The video of "Sure Thing" was much better than I expected. The production was well done on many levels. The acting was very good, especially the young lady...her body language was spot on for each version of the encounter. This seems like a script that would be hard to keep straight, so many versions, with almost the same lines. The set was minimal but more than adequate, the camera work and the lighting were both good. I will watch some other versions of Sure Thing that were available on you-tube for comparison when I get the chance.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Fiction readings
A & P; by John Updike, I read this short story and wrote an even shorter version of the story from Stokesies POV.
A Rose for Emily; by William Falkner, A story of lost love, aristocracy, and a town character.
Teenage Wasteland; by Anne Tyler, no not the song by the "Who" this one is a sad tail of poor parenting.
Sonny's Blues; by James Baldwin, a big brother without a lot of faith in his little brother, a recovering heroin addict, learns his little bro. Sonny is an accomplished blues pianist.
A Worn Path; by Eudora Whelty, is an almost surreal journey by a very old black woman into town to get medicine and a cardboard toy for her injured grandson.
The Jilting of Granny Wheatherall; by Katherine Anne Porter, is the story of an old dying woman told from her perspective and her daughters.
Miss Brill; by Katherine Mansfield, is a Sunday in the park, and inside Miss Brill's mind.
The Rich Brother; by Tobias Wolf, is all about the frustration of dealing with family and having to
make accommodations that are less than convenient.
Cathedral; by Raymond Carter, is not the best story in the section, conversations seem contrived and stilted, but he does manage to convey the awkwardness of the situation
Barn Burning; by William Falkner, a young boy has to decide between doing the right thing and family loyalty, never an easy decision.
A Rose for Emily; by William Falkner, A story of lost love, aristocracy, and a town character.
Teenage Wasteland; by Anne Tyler, no not the song by the "Who" this one is a sad tail of poor parenting.
Sonny's Blues; by James Baldwin, a big brother without a lot of faith in his little brother, a recovering heroin addict, learns his little bro. Sonny is an accomplished blues pianist.
A Worn Path; by Eudora Whelty, is an almost surreal journey by a very old black woman into town to get medicine and a cardboard toy for her injured grandson.
The Jilting of Granny Wheatherall; by Katherine Anne Porter, is the story of an old dying woman told from her perspective and her daughters.
Miss Brill; by Katherine Mansfield, is a Sunday in the park, and inside Miss Brill's mind.
The Rich Brother; by Tobias Wolf, is all about the frustration of dealing with family and having to
make accommodations that are less than convenient.
Cathedral; by Raymond Carter, is not the best story in the section, conversations seem contrived and stilted, but he does manage to convey the awkwardness of the situation
Barn Burning; by William Falkner, a young boy has to decide between doing the right thing and family loyalty, never an easy decision.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
A & P
So, it's three O-clock and I'm six hours into a Sunday shift here at the A & P, and about to fall asleep. I'm on register two and Sammy is on three checking out one of the local matriarchs, when these three teeni-boppers walk in wearing nothing but their swim suits. Sammy spots them, stops dead, and losses track of his check-out, but the matriarch is watching and jump on him for charging her twice for something, and he has to smooths her feathers for the double ring. I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud. He tries to act cool, and calms the old battle-ax down, but he still can't quit staring at the trio of teen queens working their way toward us. He's nineteen and these gals are a year or two younger than him, but you just don't see girls of any age in here wearing nothing but their swim suits. They remind me of the Goldi-locks story; one is a little to tall and thin, although in a couple of years shes going to be a knockout, one is a little to short and heavy, but in a cute round bottomed teeni-bopper way, and one, well she is just right. This gal is the ring leader, you can tell. She has her straps off her shoulders, and walks ahead of the other two with her head up and her shoulders back like she goes shopping in a swimsuit all the time, you can tell she's used to being the center of attention. She's a sun bleached strawberry blonde, not to tall, not to short, that looks and is built a little like Grace Kelly.
I realize he sees that I'm staring too, so I lean toward Sammy and say "Oh daddy, I feel so faint." He gives me a look and hams it up with a "Darling, hold me tight" like it's a joke but I can tell he's more than interested. As they turn away, and head up the pet food Isle I can't see them any more but Sammy is locked on target, I whisper loud enough for him to hear, "Is it done?" but he never looks away. We have that new air conditioning and it's cool in here; but there's a little sweat on his upper lip and I can tell he's hooked hard. Hell, I'm three years older than Sammy, with a wife and two kids and all I'm thinking about right now are those two little crescents of white skin at the top of her suit where it has slid down an inch and a half without the aid of those shoulder straps that bounce ever so slightly with every regal-barefooted step she takes.
