42 Days with Huck Finn 36:42

War of Northern Aggression

Digging in the reddened clay, through the dust, 

scraping with a butter knife tunneling; 

with all means necessary total robust. 

 Our pick ax singing ding a ling, a ling.

Freeing Jim with all their wits and might.

Huck and Tom fur flying, setting Jim free.

Israelites freeing the old Ishmaelite.

Right or wrong depends on the view point, you see,

no true way on slavery, with the bible as your guide. 

  

War of Northern Aggression? 

War of Black Liberation?

Right, wrong, blistered hands, couldn't let it slide.

backs grew tired, strained, they sweat and sufferth

Right, wrong, blistered hands, couldn't let it slide.

backs grew tired, strained. they oft lose breath

Plantation owners, nice as they could be;

they were blind to why slaves being set free.

War of Northern Aggression? 

War of Black Liberation?

42 Days with Huck Finn 34:42

True Southern Hospitality?

Tom and Huck arrive, to JIM's benefit.
Hear the thump, thump, thump, of a buried heart.
JIM was buried in a shed full of shit.

As by the truth he gets no other light,

But to see Vice, a restless infinite.

The flies loved 'em He was their true sweetheart.
Tools disregarded use, once were like star-dust,
but now were forgotten, laid in disgust.

They showed True Hospility: hypocrite,
great actors, (John Wilkes Boothe), Southern Art
there is a difference between showing
                                     and knowing
Excuse it, as just that Southern Way.

A boat, to which the world itself is Sea, 

Wherein the mind sails on her fatal way.

sun, soaked illusions, set in the mire 

to serve, to honor, to love and obey

works, and works, and never does retire

until the sun sets and ends the long day.

Tom and Hom working in secret, at night,

        scratching out freedom

to release JIM into the truth set in light

        they scratch out freedom  

breaking laws of Jim Crow is a delight

There is no reason to complain

about the Sear Sucker's bane.

42 Days with Huck Finn 33:42

Betwixt You and Shekels:

"An Owdacious Puppy!"

At the crossroads, "betwixt you, and shekels", a haunted day,
when Tom Sawyer decided to help Huck commit a sin.
Tom inspired lads to stow away,
their noisy dreams and love for a win.
He welcomed all with "Come in, come in!"
He a boy filled with Southern Hospitality!
A dynamic duo, Tom and Huck, together again,
always able to share jokes filled worthily;
for Cracker Culture that had been sorrowed and had lost its felicity.
They long apart, a dynamic duo, Tom and Huck, together again.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the world is as it ought
to be again, they are here to steer us, they are here to entertain,
and laugh at all the lessons those darn boys taught.

1855

 Old Addresses Moved On From 

150 South Clarkson
Dog friendly Washington "Spot"
Ordering Fat Tire


I know I need to move on from these old places.  Wow! It seems so long ago that I frequented these Spots....but sometimes they mess with my head... old dreams and old places are clogged up in my memory....Feelings of loss for every place I dreamed of living in.    I pray that these dreams can get unclogged from the space inside my mind that I hold onto.  I also pray that my quest has not distanced me too far from old friends and old places.   I pray also that I forgive my own mistakes and people that may have tried to harm me along the way.    I pray that one day all will be made full in the likeness of my LORD Jesus Christ, the ultimate balm for all that we use to do harm.   (I know this is not a necessarily a Christian website but my principals are shaped as a reformed Christian).   

42 Days with Huck Finn 32:42

Black metal robots work the ash grey Grove,
in the heat of the day, sun shines the place.
The spinning wheel spins more and more and more.
Huck's lips quivered at the red clay disgrace.
Hear a quite hum, a blue note, dirty soooul.

Huck/the Hounds quickened to an embrace,
as if dancing to a beat out tune, to and fro,
foxtrot,side steps, a dance, a duet, of foes.
Backward went Huck's feet trying to exit, to leave,
but where was there to run. Would no one want
to change the path Crackers yearned to cleave?

God's providence is a mighty pursuivant,
Huck finds Tom Sawyers kin here amidst the plant (ation),
Cracker wives will  watch carefully and duly ward
the duties found for "pine-wood inhabitant"
And all for love, and nothing for reward:

O! Hounds a-smiling, but don't make good guards.

42 Days with Huck Finn (Mark Twain's Description of a Plantation)

"Phelps' was one of these little one-horse cotton plantations, and they all look alike. A rail fence round a two-acre yard; a stile made out of logs sawed off and up-ended in steps, like barrels of a different length, to climb over the fence with, and for the women to stand on when they are going to jump on to a horse; some sickly grass-patches in the big yard, but mostly it was bare and smooth, like an old hat with the nap rubbed off; big double log-house for the white folks -- hewed logs, with the chinks stopped up with mud or mortar, and these mud-stripes been whitewashed some time or another; round-log kitchen, with a big broad, open but roofed passage joining it to the house; log smokehouse back of the kitchen; three little log nigger-cabins in a row t'other side the smoke-house; one little hut all by itself away down against the back fence, and some outbuildings down a piece the other side; ashhopper and big kettle to bile soap in by the little hut; bench by the kitchen door, with bucket of water and a gourd; hound asleep there in the sun; more hounds asleep round about; about three shade trees away off in a corner; some currant bushes and gooseberry bushes in one place by the fence; outside of the fence a garden and a watermelon patch; then the cotton fields begins, and after the fields the woods." Chapter 32. Huckleberry Finn. 

