“Generations” reminds me of a story that a Tulalip man told to me. It starts out, “ A long time ago, the trees thought they were people. A long time ago, the animals thought they were people....”. and so on. I don’t remember the rest of it, unfortunately. It’s one of those kinds of stories that you can interpret many many different ways, depending on your age, where you were when you heard it, etc. I like to think of them as Rorschach stories.
What can I say? You and I are special people. Sure, I spent 25 years working overseas, but there wasn’t a day when I didn’t want to be back home.
I’m writing this very quietly so no one from southeast of us will hear how good it is here. We’ve been discovered. They used to joke about how we were the home of the world’s last guy to wear a mullet. Now it’s hard to find a parking place at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.
I was at the local DMV recently when one of the newbies was changing his license plates to local ones. When the clerk handed them to him, he started dancing around and saying he was an I_____n. I told him that just because he was in the oven didn’t mean he was a biscuit. After he left, only a little downcast, the clerk scolded me, well, she actually threatened to murder me if I ever said that again, because it almost made her laugh at the guy and she didn’t want to get fired because of it.
Not long after that little incident, I was at the DMV again and it was the same situation and the same clerk, but since I remembered her threat, I didn’t repeat myself.
“Mister,” I said, “just because you push blueberries up a cat’s rear end doesn’t mean you got yourself a blueberry muffin.”
Was once told me that no one knows when to clap
for my 'short' poems. Clapping loudly for these beauties.
That first one just slayed me. So succinct but HUGE impact.
Thank you, Jim.
Loved “Generations”. It took forever to get to 21 and about a week to get to 40. Trees and seeds,exactly.
As a forester, I love Generations… I could see a part 2 & 3 to this poem. Love it.
Thank you, Dale! I hadn't thought of going into farther generations of trees. Now I'm pondering!
Pondering Ponderosa Pine!
What a beautiful collection. Thank you.
Thank you, Ruth.
if only we could cradle each other now- thank you for your timeliness
Mirage, Mirage speaks straight to my heart....
Thank you, Barbara.
Me reading...'this one is my favorite'...'no this one is'...'damn, for sure it's this one'!
Well done Sherman and thank you so much!
Thank you, Donna!
“Generations” reminds me of a story that a Tulalip man told to me. It starts out, “ A long time ago, the trees thought they were people. A long time ago, the animals thought they were people....”. and so on. I don’t remember the rest of it, unfortunately. It’s one of those kinds of stories that you can interpret many many different ways, depending on your age, where you were when you heard it, etc. I like to think of them as Rorschach stories.
Mirage broke my heart, just as it should. I thought of my grandfather, long buried at Winchester, Idaho.
My father was an Idaho boy, as well.
What can I say? You and I are special people. Sure, I spent 25 years working overseas, but there wasn’t a day when I didn’t want to be back home.
I’m writing this very quietly so no one from southeast of us will hear how good it is here. We’ve been discovered. They used to joke about how we were the home of the world’s last guy to wear a mullet. Now it’s hard to find a parking place at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.
I was at the local DMV recently when one of the newbies was changing his license plates to local ones. When the clerk handed them to him, he started dancing around and saying he was an I_____n. I told him that just because he was in the oven didn’t mean he was a biscuit. After he left, only a little downcast, the clerk scolded me, well, she actually threatened to murder me if I ever said that again, because it almost made her laugh at the guy and she didn’t want to get fired because of it.
Not long after that little incident, I was at the DMV again and it was the same situation and the same clerk, but since I remembered her threat, I didn’t repeat myself.
“Mister,” I said, “just because you push blueberries up a cat’s rear end doesn’t mean you got yourself a blueberry muffin.”
F**k... powerful....very powerful. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Gabriel.
“Prognosis” is my favorite as well. It shouldn’t be because it is a gut punch, but truth is like that.
Thank you, Gael.
“Prognosis” is my favorite. Love it. And so pleased we are becoming buddies on substack!
Thank you, Susan. You write so well. I'm happy to follow you.
All the poems have an incredible human depth
Thank you, Rolando.
All four poems beautiful and so excellently human. 🖤
I’d love to share these on a future post on Three Things Weekly, if that would be ok?
Thank you, and sure, share.
Awesome! I wish I could write like this someday, perhaps.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Cheinna.