I really can't blame him for checking out mentally, he's stuck in this store working a job his folks arranged with that goody-two-shoes Lengel, instead if hanging out chasing girls and getting into trouble with his buddies he graduated with last June. I mean look at me, I'm stuck here in a job that was supposed to just be for a while; until a good job came along. Then my girlfriend Lacy got pregnant and suddenly I'm married and a dad; and the regular paycheck and the employee discount have me trapped. Now I am the "senior" checker praying for the day that stiff Lengel retires or dies so I can be the store manager and get that raise to $3.25 an hour with benefits.
Anyway, a few minutes later, I'm ringing up one of the local house frau's, dressed in sweats, with her hair up in pin curlers covered with one of those see-through hair nets with the flowers printed on it, as if that makes her look okay to be out in public, when the teeni-boppers walk up to Sammy's check stand and Grace Kelly hands Sammy a 6 oz. jar of pickled herring in sour cream. Sammy is almost dumb-struck, but manages to ring it up and ask Grace for the 49 cents, and wait for it, she pulls a folded dollar bill out from the hollow between those glistening white crescents at the top of her suit and hands it to Sammy. I swear I hear him let out a little groan, he's a goner, she had him hook, line, and sinker.
This is where the story gets fun, Lengel has been outside haggling with the produce delivery driver, something about cabbages. Well he walks in and almost makes it to the office that represents my future, when he notices the girls with their bare feet and swim suits and without a seconds hesitation walks over and starts scolding them about how they're dressed in front of everyone in the store, like some dutch uncle. At first the girls are embarrassed, but it doesn't take a second for Grace Kelly to remember her status as queen bee and she starts to, not really argue with Lengel, so much as defend herself, saying she only had to get one thing for her mom, and she wasn't really shopping. Lengel, the Sunday school teaching, over starched, buttoned down, stick in the mud, he is, is not going to take any back talk from young girls with bare shoulders. He has to keep this fine establishment a decent place for the middle aged ladies in curlers and sweat suits, so he puts her in her place, but good. Next thing you know the girls are half way to the door and I hear Sammy say "I quit" Just loud enough for me, Lengel, and the girls to hear. Lengel doesn't flinch, he's watching the girls retreat out the door without looking back, with his arms crossed like the sole defender of virtue. When the door closes behind them he turn to their would be knight in shining armor, and asks Sammy if he said something. I half expected Sammy to back down, but in a small voice he repeats it, "I said I quit." Lengel snaps "I thought you did," what a square. I can tell Sammy is mad, the way he stands up to Lengel in front of me and the customers who are fidgeting and looking really uncomfortable, and calm as can be, he tells Lengel "You didn't have to embarrass them,"and Lengel comes back with a lame "It was they who embarrassed us," like he had some secret knowledge of everyone's feelings, sheesh. Sammy gives Lengel a look and says "Fiddle-de-doo." It sounded like something my grand-ma would say; but somehow it was the perfect come back.
Now Lengel is feeling the eyes on him and tries to make nice to Sammy and in his most fatherly tone tells Sammy something like "I don't think you know what your saying." Sammy isn't about to let him off the hook and as he is taking his apron off he lays a "I know you don't, but I do," on Lengel and starts to walk out. Lengel is close friends with Sammy's folks and he knows this will make problems for them all, so he tries again "Sammy, you don't want to do this to your Mom and Dad" Sammy just keeps walking. Lengel half yells "You'll feel this for the rest of your life" at Sammy's back as he's walking out. Of course I have to act like nothing has happened, but I am so proud of Sammy I could have kissed him.
A stiff and angry Lengel takes Sammy's place at the register and started ringing up groceries like this was just another day at the A & P, and when the last of the customer/witnesses are gone, he retreats to my future office.
I realize he sees that I'm staring too, so I lean toward Sammy and say "Oh daddy, I feel so faint." He gives me a look and hams it up with a "Darling, hold me tight" like it's a joke but I can tell he's more than interested. As they turn away, and head up the pet food Isle I can't see them any more but Sammy is locked on target, I whisper loud enough for him to hear, "Is it done?" but he never looks away. We have that new air conditioning and it's cool in here; but there's a little sweat on his upper lip and I can tell he's hooked hard. Hell, I'm three years older than Sammy, with a wife and two kids and all I'm thinking about right now are those two little crescents of white skin at the top of her suit where it has slid down an inch and a half without the aid of those shoulder straps that bounce ever so slightly with every regal-barefooted step she takes.
I really can't blame him for checking out mentally, he's stuck in this store working a job his folks arranged with that goody-two-shoes Lengel, instead if hanging out chasing girls and getting into trouble with his buddies he graduated with last June. I mean look at me, I'm stuck here in a job that was supposed to just be for a while; until a good job came along. Then my girlfriend Lacy got pregnant and suddenly I'm married and a dad; and the regular paycheck and the employee discount have me trapped. Now I am the "senior" checker praying for the day that stiff Lengel retires or dies so I can be the store manager and get that raise to $3.25 an hour with benefits.
