For Victoria’s prompt on dVerse – pop art and poetry.
Cartoon Chefs
“I love poking fun at myself. I have a rather mean sense of humor.” Alton Brown
Bam! It’s a good thing.
Now how easy is that?
Oh bother.
The phrases of the popular chefs on the tv
roll off the tongue
like cartoon colored plastic knives.
I don’t use a one of the phrases
but…
sometimes I use a technique
or a recipe.
I love Bourdain, Brown…
sexy men who walk out of a Warhol painting
and steal my heart every single time.
Bam! Let’s kick it up a notch.
You will love it,
I gair-on-tee it.
Summer Fun
“I am going to keep having fun every day I have left, because there is no other way of life. You just have to decide whether you are a Tigger or an Eeyore.” – Randy Pausch
Picking tomatoes ripe and red,
pulling tender small cucumbers
and yellow squash from my garden.
Sitting on the porch in the cool of the morning
sipping on cafe au lait
and watching the butterflies flit
about the yard and
the zooming dragonflies.
Practicing kendo and judo at the dojo,
going to “work” at the soup kitchen
preparing meals for the hungry
and for meals on wheels.
Laughing with my husband at his silly jokes,
Climbing my tree and reading.
Listening to the cicadas
with their rising and falling wall of sound,
splashing in the creek
and skipping stones,
looking at the moon and stars
circling the sky in their nightly dance,
watching the lightning bugs blink among the bushes.
This is my fun.
Come join me.
I may even let you wash dishes
at the soup kitchen.
Night Trolling
“When I go fishing I like to know that there’s nobody within five miles of me.” Norman MacCaig
I used to love fishing with my parents, especially at night. We slowly and blindly trolled our lines, waiting for the fish to hit the bait.
silence on the water –
a swift pull on the line –
a bass at the end of the line
Yesterday it snowed. Not a momentous occasion for you folks who live up North but it was for us who live down South. The last few winters have in fact been unusually snowy and cold for us. The past three weeks, the temperature hovered around 18F both day and night. Brutal cold. But…yesterday it snowed. The state department where my husband works was closed for the day due to the weather. After several weeks of extreme cold, frozen pipes, and a chore to go anywhere or do anything, my husband and I decided to play. We needed it.
We built a blanket fortress in the living room. This room is usually silent but today, it rang with laughter. We used heavy books to anchor the blankets. A quilt on the floor completed our fortress. Breakfast was oatmeal with fresh blueberries (on sale for some reason at the local Aldi’s). We ate sitting on the floor and looking at the snow outside our huge picture window. Board games was the order of the day. After beating him several times at Parcheesi and Dominoes, he switched us to Monopoly. Before we started, I fixed us a lunch of grilled cheese and bacon sammies and for dessert, a fruit cup. The fruit cup was divine made with grapes, blueberries, and sliced pear and drenched in a simple syrup to which I had added lime zest and juice. We took a nap. We plotted the downfall of Trump. We finished our game of Monopoly which I finally lost on purpose because to be honest, I was tired of it. I read him a story (The Three Bears) and we took another nap.
Outside it was snowing hard and cold. Inside, it was warm and laughter rang out. I had left the fort at one point to feed the birds and to put out food for the stray cats. A day without news, TV, or other stresses. We were kids again, best friends against the world and its woes. He went back to work today. I miss him.
fortress of blankets –
us against the world – snow falls –
we play at being kids
Today, Victoria is hosting the bar with her Meeting the Bar prompt of writing poems in meter. I rarely use meter because of my preference for Japanese poetic forms. But I have given it a try using my beloved creek and trees as prompts. Come join us at dVerse Poets Pub for fun and frolic. Meter-Made Mood–dVerse Meeting the Bar
Play Day
Today is the day
I ran away and left my cares behind.
The trees they beckoned
And the creek it giggled
As I danced down the lane
Blue sky above me
And green grass below.
I want to play
I think I’ll play
The birds they sing
The butterflies they flutter and float
I splashed in the creek
And made the frogs hop
Away to quiet stones
And watch me in alarm.
I want to play
I think I’ll play
Oh! Come and let’s play.
cat and koi pond – Cat and koi pond by Utagawa kuniyoshi (歌川国芳) January 1, 1797 – April 14, 186
Years ago, we had a koi pond – nishikigoi: brocaded carp. It is a pleasure to feed them and watch them nibble bits of lettuce and melon, to watch them break the surfacte and play. A good friend of mine wrote the first three lines, which so delighted me, I wrote the rest of the poem from that inspiration. And, my friend loves my fried chicken!
禁断の愛
A forbidden desire:
A fishing pole, pond,
Carp sushi–and fried chicken. by Beni
Nishikigoi:
Unmoving, sleeping.
At peace in the sun.
Barely rippling,
Fins and tail calm.
Dreaming of lettuce.
So now, it is time for some fun. I’ve posted this one before and I imagine will post again. I love these guys, plain and simple. This video is a montage of scenes from previous music videos done to the cheery “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Jepson. If you haven’t seen one of their music videos, you are in for a treat. This one is lighthearted but they do serious and amazing dances with soul searching lyrics. Part of the fun is seeing how kids will often imitate them. World Order is a BIG DEAL in Japan. I’ve been following them for several years now and never tire of them,
Snappy upbeat music, handsome guys in suits dancing like robots – what’s not to like. Crank it up and chair dance your heart out.
How’s those resolutions hanging, hey? First, set realistic goals and take realistic actions. For example, I want to eat more healthily. Good goad. Now…DON’T empty your pantry and fridge of all the food and buy a whole bunch of stuff you don’t like, won’t eat, don’t know how to prepare. Start in small steps: piece of fruit daily. More veggies with your meals. Cut down on fat and sodium (not cut out).
The change has to be inside you. You have to want it. With that in mind, I am posting a video from my favorite group o’ guys, World Order, from Japan. You may not understand the words but the message is clear: the choice and the way is inside you. Use it. Network with friends and … have fun.
Change your life – forever!!! Now get out there and rock those resolutions with your bad self…
These are a couple of short vids I did with my cell phone: my aunt’s 20 year old cat rolling in the grass on a sunny afternoon. I hope they work. This is my first time posting a video. If it doesn’t. then just imagine this cat rolling, legs up, “swimming” through the grass, squirming in unabashed delight. Sounds of birds and a raucous crow in the background, warm sun.
So – it’s the end of the week – kick back, roll!! repeat: kick back, roll! Do this as often as you need to feel loose and happy.
I always liked Blondie and still do. I had a bear of a math test this morning and I think I did A-OK so on the way home, I cranked up this CD, doing the head-banging thing and car dancing.
It’s Friday, end of the school and work week, going to a Bah-bee-kew tomorrow and hanging out with some of our friends. I am doing the ultimate in lazy and take 2 dozen assorted Krispy Kreme donuts as our dish to bring. We are going to be THE popular couple.
So crank up this video, wave your hands in the air, jump up and down, heck – do some clogging…It’s Friday!!!!
kanzen sakura 