Lost in the Mists of Yesterday

I see her there every afternoon

As I walk home from the bus stop.

She sits in her rocking chair

Behind the glass of the big bay window,

Gazing out at something only she can see.

Cast in bronze by the late afternoon sun,

She doesn’t move or return my wave.

But a gentle smile graces her lips,

As she wanders though the mists of yesterday,

Visiting moments more joyful than this one.

The Actress

I’d watched her work her magic many times, and was always enthralled by her talent . She was the consummate actress. Her every performance brought the audience to a new place, brought them to tears, brought them to their feet. The many awards on her mantle attested to her skill and popularity.

But most of all, I was enthralled by the way she looked on stage. Every detail was always perfect. My appreciation is no surprise, of course. It’s what I do. I'm a dresser  For decades, it’s been my job and my honor to dress her, and I humbly take some credit for that perfection.

And now it was time to dress her for her final performance. I slipped the gown over her head. It was one of the most beautiful she’d ever worn. After cloaking her shoulders to protect the creamy satin and lace, I gently stoked her face with foundation and fluffed some powder over it. A little eye shadow, mascara, and a touch of lipstick finished the job. I ran the soft bristle brush through her silver hair, and we were done. Perfection!  She was ready to meet her public.

“There you are, my dear. You’ve never looked lovelier.” 

Reverently, I wheeled the casket on its gurney into the viewing room.  

“It’s show time!”

This was written for Magpie Tales. For more, go here.

Climbing Maslow's Pyramid*

Millions are hungry, thirsty, homeless, and sick.

Asking for little but the bottom.

And here I sit, sated,
Striving only for the pinnacle.

My heart weeps in guilt.

 

This was written for Sunday 160. Got something to say in 160 characters, including spaces?  Visit Monkey Man.

 

* If you aren't familiar with Maslow's pyramid:

Joey Stink-Eye Smiles

He was little more than a bagman,
Just a tramp and a swagman,
Riding the rails from somewhere near
To the distant back of beyond.
NY to LA, through TX, KS and PA,
Boxcars filled with this and that
Were the only homes he knew.

Stopping off along the way
He looked for friendly signs.
Who to trust, where to eat,
There was lots he didn’t know.
But others like him
Who’d stopped before him
Left cryptic maps and notes behind
To show him where to go.


“There’s a lady here in this farmhouse
With a heart that’s made of gold.
Help her out with a chore or two,
She’ll invite you into her red-and-white kitchen
And give you a meal, maybe beans and chicken.
If you’ve worked hard and you’re weary, really needing sleep
She’ll send you out to that barn back there
To share some space with sheep.”

After some food and maybe some rest,
He was ready to be on his way,
He gathered his gear and shouldered his bag
And followed the signs to the train.
He was little more than a bagman,
Just a tramp and a swagman,
Riding the rails from somewhere near
To the distant back of beyond.

******************************************************

Hobos are a part of American history we learn very little about in school. It is thought that they first appeared on the railroading scene after the Civil War. Historians estimate that the hobo population swelled to hundreds of thousands during the Great Depression, and that there are still thousands riding the rails today.

Interestingly, hobos had their own lingo, as well as a vocabulary of symbols used to alert other hobos to conditions in a town.

Several years ago, author and satirist John Hodgman wrote about hobos in his own inimitable style in his book, The Area of my Expertise. The creator of this video (which never appeared on PBS, I'm sure) used the hobo segment from the audiobook of the same name as the narrative for the video.  As you will quickly discover, Hodgman describes the history of hobos during the depression with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek.

Theme Thursday: The Triangle

The theme for the week at Theme Thursday is Triangle

I'm not sure what to say about this, except that this guy obviously did better in Geometry class than I did.

The Triangle

100 Word Challenge: The Surprise

This was written for Velvet Verbosity's 100 Word Challenge. The prompt for this week's challenge is "bustier" (you know, as in "lifts and separates"?).  For more sexy lingerie, visit the Challenge's temporary home, graciously provided by LouCeel, and check out the comments section.

The Surprise

They’d been married barely a year, and she felt she really didn’t know Jim. Their conflicting schedules certainly did nothing to help that situation. Her evening shift at the hospital meant she was long gone before Jim got home.

But, tonight, she’d gotten out of work early and she was going to surprise him. She let herself into the apartment quietly, and tiptoed into the bedroom. Jim was standing in front of the mirror in her favorite black satin bustier, turning this way and that.

He winked and said, “What do you think, Honey? Does this make me look fat?”

.

Wordless Wednesday: Salad, Waiting