A little high, a little low,
A little fast, a little slow;
There seems to be no way I know,
To bring about perfection!
Since watching diet is not enough,
I do my part with pills and cuff,
But still I don't have the right stuff!
Please tell me: Where's perfection?
###
The Pumpkin Tree
https://poets.org/poem/loveliest-trees
and see:
https://poemanalysis.com/a-e-housman/loveliest-of-trees/
###
Now that these babes are grown, and scared and grouchy,
For COVID help they turn to Dr. Fauci!
###
As I deal with my Prolia-fractured bones (see www.JoansBackboneDisaster.com) and macular degeneration of the eyes, my thoughts turn to the poet Emily Dickinson, who, while dealing with disabilities of her own, nevertheless turned out hundreds of brief poems, each an insightful gem!
To learn more about the life and work of Emily Dickinson, see:
https://poets.org/poet/emily-dickinson
Here is my brief homage -- admittedly inadequate -- to this exquisite poet!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Roosevelt struggled with crutches,
John Milton’s eyes couldn’t see,
Fate caught them both in its clutches,
And now it has seized upon me!
I’ve studied the lives of these masters,
Especially the blind and the lame,
Who triumphed o’er body’s disasters,
But I’ll pass on them all just the same!
###
Yet more problems with Direct TV!
Ode to a Frozen Screen
The President is on the screen, I want to hear his speech!
Pro or Con, I’m glad TV puts this within my reach!
But as he takes the podium at the venue he has chosen,
His steps come to a sudden stop, because my screen is FROZEN!
The bottom of the ninth is here, the crowd is on its feet,
And as this game is televised, my view is hard to beat!
The pitcher spits into his glove and climbs that tiny hill —
But as he does so, once again, the picture stands STOCK STILL!
A great romance, and lovers are enmeshed in fond embrace,
“Please marry me!” he says, and now you’re right up in his face!
But as the camera turns to her and she begins to speak —
The picture FREEZES, and you’ll have to learn the rest next week!
A famous trial is taking place, we’re waiting for the jury,
The verdict will be coming soon, there isn’t any hurry.
The pundits are discussing pros and cons about this case;
But FROZEN SCREEN jumps in to keep them locked in just one place.
Somewhere someone turns on TV, and watches for an hour,
Without the picture standing still as if it’s lost its power!
Somewhere for a day (or hour!) it’s as it’s supposed to be;
But that’s not at 1300, Apartment Twenty D!
(Written for Direct TV, April 20, 2021)
I had trouble with our satellite TV (Direct TV managed in our building by USA Wireless). I kept getting the error message 771 on my screen! Keith at USA Wireless (847-831-4561) was helpful so this is for him! April 2, 2021
I lost a filling from this tooth March 12, 2021, unfortunately on a Friday afternoon. It doesn't hurt, but I hope to be able to see my dentist, Dr. Bisterfeldt, in the next few days. I wrote this poem for him.
ODE TO MY UPPER RIGHT SECOND BICUSPID
Joan Levin
March 13, 2021
You’ve been a good friend for eight decades and more,
But now you’re in trouble dear tooth Number Four!
Where once was smooth surface, now lies a big hole;
I hope Doctor Bisterfeldt can make you whole!
You’ve sampled my cooking and lots of my baking,
I hope that this injury won’t leave you aching!
Soon I will sit in that well-equipped chair,
And quickly will learn what remains of you there!
You’ve been right there with me, so able and willing,
I’m hoping that that all you will need is a filling!
###
And see my other tooth poems on this blog! Just search on "molar!"
On January 20, 2021, Joseph R. Biden and Kamala Harris were inaugurated as President and Vice-President of the United States.
But right up to the last minute our twice-impeached ex-President, Donald J. Trump, was busy handing out pardons to his felonious friends, many serving time, for all sorts of white-collar crimes.
It called for a little song! So I wrote one that may be sung to the tune of Elvis Presley's unforgettable song:
Are you Lonesome Tonight?
so here, with apologies to Elvis, is:
Are you Pardoned Tonight?
Are you pardoned tonight?Are you pardoned tonight?Tell me pol, are you pardoned tonight?Are your cheats large and small,Gone for good and for all?Is your slate now pristine, clean and bright?Did the President give you that Trumpian grin,Right before his successor was finally sworn in?Will you be his best pal?Are you in his corral?Tell me pol, are you pardoned tonight?
(With apologies to Elvis! )
You can sing along right here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cS5aCozhcA
Parody Lyrics (c) Joan Levin, 2021
Who can forget Madonna's performance as Evita Peron in the movie adaptation of the Broadway hit, EVITA?
