Toast with cheese and hot chocolate -- a Poem for Friday Writings #136

 Magaly has invited us to write poetry or prose inspired by Grace Lee Boggs’s (read URL link below) quote, “We can begin by doing small things…”  Lots of possibilities here? 

Pictures copyright Jimmiehov 2024

   Twelve little pieces 

Twelve little pieces 

that there should be but, 

Eleven this time 

They have a purpose? 

slathered with creme cheese 

Yummy by itself 

But there's more to come 

Jar, strawberry jam 

Hot chocolate to drink 

Fork does the dabbing 

dabbing and dipping 

smearing white with red 

Yummier now still 

Small things together 

Dainty breakfast comes

Yes, “We can begin 

by doing small things…” 

. .

 
Pictures copyright Jimmiehov 2024

- Photos and poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2024, All Rights Reserved 

 - I am Linked with Magaly at Friday Writings #136,     https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/ 

.. 

Learning outside the school building -- a Poem for Friday Writings

[please click on the picture to make it a bit larger -- I am the boy in back]

Rommy has invited us to write about an obscure bit of knowledge that fascinates us. 

 _ _ _  

The Storm; Rain, Hail, and Tornado

A scary day that ended in 

this little boy not scared at all 

He wasn't scared of the mean storm 

The rain, the hail, a tornado 

Appeared in school uninvited

Came knocking at our only door 

One room one door OSHA would care 

A student's dad and he did care 

The other kid in my grade's dad 

Came to get we kids to the cave 

Storm cave, one that gives memories 

of things our teacher might not like

He quickly informed the teacher

Her first inkling of this danger

The two of them ushered the kids

We quickly went, a scary trip

The dad was letting us all look

We'd stand up the stairs in the door

He would show us the cone move

Across the landscape mile away

It passed and we played with the hail

Baseball size across our green lawn

One I chose had a dark blemish

It seemed to be a piece of junk

Looking closer I found treasure

Kids treasure, a gear from a clock

How it got there we all wondered

Been fascinated by that still

- - -

185 words not counting the title 

 - Photo and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2010 (URL) and 2024 Respectively, All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked with Rommy at the Friday Writings #110, https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/ 

 - Rommy has invited us to write about an obscure bit of knowledge that fascinates us. I knew nothing about the power and cunningness of a Hailstorm until this episode of my life.  Now I have a real-time example to tell.  

 - Note: In the picture above, I was the boy in the rear. My cousin, John, on the right front was the other boy. My sister, Lois, was on the front left and another cousin, Ione, was to her right. Lois was probably in the second grade as she started school when she was four. That would put me in the sixth grade.  During my grade school there were generally four cousins.  

 - Click on the picture to make a larger view.

..

My Garden - How does it grow? - a Prosery Write for dVerse

 

[Click on pictures for larger view -- Back button to return 

The older we're getting the more lists we should make 
Top of the List of Lists would be our grocery list 
The older we're getting the more we will forget 
The lists tend to remind carry them where you go 

Don't Quit 

People growing older and older 

Then items disappear from our list 

We even name that list, "Bucket List"

It means that when we kick the bucket 

Those things we want to have accomplished 

List shows those and things I'd like to be doing 

Today is Mourning Day for 9/11 disaster 

  

- - - > My piece of Prose for dVerse today: 

Bucket list garden 

My bucket list is mostly fun things to do. Things I've not done*, that can't be done, or that I'd like to do. So here goes. They all are growing, wilting, or dead for you, to be pretty for you I have dropped two seeds of turnsole in the dark of both eyes.** 

a.Strawberries, hardest on my Bucket List is to touch the South Pole* 

b.Onions, dead, was to replace my pet that died 

c.Beans, don't smoke anymore, I've quit, been 48 years
d.Carrots, drinking alcohol no more, maybe a glass of wine socially 

e.Spinach, stopped teaching Sunday Bible School  

f.Sold my motorcycles 

g.Asparagus, driving less at night, especially on major highways in town 

h.Cucumbers, driving not so fast, for sure not over 100 mph for very long, hardly over eighty's my top now 

i.Corn   

Made yours? You may be better than you think.

