text:
Join Magpie Tales creative writing group here.
image: Lunch, George Tooker, 1964, Columbus Museum of Art
Thank you, Tess and RAD, for giving us another great start to a delicious Sunday.ReplyDelete
Thanks, G... always nice to see you at Willow Manor...lovely new profile pic!ReplyDelete
Interesting that there is seemingly no interaction between the diners. Each is alone but perhaps they are having a "sideways glance" at their neighbor. Nice post.ReplyDelete
Nicely done!ReplyDelete
Have always loved this painting and your words are perfect. The painting is so poignant to me...together, yet separate.
Would like to see your alphabet dress : )
This poem brings life to the mundane...if only the diners could hear you think!ReplyDelete
that spill to the desk,
litter the lunchroom
in crossword kisses.
I wear my best
love the lines, very dark yet wonderful imagery in your words.
a wonderful wistful whisper into my Sunday! nice.ReplyDelete
was totally waiting for i see london i see france i see someones underpants...but kinda glad you did not follow that rhyme...smiles....interesting pic this week...have to think today...ReplyDelete
Brian, glad you picked up on the reference to the kids' rhyme...ReplyDelete
I notice how well the poem and your O. Henry quote fit together. Thanks for the picture, Tess, and your service making this whole thing possible. I am happy to be part of the growth of the site.ReplyDelete
The interpretation of the quiet action in the painting has much more meaning now, with your words.ReplyDelete
The diners look like something out of '1984' to me - can't imagine as less munchy bunch...♥ReplyDelete
I enjoyed reading this Tess ...ReplyDelete
Very well done--I like the reference to that childhood "chant" that we used to say when we saw someone's underpants!ReplyDelete
Deliciously thought provoking....:-)ReplyDelete
There is an infinitely better outlook in your rhymes than in Tucker's "Lunch". I'd rather dance with you, even if only on the keyboard.ReplyDelete
I liked pairing my jumpy piece with the somber Tooker...nice juxtaposition...ReplyDelete
Lunch in the ordinary to casual viewer who can't read thoughts...love it!ReplyDelete
R.A.D. ...as always, thank you for this lovely reading...ReplyDelete
I enjoyed the poem but the sexy English accent (which I pounced on with joy) eluded me.ReplyDelete
Rinkly, although R.A.D.'s accent
is wonderfully British, it is mostly
sexy in Ohio; elsewhere it is robust,
audacious, husky with cigarette
smoke, and always a joy to hear.
Tess, your poem comes out of
OH like a Sinclair Lewis nightmare,
both a paean and a warning. I loved
it; more so the fourth time I read it,
looking for the threads of clarity.
What can I say, Tess? You're on fine form, as ever.ReplyDelete
You really had me thinking here, I had to do a google search for 'I see London, I see France'.ReplyDelete
For me, this surreal poem matches the picture. They both required a trawl through my subconscious but with enough lightness not to depress.ReplyDelete
... this is actually quite sexy, Tess.ReplyDelete
Thanks, Helen, that was my intention...ReplyDelete
Beautiful sounds in this. Lovely, tight writing.ReplyDelete
Enjoyable read, Tess. As always, you have outdone yourself. BTW, LOVE your Facebook badge...ReplyDelete
a fun poem, with a nice beat read so well by RADReplyDelete
I love crossword kisses and the clickety-clack.ReplyDelete
Such a great take. I love the clicketyclack and, of course, marmalade. K.ReplyDelete
Dang computer. Can't hear the audio, but no matter, the piece is wonderful.ReplyDelete
Great depth in those words.ReplyDelete
I like how you added dimension and sensuality to Lunch.ReplyDelete
You've looked under the surface of these diners' blank exteriors to their hidden thoughts!ReplyDelete
Found my way back! Great to be here! A stylishly Tooker painting. I like your poem, even though I'm not astute enough to understand each nuance...
And...I joined in this time. (Thought I had commented earlier, but it's my crazy, and I have to live with it, or die without it.)
Thanks for serving each Sunday, Tess.
Nice to have you join Mag this week, Steve! Thanks, I enjoy doing it...it's my little way of contributing to the creative writing community...ReplyDelete
Dear Tess,
I have promised myself to enjoy poetry even if Ido not have the time to write at the moment.
And what a find.
The picture was too sombre for me. But your words - they give the diners an uplift.
