10 Comments

Already have the book. Thanks for the reminder to dig it out and enjoy some respite from the doom and gloom.

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Marlene: I wrote some advice for high school (and college) graduates:

https://sassone.wordpress.com/2024/04/23/advice-to-2024-graduates/

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Hey, when I grew up (long ago) in rural Minnesota, it was the Land of 10,000 Lakes. No more?

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Lake beaches are different.

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You mentioned that the SS Edmund Fitzgerald went down near the Minnesota coast, however I believe it sank at the far eastern end of Lake Superior. The mention of which always reminds me of Gordon Lightfoot's moving ballad. By the way, there is an Edmund Fitzgerald Porter courtesy of the Great Lakes Brewing Co. of Cleveland.

Peter Ives

Albuquerque

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GK's words are ambiguous but can be read as merely saying that the ship sank in Lake Superior, which is true.

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With a Bang, Bang here and a Bang, Bang there! Here a Bang, there a Bang, everywhere a Bang, Bang!

Kristi Noem had a farm. E-I-E-I-O!!!

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"Walking the beach at sunset,

the sand holds glimpses of the day...."

So the sand was walking the beach? Calling yourself a poet does not give you a pass on the rules of grammar and syntax. Mean comment, but you volunteered the poem.

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Outright prune juice? I know it's a good cure for constipation, is that what you're getting at, in a metaphorical sense? If so, it sounds like a good addition for my vocabulary, thank you! 😁

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My Sister made me send this. Anything that presents as ‘my Sister made me…’ well, you know. Her fascination with this bit is that I literally woke at 4:30am, wrote this- took the meds and went back to sleep. My elderly mother would delight when I would read it aloud to her- which I do very well. ( I was appalled to realize that it was truly all about drugs? ) The Sister is insisting I read this at an open mic at her Grange Hall- along with the epic verses of THE DEAD DOLL. My mother had memorized this as a child and we heard it a thousand times… it never got old.

Long live Hildegaard,

D

ODE TO 4:30 A.M....

It's 12/23 and it feels so queer

I can't quite believe that it's Christmas so near?

I've been on a journey both wondrous and strange-

Sister Morphine & Codeine.... I'll call them by name

My legs broke to pieces the X-rays display

It's bolted and stapled and fixed now they say

Foot Above Heart!

They insist, so I lay

Obediently propped on this 30th day

I'm cozy and warm but I'm weak and bedraggled

I fell off my crutches but nothing got mangled

It's strange to wake up and have holidays here-

Where did they come from? These lights and good cheer?

I think that it snowed in the weeks recent past but I couldn't confirm it if you were to ask

The Movies unwatched and magazines unread

I guess I'll catch up on all those when I'm dead

My brain has been elsewhere- vacating I guess

I'm really not sure but this house is a mess

Shall I bake? I don't think so- the store is a stretch

I can't even think of a list to go fetch

I really thought pain drugs a bit overrated

But I've suffered no pains and for that I'm elated

Or maybe I'm dreaming and it's still November

I'm certain at some point I'll truly remember

For now ill just sleep and recover and dream- those bizarre violent visions that come with codeine

I've not been unhappy or mad or in pain

I Just wonder what happened to me and my brain

No cards have been bought or been written or sent

(I barely told anyone- embarrassment?)

I'm old but I'm strong

It's my first real break

and I Do feel silly, well- when I'm awake...

Merry Christmas to All- if this is what's real

Maybe missing the rush wasn't such a bad deal

I'm awake at 4:30 but now I can nap

After downing some meds and then writing this crap

There's a tree down the hall and it's twinkling glow

Reminds me my family is still good to go

I could use some water- is anyone here? Hello? Is it Christmas? I feel it. It's near...

Danica Roberts

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