Notes About The Poem

Overheard Holidays 1969

“My Cousin Joan’s going to let Danny stay with her in Toronto, Honey.”

“Toronto?  What the holy hell are you talkin’ about, June?  Danny’s just finished college.  He’s not going anywhere.  What--he’s a draft dodger now?"

“It’s all arranged, Sam.  Our son’s going to be drafted.  He’ll be sent to Viet Nam.  He might get himself killed!"

“Damn it all to hell!  I raised a draft dodger.  He’s going to be some pot head hippy in Canada.  Over my dead body he is!  Did that pansy friend of his, Lester-that long-haired loser brainwash him?  What’s going on here?”

“Don’t scream at me, Honey.  It’s his decision.  His lottery number’s 38.  The cut-off was 100!"  

“He can get the holy hell out of this house and never come back, as far as I’m concerned, that commie coward!”

“Stop, Sam, please.  You’ll wake up Bobby.  You’ll scare him."

“Let Bobby wake up!  Let him learn what a loser his brother is.  And what are you crying about?"

“It’s the holidays.  All the Christmas songs and the lights.  This ruins everything.  I feel ill!”

“Then Merry Christmas—Feel better now?”

12/9/22
THIRD RUNNER UP!
Dialogue Proficiency Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Matt Caliri
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022

Poem

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Anaya Avatar
December 21, 2022 at 12:53 PM
Congratulations Robert on your well-deserved but not unexpected WIN!!! I was totally rapt in the dialogue! More, more!
Gorelick Avatar
December 21, 2022 at 1:21 PM
Anaya, your comment means a lot to me for someone who finished 3rd! I enjoyed it so much I'll write another! Robert
Peck Avatar
December 21, 2022 at 9:29 AM
That was exactly the conversation in so many houses--I fought in a war so he should, too." Today we fight about different things, but we still fight...what is wrong with us? Congratulations on your win!
Gorelick Avatar
December 21, 2022 at 1:19 PM
Homosapiens fight. If we were elephants, things would be different! Thanks, Ann, for the congratulations. Robert
Fowler Avatar
December 21, 2022 at 6:25 AM
A common conversation then. So many families divided. Wonderful write Robert. Congratulations! :)
Gorelick Avatar
December 21, 2022 at 1:15 PM
To this day, Linda, there are still riffs between families due to that War. You are very perceptive, thank you for your kind comment and congratulations! Robert
Caliri Avatar
December 20, 2022 at 10:45 PM
This was an amazing read. Super fun to sail through and chuckle. Congrats on 4th place in my dialogue contest out of 35 submissions. This was the funniest submission overall. Excellent work!
Gorelick Avatar
December 21, 2022 at 1:11 PM
Thank you for appreciating my entry and for my placement Matt. Enjoyed the contest. Such a fine line between comedy and tragedy, between Archie Bunker and Willy Loman. It's telling that you found humor--A Rorschach test! Robert
Wolf Avatar
December 14, 2022 at 7:10 PM
Ha, ha. Where are Archie and Meathead?!
Gorelick Avatar
December 15, 2022 at 12:47 PM
Very aptly put, the controversy lives on!
Anaya Avatar
December 11, 2022 at 6:33 PM
A down to earth well written dialogue, both moving and surreal, and so many stories like this. I feel for everyone involved. BOL
Gorelick Avatar
December 15, 2022 at 12:48 PM
Family matters seem to follow us all our lives. Thanks, Anaya
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