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bsquirrel
Deputy Moderator 5 Tours
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-01-03
Posts 7855


0 posted 2003-09-02 02:36 PM


I forced a word out of the gate,
pushing its shoulder as it dug in to stay.
I expended more energy than intended,
leaving me sweaty, and the word crying.

It yelled at me through the open window.
"Mike!" it called. "You can't do this!"
"I have friends! I know where you live!"
"I can make things reeeal difficult for you!"

I wiped my face and shut the window,
briefly entertaining an image
of the word outlined in red and blue lights.
It pouted sourly down the street.

True to its word, the word arrived
early next morning with a bull-horn
and several unsavory customers out front.
They held up signs and picketed my property.

The crowd was a jumble of letters and sounds.
Some heavy-hitters even put in an appearance.
Self-Abnegation held court with Salubrious.
This was going to get messy.

The phone jangled. With heavy heart
I picked it up. A voice yelled "Sonata!"
"Onomotopeia!" it furthered with anger and spite.
"Lists!" it finished. The dial tone.

I had no idea what to make of that.
Were these demands? A reminder of power?
Some random thoughts? A string of sounds?
Or were these words mixing medications?

"That's it!" I yelled and threw open the door
(truly, that call had rattled me).
I stalked into the crowd, picked up my word,
and hurled it as far and fast as I could.

The sight of that collection of letters
spinning away, meaningless, to the horizon
left the crowd agog, and what's more,
left me sweet silence, without a word.

© Copyright 2003 MPC - All Rights Reserved
Allysa
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 5 Tours
Senior Member
since 1999-11-09
Posts 1952
In an upside-down garden
1 posted 2003-09-02 02:59 PM


This has livened up my first day of school, Mike.   Thank you.
bsquirrel
Deputy Moderator 5 Tours
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-01-03
Posts 7855

2 posted 2003-09-02 03:05 PM


You're welcome.
Aenimal
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350
the ass-end of space
3 posted 2003-09-02 03:35 PM


I laughed all the way through this. It reads like a Woody Allen short story or skit. Which means it reads brilliant,sans the young asian daughter/girlfriend thing looming overhead.
Thanks for the smile, needed badly. there really is
something in the way...yeah
oooooooooooo

littlewing
Member Rara Avis
since 2003-03-02
Posts 9655
New York
4 posted 2003-09-03 05:08 AM


*smiling at you*
and your word . . .
xxoo

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