Point A to Point A

Today at Real Toads, Gillena is prompting us with Francois Villon’s poetry.  We are to read a poem and pick a line from it with a quote and use the quote to construct a poem.  Day 15 of NANONUCLEARMELTDOWN.  I am going short and sweet today.

“so, round the world he goes, but return he will,” The Ballad Of The Proverbs – Poem by François Villon

Point A to Point A
she started at Point A and went directly west.
she continued on until
she wound up back at Point A again.
She shook her fist at the sky
and laughed grandly:
Thus to the flat earthers!

public domain

No Water – Oh Well

New Year’s Day –
the toilet wouldn’t flush.
No water from the faucet either.

the temp on New Year’s Eve
was -1F.
Well, the pipes froze.
Of course they did.
I bought 10 gallons of distilled water
to put in the tank to flush the toilet.
Plumber came.
Pipes fixed –
no signs of splits.
In the hall 10 empty plastic jugs.
I filled them with water again.
I imagine those jugs will stay there
until July –
just in case the pipes freeze again.

Tuesday Poetics: Mistakes

Today CC is our guest prompter at the dVerse Poets Pub.  She reminds us “Even Monkeys Fall from Trees” meaning, we all have made, make, will make mistakes.  I am writing about a series of events way back in the day – a day that will live in the minds of many – Kani no Tsunami –  crab tsunami. Come join us at dVerse today!

Kani no tsunami
The day began as many others
back in the wild days of my youth.
My cousin Billy was coming over from Jersey
and plans had been made for epic events.
My roommate was pumped, she thought Billy was cool.
At that time I lived on Long Island and one thing was sure.
Be at one of the numerous docks when
The fishing boats came in and
Fresh wondrous catches could be bought for a song
(and a couple of dollars!)
Crabs….I had in mind – crabs.
Steamed with Old Bay seasoning
Butter and cold beer to drink. Oh yes.
Billy arrived and the day of mistakes began.
I had made a two quart pitcher of kamikazes
And they were all cold in the fridge and waiting.
We toasted each other. He broke out a joint.
First things first before we headed to the dock.
The fishing boats rolled in and we found the crab boat.
A bushel of crabs, all snapping and clicking
A bushel of crabs for $2 and no change.
The waterman shoveled crabs into a brown paper bag
And then another bag.
He offered to sell us the basket for $1 but ….
Into the backseat of the car the bags were set.
The crabs kept us company as we chugged Kamikazes
From a thermos and shared another joint.
Arrived back at home I grabbed one damp bag,
Billy grabbed the other.
And yeah, you know what’s coming, don’t you?
Barely inside, first his bag and then mine BURST!!!!!!
Crabs, crabs, everywhere were crabs.
Scuttling and snapping and blowing our minds…
Angry crabs, pissed off crabs, hungry crabs.
We jumped onto the coffee table screaming like – well,
screaming like little girls.
Billy and I clutched each other wondering,
What do we do now?
I finally jumped and made a dash for the kitchen
grabbed a broom and began herding those darn crabs.
Billy helped and we herded them into the bathroom and
Pushed them into the tub.
We didn’t want crabs anymore.
They ended up being put into a garbage can and taken
down to the beach and freed back into the surf.
I’m sure they had tales to tell
About the day they invaded dry land dwellers.
To this day, Billy gets the twitches
when you mention crabs.
So take my advice and don’t make our mistakes:
Stay sober and buy the damn basket for a buck.

public domain photo

MTB – Humor

Today, Victoria has given us the wonderful prompt of writing something humorous.  To be honest, I’ve not been in a humorous frame for a couple of months.  I hope one of these fit the bill.   http://dversepoets.com/2015/10/22/seriously-thats-funny-dverse-meeting-the-bar/

free public domain image

I.  (senryu)
sparrows skate on ice
gobbling seeds – cat sneaks, spies, stalks –
leaps, slips – birds snicker.

II. (Bussokusekika poetic form)
high up in my tree
playing the violin and
watching fall at play –
leaves swirl birds chirp creek gurgles –
I saw notes trying my best
squirrel yells at me – silence!

