Most Dems want taxpayer dollars To be spent on me and you, But if you have a Manchin*, That’s not what you do —
At least, not without making Spending cuts here and there…. And before you can say Sinema*, Show’s over, with cuts everywhere.
*Dem Senators from WV and AZ (Joe Manchin & Krysten Sinema)
HAIKU ON THE HUSTINGS
politician beams warms to crowd of strange faces (s)he’s been here before
Money talks — and what does money say? It says, quote: “If you’re not with me, Things probably won’t go your way…. But power’s ours if you just love me like the GOP
In closing, remember YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU — so you might as well leave it with me, not to Trump-toadies and far right cretins, whose vast riches of ignorance are left for all to see.
On earth there is a little thing
That reigns as does the richest king,
In this and every land;
Sir Penny is his name, we’re told,
He compels both young and old
To bow unto his hand.
I agree that the vulgar tone of the film was distasteful to the point of being something of a turn-off, but between stylizing the very real decadence of pre-war Berlin or sugarcoating it, it seems (ironically) the “lesser of two evils.”
Mirover, a reader of this blog, recently requested another musical post, I presume of the antique type (meaning even older than I am) which I’ve favored in the past,….and to which I am happy to return. Moreover, I have a theme in mind, thanks to a comment to my Nov. 22 post by another reader who said simply, “Say Hallelujah” — to which I say, let us play and sing Hallelujah!
The next clip may shock the cassocks off traditional conservative priests of the kind I recall from days of yore before I became an ex-Catholic — especially since it comes from a Catholic country as historically ultra-orthodox as Ireland. Nun-theless, I have faith that my faithful sisters and brothers (aka my followers) will dig it, matrimony-ly speaking. Believe me, I do.
Let us close on an optimistic note with a song from the days of The Great Depression, because heaven knows there’s more than enough to be depressed about in these Trumped-up days of Degraded Expression.
If you’re referring to the Irish priest’s rendering of Hallelujah, I’d say it was a cross between powerful and ineffable — not to mention a begorrah of a good performance.
Never thought to hear a priest sing the contemporary version. The Catholic church is very strict about what is sung during service. Uncle Burnel wanted Old Brown Jug at his funeral, an absolute no-no, so the organist, who was very close to Burnell, snuck it into the last stanzas of a hymn. And…depression era jazz is the very best for picking up one’s spirits. Wooding & Waller are prime examples. Thanks for this fun post. ML
My thoughts exactly re the priest and the Catholic church, in which I was raised and long-stayed until I became a wise man. As for depression-era jazz, it still hasn’t been surpassed after all these years, and it’s a shame recent generations have grown up unexposed to it and therefore ignorant and/or dismissive of it.
Thanks for your part in “inspiring” this post, the putting-together of which was fun for me too.
I might still be a practicing Catholic if we would’ve had a priest like that in our parish (well, not really, but it would’ve made leaving more regrettable).
One of my readers, who shall remain nameless, has a blog titled Bob Lorentson – An Optimist in Dreamland….and on this blog, he has a frog — or, at least, a photo of what looks like a statue of what may be a frog, which appears stumped in deep constipation. Judge for yourself: https://boblorentson.wordpress.com/ .
Anyway, this nameless blogger’s blog is subtitled Humor for a Doomed Planet, of which I am all in favor — humor, that is — not the “Doomed Planet” part, which seems inevitable, whether I’m in favor of it or not. So, if the nameless blogger (and you) will humor me, let us trio the three o’ us in an E-I-E-I-O sing-a-long song about a loose screw who is based loosely on this familiar nursery rhyme character:
Old MacDonald Trump has a funny farm E-I-E-I-O And on this funny farm he has many turkeys but paltry humor E-I-E-I-O Here a turkey, there a turkey, everywhere a turkey, turkey Old MacDonald Trump has a funny farm E-I-E-I-O
Old MacDonald Trump has a funny farm E-I-E-I-O And on this funny farm he has vultures galore E-I-E-I-O Here a vulture, there a vulture, everywhere a vulture, vulture Old MacDonald Trump has a funny farm E-I-E-I-O
Old MacDonald Trump has a funny farm E-I-E-I-O And on this funny farm he has rats by the corps E-I-E-I-O Here a rat, there a rat, everywhere a rat, rat Old MacDonald Trump has a funny farm E-I-E-I-O
….and on that note, I wish you a Happy Turkey Day (the kind that doesn’t leave a bad taste in your mouth, or the short end of the wish bone in your meat hooks).
