Guest Soloist: Dandelionslayer

My man done called in sick yesterday, 
an' this is what he said:

Well, I woke up this mornin',
sinuses full to the brim.
Yeah, I woke up this mornin',
sinuses full to the brim.
I gots to call in to work now,
'cause you don't want my phlegm.

I got the blues,
I got the stuffy head blues.

Gonna drink lots of liquids
whether or not I'm feelin' thirsty.
Gonna drown those blues away now,
at least Wednesday and Thursday,

Cause I got the blues,
I got the stuffy head blues.

Take it away, Jim . . .

Upon Her Hyperopia

A Magpie Tale

Photo by Kelsey Hannah 

When I consider how my sight is spent,
full half the day searching the web world-wide,
t' inspire hands with new skills, which, if applied
might cheer eyes, warm the cold, or save a cent,
or seeking books, wholesome entertainment,
or learning tunes, for which my spirit sighed;
how, with corrective lenses now denied,
shall time to serve and improve self be spent?
Methinks I need to look beyond my nose,
beyond my needles, pages with type set,
recall the feel of earth beneath my toes,
prepare the ground for seeds, though it's so wet.
I pray the lenses soon will be restored,
but I will dig the dirt (dust be ignored).



Hooray!  My new glasses came!  I can post this without zooming in  500 times, and still getting a headache.  And my peas are already sprouting.  Apologies to John Milton, whose gift and trial were so much greater.

Eve's Kitchen

A Magpie Tale

Between Heaven and Hell, 1989 by Jacek Yerka

What's for supper?
Bread, again,
seasoned with our toil
among the thorns
and creeping things
and storms.

Oh, yes, I miss it, too,
the vines and branches
hanging low
with just-ripe fruit
for just us two,
a feast for the plucking,
juice dripping
down our skin.

But recall:
until that one
Forbidden flavor
taught us other-
wise,
we knew not
how sweet it was,
our Paradise;

without that bite
we would still be
unsalted dough,
no need to rise
to any occasion,
ever baking
in the sun,
but never done.

Perfect Storm

A Magpie Tale

 

 

bring on the rainstorm

your love is my umbrella

you blow me away

hold me in a gale-force hug

save me with a big wet kiss

 

 

 

 

 



Evening at Home

A Magpie Tale

 

Midnight Snack, 1984, by Curtis Wilson Cost

Within our walls, where all is warm and bright,
set aside the troubles of the day;
shut out the threat'ning shadows of the night.

Sing a song, let voices take wild flight!
Fill the air with cheer, keep fear at bay,
within our walls, where all is warm and bright.

Tell old tales of victory through right.
Let safety found along the narrow way
shut out the threat'ning shadows of the night.

Start a silly game, devoid of spite;
laugh as young and old join in to play,
within our walls, where all is warm and bright.

Enjoy the taste of family delight--
scoop up its sweetness, soothing all dismay.
Shut out the threat'ning shadows of the night.

Gather in the children, hold them tight,
kneel together, bow your head to pray.
Within our walls, where all is warm and bright,
shut out the threat'ning shadows of the night.


Family Home Evening is a tradition among Mormons, in which

"a special time (is) set aside each week that brings family members together and strengthens their love for each other, helps them draw closer to Heavenly Father, and encourages them to live righteously." (from LDS.org) 

Because, you know, the family that prays together and plays together will want to stay together.  Give it a try!

Seeing Red

A Magpie Tale

Flying Down (detail), 2006, by David Salle

 

lost his tempera

a tempest in a paintpot

everybody duck

 

 

 

Dr. R

A Magpie Tale

 

Breakfast, 1921, Fernand Leger

Shalom
said the sign on the wall
but I felt no peace
wriggling on the slick beige too-big chair
breathing deep to calm my skipping pulse
blonde hair spilling over the side.

He bent over me
dark hair shorn in short waves
attempting to engage me
amiably asking questions
I couldn't answer
with my mouth full

of his hardy fingers
wiggling, yanking
and, before I could hiccup,
slipping a small tooth into my small hand
having set a slightly larger incisor
free to grow
in peace.


(I thought this scene would replay when my youngest son's first adult tooth arrived out of position.  But his dentist's assistants numbed his gum, gave him a video game to play and sunglasses to wear, and used some mechanical device to wiggle the old tooth out. I don't think Dr. R even wore gloves to pull my first tooth.)

Too Little Prince

A Magpie Tale

image by Manu Pombrol

". . . and when someone reads my message in a bottle, I hope he

will have the strength of will to climb back out and rescue me."

Argh!  Too slippery!

Nesting

A Magpie Tale

stress, confusion reign

come to the beginning place

shelter from the storm

remember the truth you knew

find your wings and fly again

Morning Cup

A Magpie Tale

Michael Sowa, from The Little King

"Oh, no.  Not again."

The feeling of warm contentment in the royal belly churned into an angry growl as the new monarch found himself looking up at the table.  Regime change can be stressful, but this was ridiculous.

"Can't I drink a nice cup of cocoa around here without being belittled?"

Puffing, he struggled to the top of the table.  He had to admit that the exercise might be good for reducing the royal belly.  Still, he wanted to choose his own course, not let his physical fitness depend on the whim of an impudent pageboy.

He had found that stomping to the scullery and demanding the antidote did not make the desired impression when he was shorter than his own teaspoon.  No, this time he would sneak in and find it himself.  Then he would search the library for a spell that would decaffeinate the staff's coffee supply.

He would show them all who was king.

And then he would have another cup of cocoa, with extra marshmallows.

Shellbound

A Magpie Tale

I.
I have no arms to take up
against misfortune's darts.
When waves crash,
and whirlwinds sling sharp shafts,
I etch a grim grin on my tough facade
and retreat, recoil,
shrink deep within my shell
alone with echoes of the troublesome sea,
more strident than the storms outside.
Shaken, aching,
I stir up squalls long past,
spin showers into cyclones,
and drown again,
ensnared in my own shield.


II.
The barnacle that's anchored
on the boulder's solid side
learns to weather scathing storms,
awaits the soothing tide.

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.  Helaman 5:12