Anyway, a few minutes later, I'm ringing up one of the local house frau's, dressed in sweats, with her hair up in pin curlers covered with one of those see-through hair nets with the flowers printed on it, as if that makes her look okay to be out in public, when the teeni-boppers walk up to Sammy's check stand and Grace Kelly hands Sammy a 6 oz. jar of pickled herring in sour cream. Sammy is almost dumb-struck, but manages to ring it up and ask Grace for the 49 cents, and wait for it, she pulls a folded dollar bill out from the hollow between those glistening white crescents at the top of her suit and hands it to Sammy. I swear I hear him let out a little groan, he's a goner, she had him hook, line, and sinker.
This is where the story gets fun, Lengel has been outside haggling with the produce delivery driver, something about cabbages. Well he walks in and almost makes it to the office that represents my future, when he notices the girls with their bare feet and swim suits and without a seconds hesitation walks over and starts scolding them about how they're dressed in front of everyone in the store, like some dutch uncle. At first the girls are embarrassed, but it doesn't take a second for Grace Kelly to remember her status as queen bee and she starts to, not really argue with Lengel, so much as defend herself, saying she only had to get one thing for her mom, and she wasn't really shopping. Lengel, the Sunday school teaching, over starched, buttoned down, stick in the mud, he is, is not going to take any back talk from young girls with bare shoulders. He has to keep this fine establishment a decent place for the middle aged ladies in curlers and sweat suits, so he puts her in her place, but good. Next thing you know the girls are half way to the door and I hear Sammy say "I quit" Just loud enough for me, Lengel, and the girls to hear. Lengel doesn't flinch, he's watching the girls retreat out the door without looking back, with his arms crossed like the sole defender of virtue. When the door closes behind them he turn to their would be knight in shining armor, and asks Sammy if he said something. I half expected Sammy to back down, but in a small voice he repeats it, "I said I quit." Lengel snaps "I thought you did," what a square. I can tell Sammy is mad, the way he stands up to Lengel in front of me and the customers who are fidgeting and looking really uncomfortable, and calm as can be, he tells Lengel "You didn't have to embarrass them,"and Lengel comes back with a lame "It was they who embarrassed us," like he had some secret knowledge of everyone's feelings, sheesh. Sammy gives Lengel a look and says "Fiddle-de-doo." It sounded like something my grand-ma would say; but somehow it was the perfect come back.
Now Lengel is feeling the eyes on him and tries to make nice to Sammy and in his most fatherly tone tells Sammy something like "I don't think you know what your saying." Sammy isn't about to let him off the hook and as he is taking his apron off he lays a "I know you don't, but I do," on Lengel and starts to walk out. Lengel is close friends with Sammy's folks and he knows this will make problems for them all, so he tries again "Sammy, you don't want to do this to your Mom and Dad" Sammy just keeps walking. Lengel half yells "You'll feel this for the rest of your life" at Sammy's back as he's walking out. Of course I have to act like nothing has happened, but I am so proud of Sammy I could have kissed him.
A stiff and angry Lengel takes Sammy's place at the register and started ringing up groceries like this was just another day at the A & P, and when the last of the customer/witnesses are gone, he retreats to my future office.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Snake! (a five minite story)
When I was 10 years old, my grandparents on my mothers side lived in Madras, Ore. It was a
three hour drive so we always stayed at least two or three days, and it was common for one or
more of my aunts and uncles to schedule co-visits so we could all get together. There was about
12 of us cousins, and we played real well together, so these visits were something us kids looked
forward to.
Madras sits on the east side of Mt. Hood where the foot hills level out into the high desert of
eastern Ore., it's sagebrush country with a nice mix of juniper trees scattered across rolling
hills. My grandparents lived a few miles out of town and there was no limit to adventures we
could find. The was wild life all around and I loved to explore, this was as good as my life got at
this age.
My grandpa Jack was great, he was tall, thin, kind, had an incredible knowledge of the natural
world and was amazingly patient; when 12 kids between 2 and 15 descended on his home.
Grandpa's hobby was rock cutting and polishing; and the family had bought him the biggest, best
rock saw they could find for him when he retired. He would often load the older cousins (say 8
and older) up in his old Chevy pick-up and drive us out into the desert and take us rock
hounding. The desert around Madras was littered with agates, obsidian, jasper, chert, petrified
wood, and the occasional arrowhead (I once found a piece of agate that weighed 26 Lbs. that
grandpa cut into slices the size of dinner plates).
