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Open Poetry #42
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Rabbit Ears on Friday Night
| Open Poetry #42 |
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Rabbit Ears on Friday Night |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart 
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When television was only in black and white, and wiry rabbit ears brought a bounty of three channels though snow views were often seen over grainy broadcasts, and families gathered in one home of a more affluent brother or sister to watch the Friday night fights with the men all in one room, a smoky haze dimming their squinty views, and the women in the kitchen sharing recipes and marmalade over toast points, when the mothers heard rainfall on a California evening, following days and weeks of clear skies, and smiled. One by one, the women took large pots outside, mimicking countryside rain barrels to capture the purest drops, then retreating under cover with silent wishes for a long rain. Over the cheering and booing of male voices in the living room, noise over noise of man’s brutality to man, a punishment by choice for singularly personal reasons of survival by force while kitchen bound women continued to talk of normal things, the price of meat and baking bread with potato water, when the fight finally ended, the male voyeurs recapturing vociferously those spare snow-flecked moments of the best of the pummeling, that was when the rains subsided, and the mothers went to collect the rainwater to hold over until the next day, to warm over the gas stove, to wash and cleanse away their babies’ fathers’ transgressions. © 10 May 2008 KRJ |
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| © Copyright 2008 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved | |||
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BluesSerenade Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549By the Seaside |
A nastolgic poem for sure, Sunshine. But I've got to tell you, as soon I started reading I thought of Ed Sullivan!! Now I'm dating myself, but I truly loved those Sunday nights so long ago. Funny what good poetry can trigger~ Happy Mother's Day to you, Karilea~ |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Being a child of the fifties, this brought back so many memories. People now have no idea what we went through just to watch a little TV. You wrote about it so well. Happy Mother's Day, Karilea. Ida |
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Richy Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 3050 |
That was my, unpaid, job When I was wee high to a need hopper To hold the wabbit ears straight On Friday nights so that the reception Could come in clearer. I wonder if it was My braces, that caught the signal better? Ahhh, now catching raindrops in a metal pot. That mush have sounded like a cat on a hot tinned roof. Magical poem Karilea. Happy Mother’s Day. Rich |
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secondhanddreampoet Member Ascendant
since 2006-11-07
Posts 6394a 'Universalist' ! |
a grand-fine 'slice of life' write! serious and sustained applause!! |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Sunshine, This brings back happy memories of Grandfather and me watching the Gillette Friday Night Fights. "To look sharp, da de da de dum...." Grandfather was good with his dukes, and he taught me how to use my hands to good effect. I never lost a fight. Bobby |
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Oklahoma Rose Senior Member
since 2008-02-28
Posts 1586Oklahoma USA |
I remember thos rabbit ear s days. Times sure have changed, haven't they? |
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kaile
since 2000-02-06
Posts 5146singapore |
ah. how gender roles have evolved. or maybe not. haha. as always, you paint a delightful picture |
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poddarku Senior Member
since 2008-01-15
Posts 589india |
very nostalgic and well written clever talks delay friendship! |
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gilead Senior Member
since 2008-03-10
Posts 1067nevada, USA |
Wow! What a grand narrative. It is so true to my own experience, I am taken back in time to the simplicity I briefly knew in the illusions of TV in its infancy. You've wrought a marvelous work here! Art |
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Robert Frazier Senior Member
since 2003-02-06
Posts 1014 |
you wise, clever soul! must use my Keen Ears to pick up on all the subtle and not-so-subtle messages...feeling so black-n-white, but coming through in living color :-) mostly, though, i just love to read you! Hugs, R |
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steavenr Member Elite
since 2003-11-17
Posts 4058 |
such an enjoyable, meaningful write...couldn't even pick out a favorite part--simply loved it all |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Sissie....I remember in a little different way, but the sounds of the past still becomes poignant in your words.  |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Dear Karilea, you really took me into this description of those days ... what I love most is the collecting of the rain, which at that time was still pure ... the softest water so beneficial to the skin, if one dared to stay in the rain! Absolutely fantastic write! Love, Margherita  |
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D.Lester Young Senior Member
since 2001-12-08
Posts 1219Austin, Tx |
So full of imagery and memories, very nice. |
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Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
You write with such imagery and power. I really like this one, my friend. Your poems are always a treat to me. Alison |
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Claira Member
since 2008-05-11
Posts 102British but living in Thailand |
This is beautiful Sunshine. Some things do change, the men go down to the pub to watch the fight and the women probably stay home alone more. My family had 'Friday night fights', over which channel to watch. Really enjoyed Claira |
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