trees in the UK that each shire or 'hundred' had in anglo-saxon times, and which were the sites of meetings, discussions and court cases). You can see the summer bunting over the patio reflected in the glass, and the windowsill full of salad and a rather decorative pineapple. From time to time, cows look over the hedge and watch me as I do the washing up. . . . . . #creative #homesweethome #creativity #instaartist #artistsworld #artist #artistsoninstagram #fantasytree #ancienttree #artistic #imagination #myhome #artistsstudio #artstudio #instaart #arte #arts #create #welcometomyworld #colourfulhome #creativelife #creativeart #artistsworld #contemporaryart #myart #mycreativeinterior #mycolourfulinterior #artsy #linedrawing #blackandwhiteart #drawingnature
WELCOME TO MY WORLD 11: A rather strange fellow lu WELCOME TO MY WORLD 11: A rather strange fellow lurking above the kitchen door - an old 'green man' face that I originally made to hang outside, but, upon discovering that varnish absolutely does NOT protect papier mache from the rain and snow, I brought him in, and sprayed him gold to blend in with the kitchen. Not sure why I added the blindfold of string, but hey ho, I'm an artist so I can do this sort of thing. (I added the close-up of the rocking chair because it looks like a crazy face with huge crochet eyes) . . . . . #creative #homesweethome #creativity #instaartist #artistsworld #artist #artistsoninstagram #artistic #imagination #myhome #instaart #papiermâché #arts #create #welcometomyworld #creativelife #creativeart #artistsworld #myart #mycreativeinterior #mycolourfulinterior #artsy #artsandcrafts #modelmaking #modelmakingskills #greenman #mask #papiermachemask #goldenmask #goldface #goldfacemask
THANK YOU to all of you who have looked through my THANK YOU to all of you who have looked through my ART PRINT SALE album on Facebook (facebook.com/PhilipDownsArt) and who contacted me. Some prints have already sold, and now there's a nice portrait commission on the way too... But there's plenty more ARTY LOVELINESS to be had, so please do take a peek at my work. There are many STANDARD PRINTS, but only one each of most of the FINE ART, LIMITED EDITION GICLEE PRINTS. Of course, I can order more if any should sell out. As always, my entire collection can be found on my webshop at www.philipdownsart.co.uk CONTACT ME AT PHDSBL@HOTMAIL.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE SHARE THIS POST WITH ANY ART LOVERS YOU KNOW! . . . . . #artprints #animalrights #veganism #vegansofinstagram #contemporaryart #vegansofig #fineart #crueltyfree #portraiture #activism #acrylicpainting #visualart #artlovers #artsy #painting #animallover #activist #compassion #animalportraiture #artivism #veganartist #artcollector #artprintsforsale #wildlifeart #animalartwork #fantasyart #veganart #beautifulart #colourfulart #fineartprints
ART PRINT SALE! (3 of 3) These are some of the ar ART PRINT SALE! (3 of 3) These are some of the art prints I had in stock, ready for a year of Vegfests, Vegan Life Live shows, and the International Animal Rights Conference - which, of course, were all cancelled. Consequently, sales of my work and commissions for new work have dried up, and so here is the next best thing - an ONLINE GALLERY SALE OF MY ARTWORK! These are just a small selection, so PLEASE TAKE A LOOK! Copy and paste this link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=PhilipDownsArt&set=a.3823140691031892 for the full gallery (with prices) OR simply go to my Facebook page at PhilipDownsArt and scroll down to view the full album. There are many STANDARD PRINTS, but only one each of most of the FINE ART, LIMITED EDITION GICLEE PRINTS. Of course, I can order more if any should sell out. As always, my entire collection can be found on my webshop at www.philipdownsart.co.uk CONTACT ME AT PHDSBL@HOTMAIL.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE SHARE THIS POST WITH ANY ART LOVERS YOU KNOW! . . . . #artprints #animalrights #veganism #vegansofinstagram #contemporaryart #vegansofig #fineart #crueltyfree #portraiture #activism #acrylicpainting #visualart #artlovers #artsy #painting #animallover #activist #compassion #animalportraiture #artivism #veganartist #artcollector #artprintsforsale #wildlifeart #animalartwork #fantasyart #veganart #beautifulart #colourfulart #fineartprints
ART PRINT SALE! (2 of 3) These are some of the ar ART PRINT SALE! (2 of 3) These are some of the art prints I had in stock, ready for a year of Vegfests, Vegan Life Live shows, and the International Animal Rights Conference - which, of course, were all cancelled. Consequently, sales of my work and commissions for new work have dried up, and so here is the next best thing - an ONLINE GALLERY SALE OF MY ARTWORK! These are just a small selection, so PLEASE TAKE A LOOK! Copy and paste this link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=PhilipDownsArt&set=a.3823140691031892 for the full gallery (with prices) OR simply go to my Facebook page at PhilipDownsArt and scroll down to view the full album. There are many STANDARD PRINTS, but only one each of most of the FINE ART, LIMITED EDITION GICLEE PRINTS. Of course, I can order more if any should sell out. As always, my entire collection can be found on my webshop at www.philipdownsart.co.uk CONTACT ME AT PHDSBL@HOTMAIL.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE SHARE THIS POST WITH ANY ART LOVERS YOU KNOW! . . . . #artprints #animalrights #veganism #vegansofinstagram #contemporaryart #vegansofig #fineart #crueltyfree #portraiture #activism #acrylicpainting #visualart #artlovers #artsy #painting #animallover #activist #compassion #animalportraiture #artivism #veganartist #artcollector #artprintsforsale #wildlifeart #animalartwork #fantasyart #veganart #beautifulart #colourfulart #fineartprints