 _ _ _ 

 - Writing and Photos Copyright, Jimmiehov 2023, All Rights Reserved 

 - ** I am linked with Sanaa Rizvi at dVerse Prosery, 

    https://dversepoets.com/2023/09/11/prosery-through-the-eyes-of-isabel-duarte-gray/ for her prompt line, "from the Poem Garden" and is written using 144 words not counting the title 

 - Click here to read other writer's prose writing efforts 

.. 

Burned Breakfast -- a Poem for Friday Writings

"Don't cry over burnt toast" 

'twas a weekday morning 

had nothing special planned 

Coffee and snack time 

10:30 AM 

The Mrs. had a Kolache 

split in two 

one piece for her 

another for me 

She had eaten hers 

with her cup of coffee 

I put mine in the micro 

set for "Reheat" 

forgot the Kolache 

tending my coffee 

suddenly I smelled smoke 

something was burning 

Oops, forgot my food 

normally a warm touch 

and I will take it out 

O dear what will I do 

I am a bit hungry 

lunch would be around three 

when we get home after the 

doctor's special visit 

Open the fridge 

not much there 

assortment of leftovers 

greeted my eyes 

Make do, make do 

leftovers better than none 

let's see what we can do 

Who's the "we" brother Jim? 

We shall find how well they blend 

     Click on the picture for a larger size view

Cottage cheese, low fat 

"Cajun style Crab Dip" 

very hot to the taste 

And a whole gob of brown beans 

"Bush's Best, Original" 

Got them on sale, 99 cents 

With a fresh pack of 

crisp graham crackers 

That was quite a haul 

beans made the difference 

Top it off, quite full now 

with three soft dark prunes 

Those finished it off 

for a guy who could not 

wear his upper appliance 

today, dentist's order 

Mouth should heal a bit

    _ _ _ 

 - Photos and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehove 2023, all rights reserved 

 - I am linked with Rosemary for an inspiring prompt phrase at the Friday Writings #84 ,  

   https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/

  - Rosemary has asked "us to be inspired by the phrase "Broken glass crunching under the boot steps"."

 - We were to limit our writing to 360 words, mine has 216 without the title covered

..

My Car - a Poem for dVerse Quadrille

This 1998 Mustang GT Convertible,
my retirement present to me in 2001
[click picture for larger viewing]

Mustang Music 

We go purring down the road 

That's me and my Mustang 

Mustang's a classic this year 

         Born Nineteen-ninety-eight       18

Sings sixties and seventies 

  Classic rock she does choose   

Music to our ears she purrs 

            Top down and throttle too        20 

 

Dylan, Beatles, ZZTop,  

          More, bellowing non-stop           6

                                                                  44 Words

_ _ _ 

 - Photo and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2022, All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked with Linda Lee Lyberg at dVerse Quadrille #170 at 

    https://dversepoets.com/2023/02/20/quadrille-170-music-is-my-refuge/

 - Linda's request is that our quadrille should be exactly 44 words, not including the title and include the word “Music” or a derivative of the word.   

 - To read our group's efforts, go here, 

    https://www.blenza.com/linkies/links.php?owner=dversepoets&postid=16Feb2023&meme=12540

 - The car had 49K miles when I got it, now has 106K.  The mirrors vibrate with classic rock music playing very loud.

Writing - Books, Author Tutors, My Life

"Liberating and emboldening the beginning writer are the goals of Ted Kooser and Steve Cox in this spirited book of practical wisdom ..." Ted Kooser.net 

 _ _ _ 

 Your Readers 

Write for your readers 

 I was admonished 

That's a lesson learned 

  from friend Ted Kooser 

"The Poetry Home 

   Repair Manual," 

Used book on my shelf 

  An internet find 

A beginner's book 

 Rhyme and meter start 

What stuck in my gut, 

 "Write for your readers." 

A 'feel' to be learned 

 Feedback gotten tells 

 _ _ _ 

 - Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2022, All Rights Reserved 

 - Photo a 'print copy' made by me from https://books.google.com/books/about/A_Man_with_a_Rake.html?id=pXGazgEACAAJ&source=kp_book_description 

 - Rosemary today has asked us to write something inspired by a favorite book or books for Friday Writings #30: Beloved Books

https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2022/06/friday-writings-30-beloved-books.html?m=1 

 - I reached "Prose Poetry" but didn't finish that chapter.  And so now I feel insufficient in attempting those.  And I have misplaced the book.

