[all's fair in love...and pinball...and taxi driver #2]

two lovers kiss and it doesn't mean a thing
first come first serve assembly line
for wind-up hearts to sell and trade

two lovers kiss and it's just a midnight fling
just talk more talk of your cloud nine
but by the hour the price is paid

two lovers kiss but you'll never see a ring
although their arms may intertwine
they've cheapened love; it's now decayed

two people weep and it means most everything
for tried and failed attempts to find
the meaning of love at the penny arcade

Read more...

Hippo Culture - Word War - 5 minutes

The hippo, which is very unlike a tall green shoot of bamboo, is very fat. And aggressive. If in fact you did try to make a linkage between the two, only two come to mind. One, pandas are fat. Pandas eat bamboo. And, hippos are fat. While hippos do not consume bamboo, their opposition to bamboo connects them to the main consumer of it. But, that is really no matter of concern. For you could link any things or objects together, but what would the point be? No gain would come of it, unless you were bored and needed something entertaining. If you did indeed find linking random things together entertaining, I would go so far as to suggest that you need serious mental therapy. But if you actually live in a remote region of the world and have nothing better to do, then I would not suggest any form of treatment for the boredom entertainment. And anyhow, you wouldn't have the funds to pay for it. But moving back to the hippos: Hippos are very aggressive. They seem laid back and lazy. And anyhow, they always say that fat people are jolly. But not hippos. I suppose it doesn't apply anyways, because hippos are not in fact people. So nevermind there. If you so much as enter a pool of water that they are currently occupying, you have just granted your own personal death wish. Unfortunate, I know. Especially for those who do not know that a hippo is submerged underneath murky waters. They are in for a particularly unpleasant surprise. Hippos have very large and dangerous teeth, not to mention all the bacteria in their mouth. But I won't worry you with the bacteria, for if you do get mauled by a hippo you will most likely not survive it so I might as well not plague you with the insignificance of bacteria as the hippo rips you apart with his and her ferocious biters. If, however, you are wishing to die, I would suggest the hippo as the perfect form. This form of suicide proves that you are not actually a wimp of any sort and that you were willing to do anything to remove yourself from the face of the planet. Might as well have an exciting experience before death. You might even make the news. So far I have yet to hear of any 'hippo suicides.' Hopefully, I never will. I never advocate suicide.

Read more...

Letter to my Dad

I heard my name being called from across the hall,

But I rolled over and put the pillow over my ears.

Another day. The clatter and boom of the garbage man pulling in front of the

houses soon penetrated my cocoon. Ah, to late now, I thought.

What in this world of to-do lists and expectations keeps me going

Keeps me going, besides the I shoulds and if-you-don'ts.

But I am here, and you are there, 

In a desolate, war torn place.

I shouldn't complain.

I heard my name at violin ensemble. They said, Mary Claire, stand here for your

picture. Or, sit over there behind the second violins. Did you remember your music?

What in this world of to-do lists and expectations keeps me going,

Keeps me going, besides the I shoulds and if-you-don'ts.

But I am here, and you are there,

In a desolate, war torn place.

I shouldn't complain.

I heard my name at the end of the phone, and I couldn't help but hope.

A new day. A new opportunity. This time my essay would be read

At the state or even regional level. But what about this part on Afghanistan, they

asked. Surely you know nothing about such things, anyhow?

This is, after all, the U.S.A.

I am here, and you are there.

In a desolate, war torn place.

I shouldn't complain.

I heard your voice on the phone. You sounded tired. You said, 

What in this world of to-do lists and expectations keeps me going, 

Keeps me going besides the I shoulds and if-you-don'ts

I'd better not think about that. I'm ready to get home now.

 By the way, do your part and take care of things, would you? 

It's not so hard there, trust me, you have no idea what a girl's life is like here

In a desolate, war torn place.

I shouldn't complain.

I listened to the sound of some 300 olive drab BDU buttons in a glass mason jar.

My youngest sister turned it upside down, then right side up.

They made a crunchy sound, like leaves rustling on a tree.

All I could think of to say was, stop it, won't you please just stop it.

Now there are only a couple dozen.

Let's not argue about half full or half empty

I am here, and you are there.

What in this world of to do lists and expectations keeps me going, 

Keeps me going besides the I shoulds and if-you-don'ts.

But I am here, and you are there,

In a desolate, war torn place.

I shouldn't complain.

This year I can think

No, I do think about something

Something besides Christmas, 

When you leave

that desolate,

war-torn

place.

And I won't complain.

Read more...