On one such trip, late in April or early may, the weather was warm and the oldest cousins got to
sit in the back of the pick-up, how fun is that, we all swapped stories and took turns teasing each
other. We had been traveling down a dirt road (no gravel) about 35 MPH for about 10-15
minites on the way to one of grandpa's favored spots when he suddenly swerved back and forth
and slammed on the brakes. We all went sliding and slammed into the bang-board behind the
cab. He jumped out of the cab with a worried look on his face (as he should have after bruising 7
of his grand kids at once) and hurried right passed us back up the road. We all were asking what
was wrong at the same time and grandpa shouted over his shoulder "I think I ran over a
snake!" (Grandpa loved all living things and especially reptiles). I was a 10 year old boy and I
positively loved reptiles. I would catch the same half dozen blue-bellied fence lizards that lived in
grandpa's rock wall, every time I visited. I scanned back up the road and there was the biggest
snake I had ever seen, stretched out across the road. If granddad hadn't run it over he had done
a pretty nifty job of straddling it. I jumped out of the back of that pick-up and caught up to and
passed grandpa, and had that snake in my hands before grandpa and the rest of the cousins
could get close. I turned around with a huge smile on my face and half out of breath, asked "is it
a rattlesnake grandpa?" For the first time in my life, I saw my grandpa angry. He leveled a look
at me that would stay with me for 40 years and in a voice that scared me with it's even timbre
said "you always ask that question, before you pick up the snake Richard." My cousins never get
tired of telling me about the look on my face as the implications settled in. The snake was a 5 ft.
long bull snake that had just shed it skin, it was glossy and beautiful. We all took turns holding it
and asking questions while grandpa told us everything he knew about bull snakes; which was
considerable. When he thought the snake had had all the attention it could stand he made us
walk it out into the sagebrush away from the road and let it go. I don't remember if we found
any agates.
three hour drive so we always stayed at least two or three days, and it was common for one or
more of my aunts and uncles to schedule co-visits so we could all get together. There was about
12 of us cousins, and we played real well together, so these visits were something us kids looked
forward to.
Madras sits on the east side of Mt. Hood where the foot hills level out into the high desert of
eastern Ore., it's sagebrush country with a nice mix of juniper trees scattered across rolling
hills. My grandparents lived a few miles out of town and there was no limit to adventures we
could find. The was wild life all around and I loved to explore, this was as good as my life got at
this age.
My grandpa Jack was great, he was tall, thin, kind, had an incredible knowledge of the natural
world and was amazingly patient; when 12 kids between 2 and 15 descended on his home.
Grandpa's hobby was rock cutting and polishing; and the family had bought him the biggest, best
rock saw they could find for him when he retired. He would often load the older cousins (say 8
and older) up in his old Chevy pick-up and drive us out into the desert and take us rock
hounding. The desert around Madras was littered with agates, obsidian, jasper, chert, petrified
wood, and the occasional arrowhead (I once found a piece of agate that weighed 26 Lbs. that
grandpa cut into slices the size of dinner plates).
On one such trip, late in April or early may, the weather was warm and the oldest cousins got to
sit in the back of the pick-up, how fun is that, we all swapped stories and took turns teasing each
other. We had been traveling down a dirt road (no gravel) about 35 MPH for about 10-15
minites on the way to one of grandpa's favored spots when he suddenly swerved back and forth
and slammed on the brakes. We all went sliding and slammed into the bang-board behind the
cab. He jumped out of the cab with a worried look on his face (as he should have after bruising 7
of his grand kids at once) and hurried right passed us back up the road. We all were asking what
was wrong at the same time and grandpa shouted over his shoulder "I think I ran over a
snake!" (Grandpa loved all living things and especially reptiles). I was a 10 year old boy and I
positively loved reptiles. I would catch the same half dozen blue-bellied fence lizards that lived in
grandpa's rock wall, every time I visited. I scanned back up the road and there was the biggest
snake I had ever seen, stretched out across the road. If granddad hadn't run it over he had done
a pretty nifty job of straddling it. I jumped out of the back of that pick-up and caught up to and
passed grandpa, and had that snake in my hands before grandpa and the rest of the cousins
could get close. I turned around with a huge smile on my face and half out of breath, asked "is it
a rattlesnake grandpa?" For the first time in my life, I saw my grandpa angry. He leveled a look
at me that would stay with me for 40 years and in a voice that scared me with it's even timbre
said "you always ask that question, before you pick up the snake Richard." My cousins never get
tired of telling me about the look on my face as the implications settled in. The snake was a 5 ft.
long bull snake that had just shed it skin, it was glossy and beautiful. We all took turns holding it
and asking questions while grandpa told us everything he knew about bull snakes; which was
considerable. When he thought the snake had had all the attention it could stand he made us
walk it out into the sagebrush away from the road and let it go. I don't remember if we found
any agates.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Check it out!