ART PRINT SALE! (1 of 3) These are some of the ar ART PRINT SALE! (1 of 3) These are some of the art prints I had in stock, ready for a year of Vegfests, Vegan Life Live shows, and the International Animal Rights Conference - which, of course, were all cancelled. Consequently, sales of my work and commissions for new work have dried up, and so here is the next best thing - an ONLINE GALLERY SALE OF MY ARTWORK! These are just a small selection, so PLEASE TAKE A LOOK! Copy and paste this link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=PhilipDownsArt&set=a.3823140691031892 for the full gallery (with prices) OR simply go to my Facebook page at PhilipDownsArt and scroll down to view the full album. There are many STANDARD PRINTS, but only one each of most of the FINE ART, LIMITED EDITION GICLEE PRINTS. Of course, I can order more if any should sell out. As always, my entire collection can be found on my webshop at www.philipdownsart.co.uk CONTACT ME AT PHDSBL@HOTMAIL.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE SHARE THIS POST WITH ANY ART LOVERS YOU KNOW! . . . . #artprints #animalrights #veganism #vegansofinstagram #contemporaryart #vegansofig #fineart #crueltyfree #portraiture #activism #acrylicpainting #visualart #artlovers #artsy #painting #animallover #activist #compassion #animalportraiture #artivism #veganartist #artcollector #artprintsforsale #wildlifeart #animalartwork #fantasyart #veganart #beautifulart #colourfulart #fineartprints
WELCOME TO MY WORLD 10: Come in to the porch, take WELCOME TO MY WORLD 10: Come in to the porch, take off your boots, hang up your coat, then casually look up and HOLY HELL WHAT THE F*CK IS THAT?!? Well, it's obviously a papiermâché demon face - inspired by the mediaeval tradition of having a demonic face carving at the entrance to your home to scare away evil spirits. This particular one contains actual human wisdom teeth, donated to me by my exuberant college friend @timmydidge. It's been with us since about 1997 and we haven't had one single evil spirit in any of our homes! Plus, it gives any Jehovah's Witnesses the willies. :-) . . . . . #creative #homesweethome #creativity #instaartist #artistsworld #artist #artistsoninstagram #horrorface #artistic #imagination #myhome #instaart #papiermâché #arts #scaryface #create #welcometomyworld #creativelife #creativeart #artistsworld #myart #mycreativeinterior #mycolourfulinterior #artsy #artsandcrafts #modelmaking #modelman #modelmakingskills #maskmaking #grotesqueart #scarymask
WELCOME TO MY WORLD 9: Stepping back into the porc WELCOME TO MY WORLD 9: Stepping back into the porch, here we find one of the oldest of my creative whatnots - a mirror in a painted Monopoly board. This has been used daily in our various homes since I made it as a Christmas present for @cathymccd in about 1995. Admittedly it's looking a little jaded and smudged now, but so would you after 25 years of service! If you keep following this series of posts, watch out for the accompanying Monopoly mug stand that I painted at the same time. There aren't any prizes for spotting it, but I'm sure the thrill of the chase will keep all you Insta-fans GRIPPED... . . . . . #creative #homesweethome #creativity #instaartist #artistsworld #artist #artistsoninstagram #acrylicpainting #artistic #monopolygame #myhome #acryliconwood #paintingonwood #instaart #arte #arts #monopolyboard #create #welcometomyworld #colourfulhome #creativelife #creativeart #artistsworld #contemporaryart #myart #colourfulart #mycreativeinterior #mycolourfulinterior #artsy #artsandcrafts #painting
WELCOME TO MY WORLD 8: Outside the lounge is the d WELCOME TO MY WORLD 8: Outside the lounge is the door to the porch, and here on the wall hangs the very first piece of artwork created at Honeysuckle Cottage - a piece of broken old fencing found just up the lane by Fry's Bottom Woods. I brought it home, sanded it down and painted it up as a momento of one if our first ever 'country walks' from our new home. It's been hanging up there watching the comings and goings of our tiny household for 17 years now... . . . . . #creative #homesweethome #creativity #instaartist #artistsworld #artist #artistsoninstagram #acrylicpainting #artistic #imagination #myhome #acryliconwood #paintingonwood #instaart #arte #arts #painter #create #welcometomyworld #colourfulhome #creativelife #creativeart #artistsworld #contemporaryart #myart #colourfulart #mycreativeinterior #mycolourfulinterior #artsy #artsandcrafts #paintingr