 - My next endeavor may be learning to play the guitar "for my readers".

..

Memory Peeks -- NaPoWriM 2022 Day 21 # 2 poem

[My Photo, Jimmiehov--click for larger view]

   If My Memory Serves 

Eleanor was her name *

We dated our first with 

each other, night was brisk. 

I had my dad's pickup 

Broken foot couldn't walk 

After the show we parked 

We parked and talked and talked 

She sat so close to me 

made me nervous, sort of 

Then she came closer still 

felt she wanted to kiss 

Eleanor was my first, 

only to kiss a girl 

who left her glasses on 

She didn't take them off 

She worked on the sixth floor 

of the watch factory 

while I was on the third 

I don't know what she did 

I ran six screw machines 

automatic screw machines 

I kept the rods coming 

and made sure blades  were sharp 

Eleanor and I stayed 

apart, no dates again 

Me? Went in the Army 

She? Moved back to her town  

Never saw her again 

No letters passed by us 

I've forgotten her name *

One of few can't look up

Army educated 

it educated me 

Went to France learned of Gogh 

St. Remy "Olive Grove" 

I snapped a picture there 

Picture, his Olive Grove 

Matched it with his painting 

Scene I'll never forget 

Memories, precious ones 

Some parts I've forgotten 

But remember enough 

'Nuff to keep me happy 

Would I ever attempt, 

try to fill empty holes? 

 [By Van Gogh, click for larger view] 

 NOTES:  

* (1)  Eleanor I'm sure was not her name.  I really cannot and probably never will remember her name. 

(2)  All this is true except that in the Army I DID NOT GO TO FRANCE.  I spent my five years all in ElPaso, Texas, at Fort Bliss.  Later, Mrs. Jim and I holidayed in France.  The Olive Grove is across the street from his Sanatorian at the edge of town, St. Remy, Provence, France. 

 _ _ _ 

 - Photo and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2006 and 2022, All Rights Reserved 

 - I'm linked with NaPoWriMo Day Twenty-one, 

https://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-one-7/ 

  - This prompt asks you to write a poem in which: 

(1)  you first recall someone you used to know closely but are no longer in touch with; 

(2)  then a job you used to have but no longer do;  

(3)  and then a piece of art that you saw once and that has stuck with you over time; and 

(4)  finally, close the poem with an unanswerable question. 

 Happy writing!

Friday Writings - New Year's Resolutions

        HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

               Something Wrong (Bad)? 

            [Photo courtesy "V e r i z o n", 

              an Interloper ad on my blog] 

      Fix the Bad Wrong 

I used to think Resolutions  

Every year there'd come a group 

They'd feel bad about conduct bad 

Their conduct bad the year just passed 

So they'd resolve to do better 

Better the year just coming then 

Called them New Year's Resolutions 

I'd feel this was the thing to do 

One problem with me doing that 

Good young lad I was known to be 

Hadn't done anything bad wrong 

Nor missed anything right to do 

So why should I worry and fret 

Doing something I need not do 

From that early time on I don't 

I've resolved Resolutions not 

                         _ _ _ 

 

I used to think Resolutions  

 Never again 

After I found out 

 How far away 

Monahans is from me

 Monahans Texas 

Is 510 miles from me 

 Here in Katy Texas 

 Resolutions are useless 

Useless as driving to Monahans 

 Because I don't know 

Don't know anyone there 

  And I don't know 

Anything I need to Resolve 

             _ _ _ 

    I'm not thinking 

 Resolutions anymore 

But if some crazy law 

 Made me do it 

I would Resolve to work  

 At least one puzzle each 

And every day next year 

I do that anyway, Sudoku

 An easy Resolution for me 

 _ _ _ 

 - Poem and Photos Copyright, Jimmiehov 2021, All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked for Prompting with Rommy at Friday Writings #8,  https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/search/label/Friday%20Writings?m=1 

 - Rommy would like us to write poetry or prose inspired by New Year’s Resolutions (your resolution, how much you love or loathe resolutions, the meaning of resolutions… It’s your choice).  