Hey Bob, com'er, you got to see this. Just a minute Jeff I need to finish this work-order. No,
seriously you gotta see this man. What is it Jeff? I'm kinda busy here. Dude, that hot red-head
you were helping a few minutes ago dropped her cell phone, and well, I thought I would check to
see if I could find her number to let her know, and I was just kinda look'n through her video files
and there are these shots of her and some guy, and dude, they are totally do'n it. Don't mess
with me Jeff, I have work to do. Check it out! Am I lying? Wow, no you're not, now that
chick is my kind'a freak. You'd better give that to me Jeff, your not old enough to be look'n at
stuff like that. No way Bob, finders keepers man. Fine, genius, but if the boss finds out you've
been scoping out a customer's personal info, you're history; he is one straight arrow.
Daaamm, your right man, he'd totally blow a gasket. So, what are you gonna do now junior,
find the chick and give it back to her, keep it to show your buds at school, try to sell the video to
one of those on-line porn sites? Slow down Bob, I need to think. You'd better figure it out before
she comes back look'n to see if she left it here and finds you slobbering over it. Oh shit, your
right. I can't give it back to her now! One look at her and stupid grin on my face is gonna give me
away, she's gonna know I was check'n it out. Yeah, that's one drawback of being seventeen, your
face is pretty much an open book, and watch you language here on the floor man, customers,
remember. Sorry, oh man, this realy sucks Bob, if she figures out I've been check'n out her
stuff and complains to the boss, I'm screwed; he's gonna cann me for sure. What do I do? I need
this job! True story pup, I'll tell you what your going to do, give the phone to me and I'll take
care of it for you. What are you gonna do with it? Jeff, you're a good kid, but you really can't
keep a secret, it's probably best if you don't know. Lets just say I'll find a way to get it back to
her and keep your name out of it. So, what do you say, are you going to lose your job or let me
bail you out? Your right as usual dude, thanks, here, take it. Por nada son, that's what friends
are for, but you owe me one.
Hello, hey Babe...Slow down, relax! I've got it, you dropped it here in the store...No, that kid Jeff
found it...Yah, but he saw the video...Oh yah, he got an eyefull...No, it wasn't too hard to talk him
out of it, candy from a baby...No, he doesn't have a clue I was the camera man. I don't think it
even dawned on him someone had to be holding the phone...No, no worries...Oh, I'm sure he'll be
tell'n his friends about it, but I convinced him if the boss finds out he snooped, he'll lose his
job; besides he doesn't know who you are...No, he didn't put us together, he thought you were
in here buying something... okay, see ya tonight, and we can post this clip on our web sight, and
Babe, try to be more careful with the phone; we don't make any money if these videos end up on
Youtube.
seriously you gotta see this man. What is it Jeff? I'm kinda busy here. Dude, that hot red-head
you were helping a few minutes ago dropped her cell phone, and well, I thought I would check to
see if I could find her number to let her know, and I was just kinda look'n through her video files
and there are these shots of her and some guy, and dude, they are totally do'n it. Don't mess
with me Jeff, I have work to do. Check it out! Am I lying? Wow, no you're not, now that
chick is my kind'a freak. You'd better give that to me Jeff, your not old enough to be look'n at
stuff like that. No way Bob, finders keepers man. Fine, genius, but if the boss finds out you've
been scoping out a customer's personal info, you're history; he is one straight arrow.
Daaamm, your right man, he'd totally blow a gasket. So, what are you gonna do now junior,
find the chick and give it back to her, keep it to show your buds at school, try to sell the video to
one of those on-line porn sites? Slow down Bob, I need to think. You'd better figure it out before
she comes back look'n to see if she left it here and finds you slobbering over it. Oh shit, your
right. I can't give it back to her now! One look at her and stupid grin on my face is gonna give me
away, she's gonna know I was check'n it out. Yeah, that's one drawback of being seventeen, your
face is pretty much an open book, and watch you language here on the floor man, customers,
remember. Sorry, oh man, this realy sucks Bob, if she figures out I've been check'n out her
stuff and complains to the boss, I'm screwed; he's gonna cann me for sure. What do I do? I need
this job! True story pup, I'll tell you what your going to do, give the phone to me and I'll take
care of it for you. What are you gonna do with it? Jeff, you're a good kid, but you really can't
keep a secret, it's probably best if you don't know. Lets just say I'll find a way to get it back to
her and keep your name out of it. So, what do you say, are you going to lose your job or let me
bail you out? Your right as usual dude, thanks, here, take it. Por nada son, that's what friends
are for, but you owe me one.
