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Waiting for the Prompt
This poem is sort of slapdash, for the prompt came in too late.
By the time that it was posted, I was running for the gate.
I had to grab my car keys and then the birthday cake,
lock up after the painters and one more phone call make.
It was my neighbor’s birthday. We were going out to lunch
and to hear some mariachis with a most congenial bunch.
We feasted on tamales and chiles en nogada
in between our lively rounds of “Yada, yada, yada.”
Movies, books and U.F.O.’s were topics of our pleasure,
and then of course some politics were thrown in for good measure.
All in all a lovely time with friends, music and food,
and a few rounds of tequila to lighten up our mood.
When I got home, I checked it out, but still no prompt was posted.
and that is why, my friends, the tardy prompter’s being roasted.
“Prompt” means “on time,” I think that we all have to agree.
So I find the fact it’s “late” to be the final irony!
(All meant in good fun.) The RDP prompt today, too late to be in my combined poem, was “slapdash.” Here is their link: https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2018/09/15/rdp-saturday-slapdash/
The Indian Shot or Canna Indica Lily. They grow like weeds in my planters. Don’t dare let them escape! If you want to know how they came to be called Indian Shot lilies, go HERE to hear the story.
For Cee’s Flower of the Day prompt.
Reality Check
I’m withdrawing from the argument. I have no more opinions.
I abstain from giving voice to what I think to my few minions.
Thoughts fly swift and easy lately on the internet.
They are so filled with hate. How much more rancorous could they get?
Our fearful hateful leader might hem and haw and hem,
but the problem with such enemies is, they turn us into them!
My grass is fresh and verdant. Fresh flowers bloom every day.
I’ll watch them from my hammock and put politics away.
From the troubles of the world, I need a short vacation.
My back yard is so lovely, and nature an education
to stop and rest and notice all the pleasures of this life.
We need to take in all of it, not just the pain and strife.
I contemplate the garden, suspended in my nest.
Morrie jumps up to join me—an uninvited guest.
Suspended in my private world, I find no rancor there.
Just mariposas fluttering, suspended in the air
above the tabachine blossoms—a sort of meditation
better for my blood pressure than any medication.
I fall asleep and doze for hours. Awakening from my nap,
I try to rise and gently spill the small dog from my lap.
It’s feeding time for animals. I go to find the cats.
They swarm around my ankles, both for sustenance and pats.
It’s when I find the hummingbird they’ve left me like a treasure
that I’m reminded that all nature is a blend of pain and pleasure.
The prompt words today were abstain, verdant and swift. Here are the links:
https://fivedotoh.com/2018/09/15/fowc-with-fandango-abstain/
https://wo/rdofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2018/09/15/verdant/
https://dailyaddictions542855004.wordpress.com/2018/09/09/daily-addictions-2018-week-36/swift
We’d seen this old Cupid walking down the street the day before. Then he showed up at the local Wednesday street market. Luckily, he carried the arrow in his hand and never loaded the bow. I think the idea was that he was angling for tips. Yes, I gave him one.
To play along or see more oddballs, go here:
https://nuthousecentral.wordpress.com/2018/09/13/kammies-oddball-challenge-9-13-18/
These questions were posed from a guy named Bloke on this website. I give my answers to them, and I’m waiting to see your answers to them as well! https://aguycalledbloke.blog/2018/09/14/game-on-series-2-the-philosophy-of-living-life/
Q1] What is your take on ‘free will?’ I think the free will we have is exercised through the decisions we make and our response to adversity in our lives. We cannot always control the circumstances–only the way we respond to them.
Q2] We all ask ourselves at one time or another what is the point? So what is the point to our existence? Kurt Vonnegut says we were born to this life to fart around. I think there is more to it than that, but certainly a life with no farting around is not a life worth living.
Q3] What is your belief on fate and Karma? My Karma ran over my Dogma.
Q4] As a species, how do you think humans will become extinct or do you believe that we will not? I think humans as we know them will become extinct. We will either evolve radically to suit the world we’ve messed up so badly or disappear and re-evolve over another million years.
PQ5] What is your belief with regards the meaning of life? I think the meaning of life is one of discovery.. to discover through experience what we already know subconsciously but what we have become disconnected from. I also think that when we treat others badly, it takes us further from our true selves. We really need to realize and appreciate our interconnectedness and responsibility for each other to be true to ourselves!!!
