Sunday Mini-Challenge ~~ a poem, Life's Ups and Downs

Life's Ups and Downs;
when will stabbleness come?

Life has its ups, life has its downs 
We all like the ups, hate the downs 
Chances you were born into down 
Poor parents eking their living 

Where was your silver spoon that day
Olden days, you're more likely down
Down where you rode in a rusting 
Ford Model A's rear window shelf

Roof leaking, water pouring in 
Floor boards were rotting, smoking car
Had rice and beans or bread, breakfast 
Mom's cheese was making on back porch 

Your doctor's bills hadn't been paid
Drove to Grandma's on Mondays 
Mom would wash, you'd schmooze with Grandma
Then home, clean sheets for side porch bed 

One room school beckoned you. Recite
Recite ABC's from long bench 
Listen, eighth graders Poe recite 
Soon you'll know "Pit and Pendulum" 

By high school things might be better 
Mom was working, Dad's promotion 
Store bought clothes, am I now the King
Make the football team, break a leg

Seemed to be a down but then not 
The kids would autograph your cast 
A hero for days, Sally wrote 
Then she moved away.  Save your cast

Sweet Sal left, didn't go away 
Every night I dreamed of Sally 
(Facebook, where were you hiding then?)
I never did see her again 

to be continued, more to come 
(Might fill a couple of volumes
things got settled, time, older, up)

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Photo and Poem copyright, © 2016 Jimmiehov, All rights reserved

I am linked with Brendan MacOdrum at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, Sunday Mini-Challenge: Still Points -- http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2016/11/sunday-mini-challenge-still-points.html
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This poem has given me peace, not because of it's words, but that the time that I memorized it in grade school was a very peaceful time in my life:

Abou Ben Adhem

By Leigh Hunt 1784–1859 Leigh Hunt 
     
Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)

Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,

And saw, within the moonlight in his room,

Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,

An angel writing in a book of gold:—

Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,

And to the presence in the room he said,

"What writest thou?"—The vision raised its head,

And with a look made of all sweet accord,

Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."

"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so,"

Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,

But cheerly still; and said, "I pray thee, then,

Write me as one that loves his fellow men."

 

The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night

It came again with a great wakening light,

And showed the names whom love of God had blest,

And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.

 



Challenge poem ~~ for "I felt the earth move"

 

On the overpass;

moving, shuddering

Here we sit like birds on a wire

The wire's trembling, bad. I follow

My seat is trembling, the mirrors

are vibrating. I'd wear ear plugs 

if I had some, the bass wins out 

Sitting here on this overpass

Bridge shudders, mocking trucks below

I'm waiting for traffic to start

Watching my mirrors, they quiver

"Piano Man" doing his thing

The man behind is waiting too

Watching his mirrors keep the beat 

Wishing for traffic's start again

Knows my radio won't be hushed
Another bird, stuck behind me 

[click pictures for full screen] [click here for very large size]
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Top Photo and Poem copyright, Jimmiehov 2016, All Rights Reserved

Bottom Photo copyright, Jimmiehov 2007 (link), All Rights Reserved -- First posted on "CUT AND SHOOT, TEXAS 77306 -- A guided picture tour", (link).

I'm linked with Fireblossom at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, I Feel The Earth Move;   http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2016/11/fireblossom-friday-i-feel-earth-move.html

The poem is supposed to be inspired by Carole King's song called "I Feel The Earth Move."  Carol's situation in her song is upbeat, from being in love, we are to think of being let down. 

It's been a long time since I've been literally let down so I was prompted to write of my world literally shaking from a very loud car stereo on an overpass which shook from the busy traffic speeding along below.  The bridge shakes from below, the car mirrors keep the music beat when the radio is played full blast.  My human reaction was of the fellow in the car behind who didn't particularly care for my loud music playing.

I'm Bored ~~ A ditty for "Play it Again" challenge

I'm Bored;
I want off this train

I'm bored, I want off this train
This train is going nowhere
Nowhere that I want to go
Please let me off, stop the train 
(Refrain)

The seats are dirty and old
The carpets are soiled with milk
Milk train stops at every town
Stops where I don't want to go
(Refrain)

This train is slow, slowed with age
I'm no spring chicken, I'll go
You ride this train all you want
I'm getting off the next stop
(Refrain)

Refrain:
There's a new train in our town
It takes me where lights are bright
Where I've been wanting to go
I liked you once but no more

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Poem copyright, Jimmiehov 2016, All Rights Reserved

Photo is a "Print Screen" copy of Boredom by Kenia Cris found at The Sunday Challenge ~ Featuring Kenia Cris, March 3, 2012, at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads; http://withrealtoads.blogspot.co.za/2012/03/sunday-challenge-featuring-kenia-cris.html

I'm linked today with Kerry O'Conner at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, Play It Again, Toads! ; http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2016/11/play-it-again-toads.html

And again on Tuesday, I linked with Kerry O'Conner at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads.  This time for the Tuesday Platform (link).  My train riding can also apply to politics, stay with the system or ride with the supposedly to be new ride.

Notes:
 (1) At "Play it Again" we are to go back to past Garden days and write for one of three suggested posts or another oldie.  I chose to write my poem, "I'm Bored", based on Kenia's art at the first link above.
 (2) Kenia Cris can be found in  various social media places, use Google to find them.  Her poetry currently is to be found here, http://anexerciseonexisting.blogspot.com/. 
 - Some of her photographic art can be found here, http://kenia-cris.deviantart.com/.