Christmas '13

So many outstretched hands! Support our troops. Salvation Army bells are ringing. Help feed our needy. Toys for our tots, for our children. Support your library. Little jar on the counter: help to pay the bills for our ill. Donate food, toys. Donate gifts for seniors, for pets, winter coats. Donate money, money, money. What about family? I still don't have anything for him, for them, and her. I think this is the best Christmas we ever have had. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 12/13/13

Two blue gloves

To Kalinka Two blue gloves went for a walk on the street eager to whom they'll meet. Trudging in the snow falling on their fingers (they do not have a nose). Now they know the snow is cold. Better to stay on somebody's hands to keep them warm. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 12/15/13

Stage fright

I don't like to be in limelight. I get a stage fright. I don't like to get to much attention. Let me be. I am shy. I am a flower blooming in the shade - just don't step on me. It doesn't feel right to be crushed. I don't care about success, I prefer peace of mind and quiet life. Success comes from time to time by itself. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 12/10/2013

A bread

When you are hungry, really, really hungry, a slice of dry bread tastes like a cake. Take small bites, mix them with saliva in your mouth and experience sweetness and goodness of nourishment. Throw an old bread to the birds. They are watching for food crumbs and seeds. You will hear a joyful "chirp" from the trees. Do not let a cat out. It's mean. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, September 2013

Winter fruit

A bush is covered with sparrows looking at me. They are hungry fruit of winter. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 11/30 2013

Butterfly snack

Shelling sunflower pies, sitting outside in warm Sun. Leaving some seeds for the birds and a squirrel. Large white seeds look like teeth. I found couple canine teeth. The cat is protecting his garden from moles, chipmunk and others. Yesterday he ate a little white butterfly. First he caught it, standing up, between his front paws. Then he ate it. First he wasn't sure if he likes it, but then he ate it all. Did his mom tell him to eat what he catches? It is a food. Wings, legs, torso and eyes. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, Summer 2013

A mouse 2

In the dead of night I hear a mouse digging, scratching, gnawing a hole, trying to get into the house to be warm in winter. The mouse is scraping, digging, thinking: I am sure there will be some crumbs and plenty of food , too. A cat is sitting by the wall waiting for the mouse to show. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann October 2013

Things

She likes the things, so she goes shopping every day. She has about fifty skirts and as many dresses. She comes home with more stuff. They don't build big enough closets and houses. She complains they don't have enough money for travel, when she watches neighbors RV go somewhere and don't come back sometimes for weeks. They spend everything on things: clothes and shoes. "These slacks I wore only once." I don't have a shopping power. I watch changing seasons and swift river in old jeans and hand me down hoodie. Things are not in my dreams. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 9/1/2012

Lucky farmer

Lucky farmer received a farm as a gift. "I am lucky," said the farmer and named his farm "Lucky farm." He didn't know how many acres, but it was big. "See those trees on a horizon? They are mine." The farmer built a farm in the shade of pecan trees. "I am lucky I have plenty of pecans to eat all year around," prized himself the farmer. Somebody gave him a puppy. "You are one lucky dog to be with me," and he named the puppy Lucky. One day he brought himself a wife. "I am lucky to have a wife who knows how to cook, mend, clean the house and tends to garden." So lucky farmer lived on his Lucky farm with his wife and the dog named Lucky. If they were lucky and didn't die, they are still happy on their farm. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 3/2013

Hey Google

Hey Google, here is a poodle running on the street looking for his master and his car, where he suppose to sit. I don't hear any answer, so I think, I'd rather tweet. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville,9/14/2013