Q6] Ok, fess up, do you believe in aliens from outer space – is there really other life out there in the far reaching galaxies beyond our own? Yes, I do, and hope they might be our salvation.
PQ7] What is your best quote for ‘living life?’ Do unto others as you would have them do unto you if you were them!!!
Q8] What doesn’t kill us – makes us stronger – yes or no? Explain. Absolutely. If we respond to it as a learning experience rather than as something to embitter us.
Q9] What would you say have been your biggest successes in life? Learning to follow my intuition.
Q10] If you could find out the exact time and cause of your death – would you want to know? Absolutely not. It would be like reading the ending of a book before you have finished the rest of the book. I’ve always wanted to be surprised by the endings.
Q11] Is it more important to help yourself, help your family, help your society, or help the world? All are equally important and necessary.
PQ12] If humanity was put on trial by an advanced race of aliens, how would you defend humanity and argue for its continued existence? I don’t think I’d argue for all of humanity. I think there really are people the world would be better off without. For anyone really trying to be fair and inclusive of others, I’d say they are doing the best they can, given their circumstances, but I believe many are not even trying to be fair. I would leave it up to them to defend themselves.
Q13] What is the biggest waste of human potential? Hatred.
Q14] We often see those that write ‘what would you say to a younger you?’ However, what would you say today to a future you? I would say “I’m proud of you,” or “I’m sorry for what I made you into,” depending on my state at the time.
PQ15] Why do you think that as a species, humans need to believe in something? Be this religion, fate, karma, magical, mystique and so on. Because that is what puts the magic in our lives and without magic, life lacks flavor.
Q16] If we could not retain any of our memories – who would we be? Donald Trump?
Q17] Time is such an important part of our world, but do you think you would notice if time was altered in any way? I think time is being altered all the time. I’m just amazed no one else notices.
Q18] How important is play in living a healthy and fulfilling life? Very very important.
Q19] With no laws or rules to influence your behavior, how do you think you would behave? I would probably drive faster but I think otherwise I’d act just the same.
PQ20] Are you deleting any questions, if so which ones? No way! I’ve enjoyed this too much.
Q21] Should euthanasia be legal? Why or why not? Yes. Because it is inhumane to force people to live in pain when we could relieve that pain. It should be their choice.
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September Squares has “pink” for a prompt this month. Here is the link. https://beckybofwinchester.com/2018/09/14/pink-september-squares-14/
New Bachelor in the Neighborhood
Eccentric little ladies bring him grubby little pies
and their dead husbands’ left-overs: their suit coats and their ties.
Their hopes that he will fill them is literally factual.
Their need for a fresh husband is absolutely actual.
As they woo him with their chicken soup, they tease with fading eyes,
flaunting assorted figures of every shape and size.
In caftans or in aprons, in capris that are disarming,
they troop up his front sidewalk in numbers most alarming.
When one attempts to pass by with footsteps that are swift,
another elbows her aside, starting an ugly rift.
They’ve been neighbors for a lifetime and best friends for most of it,
but this new man in the neighborhood seems to make toast of it.
He cowers behind his pulled-tight drapes, not wanting to look out.
He cannot face another pie, let alone another bout.
He grasps the want ads in his fist, retreating to his study.
He’ll find another rental or move in with a buddy.
He tries to move without a sound. He’s bolted tight the door.
He hears their voices on his porch—each minute there are more.
Somebody should have warned him—kindly clued him in
about what happens to widows too long deprived of men!
The word prompts today are grubby, tease, eccentric and swift. Here are the links:
https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2018/09/14/friday-rdp-grubby/
https://fivedotoh.com/2018/09/14/fowc-with-fandango-tease/
https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2018/09/14/eccentric/
https://dailyaddictions542855004.wordpress.com/2018/09/09/daily-addictions-2018-week-36/swift
The Little Mermaid has invited us all over for a cup of tea and the most delectable refreshment! Try not to take too many cakes and to follow the rules of etiquette! Here is the door to the party: https://thelittlemermaid09.wordpress.com/2018/09/03/join-in-the-fun-join-in-the-september-2018-tea-party/
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 