WELCOME TO MY WORLD 7: Here's the Chesterfield-sty WELCOME TO MY WORLD 7: Here's the Chesterfield-style sofa, liberally smothered in blankets crocheted by @cathymccd, and cushions (printed up at Society6.com) printed up with illustrations from my novel 'All that remains' (as read and praised by Jo-Anne McArthur!!) Above that, my three bird portraits painted during lockdown, and a quite frankly weird lampshade covered in medical illustrations of body parts. . . . . . #creative #homesweethome #creativity #instaartist #artistsworld #artist #artistsoninstagram #acrylicpainting #artistic #imagination #myhome #artistsstudio #artstudio #instaart #arte #arts #painter #create #welcometomyworld #colourfulhome #creativelife #creativeart #artistsworld #contemporaryart #myart #colourfulart #mycreativeinterior #mycolourfulinterior #artsy #artsandcrafts #painting
YES - THIS IS ME DRESSED AS A PIRATE And the reaso YES - THIS IS ME DRESSED AS A PIRATE And the reason for this intrusion into my usual world of artyness is that it's a shameless attempt to grab your attention, dear insta-fan, to ask you to scroll through the other pix here, and to be aware that early next week I will be announcing a BIG SALE OF MY ART PRINTS! Since the beginning of the pandemic, my prints have lain dormant, gathering dust, as they were all intended for festivals and exhibitions that have now obviously been cancelled. SO THAT'S WHERE YOU COME IN - watch this space for a full display of all the artwork that is waiting for new owners - and all at very affordable prices! (as they say on corporate adverts - the difference being that this time it's actually true) . . . . . #veganlifestyle #instartpics #artistsharing #animalrightsactivism #artivist #veganartist #fineartprintsforsale #fineartprints #fineart #animalart #animalartwork #animalportraits #wildlifeart #artist #acrylicpainting #acrylicartwork #artsale #artforsalebyartist #artforsale #art #gicleeprintsforsale #pirate #piratecostume #paintingnature #thenaturalworld #shamelessselfpromotion #beautifulart #colourfulartwork #colourfulartr
WELCOME TO MY WORLD 6: On the shelf over the loung WELCOME TO MY WORLD 6: On the shelf over the lounge door we spy a suspiciously pretentious little collection of books, being kept separate from the common-or-garden riff-raff of all the other books in the room. These are a collection of illustrated novels that I've written over the course of the last decade. All self-published (of course) but seemingly popular with family and friends, and even some people who WEREN'T forced to read them! There's a collection of poetry too, written 2008 -2013, and containing 140 poems. 137 of these actually rhyme, and 1 of them contains the word 'fart' - so keep an eye out for that one, kids! Also lurking in the same room are some massive (and massively expensive) hardback art books which are lavishly illustrated versions of some of the tiddly ones. As always, I'm nothing if not gloriously and sincerely uncommercial! . . . . . #creative #homesweethome #creativity #instaartist #artistsworld #artist #artistsoninstagram #bookillustration #artistic #imagination #myhome #artistsstudio #artstudio #instaart #arte #arts #create #welcometomyworld #colourfulhome #creativelife #creativeart #artistsworld #contemporaryart #myart #colourfulart #mycreativeinterior #authorsofinstagram #novelwriter #illustratednovel #creativewriting #fantasynovel
WELCOME TO MY WORLD 5: Onwards to the mantelshelf WELCOME TO MY WORLD 5: Onwards to the mantelshelf over the log-burner. Here we find a papiermâché model of 'Old Father Time' holding up a little clock that has been ticking for over 20 years now. Behind him, note the slice of wood that arrived with our log delivery a decade ago, and which was shaped so much like a heart that it was too good to burn... . . . . . #creative #homesweethome #creativity #instaartist #artistsworld #artist #artistsoninstagram #clock #artistic #imagination #myhome #instaart #papiermâché #arts #timepiece #create #welcometomyworld #creativelife #creativeart #artistsworld #oldfathertime #myart #mycreativeinterior #mycolourfulinterior #artsy #artsandcrafts #modelmaking #modelman #modelmakingskills #woodenheart #paintedheart
WELCOME TO MY WORLD 4: Hidden away up on the books WELCOME TO MY WORLD 4: Hidden away up on the bookshelves is the tiny world of my version of Stokesay Castle, a 13th century fortified manor house near Ludlow. It's a magical place - an enclosed world, lost in the fields and woods of Shropshire - and I just wanted to bring a miniature memory of it back home with me. So - out came the card and glue and matchsticks.... Incidentally, my partner was having her hair cut when I made this, so I took a single hair from the pile on the floor and used it to make a rope, hanging from a winch hauling timber up the side of the tower. Waste not, want not. . . . . #creative #homesweethome #creativity #instaartist #artistsworld #artist #artistsoninstagram #acrylicpainting #artistic #imagination #myhome #instaart #arte #arts #painter #create #welcometomyworld #colourfulhome #creativelife #creativeart #artistsworld #medievalhouse #myart #colourfulart #mycreativeinterior #mycolourfulinterior #artsy #artsandcrafts #modelmaking #modelcastle #modelmakingskills
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Please get in touch if you are interested in purchasing any of my artwork which is not for sale in this shop. UK orders only. For all overseas shipping please contact me before purchase. Dismiss