First of all, I wonder – did Edgar Allan Poe’s mother beg him to perhaps take a stab at writing? You know, give it a try? Just an idle question. (If you are unable to “get” those first two lines, consider yourself among the more intelligent of my Gentle Readers.)
Second, on noting Sidey’s weekend theme – Poetry – I was reminded of a dear friend of mine who mistook the title of the song, “Poetry in Motion,” to be “Oh! A Tree in Motion.”
Third, when I was in the third or fourth grade, I remember we were given the assignment to write a poem – a little bit of poetry to read before the class. Since I had already been writing poetry for years by that time, I decided to get “cute.” (Can you imagine that?) Most of the poem has been lost forever, I’m afraid, in the archives of long ago, but the few lines that ended the poem have for whatever reason – perhaps for such a time as this – remained in my memory bank, and they go like this:
I had sat a long time pondering
A poem I could write
About the day spent wandering
With butterflies in flight.
And then at last it came to me
You’ll think it’s quite absurd
For I didn’t write a thing, you see
‘Twas too beautiful for words!
(The only other line I remember from that poem, only half of one of my usual couplets, is: “My mind was racing like a Ford V-8,”)
Those of you who doubt that an 8 or 9-year-old would have and use such a vocabulary, don’t know about the way my parents raised me – especially my Dad. He probably slipped a dictionary into my cradle the day I was born. I grew up with an ever-broadening vocabulary, which made it hard for a lot of my peers, and even a few adults to understand me. It took me longer to learn the perfectly acceptable “nickel” words than it did to learn the $5 words my Dad taught me. He did the New York Times Crossword and the Boston Globe Crossword puzzles every day – in ink – and I frequently sat in his lap when I was a child and would kibitz as he filled in the white squares. I grew to become a solver myself, except I only do the NYT puzzle – never much cared for the Boston Globe’s.
Back to poetry. I have always loved writing limerick-style poems, and as I grew older I branched out into a number of forms, (only a few of which will occasionally appear in my blog – click on my tag “Original Poetry,” if you hunger for more! LOL, although I have little interest in strict forms, preferring to devise my own. In honor of Sidey’s theme, I will write a couple now – off the top of my (pointy) head just for her. Let’s call them:
“An Ode to Sidey” – #1
I’ve never read you from the front
All your views come from the side
But I think I can describe the rest
Of you, despite how hard you’ve tried.
To hide yourself from those who read
Your mighty “Sidey” views.
But out of deference to you
I won’t give any clues.
I won’t divulge what I’ve discerned
To the many who would seek it.
I’ll acquiesce and not disclose
Your closely guarded secret
Of how you look, and choose the subjects
Of the stories that you’ve made up
Your opinions read each morning
Drinking coffee from our mug or cup.
And then you challenge each of us
Suckers, for your “weekend theme.”
That is why I wrote this poem
I’m powerless in your scheme
To torture writers such as I
With nothing else to do
Than to post about your odd ideas,
Just like you want us to.
Ode to Sidey – #2
Why have you disguised yourself
Only giving us your side-view?
Even your blog title
Only serves to hide you.
If each side of you is equal,
Why not show your front with pride?
Because you won’t, then it must be
You’re really Jekyll and Hyde.
(Both poems are
© 2011 Paula Tohline Calhoun
but who else would want to claim them?)
I have always loved words. One word, or one brief line can say as much as any picture, contrary to the old adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Don’t get me wrong – a you know, I love pictures! Photography has become a life-line for me. But the thing about words that differs from pictures – for me, at least, is that they appeal to more than one sense ( including nonsense). As they are read, they can be heard, spoken, they can be deeply felt within the heart and soul, and with Braille, they can be touched and felt through the hands of the blind – and to each person who experiences words, something different is understood, and a different sound, picture, and feeling come to one’s mind. Words are magic. They can bruise and they can heal; they can kill and they can resurrect. I believe that every living thing has a language of its own, and some of that language will and must be poetry. Words can be dark, yes, but in my heart I always remember that the first words ever spoken conquered the dark. Just four simple words – “Let there be light!” And there was light.
OK, Sidey – I fell for your scheme once again. Have you had enough. . .?
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That’s quite a bit better than what I was writing at that age (and probablybetter than what I’m writing now).
A few years back I was cleaning out a storage closet at my mom’s house and found some of the song lyrics I had written in high school. Those sheets found their way to the recycling bin fast and in torn strips.
I didn’t know it was possible to be embarrassed when no one is watching.
Love the words and sentiment of your long-forgotten poem.
eeek Jekyell and Hyde?
I suppose being online has shown me that i am a very private person. I think my thoughts are more interesting than the minutae of my daily existence, which after all are so similar to those of so many other humans.