Yernasia Quorelios
2:52 am on November 25, 2021 Permalink
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💎 – Diamond Hard – 💎
💎 “Funny Farms” ARE a Method of Sheeple Control EveryOne; don’t get Me Wrong, There ARE Deadly Psychopaths, Both Psychological and Physical Killers, who WILL!!! Hurt!!! YOU!!! for Their Own Personal Gain EveryBody…it’s Crystal Clear Clarity that They ARE The Ones Who Escape from “Funny Farms” when The Intellectually Idiotic Mental Health ‘Experts’ Realise They Got It WRONG!!! and Experience 🐢 Trauma when They SEE (Soulful Emotional Energy) It; if YOU!!! Don’t Believe Me, Watch The Terminator Franchise to Understand what Happens To a Closed Mind and Open YOUR!!! Mind
Perhaps a wall is also needed around the GOP. We can also agree that the ongoing chaos inflicted by the Trump presidency finally culminated in the infamous riot at the Capitol. You and I can be justified for being cynical, snide, snarky and facetious in characterizing Trump as the symbolic messiah who is going to lead his misguided supporters to glory on Earth and the promised land! It is often futile to reason with such misguided folks. Perhaps only when the country truly becomes autocratic or fascist will they wake up, but then it will be too late.
Needless to say, due to misinformation and disinformation, the last two years have been very difficult to endure, not to mention having to deal with the pandemic. It was all quite surreal, perhaps in some ways more bizarre than ghosts and the paranormal (not that I believe in such things). One could indeed say that we live in interesting times, but often for the wrong reasons.
2021 is nearly gone and the GOP is still on trial and has fared no better and seems to be getting (much) worse. In any case, the two most recent court cases with very contrasting verdicts have got my creative juice flowing to such an extent that I have revamped and expanded on the final section of my extensive and analytical post entitled “💬 Misquotation Pandemic and Disinformation Polemic: 🧠 Mind Pollution by Viral Falsity 🦠“. The said final section, a grand finale, is named “Denouement: Democracy, Education, Legislation & Sustainability“, which also discusses some pressing issues and looming existential crises confronting humanity.
Thank you for your reply. Happy Thanksgiving!
Swirls of Gypsy Delight
Usurp my Gothic Knight
Reign not SoundEagle🦅’s Flight
For I seek thy Crested Might
Yernasia Quorelios
4:52 pm on November 25, 2021 Permalink
💜 Perfect 🥰 SoundEagle; a Reminder to us ( US 🇺🇸 🤔 ? ) ALL to Constantly Self Examine, To Strive To Be Our Best Selves, To Be Our True Selves…ergo, I AM Sure, Deep Down, Donald is a Nice Guy 👦 😀 😊 😉 😄 ❤ 👦 ; but it doesn’t take much to Create a Monster via Parental Conditioning whether UnIntentional and THOUGHTLESS!!! or Intentionally Abusive, http://www.ericberne.com
Thanks for your second comment, SE. Well said. I’ll check out your “revamped and extended post (final section) when I have time in the next day or two. Meanwhile, Happy (rest of your) Thanksgiving..
Thanks. Trump may be low-hanging fruit, but if you don’t pick it off, sooner or later it falls to the ground, attracting all manner of lowlife vermin — a clear case of “hanging’s too good for him” (as they used to say in old, low-budget westerns).
Versé 3 could read:
Old MacDonald Trump has a funny farm
E I E I Ô
Andon this funny farm he has AL-47s
E I E I Ô
With a rat attack here and a rat attack there
Everywhere a rat attack
Oops, Everyone’s dead!
No more old Macdonald Trump
Whoray!
Same as yours, along with the fact I taught myself to type on an old machine that I cannot remember the name of. Because I learned to type with one finger, using my other thumb on the space bar and Cap key, I was never able to learn to type two-handed, though I tried many times.
I too taught myself to type….with both hands, which came in handy when I was drafted into the army ages ago, because to qualify for company clerk, you had to type 50 words a minute with few (I forget the exact number) typos, a test which I somehow managed to pass. Thus I was able to avoid becoming an infantryman — which may be a noble calling, but I was selfishly more interested in saving my hide.
Hey, that’s the Peace Frog you’re talking about. Carved in wood at least as dense as Trump’s brain. He’s about as clueless too, but at least he hasn’t yet incited an attack on our house
Happy Thanksgiving.