42 Days with Huck Finn 31:42

We float down great wetness.
Then J.I.M. was captured from his flight,
"LORD" Huck prays "get me out of messiness!"
He knows you can pray a lie with all your might,
but a lie can not take hold.
JIM would be sent to his last breath:
"N'Orleans"; if Huck did not grab hold,
of JIM and save him from death.


The Son of man; 
The skies, the heavens, the earth the tomb,


Wherein we rest till then;* 

B'twixt two paths Huck toys 

with writing a letter that told 

the Widow of JIM'S certain doom.

Among the smell of saw dust Huck conquers the crest,

on the Road to Lafayette his feet did ran,

Huck ran and ran till his heart thumped in his breast.

40 pieces of trade for JIM sparked this plan;

the Dauphin then bought bottles of Old Crows.

All Huck wanted now, was his robot and some relief

from troubles brought by "Rapscallion Crows",  

                                          With gunshots of belief.*

42 Days with Huck Finn 30:42

Ernest Leonard Blumenschein

"Where's was yous when lights grew dim",
says King to Huck, "They ate our hide. 
Our lives turned white like lilies.
Townies were ready to give us a trim.
And Huck you, like an Ostrich hide.
You will do what the king's will is." 


To sing by and by, comes the day.

"I scampered swiftly away"
says Huck, "I was in a fright! 
I ran so quick that heads of lilies
turned towards my dismay.
I did not want to take flight,
but I do what our LORD's will is."


To sing by and by, comes the day.

42 Days with Huck Finn 29:42

English-Men, with right flare;
tell the truth, straight, just so.
"King" is of freebooting breed,
English paint us, Frauds indeed.
Tension, intrigue, feels the air.
The truth told straight, just so,
takes care.

We could not avoid their eyes,
peering into our souls with mite.
Gold buried, we in need
to keep from being hung indeed.
We hoped to feed the home breed
with more and more and more lies,
lies could paint everything a white-
disguise.
Form based on Verse by William Dunbar fl. 1547-1549 
Davie, Donald. The New Oxford Book of Christian Verse. Oxford Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 1981. pg 5 

Support the Arts - Jobsite Theatre

Fanni Green and Jim Wicker in Jobsite's Yellowman. (Photo by Brian Smallheer.)

Support the Arts go see a Play in Your Town's Theater

Jobsite Theatre: Tampa Bay Area's Resident Theatre Company

42 Days with Huck Finn 28:42

A Swan At Bok Tower - Lake Whales-Polk County
Central Florida

TICK TOCK TICK TOCK Goes THE CLOCK 

Dead beat frauds the king and dauphin cower;

at the "awesomeness" that is "girl power".

Odoriferous, the nose picks up the scent,  

the smell of rotten lies 

attracts a swarm of flies

or so the stories told went

on and on, just so, perfumed lust.

Huck tied up, caught in the  rapscallion torrent. 

Jim with other Robots can only trust,

that they will not be sold on the auction block.

"Tick Tock" replies the grandfather clock.

Haiku between Mom and Son

Bok Tower:  Lake Whales-Central Florida 

White Tale Picture Makers 

Perfect day for a road trip too, 

lonely swamp land

cedars,

sky blue.

White tale doe flickers 

across highway twenty four 

our brakes hit hard

______________________________________________________________________________________

I first wrote this to my mom in our Poetry Correspondence.  Find a partner to share your muse and writing with, it may be a wife, mom, or best friend, but find someone who will kindle, amusing your creative spark.  Enjoy the journey Gregory D. Rothbard 

Haiku between Mom and Son

Haiku From My Mom who witnessed the Tsunami this week in Maui Hawaii:

Tsunami creeps in

slowly , it covers the shore

'pac man' of water

42 Days with Huck Finn 27:42

Corpse candlelit on display,
witness-watchers of the coffin today,
they sat to see the coffin lid stayed as before,
shut off from the living by a door.

The day moved on and watchers play aside,
mourners come in, and fail to bury tears inside.
Black Robots work steady beside

the dead - work is always on their eyes;
for fears of the auction block arise
silently work, overcome their sighs.

Hyms sung, and our saddened blood
calmed, an icy balm to our tearful flood.

They buried him with prayers to Father on high;
"Through all our wounds to us we cry!"

Based on the Poem: Thou Who Createdst Everything





 Davie, Donald. The New Oxford Book of Christian Verse. Oxford Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 1981.

42 Days with Huck Finn 26.A:42

Boys and Girls back to their houses.

Innocents tell no good lies, they leave holes
in their Gospel reply, the king does not attend
church in Sheffield-not anymore

The HOLeY GOSPEL

According to Huck.

"Honest Injun, haint you been selling me
Swamp Land in Deed"
Asks Mary Jane, "Lay your hand
on the Good Book and tell me true."