 

春雨 shun u (gentle spring rain) tanka

Today at dVerse Poets is Open Link Night – we post any of our poems we choose to without a prompt. Come join us!

copyright KanzenSakura

Spring Rain gently taps
Tender Green and begs a dance
While clover blossoms
On holiday enjoy a
Rainy day at Puddle Lake.

copyright KanzenSakura

NaPoWriMo 7 and dVerse Poets Pub

Today at dVerse Poetics Pub, we have been prompted to write a letter. At NaPoWriMo 7, we are prompted to write about money. I am combining the prompts.  Please note:  No real piggy banks were harmed in the creation of this poem!  🙂

My Poor Dear Broken Piggy Bank,
I know my action was cruel
And so I will be frank.
The truth be ugly and stark
Unpleasant and harsh
But I didn’t want to sit in the dark.
I counted the coins – twice
And divided them into dollars
And had enough – nice!
So please don’t take this as a slight
I had to break you
To ease my plight.
The electric bill has been paid –
The stove works and the tv plays
Watchathon continues – my day’s been made.
And though I broke you into pieces
Still you smile and give good cheer
And though broken my happiness increases.
I’ll repair you, yes indeed
and hope there will never be another need.
Much love from,
Kanzen.

public domain image

Happy New Year! what?????

free public domain image

In Japan, Setsubun (節分) is part of the Spring Festival, haru matsuri and the word means seasonal division. Setsubun is the last day before the beginning of spring  (haru春). This year it falls on February 3 and is associated with the lunar new year. It is also known as the Bean-throwing ceremony (mamemaki (豆撒き) or festival. Dancing, eating special sushi, roasted soybeans, theatre performances…festivities!!! In its simplest form, roasted soy beans are thrown out the door or at a family member wearing a frightening ogre mask and then slamming the door. “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi” – “Demons out, luck in!” This is a symbolic cleansing of the home to drive away evil spirits that cause bad luck and ill health.

free public domain image

At Shinto shrines, beans covered in silver or gold foil, coins, sweets, or other small prizes will be thrown by the priests to the crowd. in larger cities, celebrities and sumo wrestlers will be invited to do the tossing. I wonder if my guys, World Order, will be bean throwing? I’d like to find a video of that!

It is also customary to eat roasted soybeans, one for each year of life plus one, to bring good luck for the year to come. Since I like roasted soybeans, I have no problem eating several for every year of life. My neighbors, those out and about early this morning, were treated to me standing at our front door throwing beans and shouting at the top of my lungs, “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!!!”  Honestly, probably no one was surprised.

Happy New Year!  Happy Spring!  Our Great American Groundhog, Phil, predicts six more weeks of weather.  That’s fine with me.  The lunar calendar says today is the last day before the beginning of spring.  No matter how much it snows, spring is on the way.  Tiny little bits of red are showing now on my flowering quince.  Barely there buds are showing on my plum trees.   I like that today is the day before spring.

copyright kanzensakura – flowering quince buds, spring is coming

And personally, I don’t blame Phil for biting the mayor. Look around in the video, there’s snow everywhere and folks are dressed like a bunch of mutant snowpeople.  If someone hauled me out of my nice warm bed at the crack of dawn on a cold morning with a bunch of noisy humans shouting and taking pictures, I’d bite somebody too.  Maybe Phil should have thrown beans and growled, Out Demons!!!…Nahhh, he did the right thing.

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Un-Wordless Wednesday: haiku

imprisoned in ice
my car plots its escape to
Hawaii and warmth

copyright kanzensakura

Live….From New York – it’s….

Actually, it’s just me, tiptapping on my tablet with my trusty stylus.  Some kind of evil surreal virus has destroyed my computer and until money from heaven falls, I will be posting from, answering and sending emails from, doing my homework for school on – my tablet.

I feel as if I am in the Dark Ages pushing my quill slowly across the parchment or, even farther back, chipping out weird little images from stone.  Tap, tap, taptaptap…

I am going to try to catch up answering a ton of emails, reading a ton of posts, maybe doing a post – sometime this weekend, after I have studied and done homework – I already feel inundated after just a week of school!!! And hyper, did I mention that?

But before I start in hyperdrive this morning and after several cups of coffee, I am going to go outside and indulge in the ancient art of making a chain of clover blossoms – one for my poor crazed head and the other to wear around my neck – the Princess of Clover chains before I change into my costume of Court Scholar and what is more likely, Court Jester.  SamCat the Ripper thinks perchance I may be a Chew Toy, but at this point, my vote is on Jester.