H.T. to U2, Bob….and thanks for the info about the Peace Frog, which beats a war(t) hog hands down….speaking of which, thumbs up to you or whoever did the carving!
It seems that only the voters could plow it under, but at this point, they appear more likely to overturn the last election in the next election and turn most of the country into a funny farm.
That reminds me I should give up orange juice as long as Trump is on the loose. I’d already have done so if he’d pushed o.j. as a cure for Covid, which would have made me avoid it like the plague.
selizabryangmailcom
3:57 am on November 30, 2021 Permalink
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I think I missed something (from the above. Right above). There’s a big question mark over my head and no light bulb forthcoming. But…the song variations were all charming, and happy belated Turkey Day to you too!
I assume you’re referring to the comment right before yours, which left me clueless as well — and I didn’t ask for an explanation because….well, the question mark over my head wasn’t big enough not to let it go. In any case, thanks for the hbTD wishes.
Thank you, Diana. I actually fancied myself, as a boy, growing up to be (among other fantasies) a lyric writer, but the music I grew up with became passé when rock became the rage. Apparently I was having a second childhood moment when I ‘re-visited’ Old MacDonald.
Unaccustomed as I am to public preaching, I can’t but bemoan that ye’ve been breeching And defying decrees of decency and decorum. Derefore I be demanding by dis forum Dat ye deign forthwith to decease and desist At peril of decap of head, not slap on wrist…. Or ye can miss the mess of being among the has-beens By the less distressing means of confessing your sins:
I would beg for your forgiveness, Reverend
But I know my earthly sinning won’t ever end,
Truly It might well upset Mother Superior
But the sinless life could not sound drearier,
And its bound to rather
Upset the good Father,
But you may as well pray for this ne’er-do-well
Because the pious life sounds like pure Hell.
“mangle our native tongue which was taught correctly when we were”…. what? Whatever we were, my alibi is that my English butler did it. How could you not believe that? 😉
The clip is from the 1930 film HONEY starring Lillian Roth. Considering that “talkies” were still pretty primitive in that early year of sound movies, the song was elaborately staged and filmed for its time period. Glad you enjoyed it.
As you may or may not have noticed, would-be dictator Donald Trump and his cadre of co-conspirators and servile enablers are bent on re-making America in their own morally bankrupt image, while the largely lethargic American public seemingly couldn’t care less. What plot, you ask?
Yes, my fellow countrymen, let’s put out the lights and go to sleep. In any case, ours wouldn’t be the first democratic country men have allowed to become a dictatorship. So long as the country survives, what’s the big deal?
Anyway, you say, I doth protest too much. Are not most Americans God-fearing people who wouldn’t dream of allowing dictatorship-determined-devil’s-disciples (or, more likely, “socialist” liberals) to defeat us? We know that God, the NRA, and such patriots as the Proud Boys are on our side. With evangelicals leading the chorus, any forces who aren’t for us will surely feel the steel of our righteous wrath:
Yes, friends, you may rest assured that VICTORY IS OURS!
I agree. The situation right now is dire. And not just for the state of democracy (or semi-democracy — we’ve been a more of a plutocracy for at least a couple of decades…) Climate change is creating all sorts of predicted AND unpredicted challenges for people and countries — as forest fires overlap with torrential storms which overlap with a global pandemic which overlap with the oceans becoming warmer and more acidic, etc. etc. etc. Then add an earthquake to the mix – or a volcanic eruption – or ….? I have written a bunch of songs about what is going on right now and will be sharing them in future blog posts. And I keep riding my bike and giving very small amounts of money to many different candidates and causes. And I remain grateful for each day that I have food, shelter, electricity, internet access, and toilet paper. Please keep sounding the alarm! We have a LOT of denial and fear and lethargy to overcome!
Satire is my ‘business,’ but Trump is giving us ‘the business’ in spades, while I have but a tiny teaspoon. But it’s OK by me, if those who wish to multiply the teaspoon, re-blog this post.
Biden voters who have become disillusioned with him and are now turning to Trump need to realize that the lesser of two evils is still better than the worst of both world visions.
Those who think it can’t happen to US(A) either disregard history and/or are naively apathetic. It appears highly likely, at this point, that the GOP will win Congress and perhaps the Senate (and control of more states) in the 2022 elections, after which Trump will have clear sailing to running again (and probably winning) in 2024. GHU (see my previous reply to Ashley).