This made me think of myself, endlessly playing words with friends like it was eating cake - the very best way to pass my time :)ReplyDelete
I confess this one blew right past my comprehension ..but it did however, land right next to understanding
nice little poem to go with the painting delightful
and yes, I add my thanks for your
offering up these thought provoking prompts week after week
Yum marmalade- crossword kisses are interesting- and I would have been cleaning up the crumbs! thanks.ReplyDelete
Taken right back to jump rope rhymes before a delicious return to marmalade. Delightful read!ReplyDelete
Your poem is a delightful puzzle for me...lovely sounds and contrast to Tooker's depressing painting. Many thanks for the prompts.ReplyDelete
The "Clickity-Clack" you can almost feel it snapping away in this poem.ReplyDelete
Dear Tess: Love this! We think alike; the sound of cutlery and fingers! Ah-ha! We must have eaten in this very same caf! A most excellent "snack between words" and "crossword kisses" so much fun and very imaginative!ReplyDelete
this just made me think of all the crumbs probably stuck in my keyboard for all the snacking I do while writing :) Loved the "see London, see France" referenceReplyDelete
Such a lonesome group of people- all together, but all so desperately alone. Very nice post, Tess!ReplyDelete
They look so glum - definitely no marmalade on the menu...
Cardboard sandwiches more like it.
Words and crumbs..can't have one without the other..love the abstract flow!ReplyDelete
the title is delicious.... and the rest just sorta brings the broom out sweeping...ReplyDelete
Marmalade might have produced some smiles amongst those diners ...
lovely poem Tess
What's the comment's equivalent of a standing ovation? If I manage to think of one, I'll come back and give it. For now, bravo!ReplyDelete
... the sideways glance.
So true - scared to venture outside their bubble.
I went somber - I tired not too... ;)
Loved the sounds in this poem.ReplyDelete
I am late to arrive, as I have been away. The image seems a bit magical.ReplyDelete
Great Write Tess. I like the flow & images. Some great lines too! "Crossword kisses"ReplyDelete
I loved that "clickety clack" and can almost hear it throughout the poem. Beautifully done, disturbingly descriptive!ReplyDelete
as usual....
i am blown out of the water with you gift at writing.
i can just see these people lingering, not wanting to get back to workReplyDelete


text:
Soon after news broke last month that his father organized bounties in the NFL, Virginia Tech linebacker Chase Williams, through the school's sports information office, said he would not grant any interviews during spring practice.
No matter that Williams, a redshirt sophomore, is a legitimate story in his own right. With Tariq Edwards sidelined by a leg injury and Telvion Clark dismissed from the program, this spring is his opportunity to impress coaches.
But Williams knew that no reporter worth his blog URL could resist asking about his father, Gregg, who is suspended indefinitely from the NFL for his leading role in the New Orleans Saints bounty program. Gregg Williams was the Saints' defensive coordinator, a position he also held with the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Redskins.
Also, Gregg Williams is a former Buffalo Bills head coach. Former Redskins and Bills have told Washington and Buffalo media that bounties were paid on Williams' watch with those teams as well.
Chase Williams and/or Tech's staff decided he was best served avoiding questions about his father.
Given the latest revelations about Gregg Williams, perhaps delaying the inevitable was wise. Moreover, perhaps Williams never will share his thoughts and emotions on the subject.
Regardless, your heart goes out to the young man, a high school All-American from Northern Virginia who, according to Rivals.com, had other scholarship offers from Miami, West Virginia, SMU, Rice, Tulane and Marshall.
These are the sins of the father, and they appear considerable. And unfair though it may be, the son will hear about it, from rival players and fans, as long as he plays the game his father coached.
"Coached" may be the proper tense, too, after audio surfaced this week of Gregg Williams preparing the Saints' defense for a January playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Yahoo! Sports' Michael Silver has a detailed account of the latest, but here are two of Gregg Williams' most damning remarks:
"Every single one of you, before you get off that pile, affect the head."
Of Niners receiver Michael Crabtree, Gregg Williams said: "He becomes human when we take out that outside ACL."
This from a coach and team who knew the NFL was investigating them. This from a coach who knew a documentary filmmaker, Sean Pamphilon, was in the room with cameras on.
NFL commish Roger Goodell won't soon forgive such blatant acts, and good luck to any college or high school that wants to endure the PR headaches of employing Gregg Williams.
Let's be clear: I never played football above the sandlots of Baltimore County. Maybe such sentiment and rewards are common in an ever-violent sport.
But talk of purposely injuring opponents, of taking away their livelihood, strikes me as offensive.
I can't imagine where Chase Williams is emotionally. I don't know how, or if, he can tighten his shoulder pads, snap his chinstrap and deliver the punishing blows required of a linebacker.
Here's hoping he can, whether or not he ever answers a question about his father.
I can be reached at 247-4636 or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow me at twitter.com/DavidTeelatDP
Here's a link to my Daily Press print columns.
Teel Time: Hoping Virginia Tech linebacker Chase Williams isn't deterred by father's sins
Soon after news broke last month that his father organized bounties in the NFL, Virginia Tech linebacker Chase Williams, through the school's sports information office, said he would not grant any interviews during spring practice.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This is the history of Miora, land of the elves. There is more, but I thought I'd give it in pieces. Unfortunatly for you, the first piece is the largest... the actual history.
