Beneath the bows of the old elm trees a road lies barren, an unused pass Where it leads is a mystery Like drops of dew on a looking glass Follow close and you might find the answers that you seek But stray away in the thicket’s patch And life’s long journey will be weak. forgive yourself for your mistakes for those were meant to be made Look ahead down the long dark path and your sorrow starts to fade Keep walking here and do not fear what is lying there in wait for only you control yourself your choices made by fate
This week the theme is songs that mention Money, Gold, Silver, Rich suggested by Paula of Light Motifs II.Â
I knew immediately what song I wanted to pick! This is an ultimate favorite of mine!
Lyrics
Money Get away You get a good job with more pay and you’re okay Money It’s a gas Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash
New car, caviar, four star, daydream Think I’ll buy me a football team
Money Get back I’m alright, Jack, keep your hands off of my stack Money It’s a hit Don’t give me that do goody good bullshit
I’m in the high-fidelity first-class traveling set And I think I need a Lear jet
Money It’s a crime Share it fairly, but don’t take a slice of my pie Money So they say Is the root of all evil today
But if you ask for a rise It’s no surprise that they’re giving none away Away, away, away Away, away, away
I was in the right Yes, absolutely in the right I certainly was in the right Yeah, I was definitely in the right, that geezer was cruisin’ for a bruisin’ Yeah! Why does anyone do anything? I don’t know, I was really drunk at the time Just telling him it was in, he could get it in number two He was asking why it wasn’t coming up on freight eleven And after, I was yelling and screaming and telling him why It wasn’t coming up on freight eleven
Once an exemplar man, a tempest to the core Fernando was a techno fan, loved pyro even more! Shutting down his internet, pallor in his eyes Going out today, he thought, wasn’t very wise But shop ahead he did, and scanned his products well Involving the shop manager by ringing a small bell Feeling so unwell, the man he took the hint For in a sickly moment, to the toilet he did sprint.
**The following poem is based on real events from last night**
Frog Life Hell
At precisely three am, I heard the blasted sound croaking in my pool, my mind goes spinning ’round How did they get back here? I didn’t ask them back. But apparently my pool is the omphalos of their pack.Â
I raced right out the door, the ground coffee in my hand Ready to fight the frogs off, ready to take my stand With a flicker of the pool lights And a switch on at the pump It would not take them long to see they had better start to jump
Many, many years ago I had a house up north the kids lived in a frowzy place, not knowing all its worth The hubby was quite fractious, not towards family per se but found the home distinctly packed with linens all astray He sought a way to shock me into cleaning up my mess To my surprise he shared the things he saw despite the stress the pareidolia in the wood were monkeys pouncing round His gasconade about his view I proved completely sound For there among the dirt and dust and knots all in the pine, were monkey faces all around, not reflections of any kind.
This poem is based on a true story. First of all, the monkey faces: One night we had been sitting talking and Bob, my late husband, asked me in astonishment if I saw the monkey faces. I had no idea what he was talking about, thinking maybe he had imbibed in a few beverages. After trying to explain it and show me, I did see them! Monkey faces in the grain of the wood floor. Second, ever since I was younger, when I get super stressed out I clean. I would clean everything and then feel better sitting back looking at an organized, clean space. Once, Bob told me that sometimes he would try to get me mad so that I would clean! We laughed about it, actually.
What’s behind the 8 ball? Obviously, the cue ball.
What’s up the creek? Some sort of water source like a pond or estuary. It has to come from somewhere.
What is hanging when one says, “Hang ten”? minutes. It is like saying “wait ten minutes”
What size pole is it that you wouldn’t touch someone with? Any size! Why touch someone with a pole!
How do you feel when you’re on cloud nine? Definitely better than cloud eight and encouraged because you are almost to cloud ten.
What does “at sixes and sevens” mean? Usually dinnertime
Do you take five? It all depends on what is offered and what would be polite to take.
Which sport is referenced when the term “four bagger” is used? Golf, of course. Every golfer has more than one set of clubs.