Hello, hey Babe...Slow down, relax! I've got it, you dropped it here in the store...No, that kid Jeff
found it...Yah, but he saw the video...Oh yah, he got an eyefull...No, it wasn't too hard to talk him
out of it, candy from a baby...No, he doesn't have a clue I was the camera man. I don't think it
even dawned on him someone had to be holding the phone...No, no worries...Oh, I'm sure he'll be
tell'n his friends about it, but I convinced him if the boss finds out he snooped, he'll lose his
job; besides he doesn't know who you are...No, he didn't put us together, he thought you were
in here buying something... okay, see ya tonight, and we can post this clip on our web sight, and
Babe, try to be more careful with the phone; we don't make any money if these videos end up on
Youtube.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Behind Blue Eyes
This is one of my favorite songs, written by Pete Townson of the "Who"
No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes
No one knows what it's like
To be hated
To be fated
To telling only lies
But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free
No one knows what it's like To feel these feelings
Like I do
And I blame you
No one bites back as hard
On their anger
None of my pain and woe
Can show through
But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free
When my fist clenches, crack it open
Before I use it and lose my cool
When I smile,
tell me some bad news
Before I laugh and act like a fool
If I swallow anything evil
Put your finger down my throat
If I shiver, please give me a blanket
Keep me warm, let me wear your coat
No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes
I always thought he was describing the life of a politician.
No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes
No one knows what it's like
To be hated
To be fated
To telling only lies
But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free
No one knows what it's like To feel these feelings
Like I do
And I blame you
No one bites back as hard
On their anger
None of my pain and woe
Can show through
But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free
When my fist clenches, crack it open
Before I use it and lose my cool
When I smile,
tell me some bad news
Before I laugh and act like a fool
If I swallow anything evil
Put your finger down my throat
If I shiver, please give me a blanket
Keep me warm, let me wear your coat
No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes
I always thought he was describing the life of a politician.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
What I have read and done
The entire Emily Dickinson section and all of her poems in other sections.
I have read 35-40 contemporary poems (last 50 years) and at least a dozen older poems...If I named them all this list would be tedious at best (see posted comments), also the sections on songs, haiku, forms, myth & narrative, and imagery.
I read all and wrote/posted several Haiku's
I wrote and posted a short, valentine, simile/riddle, M. Atwood, epigram, and limerick poems.
My group memorized, and made a video of "the soul selects her company."
I have read: No ones a mystery, Beauty, Sure thing, I stand here ironing, The ones that walk away from Omelas, Metamorphosis, The jilting of granny Weatheral, Miss bliss, and a few more I have read on my own...The life of Pi, and a couple of Dean Koontz novels.
I have read 35-40 contemporary poems (last 50 years) and at least a dozen older poems...If I named them all this list would be tedious at best (see posted comments), also the sections on songs, haiku, forms, myth & narrative, and imagery.
I read all and wrote/posted several Haiku's
I wrote and posted a short, valentine, simile/riddle, M. Atwood, epigram, and limerick poems.
My group memorized, and made a video of "the soul selects her company."
I have read: No ones a mystery, Beauty, Sure thing, I stand here ironing, The ones that walk away from Omelas, Metamorphosis, The jilting of granny Weatheral, Miss bliss, and a few more I have read on my own...The life of Pi, and a couple of Dean Koontz novels.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Miscellaneous poetry
Margaret Atwood type poems
Your voice is like
a spring wind
A rusty spring
a cold wind
You fill me up
with special feelings
special child
feeling lost
Epigrams
The wiser you claim to be
The less that I think you can see
It is hard to find flaws in others
unless we've heard them from our mothers
Limericks
I heard a young student complain
that his teacher was causing him pain
the instructor was hard
for he so loved the bard
and thought his students should all feel the same
My son made a passionate wish
that he'd catch him a really big fish
but his line was to light
when the lunker did bite
it broke off and was gone with a swish
Curses
May you walk through life in shoes that hurt you feet.
May you have a dozen children, who drop out of school and never leave home.
May the promotion you deserve, always go the knuckle drag'n, mouth breath'n, nose pick'r married to you boss's niece.
Your voice is like
a spring wind
A rusty spring
a cold wind
You fill me up
with special feelings
special child
feeling lost
Epigrams
The wiser you claim to be
The less that I think you can see
It is hard to find flaws in others
unless we've heard them from our mothers
Limericks
I heard a young student complain
that his teacher was causing him pain
the instructor was hard
for he so loved the bard
and thought his students should all feel the same
My son made a passionate wish
that he'd catch him a really big fish
but his line was to light
when the lunker did bite
it broke off and was gone with a swish
Curses
May you walk through life in shoes that hurt you feet.
May you have a dozen children, who drop out of school and never leave home.
May the promotion you deserve, always go the knuckle drag'n, mouth breath'n, nose pick'r married to you boss's niece.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Okay, I'm usually pretty good at deciphering what a poem is about...Post-card From an Alien was harder to follow. I think the author was describing books, clocks, cars, telephones, and I hope I am wrong, bowel movements? and then sleep.
My stab at a metaphor poem, (or is it a simile?)
Everything a super-model wants to be...
slender, smokin', and sexy.