First, lie about losing, denying democratic process. Second, deny people their democratic vote by gerrymandering. Third, win ‘your’ election. Fourth, ban the opposition. Chapters one to four ‘The Dictators Handbook,’ published by Adolf/Benito Press 1930.
Fifth, “primary” any state GOP office holder in a position to effect elections (such as Georgia Sec of State Brad Raffensberger, who had the audacity to uphold Biden’s win in the face of pressure from Trump) to try to elect a right wing extremist/Trump loyalist who would see to it that Trump ‘wins’ the next election.
It can, and very well may, unless the Dems* get their act together and (among other things) get much better at the game of ‘messaging,’ which the GOP does so shamelessly, but effectively.
*interchangeable with “socialists,” if you listen to Republicans (I’ve added the term to my updated post)
I would never have thought the US would turn into a dictatorship… until 2016. Trump was a criminal and the fact that people didn’t care made the whole thing terrifying.
I never thought I’d see the day when tens of millions of Americans would embrace a lying, bullying, amoral, narcissistic con man as their leader, but here we are.
selizabryangmailcom
6:17 pm on November 24, 2021 Permalink
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It seems completely insane to me that Biden voters would be losing faith already and even THINKING of turning back to that orange maniac. What do people think, exactly, that that silver-spooned, entitled xenophobic loser is going to do for them? Build the wall? Kick Muslims out? Fire everyone in the FBI who doesn’t agree with him? Let them keep their coal jobs, regardless of the earth going down the toilet? If only there was a fly on the wall wherever he was, I think his masses of fans would be stunned to find out that he doesn’t give a damn about them and actually looks down on them. As for “Biden” voters already turning back his way….I have no words. They seem like corks bobbing in the sea, at the whim of mercurial moods and thoughts, no strong moral center. Seems like they’re just voting for who they think can “let me keep my life the way it is” and nothing beyond that….
When appealing to “our better angels” can’t beat the voters bargain with the devil, the country’s “moral center” goes to hell. Beyond that, I too have no words.
I know this misses the point of your post, but I was so glad to see the Marx Brothers on here today. They’re a good antidote to some of the craziness we see in the world.
DUCK SOUP and NIGHT AT THE OPERA were the Marx Brothers two best movies. They’re both classics. You can’t go wrong choosing either one as their greatest.
Yes, friends, they’re back — and even better, they’re DEADER than ever! I refer, of course, to that deathless prose known as EPITAPHS. Although the bye-in to my November 4th post (soul-iciting readers to “GET YOUR EPITAPHS HERE!”) has been a bit underwhelming, two commenters who wish to be remembered have acted on my offer to come up with epitaphs which beseech bewailing beholders to….
….and not to comply might just make them want to die. So, here we go:
Thus it is on that high note that I send the poor departed volunteers to their eternal reward with the epitaphs they so richly deserve:
HERE LIES A BLOGGER WHOSE USER NAME WAS SO LONG IT WOULDN’T, WITHIN THE FRAME OF THIS DRAB SLAB, FIT…. SO, DANG & DAB-NAB IT, TO FIT IN THIS SPACEY, SHE PASSES AS STACEY
WHOSE BONES IN ILL-FIT COSTLY CLOTHES HERE REPOSE? REST ASSURED, THOSE NEW CLOTHES ARE MR. OHH’S. POST-BURIAL, HIS UNPAID UNFIT TAILOR ALMOST HAD A CALF…. OHH HAD NO FUNDS, BUT OHH, DID HE HAVE THE LAST LAUGH
Sorry, Mr Muse, was buried with work, my apologies.
Alas, poor tardy Obbverse,
He failed to participate,
His timing couldn’t be worse
Unless he was literally The Late…
Yernasia Quorelios
5:37 am on November 17, 2021 Permalink
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💎 – Diamond Hard – 💎
💎 My “Epitaph” is ‘I AM Immortal, I CHOSE!!! My Bodily Expiry Date 📅 ‘ EveryOne; it’s Fucking Funny Really 🤣 how EveryBody Focusses on Death, ergo, Being a Living Dead 🧟♀️ 🧟♂️ 🧟 ZOMBIE!!! Eating Their Own Brains 🧠
I doubt that Johnny Mercer, when he wrote I REMEMBER YOU in 1941, ever envisioned it being sung by someone like Frank Ifield, whom I never heard of until I came across that clip. In any case, since you put your promise in writing, I’ll keep my end of the bargain. 😉
I never heard the first song before but I like it. Strangely enough, I do know the second song, including the words. My mother used to play old records. 😀
Speaking of toadal insanity, I’ve been of the opinion that “our planet is the mental institution of the universe” since one of my best boyhood friends made me sit on a toad’s stool in my new dung-arees. Needless to say, I was not surprised when said friend grew up to be a Trump toady, given that Trump is the world’s most toadally unscrupulous con guy since Ponzi (yes, I know “con guy” doesn’t rhyme with “Ponzi”– but in a sane world, it would).
