The afternoon was silent, birds were quietly resting after a morning of feeding their young. The heat permeated the river banks where frogs and toads took refuge. The daily activity had suddenly stopped with the extreme heat.
Fish hide under pads
Floating lilies provide shade
Resting calm water
He always admired her from the back.
It wasn’t for anything frontal she lacked
It was more of a preference
His need to see
Her back, almost obscenely
It was ages ago when men were less bold
Didn’t tell of their likes in days of old
At least by a gentleman in a lady’s presence
He was happy to enjoy the resonance
Through his being, quietly
Until she felt it but with piety
She’d purposely turn her back
Letting him observe was her tack
The long curvature in a buttoned line
Traveling down her curves showing that beautiful spine
She could do it in the dark, no one around, she could do it now.
Blow it out she thought, blow it all out in one acrid breath
Blow away the hate, the frustration, the disappointment, the fear of more to come.
Keep pushing it out, away from you, she thought. Don’t hold them in.
The mind will try to control your breath, making you stop.
Keep blowing out the bad till your lungs feel like they will burst.
And when you feel able, stop.
Look around you, see where you are.
Is the darkness gone, releasing a bit of light’s promise?
Are you ready to start again?
Then slowly, slowly start a small breath in.
This breath is sweet and soft, restoring your lungs, take in the hope
Let it renew and fill your lungs and go into your heart
Slowly taste the power of the new, the ability you once had. . .
before.
https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2018/07/03/photo-challenge-220/
“Do not go gentle into that good night” is a poem in the form of a villanelle, and the most famous work of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas.
“Fight the good fight” also came to mind, because my 83 year old sister is a fighter, a brilliant, loving, quiet woman I greatly admire.
I am posting a couple of excerpts from my sister’s email this morning. I hope it gives you a chuckle as it did me. The day before this, we were discussing the term numbhead which I think my kids used when they were little. Knothead was a term our dad used.
Bobbie Jo wouldn’t know class if it crawled into her knockoff Prada and went home with her.
Being from ranch country in Texas, Bobbie grew up doing chores, wearing jeans and sweat stained cowboy hats. She was indeed a hard working girl, but in her off time she would pull out her secret copies of “Seventeen” magazine and dream of a better life. Graduating from high school she never took her eyes off the prize. Her folks surprised her with a bus ticket to New York City to see her cousin Lulu. Bobby and Lulu were the same age but led very different lives. Lulu’s side of the family was wealthy and Lulu was often spoiled, but still had a pleasing personality. Bobby Joe on the other hand, worked hard for everything with no reward except for this bus ticket to what she dreamed would be a new life.
Bobby had no intention of returning to Texas, the ranch, or her family. She decided she would make it or break it in the big city and that is exactly what happened. Her naïveté was obvious to Lulu but she couldn’t convince Bobby to be careful. Lulu’s parents were unaware of her cousin’s plans and very used to the calm behavior of their own daughter. Having no reason to be suspicious, they gave the girls free rein.
Bobby Jo was beautiful and well versed in the ways to charm young men. The nearby hangout in NYC was a coffee shop frequented by college age and older men. Bobby made use of her charming ways and when approached by a photographer to use her as a model, she went willingly. Lulu had other plans that day but suspected her cousin could take care of herself. Making the photo appointment Bobby raided Lulu’s closet and chose what she thought would be appropriate. The photographer had other ideas. As he approached Bobby a little too closely, he spoke of certain garments he wanted her to try on. He opened a closet door revealing racks of clothes and accessories. He suggested certain items he wanted her to wear for an advertisement.
Despite his forward manner, Bobby complied. As she turned and posed, he seemed pleased. Then everything seemed to go wrong. He was adjusting the purse strap and brushed her with familiarity. She stepped back, surprised. She thought she was braver than that, but he proved her wrong. Bobby became a small girl again, frightened, not the blasé personality she tried to portray. As he advanced in actions, she suddenly ran out of the room and out of his building. She completely forgot she was wearing the outfit he provided. She took a taxi home to Lulu and after paying for the cab ride, Lulu’s father was very perturbed by her actions, not just the photographer. He gathered the girls and drove to the photographer’s office. He stormed in demanding to know what happened. He also told Bobby to get her own clothes on and wait by the door. Embarrassed and upset she did as she was told.
Lulu’s father threatened the man. The man said she was flaunting herself and deserved what she got. Lulu’s father came back with “Excuse me but you are speaking to a young woman of class.”
Upon their leaving the photographer made the comment “Bobbie Jo wouldn’t know class if it crawled into her knockoff Prada and went home with her.”
At this point the usually gentle father punched the photographer in his perfect nose. At least it used to be.
👛👛👛👛👛👛
https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2018/07/06/first-line-friday-july-6th-2018/
Writing this Friday, playing catchup. Wifi has been in and out so I have lots of emails to read since they all plopped on my server this morning. Sorry to have missed some prompts, etc. I wrote two posts, well actually three about the problems I’ve been having. Finally completely defeated today by them and other crap, so I am looking forward to this evening of quiet.
My fifteen yr old grandson will come over tomorrow to help me do some lifting and mopping, and spend the night. I’m sure the first words out of his mouth will be “what’s up, grams?” And I am prepared with food because he’s a vacuum at his age! The “sup” will probably be hamburgers or spaghetti, his choice. His fave veggie is corn so that’s here too. If the scooter holds out we’ll go the half mile one way to Safeway for beef broth. I’m making a pot roast for company on Sunday. As long as he’s not in trouble for a usual teenage reason😳🙄we’ll watch a couple of DVDs. I recorded all of the Matrix series and he hasn’t seen them so maybe those? I’m looking forward to his visit.
http://lindaghill.com/2018/07/06/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-7-18/
Remember Fearless Fosdick of cartoon fame?
Never thought much intent of his name
But now as I visit a doctor
For the third time, think I oughta
Perhaps the lab could employ this guy
The hospital would then comply
And dancing the three step for another test
Would finally let me rest
Having a lab more fastidious
Repeated tests would be insidious
Hiring Fearless might be the answer
Then no need to be a testing dancer
Another dance for the medical man
“No problem” he says, “just pee in the can”
https://thehouseofbailey.wordpress.com/2018/07/04/fastidious/
Is it just a wish
That storybooks come to life
The child imagines
Fairies sit in verdant fronds
And delights in enchantment
🍄🍄🍄
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