A blog for the midnight epiphanies and idle thoughts of a hopeless wordaholic.
Writers' Pantry #75. Doors on city streets have always fascinated me. I'm left wondering what stories they conceal, what secrets they hold forever. Submitted to Poets & Storytellers United, June 20, 2021
DOORWAYS
the closed door
shuts out chaos
warmth and safety within
the red door
speaks of welcome
to those who
wish to enter
schoolhouse door
house of education
key to success
the church door
God found within
spirit nourished
The Sunday Muse #165
Weekly Scribblings where we're asked to choose an image and write a poem in the voice of the character depicted. I've chosen Marilyn Monroe, whose life started in an orphanage and a series of foster homes, rose to fame as a sex symbol, and ended, sadly, alone and unhappy. I've chosen a painting of Marilyn and added a number of movie titles for which she was known. Submitted to Poets & Storytllers United, June 16, 2021.
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THE SUNDAY MUSE #164
THE MASTER’S HAND
We are as the clay molded by the Master
How much is our choice in the what comes after
Is life serendipity, accidental happenstance
Is it preordained, or just lucky chance
Is good fortune a blessing, or just a fluke
Is it “give and it shall be given” as described by St. Luke
Is it Kismet, karma or divine intervention
These déjà vu moments that grab our attention
They leave us remarking “Now isn’t that odd.
Can it be it was guided by the hand of God?”
Open Link #74 Submitted to Poets & Storytellers United, June 13, 2021. Vintage advertising has always fascinated me, with its use of words lost in the pages of time. The word "costiveness" in this ad is one such word...one to be listed in my book of oddities.
CURE-ALL
Browsing the antique shop, I came across one of those vintage advertising fans they used to hand out in funeral homes. This one featured a couple of adorable kittens and was presented by Carter’s Little Liver Pills. “LIVERITA“, it says on the back “Best for Stomach, Liver and Bowels. $500 REWARD. We will pay the reward for any case of Liver Complaint, Dyspepsia, Sick Headache, Indigestion, Constipation or Costiveness we cannot cure with Liverita, the up-to-date Little Liver Pill, when the directions are strictly complied to. They are purely vegetable and never fail to give satisfaction. The 25 cent boxes contain 100 pills, 5 cent boxes contain 15 pills. Beware of substitutions and limitations. Sent by mail. Stamps taken.” Of course I bought this bit of history.
Imagine! A $500 reward if cure fails. Try to get such a guarantee from your friendly physician today. Wouldn’t that shock him right out of his stethoscope! A hundred pills for a quarter! Seems like the cost of feeling good has certainly escalated. Megabucks are spent annually on the health care industry in the United States today. The cost of health care is prohibitive and politicians are debating solutions. They should ask me. I have the solution right here at home….on the back of a fan.
Weekly Scribblings #73. We're asked to include the word butterfly or moth in our scribblings this week. Submitted to Poets & Storytellers United, June 9,, 2021
Poetics Tuesday welcomes a new hostess, Tricia Sankey. She suggests we use the word “risk” in our poem. Somehow I hear Garth Brooks singing this one. Submitted to dVerse June 8, 2021
MOMMA SAID
He was born at the intersection of hope-so and maybe
Grew up in the ‘hood on the streets
Went to the school of hard knocks
Graduated with a degree in broken dreams
But Momma said “Son you can be somebody”
And somehow Momma’s words stuck
He avoided the gangs and the dopesters
Worked two jobs. and lived in an old Chevy truck
Momma’s voice echoed strong in his head
He escaped risk of trouble somehow
Spending his time in classes instead
Finally he set off for his future
In a borrowed suit with degree in hand
Success came his way with its good times
Momma’s boy had grown into a man
“You can be somebody, son” still echoes
He’s living well and in great style
He knows he worked hard and earned it
And Momma just nods with a smile.