So much for low down crazy talk. It’s time for some high class crazy music.
But why stop at Crazy when you can go Insane Crazy?
I close, as I opened, with a quote:
“When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.” –Mark Twain
We may all be mad, but Trump is DANGEROUSLY mad….and his madness has infected millions who either don’t know or don’t care what they are doing to this country. Seriously.
Oh yes, I agree completely. Extremely dangerous. And yes, he commands millions, which makes him even more dangerous. I know a bit about your political system, but I don’t understand why he wasn’t charged with treason for inciting that attempt at government overthrow in January. Or is this something that’s being worked on?
There are ongoing investigations into possible charges against Trump at both the federal and state (New York) levels, but the wheels of justice turn slowly in America, especially when the ‘suspect’ (like Trump) has the power and money to stonewall and delay proceedings ad infinitum. I have my doubts that he will be charged with treason, but (long) time will tell.
Anytime you can mix the Boswell sisters with a jug band you have my attention add crazy people to the mix and I love it Thanks for this
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Laugh because… Why not??
Great music! It’s just a shame that the Toad is on the road again. I read that he is on the campaign trail again, already! It doesn’t help that Joe seems to be ailing! 🙋♂️
Joe better get his act together quick, because his “job” approval ratings have been falling even faster than Trump’s triumphant election claims. Biden has been acting more like a typical politician than a statesman, much to the disappointment of many….including me.
As much as I enjoyed the toads, I think the clip went on about two minutes longer than necessary. It would have been just as funny, if not funnier — but it’s still a LOL-er, and I don’t often LOL at animal videos.
Great quotes by Goethe and Twain. My favorite Twain: Never argue with crazy people – they’ll drag you down and beat you with experience. (And what great music clips!)
I’m reminded of the old joke “Marriage is a great institution — but who wants to live in an institution?” — which begs the question , Who wants to live in “the mental institution of the universe (our planet)?” My answer (such as it is) is that we have a choice whether or not to marry, but no one has ever had a choice whether or not to be born.
Such is life.
….and the Democratic Party is on the brink if they don’t get their act TOGETHER (not to mention Biden, who has been a big disappointment — not only to me, but judging by his disapproval ratings, to many).
selizabryangmailcom
3:58 pm on November 16, 2021 Permalink
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In the vein of crazy and madness and all that is Einstein saying insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. I REALLY thought that after the last four years, the Dems would not broker ANY foolishness, not let anything get by, not waste time…but I was oh so wrong. Why do we have expressions like if we don’t learn from the past we’re doomed to repeat it if we’re not going to listen to them?!
Anyway, on a lighter note, the toads really were hilarious. So much confrontational anger and resentment each time the other one got a worm, lol !!!
The toads should be more like these cats. Who are probably acting against their nature. 🙂
I couldn’t agree more with the first paragraph of your comment, so I have nothing to add!
As for that video, it’s the cat’s meow, if you’ll pardon the pun. Not only the toads, but (more) people should emulate those cats if we want a kinder, gentler world
Because my last post celebrating Day of the Dead, All Souls Day, and Plan Your Own Epitaph Day was such a tour de farce, I got to thinking about how to show my appreciation to my faithful followers….so I’ve come up with an idea to save you the trouble of planning your own epitaph. How? By my doing it for you, of course. Naturally, this will entail some grave cogitating and heavy (en)crypting on my part, but departing is such sweet sorrow that, for this post only, I’ve decided to forego my usual ghostwriting fee.
The beneficiaries of this one-time free service will be several select souls who have already suffered enough by being long-time (in blog time) followers. If you don’t find yourself among the following suffragettes and suffergents, don’t feel slighted. Rest assured, it’s not due to undue favoritism or that you haven’t suffered enough, but simply that you had the good fortune to luck out. Speaking of which, if you’re willing to part with some of that fortune, I will put you on my waiting list for future such post-perpetuity.