Caught alone she won't last long,
but she always has at least one admirer.
When she is with her crowd,
they can take your breath away, but
they are un-moved by their surrounding's.
Let her get into your head, and
you will never forget the message,
I know, I used to love that tune she hums.
My stab at a metaphor poem, (or is it a simile?)
Everything a super-model wants to be...
slender, smokin', and sexy.
Caught alone she won't last long,
but she always has at least one admirer.
When she is with her crowd,
they can take your breath away, but
they are un-moved by their surrounding's.
Let her get into your head, and
you will never forget the message,
I know, I used to love that tune she hums.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Can you Haiku?
Hepworth casts his line
Hungry student rises to bite
some just swim away
Hook, thread, and feather
flash toward shaded riffle
fat cut meets his fate
Black cat in repose
wakes at the sound of movement
royalty disturbed
Hungry student rises to bite
some just swim away
Hook, thread, and feather
flash toward shaded riffle
fat cut meets his fate
Black cat in repose
wakes at the sound of movement
royalty disturbed
Monday, February 9, 2009
Reading poetry
I have read about thirty odd poems in the lit. text and I can say, that for me, most the poems written before 1920 need to come with a translation to modern speech. I like the haiku's, I guess they fit my attention span. I liked Cinderella by Anne Sexton, more of a narrative than a poem, it tells a familiar story with a fresh twist that appealed to my twisted sense of humor. I liked Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Plath, she is writing about birthdays that move her into a new decade of age; tens, twenties, thirties...these are B-days of note and I get the sentiment. She might be putting to much importance on the change in age from twenty-something to thirty-something... but maybe that's her point, we all put a lot of who we are into age and the decades of our lives.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Beauty by Jane Martin and S
ure Thing by David Ives are one act, two character comedic plays. Beauty reminds me of several variations I have seen on this theme (two people unhappy with their lot in life, swap bodies/lives with some magical help). With the exception that Beauty ends where most of the other books, plays, movies where just getting started; and has a simple, clearly stated moral...We all wish we had someone else's problems. I can't wait to see our class performance of this play.
Sure Thing is like a song that gain a line with each repetition of the original verse. The play soon breaks this pattern and gets fun, in a "what approach will work to get this person to be interested in me; enough to overcome their natural suspicion of strangers and leave with me" kind of flirting. The kind I have witnessed countless times in bars and taverns across the northwest, in my misspent youth. I must say the lack of alcohol in Sure Thing adds a degree of difficulty to this timeless scenario. There are some funny and unexpected turns towards the end and I thought it was A fun play, and an easy read.
ure Thing by David Ives are one act, two character comedic plays. Beauty reminds me of several variations I have seen on this theme (two people unhappy with their lot in life, swap bodies/lives with some magical help). With the exception that Beauty ends where most of the other books, plays, movies where just getting started; and has a simple, clearly stated moral...We all wish we had someone else's problems. I can't wait to see our class performance of this play.Sure Thing is like a song that gain a line with each repetition of the original verse. The play soon breaks this pattern and gets fun, in a "what approach will work to get this person to be interested in me; enough to overcome their natural suspicion of strangers and leave with me" kind of flirting. The kind I have witnessed countless times in bars and taverns across the northwest, in my misspent youth. I must say the lack of alcohol in Sure Thing adds a degree of difficulty to this timeless scenario. There are some funny and unexpected turns towards the end and I thought it was A fun play, and an easy read.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
My Valentine for Char
Charlotta be my Valentine
you mean the world to me.
Although we met and started late
our love was ment to be.
The gods smiled at Oktoberfest
the rest was up to fate
Before we met I walked alone
no one to share my days
My children were without a mom
they watched my heathen ways
Without a flinch you took us on
more pain than most have known
You tamed us all with patient love
we would have vexed a stone
together we will soar above
a life thats plain, you'll see
Charlotta be my Valentine
you mean the world to me
you mean the world to me.
Although we met and started late
our love was ment to be.
The gods smiled at Oktoberfest
the rest was up to fate
Before we met I walked alone
no one to share my days
My children were without a mom
they watched my heathen ways
Without a flinch you took us on
more pain than most have known
You tamed us all with patient love
we would have vexed a stone
together we will soar above
a life thats plain, you'll see
Charlotta be my Valentine
you mean the world to me
An original poem by me
This poem is mine
and mine alone
the words belong to me.
It has a kind of sing-song rhyme
it won't be carved in stone.
Don't judge it harsh
don't laugh too hard
I did it on my own.
and mine alone
the words belong to me.
It has a kind of sing-song rhyme
it won't be carved in stone.
