Sunday, February 18, 2018
Tough Going
I'm not sure how many of you know Tad has been going through chemo and radiation for throat cancer. This is his week for a prompt, and although he wants to stay in the rotation, he said that it's "still tough going." So I asked him if we could just use "tough going" for a prompt. So, that's it for this week. Tough going.
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this is an old poem. got a new one, but it might not survive the burning.
ReplyDeleteFUNERAL FOR A FRIEND
feel like a trespasser in this ancient church
waving stained glass shadows from a tree of birch
many black suite retrieved from mothballs
after frantic cell phone calls
brian died at the age of thirty eight
now just a plot of land to concecrate
for that which death hath torn asunder
i watched them lower him six feet under
in to his grave i tossed a flower
while watching his mom, like a crumbling tower
barbara thinking " no parent should have to outlive their kids "
and watch strangers closing coffin lids
i got hammered and said a few words at the wake
all i could really think was " he was only thirty eight, for goodness sake! "
aren't there more deserving cases for mistress death to take?
tough going indeed. take care tad.
tried a second poem earlier and it didn't post. one more go. an old gotpoetry poem, that some might remember.
DeleteTOUGH GUYS WASH THE DISHES
tough guys save bio diversity
tough guys don't bother with university
tough guys can take a kick in the head
tough guys are friends of the dead
tough guys protect kids
tough guys are scared of arachnids
tough guys know how to give coppers the stare
tough guys ( without their girlfriends help ) know how to buy their underwear
tough guys just want what is fair
tough guys know that circles are square.
Wow. Powerful poem! And made me realize I have one I could post also.
DeleteThe comment was for your original poem. Not as fond of this one, but it's cute.
Deleteas Victoria said this is a powerful write. dark images of pain that come out so vividly with your words.
DeleteThe Funeral poem was superb. The second one so so. However, it did sort of follow the prompt.
Deleteoh, the first one was the serious poem. the second one was just a bit of ironic fluff victoria. funny hopefully - gangster tough - paul.
Deletethanks bonita. had trouble getting comments posted today. hope this works - tough guys go to the library - paul.
Deletethanks tash. just thought, i'd follow the funeral poem with something light. in the city all day - tough guys go to the quiche shop - paul.
DeleteThe funeral poem reminded me of losing Arlene. She was only 36. I also thought that a mother shouldn't have to bury a child. Your poem was very powerful, sensitive and deep.
DeletePaul F. I really enjoyed both of your poems. The funeral one was very sad and the tough guy one pretty unique.
Deletesorry if the funeral poem upset you about arlene wolfie. when i was in my twenties and thirties, i went to nothing but weddings and christanings. but now i go to nothing but funerals. sorry it's such a downer - love and peace - paul
Deletethanks paul b. tough guys buy girls flowers and wait for hours - paul.
DeleteCHERYL'S MAIN MAN
ReplyDeleteI learned to drink blackberry brandy
the day after Ray Bell put one
bullet through his skull. It was
Cheryl's favorite drink, and though he
was my occasional lover,
Ray Bell was Cheryl's main man.
We tossed shots, talked about Ray and laughed.
See, Ray didn't think we knew about
each other but we did. We did
not know that Ray would bleed all
over Cheryl's living room. He was
always making messes, Cheryl
said. Then she cried because she
could never tell him to clean it up.
Oh My!!!Sad poem and vivid. BTW Would have enjoyed a comment from you on my last poem...
Deletei'm sorry victoria. i'm sure many people will say that they know how you feel, but i do. the love of my life died in my arms....never really got over it. never will - love and peace - paul.
DeleteI remember that day quite vividly. It was the first time I ever had blackberry brandy, too. I hung with you two all day. We got her out of work and partied with her...your poem depicts the moment very well.
DeleteVictoria, this is a very sad poem. You write from your heart. I enjoyed it very much.
DeleteLinda, Remember sitting in Red Barn parking lot discussing whether we should go in and make her go home, but when we went in, she wasn't work but just sitting in the back crying. Yes, we needed to get her out of there.
Deletestill makes my heart hurt after all these years. do you still have that picture i took of him in Linda's kitchen shortly before he shot himself? another powerfully sad write.
ReplyDeleteNope. It's long gone.
DeleteCancer couldn't take me down
ReplyDeleteI fight with everything I have
it may take my life but not my spirit
Chronic kidney disease I defeated
no dialysis for me I will not give in
it may take my life but not my spirit
but two swollen fingers have shut me down!
gout has won where tougher diseases could not
it has taken my spirit ... for now
doing every day things now are a chore
dishes remain undone - dust builds up
my painful fingers will not respond
yes I have met my match with this disease
and have to admit that at least for now
it's truly tough going
This won't take you down either!! Are you taking anything for it? Good poem too, though I wish you'd have continued your repetition. I think it worked.