 

Guest Blogger: SamCat the Ripper

Today. I would like to introduce my first guest blogger.  I decided to occasionally invite someone to do a guest post on my blog.  The blog today is brought to you by SamCat the Ripper.  A little background on SamCat:  he was born in a no-kill rescue shelter.  All the kittens, except for SamCat, were adopted from the litter, along with his mom.  His home in the shelter, for two years, was a medium sized cage.  When time allowed, he would be let out of the cage to socialize with other cats, the volunteers, and visitors.  I saw his picture online along with some other cats at the shelter.  I decided to pay a visit and decide which cat was going to come home with me to his forever home.

All the cats that I met were wonderful but SamCat won me over when the volunteer placed him in my arms and he began to snuggle and nuzzle at my neck.  After checking my references, I was allowed to bring SamCat home with me.  Today marks his fourth year with me.  Below is his guest blog:

Hi.  I am SamCat the Ripper.  My upright, Kanzen Sakura, the great goddess of food giving, litter box cleaning, and untiring hugger, gave me that name after I discovered the wonderful nubby pad in her rocking chair. Although the pad had lasted in its chair for years, it was no match for me and my claws.   I am the King of Pad Rippers!

I enjoy sitting at my favorite spot in the big room’s large window.  I can watch those things she calls birds and butterflies.  I enjoy watching wet stuff and white stuff come from the sky as well.  I do not like the big noises that come from the sky and I hide under a bed.

When I lived in that big metal box, I did not have a big window to look out of, although the uprights there kept me fed, the box cleaned, and played with me and gave me hugs.  I like living with the Sakura upright much better.  The male upright who lives with us does not adore me as he should.  I remind him that I am the King of Pad Rippers by sharpening my claws on his funny white shoes.  Those shoes must be made of some kind of miracle stuff because they have not fallen as did the pad.  But I think it is good to remind the male upright who has the sharpest claws in the house sometimes.

Today for breakfast, as a treat, I was given a bit of tuna.  Upright Sakura was making tuna something and gave me a bit.  I wanted more but did not get it.  I have plans for later today, when upright goes out for something she calls errands.  I do not know what errands are but she never seems to bring any home.  She does bring home food for me and the male upright though.  When she opens the door, I am going to try my trick of running past her outside.  Sometimes I can and other times, she stops me.  I like outside because I can walk around and sniff the smells on bushes, see those bird things up close, and hear all kinds of amazing and interesting sounds.  Usually, one or the other of the uprights grab me and bring me back inside.  But it is always fun to beat them at the run outside game!

Tonight when the male upright is sitting in his chair and watching “TV”, I will again remind him of my superiority but knocking off the little wooden box by the chair, that odd shaped thing called a “remote”.  I will knock it off and push it under the wooden box thing.  He always gets annoyed.  I can tell because he will say, in rough tone of voice, “Sam!  You think you own everything in this house!”.  I am glad he is starting to understand that.  it has taken me a long time to train him.  He has to stand up, bend over, and reach for the “remote”.  Sometimes, I can push it farther away from him.  I enjoy this game very much.

I am through doing the “blogging” thing now.  I hope you enjoyed it.  I am going now to have a nibble of those wonderful crunchy things upright Sakura keeps in a special bowl for me and then take another nap.  Thank you for reading.

Reminder:  Please have your pet spayed/neutered and vaccinated.  Also, please consider obtaining your next pet from a rescue shelter. Thank you, from the Upright Sakura.

Throwback Thursday – Romance: the Sequel

My good bud, Huntie over at Chasing Rabbit Holes (http://chasingrabbitholes.com/about) , asked me if I was going to post a sequel to last Thursday?  Did I play the violin for my husband?  Did we take a trip to the art museum that weekend?  So, for her and Ella and Elby, here is the sequel.

My husband got home and it being tax season, went in to work at finishing some stuff up. Around midnight, he finished and went to bed. So I sat on the side of the bed and played “When I Fall In Love” on my violin for him as a lullaby.  My sweet man fell fast asleep, smiling.

Saturday, we went to the Art Museum and had a delightful day. We even had lunch in their snooty and pretentious bee-stro. Good day, good time.

But the best part came this morning, a week from last Thursday. Yesterday, two small boxes were put on our porch. I was surprised. I had ordered something for him as special little gift and lo and behold, here was a box from the same place, same size – addressed to him!

