Tomorrow’s Valentine’s Day, and so I thought shine the spotlight on my sweetheart in this week’s blog. Charlie and me have been together for over forty years, and he can still surprise me. Like when he started writing poetry. One day he saw a blue tarp stuck a tree, and the next thing you know, he’s the the default poet laureate of Mahoosuc Mills. Here’s that first poem, the one that started it all.
Blue Tarp in a Tree
Drivin’ along, what did I see?
A big, blue tarp, up in a tree
How did it get there? I thought to myself
That’s not the work of some mischievous elf
It was right around Whitey’s, yard sale heaven
Where there’s always one goin’, 24-7
The tarp must’ve blown off their table, I betcha
Perhaps Whitey Junior can climb up and get ya
His father, I’m sure, will just let the thing be
And Junior’s too fat to be climbin’ that tree
I guess I could help ‘em to get the thing down
But right now I’m busy, see you around
Pretty good, huh? Now, Charlie finds inspiration everywhere, like last weekend when he was running errands.
Snowflake Quiz
At the bank today, conducting biz,
I thought I’d take their “Snowflake Quiz”
(It’s just a means of killin’ time
While you’re waitin’ there in line)
Today’s question to us all:
“The Average Speed That Snowflakes Fall”
Three miles an hour? I thought, no,
That seems just a little slow
Six miles an hour? Sounded better,
‘Specially if the stuff is wetter
Then again, it could be nine
(Twelve, I thought, seemed outta line)
They’re lookin’ for an average rate
For a thing with hardly any weight
In first, my truck’s as slow, thought I
As a snowflake from the sky…
Thus I pondered, like a speller
And gave my answer to the teller:
Nine miles an hour seems right to me!
“No,” she said, “the answer’s three”
Three? I says, that’s mighty slow
“The Weather Channel says it’s so”
That can’t be right, says I to her
How can those fellas be so sure?
“Well, it could be food for contemplation,
Or just more useless information!”
Charlie’s poetry makes me see the world in a different way, and the fun he’s having with it inspires me to try new things. Happy Valentine’s Day, Charlie! You’re a keeper!
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
Hear Ida Tell It: Poet Laureate of Mahoosuc Mills
Upcoming Book Events and Performances
March 9: A Visit With Ida, The Hilltop Guild, First Congregational Church, 6:00pm, South Portland, ME
March 31 & April 1: Ida’s Havin’ a Yard Sale, The Footlights Theatre, http://www.thefootlightsinfalmouth.com/, 7:30pm, Falmouth, ME