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Blim
| Open Poetry #45 |
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Blim |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa 
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BLIM 18 March 2009 (Note: An imagined dialogue between me, a sixty-three year old, and her, a twenty-five year old colleague) “Blim,” I said with a cheery smile. “ Er, er par . . . don?” “Blim,” I said again - in a particularly explanatory way – you know, like Winnie-the-Pooh in his cuddly, teddy bear voice explaining about honeypots or songs – ‘How cold my toes, tiddly pom’ and all that? “What are you talking about? What’s ‘blim’?” she said in that voice – you know the one a twenty-five year old girl from Pretoria who always gets what she wants, uses, when she thinks that her sixty-three year old colleague has misplaced her sanity. ”Well,” I said, “I was hoping you would tell me!” “I really don’t know what you are talking about,” she said not knowing whether to be terrified or abrupt. “Neither do I, for that matter. Are you really telling me that you don’t know what ‘blim’ means? After all, you mumbled it to your left thigh in a very grumpy voice yesterday afternoon just after half past four when you were sitting on the wall waiting for whoever you have extracted a lift home from now. I realise that it is probably means something most unpleasant – and that it is a greeting of some sort – perhaps one that you say just before you vomit. I know that it is a greeting,“ I said pensively, ”because you said it immediately after I walked past you from your right and said ‘Goodbye’ to you, but perhaps you weren’t talking to me - perhaps it was your left thigh you were talking to, though why you would want to tell your left thigh that you are going to vomit, I can hardly imagine. It didn’t reply, as I recall, which was very rude of it. I wonder where it learned that from. Now, I wonnnnnder if it could have sommmmething to do with the fact that about two months ago I was kind enough to go out of my way every day for three weeks and give you a lift home in a car that needs attention and with petrol I can hardly afford. There is somebody from another company in the building who gives you a lift home every day now, except for now and then and then you have no trouble begging and getting a lift from somebody else in our company – Of course, you do prepare well for that with all your friendliness to the possible contenders – the same friendliness you showed me so eagerly before I so politely and diplomatically - and with a week’s notice - wriggled out of the position you and a colleague put me into. Funny, isn’t it that it is I who has given you more lifts than the rest of the company put together, yet I am the bad guy – or rather, the bad old woman! It’s not your asking for a lift that disgusts me – although if it were me, I would catch the bus from the bus stop right outside – and when the bus drivers are on strike, I would walk the mile and a half or so - sixty-three or not - but that’s me, not you. It’s the expecting the answer to be yes - no matter the circumstances nor the inconvenience – and the resentment when it’s not. You see, there are some people for whom I would sacrifice my life (I hope – but you never can tell until the bullet leaves the gun) but there are others to whom I wouldn’t give even a particularly rusty cliché. So, blim blim blim-blim-blim-blim-blim blim blim. Have a lovely day!” - Owl |
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| © Copyright 2009 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved | |||
Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Well Di, you 'blimmed' her good with this one. I've been around such blimheaded co-workers, and they are a real pain in the rear. Maybe some day, the others will tell her no and she will have to discover what her blimmin feet are for.  |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Kacy, you had me chortling merrily at your blimmin clever and funny reply and at the blim-bit of your email! Thank you so much. Owl |
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brneyedgrly Senior Member
since 2009-06-08
Posts 1125nowhere and everywhere |
~love this, owl : ) ~I am the keeper of what he cast off~ |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
There are those who blim, and those on a whim who win overall. Well done, m'friend! |
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poddarku Senior Member
since 2008-01-15
Posts 589india |
'you know the one a twenty-five year old girl from Pretoria who always gets what she wants,' Your indulgent understanding gets to the core of your observation with almost scientific distance. You are an observer of life. Amazing poem, dearest. clever talks delay friendship! |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, Brown-eyed Girly. I’m glad you did. Giggles, Karilea and thanks. When I wriggled out of giving her lifts (that somebody else offered her on my behalf) after 3 weeks, with one week’s notice, I made the mistake of telling her the truth, which was that it was inconvenient for me because I couldn’t afford to go out of my way every day, and that it made me late getting home, and that I am a free spirit and want to choose my route home spontaneously every day as I leave work, and not be forced to go the same route because I have somebody to drop off. However, I don’t do lies well, so don’t regret it. I would have understood it, if the positions were reversed. Thank you Kushal. However, I don’t come within a hundred miles of your ability to observe life. You are a master at that. Owl |
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Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
Blim, you can really say it when you have to - what a poem. What a keeper for those moments of frustration when I know I am simply being used. Diana, Diana - you done good, girly woman. I love this one - and I really loved this part. quote: xooxox Alison |
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poddarku Senior Member
since 2008-01-15
Posts 589india |
You are a free spirit alright. |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, Alison. Smiles. Yes, it was really good to blim all that out of my system! Yes, Kushal, I am! But not always a very nice one, as you can see in this poem. I hope I didn't shock you too much! Smiles. Owl |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Well, you didn't shock our friend Ku, but you did shock me, dear Heart! No, no, I am teasing you. I can be worse than that, rest assured, when it comes to it! We are meant to be of help to others no doubt, but when it affects our freedom in movement, it can be very annoying. You have done well, to make this young lady question her behaviour. You reminded me of a colleague who was in despair, because she didn't know how to free herself of such a "bloodsucker", who regularly placed himself near her car, just a minute before she went home. She had tolerated it for months. Until she couldn't cope anymore and said "Blim" too ... Great, honest, realistic write, dear Diana. I love your sense of justice and your freedom! Love and hugs. Margherita  |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Well done, Diana. You have to wonder why people can be so ungrateful at times. Ida |
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secondhanddreampoet Member Ascendant
since 2006-11-07
Posts 6394a 'Universalist' ! |
fine "slice of real 'work-a-day' life" write! [reminiscent of the 'age discrimination' I face per diem] ... applause for this 'penning' !! |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, Margherita! Sorry I shocked you, but you need to know that bad part of me as well as the good! Smiles. I used to tolerate this sort of thing and then bend over backwards to help even more, but now I take the view that I am a person too and I stand up for my rights, because nobody else is going to do it for me! Yes, Ida, my mother, despite her many failings taught me better than my colleague's mother taught her it seems. Thanks, Bruce. Glad you enjoyed it. Owl |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
Dear Diana you wrote that so well, it sounds to me that you are well rid of her. Some people can be very selfish at times, taking everything and giving nothing back in return, Take care dear lady. Love. Lindsay |
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
Diana, it's difficult to say why, but these people never seen to get it, do they? And yet, we can surely learn from them, can we not? Love to you, and great to read you again.... Lee J. |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thanks, Lee. Yes, that is what amazes me, that she just doesn't get it, and thinks that I have done her wrong and she can't see that she is a scrounger and two-faced, and sucks up to people to get them to help her, and then when they can't any more, they are the bad ones! I haven't noticed her doing anything for anybody else! Owl |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thanks, Lindsay. Yes, I was relieved to do so. Owl |
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