Back, before the age of evil, there was peace in the world of Miora, a land untouched by the hands of humankind, nor minions of rebellion. The land held in it's hands the elves; who's peace remained unconditional, and who's trust could never be broken, and the dwarves, who's skill in metal work and mining was beyond that of any other elf or immortal. The land, at the time, was ruled by Theos, the elf king, who was , not only strong in magic and power, but was also believed to be the first being that lived in the land.
His Minister of Music, Corenth, sang him great songs of worship in the lands of Teleios, for that was it's name then. His songs sang of great deeds to come from the palms of Theos, and the works he had already completed and their wonder. But Corenth became envious of great works of Theos, and began to plot in his head how to destroy him.
While Corenth planned, though, Theos created something new to the eyes of the elves. Humans were found in the west, in lands set aside by Theos for reasons he told no one, not even his own son, Mazevo, who was the great in the eye of Theos. Tragoudi saw these events take place, which stopped his plot to destroy Theos. He began his planning anew, and worked the fickle human heart into the plot.
The humans were allowed, by Theos, to set up a city to live in, which they named Alitheia. They named the total land given to them on the western side Dysi. They built great monuments to Theos, whom they worshipped daily for their creation. In return, Theos granted the humans immortality. Soon, though, the hand of Corenth found it's way into the land of Alitheia, and twisted the hearts of it's leaders.
Corenth began to raise an army to begin war; secretly at first, and then publicly to all the nations of Teleios. The Dwarves stood at the side of the peaceful elves, and fought side by side with their friends. The goblins sent by Corenth attacked from the south, forcing the elves and dwarves north, into the Asimi mountains where the dwarves dwelt.
Humanity, at the time, held no army, or knowledge of war and death, but they were neither attacked by the goblins, nor touched by any visible evil hand. Corenth had already began to twist them before the war into believing Theos was going to turn on them, and leave them for dead. Humanity split apart; those who were loyal to Theos began to bicker with those loyal to Corenth, and as always happens, bickering became fighting, fighting became hatred, and hatred became war. Those loyal to Theos were outnumbered in the war, and were easily overrun.
Corenth then built a new army, bent, now, on the destruction of man. He pulled from the soils of Teleios new beings. Trolls, ogres, and banshees pushed down on Dysi, and almost crushed it. As women and children fled to Agkelos (the home of the elves) the men mounted one last defense against Corenth's great hoards. In the city of Alitheia, humanity made it's stand, and almost won the battle, if not for Corenth's appearance during the climax of the fight. His strength overcame every man, every warrior, and every hero that came in his way. Soon, he was in the keep, fighting the last resistance in his way. The Queen of Humanity, who's rule was given by Theos, was captured by Tragoudi's banshees, and the banshee's chained themselves to her, and sucked from her life and joy.
The remaining humans appeared at the feet of Theos, who cursed them with a short life for joining the enemy's plot in his demise. He cast them away from the lands of the elves, and dwarves, toward the eastern coast. There, the humans build a new country, which they called Aima, and a new city, which they called Alitheia, in honor of the city now destroyed. Dysi was taken by Corenth, and renamed Kolasi. The lands there soon began to fill with water, and become swamps.
There evil stayed hidden for a thousand years, until the regained forces marched out of the gates of Filanthropia to wander the lands surrounding the elves, dwarves, and humans. With the newly claimed lands, Corenth waged war on every faction, making unrest once again in Teleios.
Soon, memories of Corenth slipped away in Aima, and evil was something only read in books, or told in stories. Kolasi, the lands of evil, soon were only mentioned to naughty children, who didn't do as their mother's told. Corenth was not defeated, however, and sent evil beings into the human land to turn them to his banner. He knew, the ones who held the humans as allies would gain victory, even in mortality, for they outnumbered all inhabitants of Miora. With them, he could burn the green trees of the elves, and capture the mountains held by the dwarves.
With a new plan set in motion, Corenth had only to wait for the calling of Aima for aid from Kolasi, and the Second War would begin. But his plan was, once again, thwarted.
A group of humans banded together in secret, with the knowledge of the plan of Corenth, and planned to fight back. Claiming lands on the eastern side of Aima, they began to build an army, out of the reach of Kolasi. Aimians persecuted the rebellion, and called them dwarf friends, something seen as an act of evil in Aima. The rebellion was attacked by Aima in a series of battles called the Rebel War, ending in the total destruction of Aima's side of the border next to the rebellion. The rebels had won. Aima soon ended it's campaign on the lands of the rebels, and let them be.
With a rebellion in place, it was harder for Corenth to defeat Aima, for the rebellion was vigilantly stopping all of his spies. None-the-less, spies weaved their way through rebellion scouts, and entered the great city of Alitheia.
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