.

Weekly Scribblings - A Fun Night Out; a page from my journal

Journaling (with amplified narratives) -- Take Me Out to the Ball Game 

9/7/2021 ~~  The baseball game ~~ We ate well 

    (Amplification) My driving went bonkers today, I overshot the turnoff to the stadium and ended up on the south side of Highway 59.  So we pulled into a Quick Stop and asked for directions.   That was a waste they didn't know their surroundings there, I think they had just arrived from another country.  To save the day, I had Mrs. Jim ask how we could get to Texas Highway 6. 

 

    When we reached the exit there was a sign, "Constellation Field" and to turn left.  Eighteen Dollars$ for parking!!!  Whoo, Whoo.  I remember when parking at the Astrodome was only 5$.  And to boot, only credit cards were accepted. 

    Picking up our free tickets at the Will Call window, they didn't ask for I.D, their only comment was "I doubt there is another last name like that!"   Before we reached the ticket taker we were approached by Mrs. W. who was glad to see us come.  I apologized for being late, she forgave, and mentioned how so very few of the 300 invited had showed. 

    After saying hellos to the other two ladies we knew and being introduced to two other XYZ employees we were escorted to the second floor box reserved for our group.  There we were shown the make-it-yourself ingredients for hot dogs, hamburgers, and cheeseburgers.   I had a nice loaded hot dog, Mrs. Jim had a plain hamburger with onions and mustard and no bread.  Also beans, slaw, and Mac and Cheese.  Later we had a frosted brownie cake and a Diet Coke. 

    We chose to sit outside to eat and watch the ballgame now at the second inning.  There was no score, zero to zero.  Our team, the Sugarland** Skeeters, had a home run in the 4th inning to match the earlier run of the opponent, the Las Vegas Aviators.  No more scores until in overtime, our Skeeters had a walk with the bases loaded to win by one to two.  

    The ride home was uneventful and we were in bed before midnight. 

    All in all it was a fun, fun evening.

 - - - - 

  - Poem and Photo Copyright, Jimmiehov 2021, All Rights Reserved 

 - I'm linked with Rosemary at The Weekly Scribblings #86 for our prompt, find them at . https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2021/09/weekly-scribblings-86-mining-journals.html?m=1 

 - **Note:  Yes, this is the same Sugarland, Texas,  of the movie, "The Sugarland Express." (google link)

 - I have 368 words to suit the "369 or less" requirement.  The complete story with a couple more entries and accompanying Amplifications was about 640 words, I have it published here, http://jimmiehov3.blogspot.com/2021/09/weekly-scribblings-extended-eating-free.html 

Shadow Shot Sunday: Picnic Tables and Trees

October 3, 2019, in South Africa outside Cape Town, we were invited to a picnic lunch at a winery.  The food was super, a five course lunch, but forgettable.  Guess I  should  have looked at the other pictures for a hint. 

To link your shadow shot or find others posting, click on the Mister Linky icon below:

Weekly Scribblings -- On doctor's advice

 

My new Meds 

My new meds are like goodies, all helpful 

Some for my safety, others are for pain 

Sure they have to see me through my ordeal 

Just lost eleven of my upper teeth 

New list is short, adds to the one I had 

Here for one week, I'll be fine once again  

That is hoping I will be better then 

So here is my list of four new to add 

Six prescription pills, one bi-annual shot 

Then an aspirin, two calcium tablets, 

multivitamin tab, vitamin D, 

and two stool softeners for softer landings 

Now for my list of four from left to right, 

* Chlorhexidine, that's for an Oral Rinse 

* Amoxicillin (antibiotic) 

500 MG take three times a day 

* Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen 

("Caution: Opioid Risk or Addiction") 

Before made me brave, sleep through traffic lights 

* Jar of Cinnamon Red Hot jelly Beans 

That last is non-prescription pills 

For my one sweet tooth that remains 

 _ _ _ _ 

 - Poem and Photo Copyright, Jimmiehov 2021, All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked with  Rommy at Weekly Scribblings # 70, https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2021/05/weekly-scribblings-70-listmania.html