Home » Poems » L Milton Hankins » Split Wide Open

Split Wide Open

Split wide open like a ripe watermelon The pink pithy inside so sweet and juicy With all the kids screamin’ and yellin’ Celebrating the Fourth of July, you see. But, suddenly, everything went so bad When I fell off an old mechanical horse, My head split wide open, I felt so sad Not like that ripe watermelon, of course. I was covered in blood, to the Emergency Where they closed me up with stitches, A serious operation of considerable urgency Leaving me with these permanent twitches. So, be careful what you split wide open, sir, Be it a watermelon, a coconut, but never you For a holiday accident creates a frightful stir And accident prone, I’ve had more than a few. FOURTH PLACE WINNER Written May 31, 2022 Submitted to "This 'n That, Vol 12" Poetry Contest Sponsored by Edward Ibeh

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Edward Ibeh

Date: 7/2/2022 6:00:00 PM

Wonderfully done, Milt. I was wincing through your poem, though. lol. I'm glad you recovered from that serious head injury. Ouch! Congratulations on your winning my contest!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/2/2022 7:04:00 PM

Thank you so much, Edward. Actually, this poem is based on an episode when I fell and had a concussion as a result. I enjoyed writing for your contest so much, Edward. I am almost finished reading your book. It is simply delightful.

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 7/2/2022 11:34:00 AM

Congratulations on your win. A "Creative" write/story. "Split Wide Open" a watermelon or a coconut but not one's head. Ouch!!! Have a blessed/weekend................

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/2/2022 11:57:00 AM

(chuckling) Thank you so very much, Paula. It's always good to hear from you. Have a Happy Safe Fourth of July!

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 6/2/2022 3:56:00 AM

"So, be careful what you split wide open, sir, Be it a watermelon, a coconut, but never you" Oh, man! Great advice! Sorry this happened to you Hank.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 6/2/2022 10:05:00 AM

Fiction, Caren, fiction. But it is grounded in a truth. Fell in a department store when I was a kid (on a slip floor they were mopping) and got a concussion. See response to Tom. Lots of what I write is poetic license grounded in something I experienced ...just like you, Caren. Just like you!

Tom Cunningham

Date: 5/31/2022 11:11:00 PM

You were lucky Milton a head injury is the worst injury you can have thankfully you lived to tell the tale. Good luck in the contest. Tom

L Milton Hankins
Date: 6/1/2022 7:53:00 AM

The root of this fictional account is a real event which happened when I was about ten years old. I slipped on a wet floor in a department store and suffered a concussion. We were not so litigious then, though.