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| raven, uncle, grimly, mantra, learning curve.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.
Johnny was a jackdaw, eager to learn,
ReplyDeleteLike how to curve his wings to turn.
When you're a bird, you know things like that,
But it's possible to do with more eclat!
So he asked his Uncle Raven to mentor,
But the grim old bird became his tormentor!
Forced him to practice day and night,
Took all the fun out of high flight!
Not only flying, but to rid his squawk
He taught young Johnny how to talk!
Repeating a mantra of words round the clock,
Until Johnny could say, "Thanks, Unk, but I'll walk!"
When it came to romance Chet had long since cried uncle
ReplyDeleteGirlfriend after girlfriend he'd loved and lost.
He grimly recalled his last attempt, which sounded his death knell
"Don't lose your heart again", he swore, "Too high a cost"
Girls had come , girls had gone much like a revolving door
Chet had vowed to listen to Poe's raven. " Nevermore".
Just when he mastered the learning curve of love's bitter song
And life amounted to stools in lonely bars, Lois had come along
WC
What suspense! What tension!
ReplyDeleteWilbur ~ You have us on tenterhooks!!
So Chet & Lois were together in the back of the car all the way to some kinda cinema heaven--and he has yet to make a move!
No, this appears to be instead an opportunity for more back story, more explanation of why Chet is so hesitant. Lois is to Chet the absolute dream chance to overcome his sleazy experiences.
Isn't it time to plant a kick on the butt of this lad?!
~ OMK
ReplyDelete"Quoth the Raven"
I learned a mantra to give my pet bird.
He's a raven I call "Uncle Grimly."
He glares at me as I teach him the word:
"One can love a bird--only thinly."
~ OMK
"Kind Uncle"
ReplyDeleteMy uncle adopted a raven
and provided a comfortable haven.
He cared for wild animals and pets
and housed them at home in sets.
The wounded and neglected always dimly
reminded him of lives they lived grimly.
His mantra was to willingly share
compassion, and to provide care.
For us children this really did serve
as a valuable learning curve.
My goodness, lots of great poems before I even came on board with my simple one.
ReplyDeleteOwen, loved the story about the surprisingly tough mentor to his poor student.
Wilbur, I agree with OMK that getting Chet's sad romance back-story is a helpful lead in to his new start with Lois.
OMK, always amazes me how you work all the Jumble words into such a brief poem--even without the solution. A pleasure.
Loved that ending, Owen. Your jackdaw had too much of a good thing, with a "curve" that took a downturn.
ReplyDeleteMisty ~ Congrats to your uncle!
His kindness wins the day. Of all the teachers in today's poems, his lessons were the only ones to score well with his pupils!
And I reckon my attempt to "teach" a "learned" mantra to a glaring bird was too subtle to count as a hint to today's solution. I must be more explicit in future.
~ OMK
No, no, OMK, I must be more vigilant about subtlety when I read your poems in future.
ReplyDeleteAnd now we need Sandy to opine. Should Chet just 'Let it happen '? What should he actually say to Lois "Did you like the amulet celebrating Harmony?"
ReplyDelete"I love you, let's hit Vegas and get hitched?" OK second date for that. "How'd a girl like you end up in AA?"
The usual. Sandy will have good advice for Chet but Chet will listen to anyone.
WC
No, Misty, I should have given more attention to the "curve" part, not just assume the invisible arc between human and bird might suffice.
ReplyDeleteYou took a big step today in burying a couple of the clue words inside lines. I thought it quite successful. I also liked how you broke the regularity of end-stopping by flowing through "always dimly/ reminded him" and "to willingly share/ compassion..."
Cool.
~ OMK
I can wait for Sandy's vote, WC.
ReplyDeleteBut in the meantime (since Chet will heed just anyone), I'll cast my ballot for choice #1.
If he goes with either of the others, I might chalk it up to nerves.
If I'm feeling charitable.
~ OMK
So, Wilbur, here I am again! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteit sounds as though Chet may be blaming alcohol abuse on his unfortunate love life. That's dangerous, isn't it! Whatever happens with Lois, I hope he stays the course. John has good things to say; listen to his advice, Chet.
Misty ~ It just occurred to me: Should we have a policy on splitting the infinitive?
ReplyDeleteOr did Star Trek resolve that issue for good and always?
Should we not bother to officiously criticize infractions?
~ OMK
Speaking of...
ReplyDeleteI tried out both the Croc who was in "deNile" and the tipsy existentialist who "didn't think (ergo)he wasn't an alcoholic" on my fellow travelers at the meeting this AM.
Both jokes fell flat.
WC