Message Forum

Here's one jack. This is Robert Hayden. Written quite a few years ago.

reminds me - can anyone else remember coal furnaces? I do. And I remember the coal room in the basement and watching my dad shovel the coal into a big thing with long arms that always reminded me of a robot when i was a kid.

And though I was probably sleeping, he did it "Even on Sundays" -- three well chosen, arresting words this poet uses in kicking off his remembrance, and by so doing nailing down a key idea, from the start, just with those three words, that parenting never lets up, doesn't take a day off, and that parents who are strict are being that way for our own good and that it's easy to take them for granted, especially when young -- and perhaps even after.

Hayden, with this poem, makes it a hell of a lot harder to do so.

Just a quick language clue: He uses the word "offices" at the end in an old-fashioned way as a synonym fo "tasks" or "duties."

I love this poem, so much so that for all I know I may have posted it here before. If so, please forgive me.

I have no idea why some words are in yellow.

notice that it doesn't rhyme. yet it still feels like a poem. that calls for a whole nother note some day.

Sundays too my father got up early

and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold,

then with cracked hands that ached

from labor in the weekday weather made

banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.

I’d wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking.

When the rooms were warm, he’d call,

and slowly I would rise and dress,

fearing the chronic angers of that house,

Speaking indifferently to him,

who had driven out the cold

and polished my good shoes as well.

What did I know, what did I know

of love’s austere and lonely offices?

02/13/23 02:15 PM

#12174

Mike,
Splendid. Relatable in that when visiting my aunt and uncles house in German Vilage as a kid, my sister was jumping up an down on the wooden grate over the cold air return for their coal furnace, when all of a sudden she vanished like a magician's rabbit. The next thing we hear is her screams of terror as she landed in the fire box. Fortunately it was early summer and the furnace was not on. My uncle rescued her by handing her the handle of his axe and pulled her free. Covered head to toe with coal soot. She spent the rest of the day in the bath tub scrubbing herself raw. Coal is unforgiving that way. Her good fortune was really not being shreaded by the sheet metal screws, as they were put in from the sides giving her a smooth ride to the furnace. The contrast of her having this joyous moment having fun to the shear terror of her ordeal was interesting to experience. To this day she won't even step on a register let alone a cold air return.

02/13/23 02:48 PM

#12175

Yeah.
And another thing. I don't usually write any political bs, but I must say just watching the SOTUA this year was by far more enjoyable than in recent times. I agree wi you MM about all the grandstanding, but better at that presentation than any other event. I kinda enjoyed the involuntary responses to an otherwise upbeat report. And I liked Biden's emphasis on the unity of the country as all politicians should consider opposing views. But all the hoopla belongs in this forum where the beauty contests are held daily. I mean when you got a bunch of appealing candidates for higher offices, it becomes an opportunity to display their wares so to speak. It's free advertising! The beauty of these kinds of political events are rare. So you know everyone running is loaded for bear. So we get the worst with the barely tolerable. My favorite. Watching and listening to politicians rip into each other is music to my ears. If anything good comes from this format it is the evidence there is a higher power.

02/13/23 05:55 PM

#12176

David Dunn

A jar of vaseline in my pocket, grooming a good-sized glob of Vaseline into my hair, on my way to maybe5th & 6th grade, and, grooming my hair back with a comb, while its almost as stiff as cardboard.

02/13/23 07:49 PM

#12177

Mark Schweickart

Dave -- Are you sure it was a big glob of Vaseline? As I recall, with Brylcreme, "a little dab'll do ya." But given your description, I don't think you were expecting the response that since "you'll look so debonair, that all the girls will want to run their fingers through your hair. " (I think the jingle went something like that, didn't it).

02/14/23 09:56 AM

#12178

we should extend the sense of this day to include compassion for each other, regardless of affiliations, romantic or otherwise. My heart goes out, in particular today, to msu. I think of how happy and secure I always felt when I taught at osu -- happy in the middle of that big, beautiful campus. That msu campus must be in shock.

02/14/23 10:53 AM

#12179

https://www.theohiopressnetwork.com/news/ohio/ecological-disaster-unfolds-after-ohio-toxic-train-derailment-transportation-secretary-buttigieg-ignores/article_78b5c450-ac17-11ed-9310-d7cf29f193af.html?utm_source=theohiopressnetwork.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletter%2Foptimize%2Fdaily-headlines%2F%3F-dc%3D1676347210&utm_medium=email&utm_content=image

02/14/23 12:00 PM

#12180

Janie Albright (Blank)

02/15/23 09:55 PM

#12181

Mark Schweickart

Gee, I wonder if any of us can identify with the sentiments in this bit from Stephen Colbert's Valentine's Day show:

02/15/23 10:17 PM

#12182

One discovers the light in darkness, that is what darkness is for.

-- James Baldwin

02/16/23 12:04 PM

#12183

You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be lead.