I put the box addressed to him on his desk. I took my box and opened it to check to make sure it was right. It was! This morning, before he could have his coffee, I placed the contents of the box in front of him on the table. He picked it up and grinned hugely. Then, he took the contents of his box and placed in front of me. And I laughed aloud. Talk about great minds…

All of this being said: I gave my husband a Game of Thrones Mug with the motto “Winter is Coming” and the sigil of the Stark Family. My identical mug had the motto “Fear the Imp” in tribute to character Tyrion Lannister. Both of us are big fans of Game of Thrones. My husband is most impressed with and fond of the Stark family and their storyline. I am a huge fan of the character of Tyrion Lannister. At 4’10”, I’m a tad bit short. But I am in proportion:  limbs, torso, head. I call myself a midget. I hear that is supposed to be a pejorative term but it doesn’t bother me. Anyway, I enjoy Peter Dinklage’s portrayal of Tyrion – cynical, wickedly smart, pragmatic, and in spite of himself, tender hearted, able to act as a true gentleman, and brave far beyond his height. Needless to say, I love my mug. My morning coffee is going to take on a whole new twist. Gone is the ages old smiley face mug, replaced by a mug with much attitude. “Fear the Imp”.  Indeed!

Writing Prompt from Don Charisma

I know I should, but I don’t do the Daily Writing Prompt. I forget about it in writing my own internal writing prompt. But I liked this prompt from a blog I follow that is truly interesting: http://doncharisma.org Don Charisma. The prompt was: Write about the first thing you think about and publish it.

Those of you who have been following my blog know that sometimes, I’m just a bit cattywhompus at times. Cattywhompus is Southern for not quite straight, off kilter, hanging funny, a bit twisted.

The first thing that popped in my head was: Why do women talk so much in public restrooms?

Yes, really. Those of you out there who are women may relate to this. Those of you who are men will, be befuddled at this phenomenon. I am not a man yet, I am befuddled.

Here is the daily scenario: I go into the restroom at work. Usually, there are at least six women in there. They greet each other, they greet me. Okay, I’m cool so far. But then….then I go into the stall, close and lock the door. Before I can get my slacks down, waves of conversation roll over the door: Haven’t seen you in ages Kanzen, you been busy? How’s your mom, Kanzen? Have they interviewed for the admin position yet in your area? I love the way you have your hair today Kanzen. Kanzen, that turquoise blouse with your white hair is gooooorgeous. I hope you told that bitch off, Kanzen when she was so hateful to you….on and on and on. And to each other!! Comments, questions! Geez freakin’ louise. and no, I was nice and answered, but I didn’t like it. It was just….weird. And I answered tersely.

Another daily scenario: I walk in and am the only person in there (thank you, Jesus). But then, just as I go in my own little stall and close and lock the door, I hear someone come in. Does she go to empty stall two away from me? Does she go to the empty one at the end of the row? NOOOOOO, she goes in the one right beside me and: That you Kanzen? I thought I recognized those little feet. How’s it goin’? How did that meatloaf turn out? Blahdeblahdeblahblahblah.

Lord have mercy on me. She just saw me in the mailroom. Why didn’t she ask then? Why did she have to go in right beside me? There were empty spaces!!! Why is she still talking to me?

Men on the other hand: maybe a: ‘sup? They skip a urinal between themselves and the other guy if at all possible. They look straight ahead. Simple. They shake off, zip up, wash their hands, leave. maybe straighten a tie or make sure no toilet paper is stuck to a shoe.

Women: You hear all this shuffling, adjusting, zipping….then they come out. They futz around with their hair, put on MORE lipstick, turn around and look their backside in the mirror, adjust some more, reach inside their blouse and heaven help me, adjust there. And while washing their hands: I hate this soap they have in here now. That towel dispenser never works. Those are cute earrings! Are we still on for lunch? If my man did that to me, he’d be missing something, know what I mean? and other things neither you (nor I) want to hear. I wash my hands, grab a paper towel, dry my hands, and RUN!

So…this is what popped into my head, thanks to Don’s writing prompt. Women in restrooms and why do they talk all the time and why when there are empty stalls, they have to go into the one right beside you. I’m a woman and I don’t understand.

But today is Thursday. I call it Friday Eve, like Christmas Eve, New Years Eve.   I think that sounds more festive than “little Friday”, don’t you?  Happy Friday Eve!!!