It's the Poem-A-Week Challenge Discussion Thread

[12oclocktales]

Mercer County kid here! Hunterdon is a beautiful part of the state. People associate NJ with that mess of stinky refineries right outside NYC and don't realize how green and rural (and now, sadly, suburban) much of the rest of the state is.

I remember the Black Bass Inn. I lived in Bucks for years: my (first) wedding was at the Washington Crossing Inn. Have you ever been to the New Year's Day Crossing reenactment? My family went a few times when I was a kid, when St John Terrill (who owned the Lambertville Music Circus) played General Washington.

Have soaked up quite a bit of the Jersey aura over the years (also like anyone who’s resided there contributed way too much to her tax coffers with little to show for it), from down the shore (always pronounced Dinah Shore) to the Pine Barrens (home of the Jersey Devil) to the Water Gap and the haunting terrain along the Old Mine Road after the Tocks Island Dam project thankfully was cancelled. Went to college in Mercer County (not that college, a different one), swam in the same stretch of the Mullica River (or was it the Batsto?) that William Least Heat-Moon mentions cooling off in in Blue Highways, and visited many of the Forgotten Towns Henry Beck wrote about in his series of books, my favorite being Fare to Middling, covering Central NJ, what a great title! One of the most scenic drives anywhere is along the Delaware River, going south on Rt. 32 on the Pa side from, say, Upper Black Eddy to Washington’s Xing and then back north on Rt 29 on the NJ side. No better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than making that drive.

 

[Angeline]

Have soaked up quite a bit of the Jersey aura over the years (also like anyone who’s resided there contributed way too much to her tax coffers with little to show for it), from down the shore (always pronounced Dinah Shore) to the Pine Barrens (home of the Jersey Devil) to the Water Gap and the haunting terrain along the Old Mine Road after the Tocks Island Dam project thankfully was cancelled. Went to college in Mercer County (not that college, a different one), swam in the same stretch of the Mullica River (or was it the Batsto?) that William Least Heat-Moon mentions cooling off in in Blue Highways, and visited many of the Forgotten Towns Henry Beck wrote about in his series of books, my favorite being Fare to Middling, covering Central NJ, what a great title! One of the most scenic drives anywhere is along the Delaware River, going south on Rt. 32 on the Pa side from, say, Upper Black Eddy to Washington’s Xing and then back north on Rt 29 on the NJ side. No better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than making that drive.

Blue Highways is a very good read. I've enjoyed it numerous times over the years.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

Mama

We didn't always get along
You didn't always understand
Or I couldn't explain what's wrong
We didn't always get along
And God knows I can be headstrong
But my heart thrived safe in your hand
We didn't always get along
You didn't always understand


Week 20, Poem 1, Total 38

I get it.

Mine often was not listening . . . .

 

[Angeline]

I get it.

Mine often was not listening . . . .

Thanks. Today was her birthday as well as Mother's Day. I could hear her whispering in my ear: You better remember me today!

And yes my mom just tuned out what she didn't want to hear. I remember telling her (I was around 20) "Mom I smoke pot." She just smiled at me and said "No you don't." Lol!

 

[Wat_Tyler]

Thanks. Today was her birthday as well as Mother's Day. I could hear her whispering in my ear: You better remember me today!

And yes my mom just tuned out what she didn't want to hear. I remember telling her (I was around 20) "Mom I smoke pot." She just smiled at me and said "No you don't." Lol!

Mine died last December 2nd. It was very much Ike every other dysfunctional relationship I had ever gotten out of. I didn't think of her today until later in the morning, and I was awake by 0430. I did hold up my end of what I thought the "bargain" was.

Mine used to go through my stuff and she found all kinds of things I'd rather she hadn't.

 

[Angeline]

Mine died last December 2nd. It was very much Ike every other dysfunctional relationship I had ever gotten out of. I didn't think of her today until later in the morning, and I was awake by 0430. I did hold up my end of what I thought the "bargain" was.

Mine used to go through my stuff and she found all kinds of things I'd rather she hadn't.

I'm sorry for your loss. All families are dysfunctional imho . My parents bickered incessantly over the stupidest shit and yet I never doubted they loved me.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

I'm sorry for your loss. All families are dysfunctional imho . My parents bickered incessantly over the stupidest shit and yet I never doubted they loved me.