We all know how much wood a woodchuck can chuck. But how much wood can a beaver eat?

I would like to show you a photo but...my ignorance is complete in the mechanical aspects of this particular function. I have searched for any icons or elements, symbols, et.al. but there is nothing like that anywhere on my version of this site. Seems rather ironic as for most of my career I created a ton of visual presentations for a myriad of clients. Films, videos, and photos. Would really like to share them...but my version of this site is void of any media connectivity.

02/16/23 08:25 PM

#12184

Jack,

If you look at the title bar at the top of these pages you will see two symbols for uploading stills and videos.

A - photos; at the top left - the second icon from the left is symbol of a mountain scene with tiny moon. If you have your photo (whether it is a picture, or a copy of an article), click on the mountain icon first and that brings up a screen with a small box in the upper left that says "Choose File".

Clicking "choose file" will bring up your own "desktop" (or "downloads", or wherever your file is stored). Then select (click on) your photo or article and click on "Upload" in the upper right corner. Give it a moment (sometimes it's quick - sometimes it takes several seconds).

Once you see your image in the large empty box, click on the green "OK" on the bottom right. That should do it.

*** My bad - I just corrected this second part below - sorry!

B - Videos; from You Tube (I do not know how it is if it's not YouTube). Get the You Tube video you want to copy on your screen. Click on the little "Share" arrow below and to the right of the the video - a window pops up with a bunch of symbols. Swipe your cursor along the URL address line below and then hit COPY.

Then go back to your Forum page where you want enter this and go up to the rows of icons above and click on the tiny red YouTube symbol up in the icons on second row, far right .

A window appears and you will enter your copied YouTube URL - sorry if you are using PC I don't know) in the long entry slot. Then finally hit "okay" below.

02/16/23 09:14 PM

#12185

This just in.........

Crisis Averted

In this day and age with all of this political turmoil, misinformation, wars, disease, earthquakes, balloons in teh sky, and general suffering, at least one major crisis has been averted.

(Okay, so we're still not sure if Sean Payton can fix Russell Wilson)

My life-long addiction to Coca Cola nearly hit a scary moment for mankind (at least, this man-kind).

I am unable to drink the "Diet" versions (which taste about as good as battery acid if you ask me. Oh, you didn't ask me, oh well). And I am unable to tolerate the regular coke, with it's caffeine, do to the diabolical effects of sleep disorders, several of which I am blessed with.

(My mother nursed me on that "regular" stuff - she grew up Mehtodist and that was their drink)

So my hope of salvation in recent years has been the wonderful scientific break through known as "Caffiene Free Regular Coke". (NO, not Caffiene free Diet Coke)

Can I hear an Amen?

But a wave of panic struck me last week, when I went to grab my usual 2-liter bottle of this nectar of the gods at my local Kroger. Ther were no 2-liter bottles of "Caffiene Free". Only a single box of 12 cans, which I grabbed (though I don't usually consume it in those versions). The next day I stopped by a different store just to see if they were still carrying it, and lo and behold - they were not!

Oh dear, I thought, as I grabbed their last 12 pack of cans. And two nights ago, another store was out and I, in a sense of panic, grabbed two of the last four 12-packs from the shelves. By now I was accumulating a bit of a large trove of my beverage on my kitche floor and was intent on getting to the bottom of this mystery.

Today, I as in my Kroger again and had a stroke of luck - a symbol that their is still hope for us poor huddled masses in this world. As I strolled down the soft drink aisle, I was in for a life saving experience. The "Coke guys" wre unloading and stocking the coke shelves. In a sense of pleading desperation, I asked if Coke was dropping the "Caffiene-Free" product?

Their reply was like music to my ears - like absoluton to a dying sinner - like a promise of a tax refund from now to eternity - like a cute puppy licking my face - like the Buckeyes scoring a touchdown - like finding that favorite wrench in the bottom of your toolbox.

"Nope, they're just dropping the 2- liter bottles of "Free". They're still gonna carry it in the 12-packs of cans."

There truly IS a God in Heaven! Dear God,Thank you for all you do. I promise to be a better person (at least until my car goes on the fritz again).

02/17/23 10:00 AM

#12186

Never took you for a cokehead, Dave. I'll be praying on it.

02/17/23 11:22 AM

#12187

John Schaeufele

Dave,

I have just returned from another medical mission to Egypt. They love their Coke as well. We had one patinet who drank 6 -16oz real Cokes a day. Needless to say his blood sugra was highly elveated not to mention his pot belly, Ha! Watch your sugar intake Buddy!!!

02/17/23 11:45 AM

#12188

As I know everyone is on board with keeping the Message Forum non-controversial and light-hearted, I do have a very serious question I just posted on the User Forum and would welcome anyone who could explain what they believe to be going on in our country regarding the health and safety of its citizens. That is all.

Please keep discussion on the User Forum.

