No Deal

 

And when I died, the devil came and said,

"Now here's the deal: I'll give you your old life

all over once again, no strings attached.

Like an actor in a play, of course, you'll have

to follow the same script that you rehearsed

the first time through—you cannot change a glance,

a word, a gesture; but think of taking your first

steps again, and having your first romance

repeat itself, your love back from the dead,

beautiful and new and seventeen.

What matter if you see the future coming—

The cloven hoof of sorrow, loss's horn—

her dreamy eye, her nodding head?"

Get thee behind me, Satan, I should have said.

 

No Deal by Ronald Wallace, from Long for this World: New and Selected Poems. © The University of Pittsburgh Press, 2003. 

Anthems of the One Percent

Here are the two unofficial national anthems of the 1% (and their political lackeys). Sing along with Mitch  - I mean, Mitt! 

"American The Dutiful"

Oh Dutiful, despite our lies,
For waves of capital gain,
For grim strip mining's majesties
to Cargill's fields of grain;
America, the Dutiful,
God says "You work for us"; 
Your suffering's our livelihood,
So please don't make a fuss! 

Perry_romney_cain_newt_pledge

"My Country, Not for Thee"

My country, liberal-free,
Sweet land — (and all for me!) 
Of thee I sing. 
Land where I made some bucks,
But if you’re poor, it sucks;
From ev’ry worker’s hide
Profit I shall wring! 

Health questions from the doctor

From a friend…  


I recently picked a new primary care doctor. After two visits and thorough lab tests, he said I was doing “fairly well” for my age (I recently turned 59.)

A little concerned about that comment, I couldn't resist asking him, “Do you think I'll live to be 80?”

My doctor asked me, “Do you smoke?” 

“No” I answered. 

He asked, “Do you drink beer, wine or hard liquor?”

“Oh no,” I replied.  “And I don’t do drugs, either!”

Next, he asked, “Do you eat rich meats like rib-eye steaks, or barbecued ribs?”

I said, “Not often; my former doctor told me red meat is not very healthy.”

“Do you spend a lot of time getting sun exposure — for example, while playing golf, sailing, hiking, or bicycling?”

“No, I don’t,” I said.

The doctor then asked, “Do you gamble, or drive fast cars?”

“No,” I said.

“Have lots of sexual activity?”

“Umm, no…”


My doctor looked at me and said, “Then why do you even give a shit?” 

Well, I Have Lost You

File under "I wish I were talented enough to have written this"… 

Well, I Have Lost You 
 
Well, I have lost you; and I lost you fairly;
In my own way, and with my full consent.
Say what you will, kings in a tumbrel rarely
Went to their deaths more proud than this one went. 
Some nights of apprehension and hot weeping
I will confess; but that's permitted me;
Day dried my eyes; I was not one for keeping
Rubbed in a cage a wing that would be free. 
If I had loved you less or played you slyly
I might have held you for a summer more,
But at the cost of words I value highly,
And no such summer as the one before. 
Should I outlive this anguish, and men do,
I shall have only good to say of you.

Edna_st_vincent_millay
– Edna St. Vincent Millay