At least Dear Old Mom came up with "The term 'functional family' is an oxymoron." She meant everyone but hers, of course. Seeing things as they are was not her forte by a very long shot. My parents fussed about everything like a couple of school kids. I doubt if either of them could truly love anyone.

 

[Angeline]

So I probably have a rotator cuff injury (waiting for test results) and man it hurts like the dickens (although I have good drugs atm thank goodness), but I love what I'm reading in the Poem-a-Week thread, especially the recent postings from 42, Lez and Waeponwifestre. Great poeming folks! 42, that's my favorite of yours this year: great title and the meaning reveals itself in surprising turns.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

So I probably have a rotator cuff injury (waiting for test results) and man it hurts like the dickens (although I have good drugs atm thank goodness), but I love what I'm reading in the Poem-a-Week thread, especially the recent postings from 42, Lez and Waeponwifestre. Great poeming folks! 42, that's my favorite of yours this year: great title and the meaning reveals itself in surprising turns.

Let's hope not. I had something 18-24 months ago and took it to the Shoulder Guy. Turns out something was inflamed. He gave me a big old shot and a handful of exercises. I piddled at them. In a couple-three months, it was pretty much back to normal. I had to stop and think which shoulder it was.

Best wishes to you!!!

 

[Angeline]

Let's hope not. I had something 18-24 months ago and took it to the Shoulder Guy. Turns out something was inflamed. He gave me a big old shot and a handful of exercises. I piddled at them. In a couple-three months, it was pretty much back to normal. I had to stop and think which shoulder it was.

Best wishes to you!!!

Thanks Wat! I think I'm due for a similar course of NSAIDs, ice packs, exercises and waiting it out. Sigh. Getting old is not for the faint of heart.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

Thanks Wat! I think I'm due for a similar course of NSAIDs, ice packs, exercises and waiting it out. Sigh. Getting old is not for the faint of heart.

I like to share stories of experiences and not opinions of cluelessness. I think that my formerly bum shoulder is as good as the other one now. I also think that I need to do a bit more strength training.

Together, we can make all of this more pleasant.

 

[Angeline]

I like to share stories of experiences and not opinions of cluelessness. I think that my formerly bum shoulder is as good as the other one now. I also think that I need to do a bit more strength training.

Together, we can make all of this more pleasant.

Pleasant would be great although I'll take tolerable at this point!

 

[Wat_Tyler]

Pleasant would be great although I'll take tolerable at this point!

More pleasant as opposed to less pleasant, or more unpleasant. And this is why I am so pleased with contentment. Just letting things be . . . .

 

[Waeponwifestre]

Been pretty busy with life and musical pursuits so haven’t had time to post beyond the occasional poem - but I wanted to give a short out to @SmilingLez for their villanelle! I thought it was well done and I love to see people writing in those French forms!

 

[SmilingLez]

A big thanks to @Tzara for his post on the different forms of poetry. I never knew there were so many forms. I am enjoying exploring each of them

https://forum.literotica.com/threads/the-thread-of-forms.628408/

 

[SpermFactory]

HONEY I’M HOOOOOME! YEAH. Hello? Hello?

 

[Angeline]

HONEY I’M HOOOOOME! YEAH. Hello? Hello?

WELCOME BACK!!!!!

 

[Wonderer67]

Mercer County kid here! Hunterdon is a beautiful part of the state. People associate NJ with that mess of stinky refineries right outside NYC and don't realize how green and rural (and now, sadly, suburban) much of the rest of the state is.

I remember the Black Bass Inn. I lived in Bucks for years: my (first) wedding was at the Washington Crossing Inn. Have you ever been to the New Year's Day Crossing reenactment? My family went a few times when I was a kid, when St John Terrell (who owned the Lambertville Music Circus) played General Washington.

I have totally been to the Washington Crossing Inn! And also witnessed the Christmas Day crossings a few times as a kid.

A friend of mine from work,did the reenactment, and it’s a big deal it takes years to make it to play the part of General Washington! Most of the guys are just scrubs who have to put the boats in the water!