02/17/23 12:14 PM

#12189

Jack, (or anybody)

I just re-wrote my post # 12184 above, giving you instructions for posting photos and videos. I made an error in the steps for doing videos. Sorry if you were having trouble following my error.

02/17/23 12:19 PM

#12190

I looked at the subject, MM, actually guessed it in advance, and if you don't mind I'll just say something right here on this forum as a journalist:

so often the profession is reactive, rather than active.

I'm not defending that pattern -- and in fact, many a pulitzer has been won by investigative journalists who were ahead of the game and blew the whistle before, not after, a tragedy.

But that is an exception to the rule. Which is my way of saying that I can guarantee you that both the government itself and news organizations will be, belatedly, all over this train story - and change will come as a result.

And if you want to make the point that it mightn't have happened if our legislators spend less time politicking and more time protecting us, and that the same could be said of journalists, I wouldn't disagree.

Every now and then over the course of my career I got drawn into investigative journalism, but I never stuck with it. That takes a certain breed. I'm thinking - seriously now, not kidding in the least - you might have been good at it.

02/17/23 12:36 PM

#12191

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXgM-h5OjoU&ab_channel=CNN

Meanwhile, a dark, very dark, LOL

Not in the least bit surprised. Chagrined, yes, if only on behalf of certain much-abused pressure points when it comes to my profession.

I noticed it happening all along and as a professional journalist was embarrassed and enraged but I refrained from bringing it up here. This piece puts it together so definitively that I can't resist posting it. At this point millions of dollars are at risk and the chickens, as they say, are coming home to roost.

02/17/23 01:00 PM

#12192

Dave,
I don't know what you're looking at but the only symbols I see is a Mustang, a peace sign, a smilely face, a ticket for Woodstock, a shot of the flag on the moon, the Simon and Garfunkle Sounds of Silence album. and a portrait of John F. Kennedy, Clicked on all of them and nada. I must have the 1973 version. Whs.oo. So if I need your help, I'll ask Janie. Personaly I think it a conspiracy. I will post my pic on the FB META site. As uncomfortable as that makes me. I understand that that site is mostly Russian and Chinese hackers. And what interest they may have in the WHS class of '66 is beyond my realm of reason. Albeit it is a most intreguing locale. What I wanted to post is a photo of a cat that has wandered into my perview. He/she is a most interesting creature.
It's made a buddy with my Tuxedo cat, Topper, who is intro ducing it to the routine. When it appeared its butt looked like someone had poured hot tar or burned it. It was very slowly creeping around on my patio where I starrted feeding it. I named it Umlots, due ti it's appearance, white, and it looks like it has apostrophies over its eyes. It's tail fell off eventually. It can't be older than a few months. It won't come in the house, maintaining it's feral lifestye and has been eating nonstop since its arrival. Having had an aray of the felines wander into my life I actually enjoy having them around. They do keep the mouse population under control as well as the chipmonks, which is an infestation. They are everywhere. The place is a medley of wildlife. I love it.

02/17/23 02:08 PM

#12193

https://www.facebook.com/reel/3666858870207924

This has been happening in Kentucky all week long:

02/18/23 01:34 PM

#12194

https://www.nytimes.com/1978/08/02/archives/upstate-waste-site-may-endanger-lives-abandoned-dump-in-niagara.html

Does anyone remember the toxic chemicals dump which came to light in the 1978 Love Canal scandal? This is what comes to my mind when I read about the citizens of East Palestine, Ohio.

02/19/23 01:25 PM

#12195

James Hamilton, M. D.

MM,

Remember it well. Like Chernobyl and Three Mile Island it was a true disastrous event. I pray for those people affected as they face so many different problems, physical health, psychological and financial difficulties.

Jim

02/20/23 12:38 AM

#12196

Jack,

I think you missed the Buffalo nickel and the photo of Howdy Doody.

----------------

M/M,

That is a curious video clip. "Is He Worthy" (written by Andrew Peterson) is my newest favorite contemporary Christian hymn. And that gathering sounds inspiring.

But what an odd timing for a man who has just been publicly exposed this past week for lying (for years) to the pubic along with Laura I. and Sean H. in their private texts about their deliberate mirepresentation of the truth about the past election. Even to the point of his texting them that they needed to fire the young lady who was gathering honest facts for them - facts which proved no election fraud - because telling the truth was "hurting the stock price" (NewsCorp Stock that is). Listening to those reports this week sent chills down my spine.

Added later: Ahah Mike, I am a step behind you. I had not clicked on your link before I typed this post. It is precisey what I am referring to here. Simply amazing!

I find it hard to give any credence to anything he says - especially since that night when he and his two buddies spent their entire programs mocking, insulting, and humiliating those 4 Capital police officers who testfird before Congress last year. One might think he favors this new (and disturbing) phenomenon known as "Christian Nationalism"?

02/20/23 09:32 AM

#12197