Deleteseeing the doctor this afternoon - after the Y of course, I wanted to continue the repetition but couldn't figure out how, need to work more on this one
DeleteGood poem in progress, nevertheless. Good luck with the gout. It is so painful, and a form or arthritis, as I understand it, so a diet low in inflammatory substances may help also, like no dairy and less meat, sugar and wheat,wishing you well, soon!
Deletegrit your teeth and dig in bonita. this stuff can't beat us. my lungs are screwed. i'll grow gills and live like a fish. i already drink like one ha ha. let the dishes and dust build up. it wont harm you - love - paul.
DeleteI didn't know you had gout. Rich had the gout and they cured it somehow. You can defeat this! Great poem!
DeleteBonnie, I have heard that the gout is very painful. You will win over this disease, also. Dishes and dust can wait. Just take it easy. I enjoyed your poem very much!
DeleteTasha I don't eat red meat nor a lot of sugar and it's not enough dairy that can cause gout but in my case it's my chronic kidney disease that is the culprit. my diet changed long ago between the cancer and the chronic kidney disease.
Deletethey don't cure it but they have a drug that i am taking that can get rid of it for now... like a cold lol. it lasts 10 days with our without meds. :-)
and before you think the CKD was because of my diet or lack of exercise let me put that to rest. I have always been active and didn't use salt etc... it is due to a drug called methotrexate that I was given to 'cure' my sarcoidosis. Instead it put me into heart failure, respiratory and renal failure. Over time with diet and exercise I have managed to get my lung capacity up to 70% and get my renal functions from 20% to 30% out of the danger zone but not great. So I do not give up nor do I quit I just can't believe that after all I have been through these past 3 years that two painful fingers could put me on the sideline! lmbo!
DeleteSorry for your troubles and hopng for beter days for you soon.
DeleteTough Going On
ReplyDeleteSometimes we live in a flux of change
with unknown factors we can't arrange
It's really hard to forge ahead when it's so dark
But, we have to be that tree with armor like bark
Going through these tough times isn't very easy
So many things uncertain except our rulers being sleazy
We must band together to make it through this life
To prop each other up and overcome the strife
It's really hard enough with the factions all divided
to deal with our own issues in a balance undecided
Which way will the scales tip in this matter of import
Tough going is coming and we'll have to build our fort
The elements we endure are not insurmountable
we must try hard and hold ourselves accountable
To overcome is a tall order my common human friends
if we achieve our goals with grace as a means to our ends
Excellent poem. You did a great job with the prompt! We do indeed live in tough times.
DeleteI love this and it is so true. Seeing students rise up now reminds me so much of when I was in high school and we were protesting the Vietnam War.
Deletegood write! really enjoyed this one... the rhythm and the rhyme work and don't feel forced but flow nicely as one reads.
DeleteGood One! fine sentiments.
Deletewe always seem to be going through tough times nowadays paul. whatever happened to the good times we were promised. all that " vote for me and everything will be lovely " crap and such - paul.
Deletethe little tiny lad was two
ReplyDeletewhen Anja found him staggering
naked through the alleys of Nigeria
"witch" they called him
abandoned by his family
unwanted by anyone
finding scraps to eat
worms had found a home
in his bowels
belly distended in starvation
it was tough going
until Anja found him
gave him help, food
clothed his bare body
out of love
she started a home for other "witches"
a safe haven
for abandoned children in Nigeria...
It's so sad that people are so backward in these progressive times. How could parents be so cold as to abandon a 2 year old child to the streets. I enjoyed this poem very much.
DeleteWow. That's a quite a story. Is it based on fact?
Deleteyes it is based on a story I read on Facebook. Picture included. It's on my page.
Deletewhat a beautiful heart this woman has and you expressed it wonderfully.
DeleteBeautiful tale beautifully told.
Deletei like witches......i know plenty of them. good and bad.
DeleteZen Bones
ReplyDeleteZen bones tough to chew
bring light eventually
unless you give up
and spit them out.
Gnawing brings knowing.
they are tough old bones tash. watch you don't break a tooth - zen and skywalking - paul.
DeleteThanks, Dear One, and may the Force be with you.
DeleteLOL. A different take on the prompt. I like it. Tough to talk with your mouth full too.
Deletefinding enlightenment does give some tough ideals to chew on. interesting write.
Deleteawesome take on the prompt
DeleteThanks to one and all. Appreciate the kind words.
DeleteBeen chewing on Zan bones for a number of years, they don't get any less tough but they do produce results.
ReplyDelete