Malda for Milda
("Malda" means "pray" in Lithuanian, according to Google translator;
Milda is a character in "Words on Fire" by Jennifer A. Nielsen)
Lithuanian Chaim Soutine
in art quite undisciplined
From a distance controled&neat
close-up less discrete
Lithuanian Jacques Lipchitz
in sensitive Cubism did sit
Sober but very original
everything so monumental
*Image of Presentation on Three Stooges by Coshocton Tribune.
Curly and Shemp
*Jerome Lester Horwitz,
often dimmer than your wits,
famously known as Curly Howard, one of the three stooges,
his slapstick comedy split our sober from laughter like being in centrifuges.
*Samuel Horwitz,
a mind filled crackers, no ritz,
Lithuanian Jewish mom says "Sam" with her accent came out "Shemp",
like the original three, ad-libbing and wisecracks, **filled baby bro's shoes as his temp.
*Five brothers; Irving, Benjamin, Samuel (Shmuel), Moses (Moe), Jerome (Curly)
**Curly's ill-fated stroke caused Shemp to return as his original stooge self or Moe and Larry comedy series would have ended.
2021 September 29
*2nd Place*
Clerihew 2
~~Joseph May: Judged 2021 October 29
The Three Stooges
What happens when you have negative balance?
Does that mean the Prince does not get his allowance?
We are a small country you see
No longer a part of Russia very much free
But our Prince in the United States
Has a book spinning a tale of relationship and mates
There was no money in this recent take
Are they saying the Prince’s writing is nothing but a fake?
Is this all right?
His words are fluffy and light
We villagers all know the reality is half a barn
That is his title in a real life legendary Lithuanian yarn
But his royalty check is under nil
despite his authorship being important still
His accounts are honest and real
Interpretive fiction not the art of the deal
As it goes for our real estate holder
Dig in heels be stronger and bolder
we know it’s the Sicilian inside that keeps you fed
But my prince the Lithuanian is the one holding the chips allowing nothing to be in debt
A Refugee
He had been given a lift by a Lithuanian truck driver
to a little town in inland Norway where the winter
starts in September and is cold and unforgiven as its
inhabitants. The truck driver had given him money
for coffee, and cigarettes.
Not dressed for winter this swarthy unshaven Levant
perhaps Iraq, a flotsam from a war caused by black
stuff that came up from the earth and cursed them.
He walked into the railway station had a coffee but sat
So long a guard came and told him to leave.
In the waiting room, he felt strange, sweated needed air
went outside to cool down and collapsed, pneumonia and
lack of nutrition an ambulance arrived people gathered
Around, bloody refugees get everything for free someone
in the crowd murmured.
Have you thought about the music to send you on your way
If they played you Bach not Beethoven would there be hell to pay
I had to make the difficult choices when my father died
Mario Lanza ‘I’ll walk with God’ – oh how my mother cried
The Lithuanian National Anthem, of his heritage dad was proud
I can still picture him proudly singing it; he always sang it loud
Gaudeamus Igitur was another favourite song of dad’s
He would sing it regularly when he had a beer with the lads
Maybe its time now for you all to think ahead
For it will be too late when you are already dead
So think about the songs that you would choose
Do it while you are still here – you have nothing to lose!
16th August 2015
Dear Dad
We know time is running out, you are at the end of your life
I promise my best to continue to look after mum, your ever-loving wife
The last few months have been so so so difficult for us all
God has his place in heaven for you, you will respond to his call
Since you got diagnosed in June with two types of cancer
It has brought us all closer together; family time is the answer
We sat and looked at photos together I discovered things anew
How you were in the Lithuanian resistance – oh how I admire you
We've talked together for hours and hours and put our ghosts to rest
Dad I treasure every moment we have together, you simply are the best
I know the future will be difficult when you finally leave
Many sad tears will be shed, we will all reminisce and grieve
But happy memories will remain, I will never forget your smiling face
I will carry this in my heart and wish you were still here to embrace
I will sign off this letter and give you all my love forever
Your ever-loving daughter
09~03~14
Contest: Maybe the Last Letter
Sponsor: Elly Wouterse
Dad you don’t have much time left in this world
Recently we sat and looked through yellowing photographs
Pictures I had never ever seen showing images from your past
Of places I have never visited, of faces I had never seen
One photograph in particular stunned me
It was a photograph of you in a military uniform
Standing with other men dressed the same
You were in the Lithuanian Resistance
Fighting for your freedom and that of your countrymen
Fighting against the Russians who invaded your homeland
Helping others to escape from these tyrants
Several years ago you were awarded a medal
This secret from your past was finally out in the open
Dad you are no longer an unsung hero; you are my hero
Written about my dad who passed away 20th February 2015
30th July 2014
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