Rallentanda

Rallentanda

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Poem # 6 Starting Over Mini Challenge

'Starting Over'

What's the choice
go backwards
stay in the rut or
roll forward
rollin'rollin'rollin'
keep them dawgies movin'
the herd has thinned out
there's only two of us left
little lonesome rangers
Cisco and Pancho
two loony tunes
stumbling over boulders
sipping gin and tonics
laughing hilariously
at Inspector Montelbano
having a moment in Sicily
staggering into the sunset
writing reams of elastic words
a few pearls but mostly destined
for the hot dollar shop
desperate to keep the drab at bay
blinkering out the ugliness
eyes focused on the ocean
forever starting over

17 comments:

  1. Rall, You write a series that look so easy and elastic .. and full of civilised depth, ennui with humour. Laugh, love, live, we're all on the same page.-Irene

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  2. Thanks Irene.I know it sounds silly but there's something very reassuring about your spelling and English expression.We are all such creatures of habit aren't we?

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  3. Hi Rall,

    Now I've got to google Insp. Montelbano and the hot dollar shop! I like:

    'desperate to keep the drab at bay
    blinkering out the ugliness'

    And who said you're a looney tune? Let me at 'im!

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  4. From Therese -- I like how almost all the lines are self-sufficient phrases. As a stack of odds 'n ends, this poem starts over with every new line. And, because the phrases are plucked from varying contexts, the reading mind starts over with every new line, asking itself, "Where did this line come from?" I can almost hear this poem spoken in two alternating voices, a back-and-forth. Lots of fun!

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  5. You amaze me! To be so prolific and each one a gem!
    Don't we all have to continually "start over" or be left behind?

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  6. Derrick..Inspector Montelbano is Sicily's answer to England's Inspector Foyle.It is such a corny show that it is riveting and hilarious to my mind at least and yes I have a thing for inspectors, detective types, and spies...so you're safe!
    The hot dollar shop is one of those cheap shops
    where you are supposed to get bargains...you know the sort where you go in to buy one thing
    and leave just having spent $100

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  7. Therese that idea of having the two voices
    is really good .It actually works like that
    but it wasn't my intention.Glad you liked it.

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  8. Yep that's right Cyn.I'm a bit stressed at the moment and under pressure I'm at my most creative and prolific.When I don't write much
    you'll know I'm relaxed!You must be very relaxed at the moment.

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  9. Ouch! Is it sad to show my age, knowing all your references but one. So be it. But now those images (and the music) is playing relentlessly in my head. A good romp I suppose that makes! Reams of elastic words - that also fits very well, right down then to the unstopping sea.

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  10. Rall, I read these from top to bottom, and loved how your voice expanded with each one. I enjoy how you mix me up - words and phrases I know so well with new thoughts and feelings.

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  11. I'm flattered that you identified so strongly with these.Perhaps we were peas inhabiting the same pod in another life.
    I'm looking forward to your next poems.

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  12. there are so many lines to highlight, the whole thing would be shaded yellow if I had my pen out. Beautiful... oh, so, true....

    It is a matter of devotion - this idea of forever starting over. Like forever being present.

    THANK YOU!

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  13. Isn't continually starting over a bit like staying in the same place? I find the idea of this disturbing. In any place, what ever you learn from being there, has to alter you, so it's a different person that goes forward. It's not so much starting over, as changing into something new to progress...

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  14. Everyone calls you Rall, nice..I sort of like R. Allen, anyway...
    Let's do our bit to keep the drab at bay..
    Next life, starting over for the millionth time..I hope I will have learned something!

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  15. I find everything disturbing Jinks...good to find you chipper and flamenco'd!

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  16. R.Allen...nope,I don't think so!
    This instantly came to mind

    'When my Baby
    When my Baby smiles at me
    I go to Rio'

    R. will do.

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  17. I'm glad you want to shade my poem in yellow Julie.

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