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| fleet, abate, update, script, caused a flap.Image from the Internet.
The opening poem contains all the words (or variations of them) from today's Jumble.
Comments are welcomed! And couching them in Poetry is definitely NOT required.
Do not explicitly reveal any of the actual answer words until after closing time, but embedding them surreptitiously in comment sentences is encouraged.
15 comments:
I really enjoyed the cartoon, and the solution too, though I would say that the cartoon certainly makes it look like more than one.
FLN: Wilbur ~ Thanks for checking in yesterday, and for your additional verses re. Chet's recovery and the importance of a member's connection to the Big Book. That seems an essential part of the process of sobering up.
Thanks to you too, Sandy. Every bit helps. It can feel awfully lonely on the page some days.
"Lost at Sea"
According to the script it was time for the fleet
to move to attack mode, but the lazy AD
hadn't updated his pages. Consequently he'd
not signaled to turn his ships from the "T."
The lead vessels stayed on their course
and smashed three men-o'-war broadside.
The boats collided with unabated force--
twelve crew were injured; one of them died.
The studio got sued; the AD was fired.
It caused such a flap the producer retired.
The cost of the damage ate into their profits.
They screened at last
but so desperate for cash,
they say even the ushers had to empty their pockets.
~ OMK
Sandy, the literature literally says that "only under the 'lash'" of alcohol do the hopeless jump into the program with both feet
"Slow"
The fellow had served in a fleet,
and he wanted my sister to meet.
But Kate wanted to abate
this date that might seal her fate.
So she asked if she could wait,
since she was not ready for a mate.
For the guy this a problem caused
and so on the prospect he paused.
Since Kate would not follow his script,
it was best if his offer he flipped.
A year later, on a blind date
he was shocked it turned out to be Kate.
So although it was quite late
their acquaintance they began to update.
Now the gap that had caused such a flap
served their new-found romance to wrap.
It turned out well that things had tarried
and a year later my sister him married.
The joke's on me, Misty ~
You really had me at first, reversing your grammar in your couplets, with "my sister to meet" and "this a problem caused." Just the sort of device that usually sets my teeth on edge.
But you got it to pay off beautifully in the end. I laughed out loud when I reached the last line. The irony of the "blind date" doubled its impact.
Kate & her sailor boy deserve each other.
My hat's off to you, my friend. Your conclusion is worthy of an Ogden Nash. Brava!
~ OMK
Fascinating verse about a film shooting disaster, Ol' Man Keith. Is that what it was? So, who is the AD, and what or where is the T? Any chance this is based on a real incident?
I just saw your kind comments about my verse, OMK, many thanks for that.
I agree that my phrasing in these verses is often extremely awkward, but it's because I try hard to make the jumble words rhyme at the end of the lines. But so glad you liked the ending. I notice that my poems are about romance over and over again. I don't plan it that way in advance, the words just suggest it to me. Maybe it's because I found romance so late in life and still miss my sweet Rowland that it just continues to haunt me. So I appreciate your kindly putting up with it.
My poem is about an imaginary film disaster, a "what if" showing how the re-creation for a film of a major naval maneuver might go wrong.
The "AD" is an anonymous, hapless "Assistant Director," who had the responsibility of guiding one half of the warring ships. He failed to keep up with the script re-writes and so crashed the first three ships of his group into the opposing line.
There is a famous naval battle that I was thinking of. It helped me to keep in mind how a major movement could go wrong. I based this on the Battle of Tsushima in the Russo-Japanese war, when Admiral Togo "crossed the 'T' of the Russian fleet." For my poem, I imagined the AD was in charge of the Russian fleet, but that unlike his historical example he was supposed to turn his fleet to run parallel to the Japanese line.
(Background, if you're interested: Historically, the Russians were sailing in a follow-the-leader straight line, like the upward stem of a capital "T." The Japanese managed to get ahead and on top of them and so "cross the T." Thus the Japanese ships could open fire sideways, picking off the Russians one by one, whereas the Russians couldn't fire back without hitting their own ships right in front of them. Classic.
Based in part on this naval disaster, the Russians lost the war.)
~ OMK
I really appreciated your poking fun at awkward phrasing in today's poem. Of course I knew why the phrasing is sometimes clumsy--to make the rhyme fall at the end of a line. Poets have always had to deal with the same challenge; songwriters too, although they get more latitude because music makes the artificiality seem more acceptable (like the way the French sing syllables they elide in everyday speech).
The problem with reversing word order is not just that grammar is violated, but that it doesn't sound like anybody actually speaks. It also creates a sing-song quality, with a bunch of end-stopped lines.
Before I realized how you were using today's end-stops, I was mentally revising the lines. I couldn't help myself. We can always make the words rhyme at the ends of lines w/o losing a natural flow.
Example:
You needed to rhyme "fleet," so...
"...and he asked if he could meet
my sister Kate, who chose to abate &c."
This adds a beat to the "abate" line, but you may notice that you can vary between three-and-four beat lines for a more comfortable feel than when you stick to a three-beat pattern.
Forgive me if I am overstepping. My bias is clear: As an old actor, I prefer language that is conversational, less artificial.
But in today's poem, you made artifice into an asset. Kudos! More power to you!
~ OMK
I forgot to mention, Misty, that for some reason your poem reminded me of a song my mother used to sing.
She was a fine singer and taught us all many songs, especially patriotic tunes and Xmas carols, that we would sing in unison while doing household chores, especially washing and drying dishes.
She had a repertory of pop songs too, and the one your poem made me think of was a hit in the 1920s--
"I wish that I could Shimmy like my Sister Kate,
She shivers just like jelly on a plate.
All the boys are going wild
Over sister Katie's style..."
Recognize it?
~ OMK
Hi, Wilbur. I think AA has done some fine work. I just know that I could never personally accept some of its premises -- well, one main premise. So it's a good thing that I don't really like alcohol, isn't it!!
I'll be late. I couldn't grok the riddle-solution. Sandy you're in the 90%. However, the rewards of the 12 is a bonus.
I'm headed into a mtg right now
Ol' Man Keith, I love your mother's poem about Sister Kate! Made my day--along with your other kind and helpful comments.
Remember, Chet, recovery goes not to the fleet, it's not a contest
After a period the cravings abate and you'll be ready for the main test
A script will be provided for inventory and resentments you harbor
But be sure to take the steps , not willy nilly but in order
As you gain time in program you can update the list
You'll find there were things that at first go you missed
Later you will approach folks but avoid a common trap
Do no harm to innocent parties, no need to cause a flap
WC
Yes, per your last line, I truly agree with that part of the steps about not letting regret make one insensitive to the effect a confession might have on another's feelings.
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