Nursing home

There was one nursing home with dedicated staff serving to geriatric needs of their residents. On one rainy day in March, 2009 an old lady was coming to live there and she had hard time to say good-bye to her cat, Litzi. Tears were on both sides, because Litzi felt the same. "May I bring my cat with me, please?", the lady sobbed. "She is no trouble, if only she can have a nice view out of the window and I will take good care of her." "Pshaw," thought Litzi. "Who takes care of whom? Who purrs in your ear, when you have bad dreams, and who comforts you, when you feel blue?" Humane staff of the nursing home decided Litzi has therapeutic influence on the old lady, and the cat moved in with her friend. Some voices complained: the cat is only ten, she doesn't qualify for the nursing home yet. "Shush. The cat is her medicine, and she has to take her furry medicine twenty four hours a day." Soon the news leaked out: "Mountain View nursing home is taking in pets." Elderly from all United States would like to live there. A few, who didn't like pets, moved out to places with spa, massage therapy and television (of course if they, or their children could afford to pay for such places.)In the more affordable environment they spent time playing cards. Soon the Mountain View was full to its capacity with residents and their four legged friends. I am wrong: There were three three legged cats, one with missing tail, and three with partly missing ears. When Mrs. Brownwater brought her cat Coffee to the lobby for show and tell, somebody piped out: "He isn't the exact beauty with his torn off ears, is he?" "He is beautiful to me." Coffee sat on her lap and loudly purred into her ear. The cats were confirmed to the rooms with their owners. Not the cat was allowed to roam in the kitchen, or to look for mice behind a furnace. Of course the cats knew about other cats, they even ostentatively ignored each other. "I am here for therapeutic purposes. I am almost a nurse. What are you here for?" "The same as you, and the cat leisurely licked her paws. "You and the nurse! Your lady broke her leg, because you had to lead her to the bathroom and she tripped over you." They were important cats. "What about the dogs?" people begged. "They are so affectionate. When Rolfi puts his paw on my leg and looks straight into my eyes, I already feel better." "You are in the wheelchair, who will take care of your dog, and who will take him out?" School kids are eager to make some pennies. "I'll take Rolfi for walk in the morning, after school, and night. Do you have money?" One daughter agreed: "I can pay for dog walking to keep my mom happy. I don't have time to visit her often. It is a distance, and I have the job, husband and the kids to raise, but we will come to see you sometimes, and bring you and Rolfi for Thanksgiving dinner to our house. We are going to pay plane passage." "I bring Rolfi with me and a big wooden frame." "What do you need the wooden frame for?" "I put my head and torso in it, so could introduce myself to my great grandchildren. "I am your living ancestor. Have a good look at me." "There is no need for the frame. Just the dog." Dogs were allowed to Mountain View nursing home, but there were an age restrictions. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 8/22/2013 I lied. I don't know about such nursing home.

How do you make coleslaw?

My second wife was a good cook. My first husband still misses strawberry dumplings and it was twenty years ago. I am not. They do not make them around, you know. Slightly raised eyebrows are sitting over Dunkin' coffee across the table. "How do you make them?' You don't want to know. It's a tedious job. You have to roll each dumpling in your hands. Besides it's very unhealthy meal. You pour real melted butter over them. I used to hide Christmas cookies from my children in empty coffee cans on the top of kitchen counters. "You wouldn't give cookies to your own children? No. It was, because nothing would be left for Christmas. I would have nothing to give them after the Christmas dinner. You could bake enough so they could eat them every day. No, I couldn't. In Advent you shouldn't indulge yourself. Besides they would grow fat. I already have a head of cabbage and carrots in the vegetable bin for a week. How do you make a coleslaw? We like it the way how they make it at Kentucky fried chicken. I don't make it by myself, but I'll ask my friend, who is making coleslaw for me, for recipe. Thank you. I consulted three cookbooks. Didn't like first two. Each cookbook is different. Some use red peppers, some not. The third one was: use a bag of coleslaw mix. I prefer to cook from scratch. It is not a big deal. I had a little cookbook my first husband bought for me, when we came to the States. There was a good coleslaw recipe. I gave it to my daughter. I might call her and ask. It's her turn to learn how to cook, anyway. Carrots has to be in good coleslaw and Vidalia onion mixed with sugar. I prefer Vidalia onion, because it doesn't make me cry. My onions are big as huge apples. I use a sweetener. Just only a little, because it makes everything to sweet. We didn't make coleslaw in England. I think, it is a polish recipe. Do Polish people live here? Polish, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Irish ... all people who were willing to work in coal mines. What else do you ad to coleslaw? Celery seeds, pinch of salt, vinegar, mayonnaise .. do not over do it. It has to be right mix. When are you going to serve your coleslaw? It will be for tonight supper with breaded veal and potatoes. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 8/20/2013

Bizarre World

Bizarre people bizarre deeds twisted mirrors looking down and pronounce loudly: you are a freak. Bizarre World. Cured seal immediately swallowed by shark. The cat, which just received a lesson, why do not eat birds, swallowed bird's head. I am the cat. I enjoy eating the birds. The laws of nature. Why are we trying to change them? Desperately. In the name of humanity. Higher species. Everything is only food chain anyway. Shark World. Who eats sharks? Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, July 2013

Hot weather

It is so hot, we don't clean a lot. We don't tidy a house and don't dust. It is so warm, the cat is loosing his hair again and lives in a cellar. It is so hot, we don't like to move. Sitting under the fan and drinking cold water. It is so hot, we stay inside behind closed shades. We go outside at six o'clock morning to take out garbage, and back inside to eat cold watermelon and do nothing, completely nothing, because it is such hot weather. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, July 2013

