Habits
Our habits will end our existence or
else power our fortunes—
a message drilled from world’s end.
We have the right to anger,
stomping ourselves off a cliff,
a mad dog, pit-bull split against self.
While others stay in place,
use the language of love and
wish for universal prosperity—
Some of us rip through our time,
a log burning down in a hearth,
sizzle, then puff out through the chimney.
I choose the long hello, by the numbers,
the slow boring drink sipped from
a porcelain cup with matching saucer.
He tries a death rattle, its whistle muffled
by six, single breaths whispered back to
someone he thought once loved him.
© 2014 Brenda Bishop Blakey
Words combined from two consecutive weeks from The Sunday Whirl:
Wordle #164: single, right, power, sizzle, muffled, back, language, numbers, existence, stomping, hello, place
Wordle #165: wish, porcelain, split, cliff, whistle, rip, chimney, habits, drilled, six, fortunes, drink, pit
Image: Not To Be Reproduced, 1937, Rene Magritte
From Magpie Tales, Mag 224
I loved this one.
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Thanks Annell.
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This reminds me of Jack London’s ‘Credo’:
“I would rather be ashes than dust!
I would rather that my spark should burn out
in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.
I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom
of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.
The function of man is to live, not to exist.
I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.
I shall use my time.”
Very moving, Brenda.
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Thank you for the comment, freyathewriter!
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Interesting twist appropriate to the picture.
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Thanks, Irene, for reading. 🙂
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For sure, habits hold power over our lives. I choose the long hello and the slow boring drink, too.
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Yep, long life doth so. Appreciate you having a read, Sabra.
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Yes, we have the right to anger—but, oh, the consequences!
Quirky Quartet
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Thank you MMTeacher. Enjoyed the four punch in all its condensed potency!
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These words really hit home:
Some of us rip through our time,
a log burning down in a hearth,
sizzle, then puff out through the chimney.
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Thank you for reading, Belva.
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I choose the long hello and slow boring drink too. (not sure about the cup though…)
Anna :o]
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Hey Anna, thanks for reading.
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Reading a piece like this I wonder whether others think about the value or futility of life. Whether they would say “I want more” or alternatively “That was good while it lasted”. But in truth it it is not praise we look for, merely love.
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thanks, oldegg. Maybe everyone looks for something different. The more I think I understand, the more questions I have. :]
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The image of time burning as quick as a log is so effecting..I think choosing to sip the tea of time slowly is a very wise choice..
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Jaerose37, thanks for this comment.
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I choose the long hello as well…nice write…
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Thank you, Tess. The mag is very inspirational.
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