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Sunday, March 1, 2020

I BELIEVE ONLY IN GARLIC



It is mid morning
and some salesmonkey in Mississippi
is ringing my number
ignoring the grave warnings 
in my voice greeting

someone on the telly
implores me repeatedly
to ask my doctor about
something
and the shopping aisles
are lined with friendly reminders
to get my flu shot

they're trying to kill me at every turn


so I'm off to do my power walk
and as the plague spreads 
across the planet
I believe only in garlic
and apple cider vinegar
and beets
and in the end
perhaps
I believe only in dynamite

and you're still hot and heavy
for a man from your past who was
arrogant and insensitive to your feelings
a quasi musician with no real ambition
(I've read the private thoughts of many 
so please don't feel singled out)
and I remember the night she said:
how DARE you invade my mind like that!

sorry...

my ancestors were Vikings

we live in constant dread

like quail scurrying across open spaces 


time runs down

till time runs out
and in the end
we're all just looking for something
that's more enduring than we are 

53 comments:

  1. __ You've caused imagination Tim.

    days end
    within nights time we steep
    tomorrows dream

    __ Today, is yesterday's tomorrow; tomorrow, we strive to improve. _m

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    1. Always appreciate your thoughtful comments,Doug :)

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    2. sTeep_? sLeep_? Spelling, matters little.

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    3. I think "steep" is the better word in there, though either would work.

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  2. Those salesmonkeys are so annoying sigh.. I remember being in a meeting at work and having to switch off my phone.

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  3. Yup..garlic is the king! And I agree - we're all just looking for something
    that's more enduring than we are!!!

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  4. I've never liked those Nordic types....it's those big horns,
    they wear. Garlic is great for getting rid of vampires:)

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    1. I hope those horns don't show through my head--lol And i think you're right about garlic...no vampires have approached me for several days!

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  5. Luv your end verse. It speaks volumes to us cliffhangers

    Much🌼love

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  6. I swear by garlic in the cold season as well. I have it during the warm times too - just because I love the taste of it. :D

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  7. I always knew that the flu came from Sweden... Garlic is great, works against flu and vampire.

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    Replies
    1. Remember to get your vampire shot--lol

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    2. Great to revisit... wonder if it's better to mix Garlic in the Corona than lime

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  8. Garlic, ginger, and dynamite will either cure it or kill it. Believe!

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  9. I love the journey you take us on, with all its unexpected twists and turns. Very stream-of-consciousness – except that it's so beautifully crafted.

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    1. Thanks so much, Rosemary! I'm learning to write down more of that internal dialogue (otherwise known as talking to yourself) that we all engage in daily, because it's more revealing of the inner self, I believe.

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  10. "we're all just looking for something
    that's more enduring than we are"

    - loved the closing lines, so true !

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  11. Love how you paired humor with wisdom in this one Tim!

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    1. I appreciate your thoughts, Carrie. Thanks for stopping by!

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  12. I like the way you move from an everyday, annoying situation with the salesmonkey, through the TV ads and shopping aisles, to James Coburn and dynamite, and arrive at the killer last lines!

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    1. Thanks, Kim, for your lovely comment. It proves you read the entire poem!!!

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  13. How entertaining your writing is. Captivating in its detail and amusing in its style. Love it.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Old Egg. I've always thought you were a good egg!

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  14. Humor an wisdom are a perfect tea for me. Yes, we do chase that which will last longer than we do.

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  15. Eat garlic and onion every day and you will be okay ... if any more questions our customer service will be happy to accommodate you ... waiting time is 30 minutes ... anyway, love, cat.

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  16. Just play some crummy music on the phone while I'm waiting and I'll be happy!

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  17. Your poems always make me smile. "I believe only in garlic" just slays me. And i LOVE "we live in constant dread like quail scurrying across open spaces." So good.

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    1. So glad you like that line, Sherry. Lots of quail around here :)

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    2. I believe in " surely goodness will follow me always til the end of my days" I'm still waiting. So if you're out there goodness... best get a move on !

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    3. Goodness has been held up in a massive traffic jam. Will an unprecedented irrational worldwide panic be good enough for now?

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  18. Love this and the title is perfect. I feel like we're being stalked by the pharmaceutical companies and tv ads. Maybe we should wear our garlic and carry crosses to fend them off. I believe in mushrooms.

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    1. Garlic breath is usually enough to fend them off--lol. I'm with you on the mushrooms...sprinkled with garlic, of course.

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  19. The question is, should I apply garlic to the phone as well? Love everyday anxiety imagery and the ending lines.

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    1. Apply garlic liberally...to the phone, all over your body, etc.

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  20. "Plague be damned!," says the poet. "I'm going out for a power walk!" (I like your attitude. And from what I can see, there's plenty of it.)

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    1. Thanks, my friend. The worst plague is irrational panic, now spreading globally. We are so easily manipulated.

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    2. Too many of my friends and intimates are panicking about the coronavirus. Their panic is not a pretty sight...and store shelves are being emptied of certain items. It's disconcerting.

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  21. I love the stream of consciousness "flavor" of your poem, and I enjoyed every line!

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    1. Thank you so much. Sometimes it's "stream of semi-consciousness"--lol

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  22. And may we never stop looking - I think it's vital to who we are.
    Great words, by the way.

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  23. Back for second readings, and thinking that the plague has spread so furiously that the dynamite might have to be pair with C-4 or azidoazide azide.

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    Replies
    1. For those who are ready to blast their way out of this mess.

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  24. For many, the flu is quite deadly as well - and 24/7 news is what is "killing" us - just hammers our brains with fear and lies. Sigh.

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    1. You know how thy were going nuts over Ebola? Then, suddenly, it became less and less of a news story...and they just unceremoniously started covering other things when they saw they couldn't convince people to run screaming in the streets because the average person wasn't going to be affected. Same thing will happen with Corona at some point.

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