Wet dog

Wet dog walked in the rain to the village of Wet Dogs. "My wealthy aunt lives there. She has her own dog house. She might have some leftovers to eat, she will share with me." The aunt sleeps on a straw bed. She has her own blanket. The blanket is full of fleas, like the aunt. It doesn't matter she is on the chain. She gets to eat for barking. "I know how to bark. I hope the rain will stop soon. I would like to get to Wet Dogs dry. She might find me a job," the dog was dreaming about. Doggie, were are you going? You are not pure breed dog, you are just common mongrel who crawled to the pub's basement for the night. "Just to get dry, so I could keep walking to my aunt in Wet Dogs." During the night a robber got in to the basement. The dog barked, he was loud, and hold the robber behind. The pub owner came down and turned on the light. "You are some kind of the dog," he praised a canine. "You cannot stay in the cellar. I have a dog house after old Stella you might like." So the dog didn't arrive to his aunt in Wet Dogs, he stayed in Good Deal town. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 6/10/2013

An object

Today topic is: a meaning of object. Big question mark. I am afraid I do not understand this topic I have to write something about. What kind object? First what popped into my head: It must be UFO, or does it means a philosophical meaning of object? It doesn't exist. Everybody is already writing.I am panicking. I have to pick up any object. What about this long conference table we are sitting around? It is a good solid object made out of the wood. Is it an oak? No, probably not. The oak has more yellow color. It is varnish anyway. Actually it is not one long table, but two tables put together. They comfortably seat fourteen people. The tables are located in the library. Is it called a conference room? How many meeting were hold in this room? How many meetings are hold here each week? Some very important decisions are made here. They are important tables. Tables for decisions making. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, April 2013

Forteen cows

Skeletons of fourteen cows are on the pasture. They survived winter and now are greedily eating short grass. Ribs covered with skin, they are so thin. One month of eating grass and they will be able to have calves and produce milk. It was long and hard winter. Cows are feeding in grass. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 5/17/2013

An apple tree

I wish to be an apple tree. In early Spring they put cow manure around my roots. Roses in a flower bed receive horse fertilizer, and because it is scarce, at least rabbits' droppings. When I am in bloom all couples are kissing under my blossoms, or even doing something worse. I need only bees and bumblebees for that. Children are climbing on the top of the tree to try to eat green apples and, how clumsy they are, they brake my branches. "I tell you all the time: don't climb the trees." Children bellies have rash from sour apples. "Wait, till' be ripe, then you may harvest them all. They are for you and deer anyway. Only leave a few for the birds, so they could sing for you at Spring time." Children do not listen. They pick all apples and do not leave anything for the birds - as usually. Not even a single apple fallen under the tree. I am the apple tree. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann March 2013

The cat again

There is a poop in a bathtub and a fur ball is stretching on a sofa. Do not sit on this chair, it is full of cats' hair. Do not sit on that chair, the cat sleeps there. He cannot help it, he has to get rid of his fur balls. The cat is our pet and he feels as guilty as I am for not cleaning it on time. Do not disturb, the cat is sleeping now. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 3/3/2013

A closet of clothes

I remember dresses, skirts and coats I used to wear.Black, long one, which went so nicely with a mini-skirt. A grey skirt I shortened, because I wanted to wear mini. I wasn't a good seamstress. I was learning by ruining. Black pants with a permanent creases I didn't have to iron and they looked good. My husband's ex-gil-friend asked me to sell them to her. Blue and white cardigan was on all fall pictures full of fallen brown leaves. Don't stuff pockets with the keys and tissues. The pockets will not look nice. The pockets didn't look nice. Discarded closet of clothes. Where did they go? Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 5/27/2013

Hell and Haven

Haven is a busy place. All angels’ trays are overflowing with miracles’ requests and other calls for help. Hell reports the highest unemployment rate in years. Devils are having locusts, fire-ants and such for breakfast, dinner and lunch. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 5/16/2013

Before I die

try to undo damages I have done when I was young and delete all bad memories. Begin to gather a courage and strength, because I do not know what kind end is waiting for me. Just do not collect all illnesses in medical dictionary, I wish. Meanwhile I would love to enjoy the life which was given to me. It was an act of love. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 4/12/2013

