Sohbet- Sometimes You’re the Windshield

By Valerie on January 13, 2012

Back in the Fall when I was really sad, I wrote a country song. It made me really happy. Hope it helps cheer you up now:

——–

Well…

Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug.
You’ll start out flying high, and then you’ll find you’re eating rug.
It’s just the way it goes my friend, you’ve simply got to shrug
it off and start to digging out of that hole that you dug.
‘Cause sometimes you’re the windshield, and sometimes you’re the bug.

(guitar solo)

Yeah, sometimes you’ll be the windshield, sometimes you’ll be the bug.
Peel yourself right off that glass, give your spattered guts a tug.
Get your wheels back on the tracks, and let your little engine chug.
Sometimes you’ll be the windshield, and sometimes you’re the bug.

(chord change)

I know you’re feeling low right now, and really need a hug,
’cause you’re life is full of windshield and you’re feeling like the bug.
But things will turn right round again, so shake that sad face off your mug.
‘Cause there’s times you’ll be the windshield, you can’t always be the bug!

Pull the fibers out of your teeth now, that you picked up in that rug,
Surround yourself with friends who care, and get yourself a hug.
I know it’s really tough right now, but hang in there my love,
’cause sometimes you’ll be the windshield, you can’t always be the bug.

Yeah, sometimes you’ll be the windshield, you can’t always be the bug.
(repeat to fade…)

——–

Alright, here’s the Sohbet challenge: write me your own life descriptive country song (or counter with you’re own sad song of any genre to cheer you up)

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Sohbet – Snotty Seuss Slam

By Valerie on November 25, 2011

Well, it’s cold and flu season again, and we had so much fun with the headcold haiku last year I thought all you sadly snotty suffering people could use a bit of cheer. So, this round how about a Seuss Slam on all things snot related? A jolly exchange of odes to the code in your node.

I’ll get you started with some motherly advice, then I want to hear your snotty, seussy poems!

Spit it out! (My mother said
of that stuff in my lungs
that drips from my head.)

You can’t leave that gunk
sitting there in your chest.
Don’t just cough a little,
cough BIG, it’s the best.

Now listen to your mom’s advice,
a dainty cough won’t save your life!
Heed my words, or you’ll get pneumonia
and I’ll find you dead, next time I phone you.

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Sohbet – It is Enough

By Valerie on October 13, 2011

While I was having that meltdown sitting in a park freaking out because I’d lost the capacity to think, feeling like I was losing everything that mattered to me, I dug out Selections from Leaves of Grass – a collection of Walt Witman’s poetry I’d just picked up in my adventure downtown. I needed something to focus on, to pull myself out of my panic. Even if I couldn’t think, I could flip through and let the words wash over me. Poetry’s meant for that anyway, something to feel, not to try to understand.

My eyes fell to this stanza from I Sing the Body Electric

I have preciev’d that to be with those I like is enough,
To stop in company with the rest at evening is enough,
To be surrounded by beautiful, curious, breathing, laughing, flesh is enough.
To pass among them or touch any one, or rest my arm ever so lightly
       round his or her neck for a moment, what is this then?
I do not ask any more delight, I swim in it as a sea.

In that moment, I was reminded of what I still had, and that yes, it was enough.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted (or even wrote) a poem, so I’m stealing Walt’s words, to start a sohbet. To hear your poetic responses to being surrounded by the beautiful, curious, breathing, laughing… (God, I Iove that line!)

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Sohbet – Seuss Slam!

By Valerie on August 16, 2011

Weird and exciting news. Accompanied by Bryan McLean on guitar I’m going to be reading Dr Seuss books at the People’s Poetry Festival this weekend.

Seuss Slam
Saturday August 20
In front of the Plaza Theatre
1133 Kensington Rd. NW
2:00pm – 3:00pm

It’s going to be Very Silly and have some audience participation elements – so if you can come out and help show people how to be silly (sadly we often forget!) I’d really appreciate the support! Plus this is my first poetry reading ever – so would be great to see some familiar faces in the crowd.

Now to get things started (the Seussing and the Silly-ing) a Seuss styled silly poem (please add your own!):

Michael Mass was flatulent
His bum said things he hadn’t meant.
And once from school he had been sent
’cause a blast so fast
his pants
had rent.

Michael Mass was full of gas,
this often made him glum.
But to his friends, his gas: a blast,
and thought him lots of fun!

The lesson here, my little dears,
(if you’ll listen close with both your ears)
those things about you you most detest,
may be the thing folks like the best.

So take the lead from gassy Mike
your least liking likers…
learn also to like.

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Day 92 – Sunday afternoon

By Valerie on August 7, 2011

rough day
just wanted to sit outside
drinking coffee and blinking slowly

outside, two separate parties
within 50 meters of my back door
loud, boisterous

you’d think the collective unconscious
of all the hangovers in this ‘hood
would somehow have the power
to ward off such noise
on a Sunday afternoon

alas, not

so I take my coffee cup
and my fuzzy socks
and head off in search of
silent sanctuary
unconcerned by the half glances
of the people I pass by

I find a field
devoid of footballs, frisbees,
little league games

wide open and still

I sit under the dappling shade
of towering poplars
spring-bud sap still in the grass
air balmy with its scent

I fall in love
with the bright green bug
wandering my finger tips

until it leaps up
gone in the breeze

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