All hints are in the comments!

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Feb. 10, 2019

|| plait, tonic, alkali, menace, (the) "inn" place. || impact, detach, flaunt, woodsy, ornery, weasel, waited on hand & foot.

The opening poem contains all the words (or variations of them) from today's Jumble.
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7 comments:

OwenKL said...

Barnaby was a salesman, a master of his trade.
He could outsell anyone, leave them in the shade.
But among his many facets, ethics was not found.
Anything to make a profit on every go around!

Once out west in the desert, a town of Alkali Flats,
Snow-white powder dunes, wind-plaited into plats
The stuff dissolved in water. it had an awful taste.
"This stuff is an elixir, I'll not let it go to waste!"

Loading a crate of crystals, his wagon headed east.
Was this stuff a menace? He cared not in the least!
Bottles filled with water, and a sprinkle of this dust,
He sold as Wonder Tonic, to cure anything it must!

At every place he stopped, every inn and roadhouse,
He hawked his fake concoction, poo-pooing any doubt.

Karma, it is promised, repays our every action.
Barnaby, the Senator, gives us no such satisfaction.


OwenKL said...

The weasel came most every night, to pillage the poultry.
Farmers tried to catch him, but he avoided every sentry.
The ornery cuss would flaunt his tail as he retreated,
Then at some other hen-house, the next night he repeated.

They waited on his showing at the foot of each hen-house,
Firearm at hand. And their patrol each night he'd flout.
It was impacting sleep, they were becoming detached,
Determined this woodsy predator, this varmint, to dispatch!

Sandyanon said...

Wow, for once the j6 was easier for me than the j4. None of the clues on either one were problems, but the solution of the j4 took some staring and thinking, whereas the j6 solution fell right into place with no waiting.

Ooh, I was reading along in the first poem, enjoying it and then whammy, you hit me with the knowledge that he was a senator!

And hey, that second poem sucks us into the story and then leaves us hanging, not knowing the fate of the weasel. To be continued?

OwenKL said...

Barnaby used his success with the tonic to become Senator after the poem story. Much like some current office holders.
The weasel probably lived to a ripe old age. Weasels are smart -- just look at Sen. Barnaby!

There are 2 Alkali Flats. One near Sacramento, the other at White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. Having been to White Sands, picturing those lovely dunes was easy!

Sandyanon said...

Ah, I see. I missed that implication, that he didn't pay for his sins, so to speak, but rather lived happily ever after. Probably turned into a sanctimonious old man with enormous influence in the Senate.

Misty said...

Well, I only get the six word Jumble, and I got the bottom four words but had trouble with the top two. On to Owen's second poem, and there they were--two words I should have gotten but didn't see right away. But the solution was no problem at all, given the products of the store and that you would probably have to wait in line at a great place like that. Lots of fun--many thanks, Owen, and thank you, creators of the delightful cartoon.

Sandyanon said...

Misty, I think you would find it fun to do the four word jumble on Sundays too. It's easy enough to do it from this site, maybe with some scratch paper. I've formed the habit of doing them both here, on Owen's generously provided jumble site, especially as my newspaper often comes pretty late these days.