A rounded view of poverty

Poverty

Grandpa what does being poor mean?

Never feeling fed and afeared that you’ll end up in the streets.

Grandma, what does being poor mean?

Walking by when someone’s suffering and being bitter with your lot.

What its mean to you?

Daddy not buying me the BMX that my friends have.

A reverse Etheree riposte* *

If you’re anything like me, one of your favourite reasons to read is for the story. Not for the character development and interaction. Not because of the descriptive, emotive powers of the writer. Not because of deep, literary meaning hidden beneath layers of metaphor. (Even though those are all good things.) No … it’s because you want to know what happens next?

Or, um, is it just me?

Husband on being asked do you like plots before the first coffee of the day.
Do one-legged ducks swim in circles?
But do you LIKE plots in a story?
Isn’t it’s cold at the North Pole?
I am ASKING about plots.
Is the Pope Catholic?
Listen. It’s about plots,
Is water wet?
Yes but plots..
Fire, Hot?
PLOTS!

**For those that went Err? Click and learn...Etheree poetical form

Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

Ginger

The Queen did stamp and howleth.
Her meal was fowleth.

For heads roll if Anger hung
so Fools tried a song.

But Wise and Crafty thought on
and sent out for Swan.

Nutmeg, ginger, cloves, allspice:
Roast Swan paradise!

Now Wise or Fool dance and clown
as Crafty steals Crown.

Seen from a window

Man sized feet in flesh coloured stilettos with pig trotter toes poking.

The Third Date

Peanut Butter Cups

“Look, get the candles flickering, the music low, and crack open the wine and serve her:

Sardines sur le pain grillé
Bifteck avec des salades
Tasses de beurre d'arachide”

“You know I can barely open a tin”.

“Mike, even you can do:

Sardines on toast
Steak with Salad
Peanut Butter-Cups”

A Stillness comes

Peanut Butter

The peanut butter sandwich on soft white bread cut into the shape of a soccer ball flew into the air hitting the branches of roadside larches still in Ieaf despite the cold autumn snap; falling the slices, divided, peanut sides face up, flopping down on the boy’s now still body.

Mama Knows Best

Chocolate

Your problem child is you trying to hold him with a plain diet, all gruel and grits. Any man with fire going flicker on that. You want him looking for what else is cooking?

Oh no Mama

Hush, just get yourself chocolate and chilli and he’ll stick around for seconds.