How many rings in the circus? It depends on the size of the circus. But, then again, most circuses have been closed down due to cruel behavior to animals.
What is the loneliest number? zero because it’s got nothing
Let’s go with a prompt word of Celestial this week. Could be moon, stars, sun, etc. Go where the prompt leads.
Looking at stars mesmerizing a busy mind, remind us the world is expansive beyond what we see, leaving possibilities open, time is no object, space has not limit.
Down below the deck the crew has a job to clean up the head for each one’s a slob They look at the panel to see which is broke that tells them who loses it’s a private joke.
Who were the readers in your family? My mom used to read quite a bit if I remember correctly but then again she was so involved in crafts and her other projects. My dad read the newspaper every day. I loved to read too. I don’t think my sister liked to read at all.
Were there some people who did not like to read or could not read? Like I said, I don’t think my sister ever picked up a book unless she absolutely had to.
Did your family subscribe to the newspaper? Yes, 7 days a week. I remember that from when I was little. Last year when I was taking care of my dad he stopped showing interest. I think it was all too confusing to him since none of it had any relevance for him. With the Alzheimer’s and Dementia stuff like the news and politics mean nothing to him.
If you did get the paper, was your Sunday newspaper considered special? What part did you enjoy? The Sunday newspaper was a pretty big deal. First, it had all the coupons. Second, it had the comics. I don’t think anyone ever did the crossword but we always had certain places we liked to check out.
Did your home have books strewn around? Hardbacks or paperbacks? No books strewn about. There were always a few in the bathroom, my dad supposedly sat there and read. We mostly went to the library for books so they would be returned. When it wasn’t the public library then it was the library at school. I recall buying a few books at tag sales and stuff like that but not really at the book store. Those were mostly books that were for gifting!
Did you frequent the library at school? Whenever it was library day! I remember in elementary school the library was down this big hallway that was almost like a ramp. I can still picture it. When I was a teacher the first school I taught at didn’t have any books. We were a small clinical day school and we used to bring the kids to the public library on the bus once a week, if their behavior allowed them to be out of the building. A few times I completed a Donors Choose campaign to get a library in our school and I did receive a few thousand dollars in books! That was great but unless the student at that school loved to read, it wasn’t happening. A lot of the kids that came to us didn’t even know how to read or read at such a low level. Psychiatric issues and behavior impeded their abilities. When I finally taught in a public middle school I was shocked to see that they didn’t have a library! Seriously! That is the only school that took out their library. To me that is just horrible.
How about the local community library? Did you have a library card? Always! I even remember on half days at school we would walk to the library with friends and have our parents pick us up there.
What was the first book you remember reading? Maybe One Fish, Two Fish by Dr. Seuss. I also remember the Secret Garden. I read a lot of Shel Silverstein.
Did you have a collection of books (Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Happy Hollisters, etc?) Yes, I loved Sweet Valley High and Flowers in the Attic. I also read all the Judy Blume books and Beverly Cleary.
Did you read comic books? If so, what titles? no, not really. I never had an interest in them. Even graphic novels. They don’t appeal to me.
Did you end up a bookworm, a casual reader, or someone who read only when required? I think I am a mix between a bookworm and a casual reader. I wish I had more time to just sit and read but I keep myself so busy. I do listen all the time to audiobooks. Funny, I was just telling someone that one of the books I read a little while back was so engrossing that I felt like the characters were really people I knew.
Is there a book from your childhood you would like to read again? If so, what book? I might like to read the Secret Garden since it has been so long. I don’t really like to reread books because the ending is what I look forward to. One book I have read over and over is the Alchemist. For some reason that book just resonated with me. I still have a copy handy. I have read it to all of my students.
What book or books have been extremely meaningful or influential in your life? Like I just mentioned, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
BONUS QUESTION: What book(s) do you frequently gift to others? Why? Dr. Seuss or Eric Carle mostly. I don’t really gift books to people because physical books are not as popular anymore, so many people just read digitally.
Stine Writing 