Don't judge it harsh
don't laugh too hard
I did it on my own.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
"I stand here Ironing" by Tillie Olsen was a quick read; and I could relate to it. This short narrative is a monologue by a mother, who has raised her family through rough times. She seems to be talking through her guilt; for not being a better mother for her oldest daughter, Emily. I can relate to her guilt, it seems like the oldest child has to set or live with the learning curve of their parents. In the end, the mother realizes her daughter will be okay in spite of her mistakes, misfortunes, and short-comings, and I guess this is the message...people, our kids, can and do bounce back from their parents screw ups.
I read "The Metamorphosis" by Frank Kafka,(translated by John Siscoe). I have heard people talk about Kafka and I was curious. The story was kind of a sci-fi /tragedy, about a young man who wakes up one day to find he has turned into an insect. The author does not try to explain how or why this happened, and that probably make it a better read. The story becomes like a case study in human relations, family loyalties, and self interest's. How does a family adjust to a son and brother who spouts extra legs, losses the power of speech and hangs out on the ceiling? I think Kafka's style is similar to much of John Steinbeck's work, (you know, the story ends in a worse case scenario for the main character and responsibilities to jobs and social norms trump personal needs). I am not going to go out of my way to read more works by Kafka, but I'm not sorry I spent the time reading this one.
I read "The Metamorphosis" by Frank Kafka,(translated by John Siscoe). I have heard people talk about Kafka and I was curious. The story was kind of a sci-fi /tragedy, about a young man who wakes up one day to find he has turned into an insect. The author does not try to explain how or why this happened, and that probably make it a better read. The story becomes like a case study in human relations, family loyalties, and self interest's. How does a family adjust to a son and brother who spouts extra legs, losses the power of speech and hangs out on the ceiling? I think Kafka's style is similar to much of John Steinbeck's work, (you know, the story ends in a worse case scenario for the main character and responsibilities to jobs and social norms trump personal needs). I am not going to go out of my way to read more works by Kafka, but I'm not sorry I spent the time reading this one.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Why President Obama's speech moved me.
In the last eight years, our country has been under attack from Islamic radicals, massive hurricanes, and unscrupulous leaders. Leaders more concerned with settling personal grievances, and assuring that America's wealth remained concentrated in the hands of the wealthy and away from the riff-raff in the middle class, than they were with the welfare of of our nation. As a nation we could and did do something about our leaders, This is why I think we are the greatest country on earth. Because we can peacefully make changes in the men who lead us.
When I listen to, and read the words of President Obama's speech I was overcome with emotion. Is it possible, can it be real, do we finally have a leader who understands the issues that keep every-day Americans awake at night? I dare to hope.
I know that "No Child Left Behind" was a back handed attack on teachers unions and had little to do with insuring all of America's children had an adequate education. Our schools have failed our children by forcing teachers to "teach to the test". I believe the speed and effectiveness of the federal response to hurricane Katrina had more to do with the affluence, and color of it's victims than with our ability to react. At the same time, I saw people from all over America do whatever they could to help; put up strangers in their homes, drive to the gulf and volunteer their time and labor, and open their wallets to give hard earned money to complete strangers. This is my idea of patriotism.
I am sure much of this speech was standard boiler plate, but I can still hope our new president spoke from his heart and will work to bring many of the changes (service, education, diplomacy, health care,etc.) into our national reality.
When I listen to, and read the words of President Obama's speech I was overcome with emotion. Is it possible, can it be real, do we finally have a leader who understands the issues that keep every-day Americans awake at night? I dare to hope.
I know that "No Child Left Behind" was a back handed attack on teachers unions and had little to do with insuring all of America's children had an adequate education. Our schools have failed our children by forcing teachers to "teach to the test". I believe the speed and effectiveness of the federal response to hurricane Katrina had more to do with the affluence, and color of it's victims than with our ability to react. At the same time, I saw people from all over America do whatever they could to help; put up strangers in their homes, drive to the gulf and volunteer their time and labor, and open their wallets to give hard earned money to complete strangers. This is my idea of patriotism.
I am sure much of this speech was standard boiler plate, but I can still hope our new president spoke from his heart and will work to bring many of the changes (service, education, diplomacy, health care,etc.) into our national reality.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
President Obama sworn in.
It seem like it took forever to get here but Bush is gone and a new page in our country's history has been turned. In a way I feel bad for Pres. Obama, he has a huge mess to clean up. this is like the old joke about trying to remember what you are here to do, when your up to your ass in alligators. At any rate God bless him and our nation as we try to move forward.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
rekremer
This is my new blog site for LIT 150.
My E.D. style poem must have been better than I thought...the class voted it the best one (by one vote) and I won a textbook from Prof. Hepworth. I had already purchased one($101)so I gave it to a young lady; who, I hope needed the money worse than me.
My E.D. style poem must have been better than I thought...the class voted it the best one (by one vote) and I won a textbook from Prof. Hepworth. I had already purchased one($101)so I gave it to a young lady; who, I hope needed the money worse than me.
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