Our prompt for the day (optional as always) follows Gowrishankar’s suggestion that we write a poem re-telling a family anecdote that has stuck with you over time. It could be the story of the time your Uncle Louis caught a home run ball, the time your Cousin May accidentally brought home a coyote and gave it a bath, thinking it was a stray dog, or something darker (or even sillier).
I have no idea what to write about today,
an anecdote I have to say
So much easier to remember all the sad stuff
while bringing back the funny stories, is tough.
I can remember the laughing,
my stomach hurting and eyes watering-
but when I begin writing
I can’t but help thinking
That the things that made us laugh
If plotted on a graph
were those that embarrassed,
and were not the fairest…
Like the time when Aunt Sheela was shopping
and seeing her uncle coming-
She rushed out to greet
But slipped and slid and landed at his feet!
Flat on her stomach, hands stretched, she had a big fall
Under the bright lights, in the heart of the mall,
Uncle, shocked at this sudden entry
Bent forward rather gently,
and putting his hands on her head,
in a baritone voice, he said
“God Bless you, my dear child!”
Aunt Sheela still sprawled on the floor, looked dazed and wild
Uncle continued, “You needn’t do this here, you know.”
“Enough. Get up now. Let’s go.”
Note: In India, blessings are taken by Hindus, by touching elders’ feet. My grand-uncle, oblivious to the fact that my aunt had fallen flat and was not taking his blessings, had blessed her and not considered offering her his hand. My aunt narrated this incident to me a long time ago, in between giggles and peals of laughter. Thinking of it, still makes me laugh. I hope it made you laugh too but if it didn’t, I told you, “I can’t tell a joke.”
Leave a Reply to PoetkatieCancel reply