Sunday, December 4, 2011

A Magpie Tale on Things Uncertain

Image Credit: via Magpie Tale by Tess:
Lunch, George Tooker, 1964, Columbus Museum of Art



It starts with a game show,
Then lunch break,
Then of course case studies until midnight.
.
You’ve seen them sitting
In protected room, in fat
and itchy chairs, their heads hang low.
.
They are waiting for the last case
Represented to them,
Hopefully, it is a better one.
.
They rarely chat among themselves,
Or go to other rooms for a change,
The channel is fixed at #7.
.
Eventually, they’ve come to
Folded, infirm, and loose stacks of cards
to spread and play on the table.
.
If they have known a little
less of each successive program in town,
Things would not be that bad as everything is unsaid.


*****


48 comments:

anthonynorth said...

An excellent interpretation of the pic.

christopher said...

Channel 7 is just the worst possible.

Too bad for them.

Jinksy said...

Sounds like a grim existence...

Maggie said...

What a terrific and frightening interpretation of the prompt.

Anonymous said...

Oh wow... This is really good and grim, you know?
Good stuff my friend.

Anonymous said...

The feeling here is a complete lack of enthusiasm...well done!

Anonymous said...

Quite melancholic I might say, but a very nice read. I feel you did quite well!!

Susie Clevenger said...

A sad state of affairs...great take on the prompt

Kathe W. said...

well seen and well written!

Marbles in My Pocket said...

Awesome write!
http://charleslmashburn.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/then-snared/

Mary Ann Potter said...

Wow! Have you been there, done that, and bought that souvenir t-shirt? An amazingly realistic treatment of this painting!

Tess Kincaid said...

Always hate fat itchy chairs...giggle...

steveroni said...

I Like the obvious 'quietness'...Ha! That souvenir T-shirt (Mary Ann Potter's comment!)

What a way to live. reminds me of a room full of jobless waiting to interview for the one open position.

Hey, burn that midnight oil, Peeps!

PEACE!

tinkwelborn said...

but what's not said is very important!
the eye sees what the scenario says,
and body language makes it's own noise.

interesting piece worked up here, almost of dreamlike quality.
good job.

izzy said...

Love the card idea- thanks!

Kay said...

I'm both impressed with your interpretation and that last comment!

Unknown said...

Tedium to boredom and back again,
no sound echoes in the halls,
life is spent without any hope,
staring down the walls.

Beautifully written poem, Cello Strings!

JJ Roa Rodriguez said...

Nice interpretation of the prompt!...

JJRod'z

Laurie Kolp said...

I love your unique take on the prompt.

Helen said...

No way to live a life ... nice take on the photo this week!

Victoria said...

This feels deseperate and a bit depressing. Yes, it does express what the picture portrays.

The Poet said...

Hello.
What a stark & grim existence.
Excellent take on the prompt.
Your creativity is limitless!
Thanks for sharing.

For ref:
Your Reward Is My Sorrow

Brian Miller said...

this was a nice change of pace from the other responses...nicely done.

Daydreamertoo said...

Sounds very gloomy to me. very nicely written :)

Carrie Van Horn said...

That last line pulls it together nicely....great writing!!

Other Mary said...

Oh...that speaks of sheer hopelessness so well.

WyomingDiva said...

Thought provoking. Hmmm. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Very well done!

Anonymous said...

Very nice description; fat itchy chairs! Love it!

Old Raven said...

Fine take on the painting.

Cathy Feaster said...

paints the picture into words so vividly...nicely done!

Neha said...

wow, cool poem, fits the picture perfectly:)

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Excellent!

Anna :o]

Lyn said...

I particularly like "in fat and itchy chairs"...and, the fixed channel...perfect!

Anonymous said...

I have seen this in retirement homes. Its sad. These people need a boost. I admire people who volunteer to come in and cheer the elderly up!

benjity said...

Great poem. In addition, you were the selected winner on my blog of 2 $5 gift cards to Starbucks. Please send me your contact information and I will mail the cards.
My prayer is that you will treat someone else to coffee and share the love of Jesus with them.

http://www.benjity.wordpress.com

Dave King said...

This catches it exactly. I particularly enjoyed:

They rarely chat among themselves,
Or go to other rooms for a change,
The channel is fixed at #7.

Maureen Walsh said...

Exremely sad, but so clever. Congrats

Margaret said...

Stop listening to the TV! Live! I want to swing the doors and windows wide...

grimness captured wonderfully.

Trellissimo said...

Oo! Those itchy chairs! :)

susan m hinckley said...

I loved the image of fat and itchy chairs -- well done!

Anonymous said...

Love how you interpreted the image.

Anonymous said...

A grim life, nicely told.

Isabel Doyle said...

what a grim existence!

Anonymous said...

it's sad how people can work together everyday, and have nothing to do with each other

becca givens said...

"Glued" to a sad existence ... suffocating and stagnating ...

Great job on whatever the prompt -- which I am guessing is the photo image!!

Thank you for sharing this again to the current audience. My entry "Lost - Can you see me?"

Anonymous said...

Excellent!

http://halfwaybetweenthegutter.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/epiphany-2/

Anonymous said...

Seems like knowing too much is not a good thing. Good delivery of a complex situation!