Gingerbread house

"Hans, why don't you go to town and bring me a stone of sugar in the sack. Get me white, cane sugar this time, not like last time you brought brown sugar instead. And take a wheelbarrow, so it will be easier for you; you will not have to make stops anywhere. so the ants will not have a chance to get into the bag again." "Yes, grandmother, witch." "I have lot of repairs to do. The roof is leaking, a chimney needs a patch, and the wasps got into window frames, and licked the holes." Hans took a wheelbarrow and on the way out of front yard, he broke off a piece of picket fence to snack on something on his trip. After four hours he arrived to town. People were running, jogging and biking on the streets. He came to the store. " A stone of white cane sugar, please." "Sorry, we are out of sugar. You can have a sweetener, or splenda instead. Would you like splenda, or ..." "Oh, you must be a witche's boy from the forest. You are so fat, I couldn't recognize you." "I can not sell you not even an ounce of anything. Your grandmother still owes me for previous purchases. Sorry, come next time, but with money, not acorns like you did the last year." "Why people on the streets are walking, jogging and running, instead of driving in their cars?" "See, whole town is on the diet. Nobody eats sugar, or drinks sugary drinks anymore. The sugar cane factory closed and the bees almost went out of the business, til' somebody began to defend honey. It's good, because it's natural." "I have to bring back white, cane sugar." "Try another town. Goodbye." Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 2/18/2013 POW! assignment

Crossing a road

Wait, an old lady has to cross the road. Wait, the old little lady is crossing the road. Wait, the old, fragile lady is crossing icy road. Wait, the old, white-haired lady is slowly crossing the road. The old lady safely crossed the road. Now you can drive in the direction you want to go. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 2/10/2013

Good end evil

I do not know if I will get this right. Long time ago I read a book A picture of Dorian Grey. It was about an evil man who's soul was in his portrait. The man himself looked young and innocent - his face and body didn't reflect his life style, which was transferred into the aging picture. By the end, how I remember, he have hated his portrait so much, so he stabbed it with a knife. The portrait is destroyed and the man dies as an ugly evil man. Another comparison: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Again, it is a battle between good and evil. When evil Mr. Hyde dies his body changes back to good Dr. Jekyll. It means Dr. Jekyll alias Mr. Hyde's soul wasn't destroyed. Another case: a man befriended a little cat. Soon enough he found out the little cat was taking his sins upon herself. The man did an evil deeds. He was steeling from widows and orphans and corrupted young girls. Every time he did something awful, the cat covered with the boils, was loosing hair., etc. He had have to make a decision to commit one more crime, which would finish the cat off, or to begin to behave to prolong the cat's life. I do not remember the end very well, I think the cat disappeared and the evil man was hanged despite he blamed the cat. It is the continues war between good and evil. Thanks to Christianity we were able to develop our consciousness. Am I to bold, ignorant, or do I exaggerate? I think, it is all above. The war between good and evil continues in Tolkien's books, Left behind by Jenkins and La Haye, on pages of the books about Harry Potter, his friends and enemies; and gets ugly in The hungry games. Will the good win, or is it one endless ongoing battle? Til' Thy Kingdom come ... Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 1/15/2013

When I became famous ...

It's to late, so it sounds more like a joke. There is always a price to pay ... I was getting warnings: a book about drunken and drugged Edith Piaf selling her voice on the streets of Paris. Her voice still sounds and they make films about her life. When I became famous ... I'll have to give up a family life and a privacy is hard to find. Being nobody I have friends I can trust - we are alike. Being famous: how do you know, who is your friend and who wants to be touched by celebrity? What is price to pay? It's to late anyway. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, December 2012 POW! assignment

When time stopped

I was in the middle of preparing salad for lunch, when electricity went off. Hard boiled eggs even didn't start to boil and aria of Figaro on the radio stopped abruptly. It's the end of January and the day is without sunshine. So when electricity went off all lights went off as well. I moved a cutting board on the table by the window and continued cutting vegetables. "In worse case we are not going to have the eggs for lunch. It is not a big deal." I heard Henry's footsteps coming down from his office and then walking to the basement like a firebug with a hurricane lamp in his hand. He came back and Figaro was still silent. Also all clocks stopped. They registered time, when electricity went off. After about two minutes everything went back to normal. We ate our lunch and Henry remarked: "I will have to correct all clocks in the house." It's great to have a handyman in the house.

Blue out of the sky

You brought me blue out of the sky. Do not love me much, just a little, so we can get by. Do not love me much, just a little, so we can get by. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Fall 2012

Whispers2

I am walking the streets of my town and hear my verses whispered into my ears. Am I imagining? A man in the garage will not give me a ride in his wheelbarrow. He didn't say I am to heavy. He said: "I am not so strong." I am walking the streets of John O'Hara's town. We never met. I read his thick book when I was seventeen in one small Czech town. I am shy. I meet strangers who smile and whisper my verses. I am dreaming. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 2010

Sharing

We share food what we get. From time to time somebody shows up at the door with homemade fudge, or a cake. Wonderful gift of sharing. The food cans never stay long on the table. You know somebody comes and take it. Somebody will be not hungry tonight. He will eat and think: Somebody was thinking about me. Of course, the food isn't the first quality, but it is food. He will not feel lonely tonight. The life is good, when he looks upon the stars and the city lights tonight. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 2010