Again I opened all the mailboxes
at the bottom of our road,
left the doors hanging open
like mouths – opera tenors
singing the Toreador song
from Carmen:
“Toreador-a,
don’t spit on the floor-a,
use the cuspidor-a
that is what it’s for-a!”
Nearby woodpeckers, an aviary on loudspeaker,
hammer out the Anvil Chorus.
My wife, in full detective mode:
“What is wrong with you!?!”
wants my head examined
by Dr. Edward Anthony Spitzka
who autopsied Leon Czolgosz’s brain
after he shot McKinley.
My mind that bubbles like an aquarium
in the dark with the light on –
radiant GloFish, neon tetras,
darting guppies –
where even the tiny plastic diver
gets the bends.
Across the room
grandfather clock's round belly – a cello
that plucks and murmurs
the hours – time now
to eat my telephone
and speak from the gut.
For Shay’s Word Garden and TSM
qbit 
Provocative images — the aquarium, the clock– This feels like an unwinding of sanity while watching it happen with clarity.
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We need to eat our phones!
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The only way to speak from the gut is to eat your telephone! Amazing word play as always Qbit! I love the idea of the mailbox doors hanging open like mouths! Brilliant!!!!
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Lololol!
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This began with me guffawing and ended with me identifying. I can’t tell you how many sig others have wanted my head examined, albeit not through time travel. Great mix of normalcy and the surreal, and you really made every word walk the walk..and the images! “where even the tiny plastic diver/gets the bends..” really excellent, original writing, qbit.
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Thank you!!
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So it was YOU messing with the mailboxes! You know I’m a retired postie, right? I always wondered who was doing that. I might have known!
I love Verdi. I always crank the Anvil Chorus.
No poets has all their marbles, or maybe we have extras. It comes with the job dsescription!
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Ahahaha! I was waiting for you to comment on the mailboxes. Was even thinking about working it in.
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Fantastic! I especially love that ending! But I also love how you wove musical and historical references through it.
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Thank you!
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I love this transition:
“My wife, in full detective mode”
Also this:
“My mind that bubbles like an aquarium
in the dark with the light on –
radiant GloFish, neon tetras,
darting guppies”
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Thank you!
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Nice writing Q, loved the weaving of your thoughts here! 🙂🐰🐣✌🏼🫶🏼
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Ahahaha! Thanks. Happy Easter to you too!
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A fun read, Q. Well, did you? (wants my head examined)
I hope your Easter was happy. Our was, we went to church and then had a long lunch with the daughter and her family.
..
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Thanks! That sounds lovely.
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I love the mailbox doors hanging open like mouths! And a mind bubbling like an aquarium with the light on……..so good. Loved it.
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Thank you!!
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Delightful, I love the idea of woodpeckers hammering out the Anvil Chorus! I’ll imagine that next time I hear one!
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This ‘Carmen’ is mightily impressed ~ Word List / Muse Mastery.
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You fiery Gypsy you!!
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Fabulous. Made me laugh!
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Briliant wordplay, and many chuckles!l
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fuck me this good! i have fallen way behind on my reading, bear with me while get caught up. i mean this is really good, i’m jealous and i’m drooling over it. speaking of publishing, you should do the same
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I need to get back in the saddle sending stuff out. You are inspiring me.
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Late comer on this one, Randall. Great wordplay! Write more.
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Gosh, I love this. Like, a LOT.
Especially THIS:
“left the doors hanging open
like mouths – opera tenors
singing the Toreador song
from Carmen”
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LOL! Thanks for stopping by.
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