The most memorable song from this musical was "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina." When the beloved Argentine first lady knew her end was imminent, this is what she sang:
Don't cry for me, Argentina!
The truth is I never left you.
I’ve kept my promise,
Don’t keep your distance,
All through my wild days,
My mad existence
But Argentines are not the only ones who cry in the face of loss.
A lot of people are crying during these difficult days. Why, even a well known American political leader, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has been known to cry.
For example, on the occasion of Senator LaMar Alexander (R-TN) retirement, Senator Mitch McConnell actually burst into tears!
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/02/politics/mitch-mcconnell-lamar-alexander-tribute/index.html
But most of the time Mitch McConnell has a smile on his face.
Don’t cry for me Mitch McConnell,
I’m not your Senate buddy,
All through these sad days,
While COVID's winning,
You've kept your distance,
And kept on grinning!
The 2020 Presidential Election was a squeaker! Joe Biden emerged the clear winner but not before much anxious waiting as votes came in from across the nation.
Georgia was a hotly contested state, inspiring these lyrics!
(https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/results-georgia.html)
-----------------------------
Counting in Georgia
Tune: Marching through Georgia
Parody Lyrics (c) 2020 Joan D. Levin
Bring your calculator, folks,
Let’s have another count!
Right side up and upside down,
Let’s get that full amount!,
However loud their “Trump-ets” blow,
We’ll make a full account,
As we go Counting in Georgia!
Hurrah, Hurrah, we’ll tally every one,
Hurrah, Hurrah, we’ll work until it’s done
That’s how we we can surely say,
With confidence: WE WON!
As we go Counting in Georgia
This year holiday shopping is mostly virtual. Stores and malls are closed or limit hours or numbers of shoppers. No big gatherings of friends or family - just a very different holiday season.
Here's my take on a favorite holiday tune!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joan Reconsiders the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
It’s the most wonderful time of the year,
But there’s no jingle-belling,
And who can be telling us words of good cheer,
As in past wonderful times of the year!
It’s the most worrisome time of the year!
Can we be celebrating,
if we’re also hating and living in fear?
At this most feverish time of the year!
It’s the most pitiful time of the year.
When we all should be shopping,
Until we are dropping, at malls far and near.
It’s the most frustrating season, that’s clear!
It’s the most blunderful time of the year.
Our leaders have failed us,
A dire ill ails us, and leaves us in fear!
At this most dangerous time of the year!
December, 2020
Parody Lyrics (c) 2020 Joan D. Levin
With apologies to Edward Pola and George Wyle whose 1963 classic I have borrowed here!
Note: I'm also posting this at:
https://joanscovid19blog.blogspot.com/2020/11/holidays-in-time-of-covid19.html
and
https://joanslyrics.blogspot.com/2020/11/holidays-in-time-of-covid19.html
The post Tuesday Morning Patriots has a little back story!
On a lovely early autumn Sunday in 2004 I was in Kenosha, Wisconsin working for Democrats in the upcoming election. John Kerry was the Democratic candidate for President running against George W. Bush.
We had spent most of the weekend going door to door canvassing and handing out literature for Democratic candidates -- not only for the presidency but for state and local offices as well.
This was an area that could go either way, and we went from door to door ringing doorbells, handing out literature, and asking people whom they were likely to support. With this information our Election Day workers could go to homes likely to support Democrats, reminding them to the polls, and checking to see if they needed rides or any other assistance to do this.
After many hours of going door to door that day, we had assembled in a large and were enjoying refreshments and a program with several speakers, including some candidates, giving some pep talks. After this, the emcee at the microphone asked if anyone in the audience would like to speak. Several people were called on to come up to the microphone and gave some short pep talks.
During this time a song idea came into my head. It was to the tune of Battle Hymn of the Republic (that's how most songs come into my head). I wrote down the words as they came to me and quickly made up another tune.
Then I raised my hand and was called on. I ran up to the microphone and gave the emcee my name (Joan Levin) and said I'd written a song I'd like to sing. He asked me if it had bad words and I assured him it didn't, so he announced over the loudspeaker that "our own Joni Mitchell is going to sing for us!)
I explained that the song had a chorus and sang through it once, inviting them to sing along after every verse.
By the second verse everyone was singing along and clapping and stamping their feet! It was amazing! A really energized crowd at the end of a long working day!
Sadly - it wasn't enough to put John Kerry into office - but the song is posted here for anyone who wants to use it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