Huck replies with his eyes crossed turned upwards

"Hark from the Tomb, I swear on this Dictionary."

Thousand Sinful Lies

Thousand Sinful Kisses.

Support the Arts - Irish Music Groups

Music that Will Stimulate Your Creative Soil:
Hope these songs remind you of a time
where the green fields of Derry
beckon you to journey home.

Christy Moore:

Saint Patrick's Day is March 17th

42 Days with Huck Finn 25:42

Feininger Longeuil

Democratic Intelligence 

Mississippi Pilgrims come
back "home" finding Madam
Death.  Who has made a deadly call?
Small coffins on Arkansas ground,

Duke thinks, "What great Profits in Death?"
"A golden laced dream", replies Huck.
"Lets play this emotive scheme!"

at a somber hour, songs from hymnals cry,
the crowd joins in triumphant melody,
music rises heart, better than sugared words.

Funeral Orgies, Public Scene-
Funeral Orgies, Public Scene?

A pruple storm cloud charged on by,
truthfully lit, lightning zigged from
Doctor Robinson's lips, "These men are bad,
frauds!" Pointing at the Holey Pilgrims.
"Their English accents betray 'em."

Townies sang back in repose,
a note of wary defiance.

42 Days with Huck Finn 24:42

Wigwam 

on Mighty Water 

Escapes Mob Mad Men

Wigwam on Mighty Water

a haven from Mob-Mad-Sear Sucker

Vampires. Men who craved the oil sucked

out of Black Robots.

Black Droids are left  

immobilized.

J.I.M. laid up 

on the wigwam tied down with 

Rope,  Neutered

tin armor rusting

in plane air

shamed of 

the human race.

Passover's Open Shutters

Marc Chagall 

Sarah opens shutters,
pulls back the heavy
curtains,
she sweeps
the dust from old books.
Porcelain birds nest on her mantle.
She breaks up old spider webs.
"Grandma" Sarah Pearl
opens her
home  

to the crisp, spring day

red blossoms

white legs

welcomes 

Elijah in to share
with her family's
Passover.

42 Days with Huck Finn 23:42

Sketch from (or inspired) by
Charles Demuth

The Democratic Played

  

Rigging up scenery for 

a heist lit by candles. 

Tragedy played for eager Marks,

(nothin' much happens here)

Martyred Men to Regal Thieves 

Commoners sing old tunes, 

the ones about Freedom

from Tyrants, gold filled Coffers. 

Too poor to die, they know the smell:

rottenness of Kings.

42 Days with Huck Finn 22:42

Dark

blind to, 

the  civilized cruel 

clown-painted boys,

sneaking out of front 

windows,

in order to 

smoke joints,

in front of Main Street's closed 

businesses, 

down alleys,

they spray paint 

on unlit walls:

Vacume Cleaners Suck.

Scribbled-totems of their

whittled out 

lives.

Chiaroscuro*.

The boys crawl back 

in bed before the 

extraterrestrial 

suns ascends.

They hide under 

comforters, 

from

real Vampires 

allergic to 

Night

and 

Fun.   

*The arrangement of dark and light utilized in a pictorial representation.

I attempted here to do a poem contrasting dark and light, thinking back on the days when a boy embraces the privacy offered in the night.  

Reviews - Modern Library 100 +

Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A beautiful book, full of beautiful questions.


The narrative is two stories.  One is the story of a grumpy, frumpy old man who is limited to his wheel chair.   The other is the narrative that the grumpy, frumpy old man attempts to construct about his grandmother.   The narrator in retelling the life of his grandmother hopes to freeze time.   Freezing time allows an author to record a snap shot of time.   The book is a discussion about books deadened on library shelves.   The narrator uses American History as a personal fetish.

The narrator in the story hopes to nail history to the time of 1890.  He can't get past the human flaws that intersect to tell a story.   The fault lines make up the flawed man.  The author hopes to bend these fault lines into a particular shape of his choosing, and liking.      The shaping of truth is what an author does, but all truth is limited to the scope of what the writer keeps and what he edits.

Angle of Repose, also shows that American Democracy is never simple but a complex system run by men who are screwed up, and do the best out of their circumstances, with the weak and strong cards they hold.

 A great discussion on truth telling in a particular time.  I enjoyed this book a lot.





View all my reviews

Poetry Old Addresses Forgiven

I write 

1893 miles from-

the start of the connect 

the dot puzzle,
(Start) Lakeland Florida
to Atlanta Georgia,
to Chattanooga Tennessee
to St. Louis, Missouri,
to Lawrence, Kansas,
to Denver, Colorado,
up to my home Longmont.
(End)  
29.5 hours trapped
behind the steering
wheel, and day dreaming
like a little train headed
across I-70 and down I-75.

I think I see a picture 

emerge, one that looks 

like a rabbit 

with an enormous 

carrot. Did you 

think I would 

be crass?

Or sick?

Use teenage boy humor 

to amuse his friends? 

Did you perhaps, 

want me to disturb

you?
Well too bad, so sad 

for the route
is long
and
fat.