I’m short, fat and blonde (executive blonde these days). 60 is galloping up as my next big milestone.
I’m a consultant in the IT management field. I’ve been in the IT business for 36 years.
I’m unmarried with no children of my own, but I borrow and love many who have over the years grown up to become beloved adult friends, as special to me now as they were as children.
I have had lovers, of many years and specialness, some like safe havens and some tempestuous as the North sea. My lover of longest duration died over a year ago and I find myself reluctant to open up for such a relationship again.
I live alone with 2 cats, many garden birds, some outside fish and a wild garden I attempt to control but that has a definite will of its own.
I learned to read quite early, and have never lost the love of reading and writing. I love observing people, some of them for a long time, and wondering about us humans and what makes us tick the way we do.
I love the 3 big C’s Champoagne, Chocolate and Caviar, but detour into many other tastes.
I hate not being in control of myself so excessive alcohol or mind-altering drugs don’t feature in my life, although I have had a few months on an anti-depressant but stopped it as soon as I felt it had helped me over coping with the bad time.
I’m a sucker for a genuine smile.
I detest liars and boasters, and those who declare they know/understand and who then prove the exact opposite. I have a lot of patience with those who say “I don’t understand”.
I have a weakness in procrastination and taking on big projects that are usually somewhat beyond my strength and skills.
I enjoy live theatre, music, ballet.
I am extremely content with my own company, and as my work often involves intense time with people, home alone at weekends is a rest and recuperation from that.
Does that do it?
I loved reading this, Sidey. No big surprises in the “big reveal” except maybe:
I’m short, fat and blonde (executive blonde these days). 60 is galloping up as my next big milestone.
I pictured you as a thin and tall brunette! 😀
goodness, how strange, all the things i have never been
Actually, Sidey, from your written ID here, you are exactly as I imagined! A wonderful, fascinating woman, with whom I would love to sit down and share a cup of tea or better yet, a glass of wine. We could invite Cindy over after we’ve had our own “personal” time! 😀 The three of us would have a blast, I’m sure.
It was so sweet of you to share all this info with me and my Gentle Readers, but really not necessary! I was teasing you, with a twinkle in my eye and a wink! I love your posts, your stories, and your wonderful weekend themes, which I look forward to every time I have the time to reflect! I’d also love to read more angel stories! Have you read any of Anne Rice’s new series about the tales of one of the Seraphim and a human who through his helps is atoning for his hired- assassin life. The two books so far have been wonderful, imaginative, intriguing, and great history lessons, as there is a lot of time travel involved! I recommend them to you – even though her “angels” are significantly different from yours – but I love both!
Thanks for your wonderfully reflective, and insightful comment, chock full of info about you – wonderful you! I wish you, as always, enough. . .
Paula
thanks Paula. I know I’m a bit elusive, Cindy thought I was a man living in Denmark for a while when she first started reading my blog
If you didn’t read Nancy’s first comment, she “chastised” me for the Jekyll & Hyde comment. As I said, I reached a bit too hard for the rhyme. . .
ALso, don’t worry about turning 60, as I turned 60 in April. So far it has been the best year of my life, and somehow, joining this age bracket has been very liberating! You will hear people say, “60 is the new 40.” I disagree – 60 is the NEW 60! It’s no longer old, if it ever was, and oh so much better than 40!
I’m quite looking forward to it. Every milestone has been something to anticipate and enjoy.
I am waiting for Ode to Sidey – #3! LOL
I’ll try and provide one soon – she deserves one with a lot more praise and less sarcastic humor. She is one of my very favorite bloggers! If you haven’t been there, please visit – you’ll be hooked!
Hey! If she won’t show herself, how do we know WHAT she really looks like? (Actually, haven’t we seen her in some group shots with Cindy?) Of course, she’s no Jekyll and Hyde, but they rhymed, and I’ll do anything for one of those – as is obvious with all the contrivances in those two little poems!
Thanks, Nancy! I had fun with this one, which should come as no surprise! Did you get the horrible pun in the first paragraph, or are you too smart ro get it, or to admit that you got it?! LOL!
It flew right over my head . . . quothe the Raven, “never more.”
i groaned
Way to go. Good one. You’re right your vocabulary rivals your Dad’s and My Dad, too.
And certainly I’ve never known you to be at a loss for words.
Hubs
We certainly had very wordy and well-versed, well-read Dads! What a joy – aren’t we among the most blessed people on earth?
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Are you trying to entice Sidey to “come out of the closet” and let us see her countenance? 😀
I confess to having been curious myself.
Although I’ve never viewed her as a “Jekyll and Hyde.”
Wonderful response to the theme, PTC.