I lived in Lambertville for many years while I was going to college at Trenton State. It was a lot of fun in those days.

I live about 10 miles north now.

Have soaked up quite a bit of the Jersey aura over the years (also like anyone who’s resided there contributed way too much to her tax coffers with little to show for it), from down the shore (always pronounced Dinah Shore) to the Pine Barrens (home of the Jersey Devil) to the Water Gap and the haunting terrain along the Old Mine Road after the Tocks Island Dam project thankfully was cancelled. Went to college in Mercer County (not that college, a different one), swam in the same stretch of the Mullica River (or was it the Batsto?) that William Least Heat-Moon mentions cooling off in in Blue Highways, and visited many of the Forgotten Towns Henry Beck wrote about in his series of books, my favorite being Fare to Middling, covering Central NJ, what a great title! One of the most scenic drives anywhere is along the Delaware River, going south on Rt. 32 on the Pa side from, say, Upper Black Eddy to Washington’s Xing and then back north on Rt 29 on the NJ side. No better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than making that drive.

Jerseys got some soul.

I always thought it was pronounced “downa shoah”. At least that’s how my dad said it.

My daughter lived way deep in South Jersey when she went to school at Stockton. That was an interesting part of the state that I never really knew about.

We found a great biker bar in the middle of the pine barrens!

A memorable drive we took with some friends from England, where to cross every bridge on the Delaware river.

We started at the Washington’s Crossing bridge, crossed over in Lambertville, again in Stockton and so on and so we ended up in Dingman’s ferry. It was a beautiful long day trip and I would recommend it to anyone.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

Bada Boom

The nightclub looked worn out.

A red neon sign in the window
flashed the same word all night.

OPEN
OPEN
OPEN

Smoke hung over the room.
The carpet stuck to your shoes,
beer and God knows what else
worked deep into the fibers.

Small tables crowded together.
Cigarette burns scarred the tops.
Red vinyl chairs split at the seams.

A waitress drifted by
with two pitchers of beer.
Mascara under her eyes.
End of shift written all over her face.

The room smelled of smoke,
booze, sweat,
and poor decisions.

Under one bright light
a lounge comic worked the stage.

Cheap gray suit.
Hair combed sometime earlier.
Sweat on his forehead.

He leaned into the microphone.

"Literotica cares so little about fixing the Pending Purgatory bug that at this point I'm convinced the bug has seniority. It's been here so long it probably gets a holiday bonus."

Bada boom.

A few people laughed.

The comic took a drink.

Tried again.

"And the AI rejection bug? That's basically an unpaid mod now. It rejects more stories than the actual staff."

Bada boom.

Another scattered laugh.

A drum snapped somewhere in the dark.

Most people never looked up.

They just kept drinking.

The comic finished his set.

Then he started drinking too.

Nobody noticed.

Holy shit, I used to drink there. I know, but I did, honest.

Nobody noticed then, either . . . .

 

[Wat_Tyler]

Curtal Musing

Do you see God when you look at the sky?
Maybe your thing is dreaming on a cloud
Or if it's raining you just stay inside.
Well if you're me you always wonder why,
But try not to express such thoughts aloud
Lest others look askance when you confide,
Which is how I end up with poetry:
It's easier than talking to a crowd.
I speak my mind without denting my pride,
No one suspects the craziness in me--
________________I hide!

Good heavens, yes!!! Lest they think us mad, not like we weren't pretty sure that it was/is so. I'm not sure I trust Them to think in the first place . . . .

 

[Angeline]

Good heavens, yes!!! Lest they think us mad, not like we weren't pretty sure that it was/is so. I'm not sure I trust Them to think in the first place . . . .

Yep. I come from a fairly urban working-class background, but a family of readers and thinkers. I spent my first 20+ years with people looking at me like I had two heads because of my ideas and vocabulary. Soooo first I learned to shut it and then to find my tribe which I did there and eventually here!

 

[SmilingLez]

Yep. I come from a fairly urban working-class background, but a family of readers and thinkers. I spent my first 20+ years with people looking at me like I had two heads because of my ideas and vocabulary. Soooo first I learned to shut it and then to find my tribe which I did there and eventually here!

Finding my tribe is definitely the hardest thing I have ever done