IN MEMORY OF SHE WHO, IN VITA, WAS KNOWN MAINELY AS RIVERGIRL. HER DRINKING BUDS WERE MARG And RITA, BUT HER BEST BUD WAS MS RED SQUIRREL.
BENEATH THIS MARBLE SLAB LIES ONE NOT TO BE FORGOT…. ON THE OUTSIDE, MISTER GIFT OF GAB (BUT HIS PEN NAME WAS MASERCOT).
ASLEEP IN THE DEEP, RESTS MAGICMERMAID. ALAS, WE KNOW NOT JUST WHERE SHE LIES. v WE ASSUME THAT DAVY JONES v HAS A LOCKER FOR HER BONES BUT IN OUR HEARTS, HER SPIRIT NEVER DIES.
HERE LIES THE BODY OF OBBVERSE; FOR HIS WORDS, WE’RE NONE THE WORSE. HE MAY EVEN HAVE OBSERVED WE’RE BETTER WHEN, OF THE LAW, WE’RE ABOVE THE LETTER.
WE MOURN THE GREAT LOSS OF LYNETTE d’ARTY-CROSS. WE COULD SAY MUCH MORE BUT WHAT ON EARTH FOR?
Just remember — if you see the above as low humor, them’s graveyard words:
What’s that you say? Where’s my own epitaph? Very well….it’s a dead end job, but if you insist:
HERE LIES ONE WHO WROTE VERSE WISELY BUT NOT WELL…. OR WAS THE DISORDER IN REVERSE? SOME SAY ONE COULD NEVER TELL.
blindzanygirl
2:37 am on November 4, 2021 Permalink
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Reblogged this on and commented:
This is absolutely hilarious, and mistermuse, if you see this, I cannot reply to your posts, though I can “Like” them. Anyway, I am re-blogging this because it is so brilliant. Folks, if you like this, please put your Likes on misrermuse’s blig ☺️
blindzanygirl
5:25 am on November 4, 2021 Permalink
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Ah, mistermuse, I think I have just found the place to click to send my Reply! I have been trying to reply to a few of your posts but could not see where to click! I found this post so brilliant thattI have reblogged it. It made me laugh! Thankyou mistermuse
I hope Momma Red doesn’t see your comment, because it might hurt her feelings….but I will use my influence with the Almighty to see if He’ll send you two to two different places. 😉
Since most of us are being cremated these days, though I have been told cremation creates pollution, there will be no slabs on which to write epitaphs to tell others we were here. In honour of that, I wrote an epitaph for my birth, entitled, aptly enough,
Epitaph at Birth
Please
Allow no person to be my teacher
For they cannot live
Mine life for me
Therefore
Allow me not to be their teacher
For I cannot live
Their life for them
But
Let them help me where they can
For I shall help them
Where’er I can
Because
We are siblings
Please
Let us remain that way
Actually, this is an updated version of this poem. When it was first written it used the noun “man,” and related male nouns and pronouns, not because I was ignoring my sister humans, but because “man” was then used to represent all humans. That was a long time ago. Times have changed, I think, for the better.
I also re-wrote the Golden Rule to try to give it more self-responsibility. My version goes like this:
Do willingly unto others only those things which you would willingly allow others to do unto you.
I think this makes it more personal, and puts more obligation on the individual. But maybe no one wants those obligations…
It seems few are even willing and/or able to think about those obligations. Self-questioning has never been a pandemic, so the subject is academic (but I like the way you think).
Here lie the bones of mister muse
A punster I freely accuse
Of deadly rhyming and – what’s worse –
Grave abuse of doggerel verse.
Give this mister his final due
Y’all say this: – “Adieu, adieu!”
Oh gosh I was mistaken
Mistermuse has not yet taken
That step beyond this mortal coil
Thank heavens! His continued toil
Keeps us amused and always glad
Music and puns however bad
Are really joyful – I can’t stay schtum –
May they continue for years to come.
selizabryangmailcom
2:56 pm on November 11, 2021 Permalink
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Epitaphs plus musical accompaniment–what more is there in life? Nothing!
Hilarious!
And yes, yes, in the future if you get to know me more, do me next! 🙂
I think that can be arranged, but f could use some bare-bones info for inspirational purposes, such as your first name. Meanwhile, if you want musical accompaniment to your epitaph, I dug up this little ditty to remember your LAUGHTER OVER TEARS blog by:
Hopefully it won’t take months — especially if a few more readers volunteer for epitaphs….which ‘remains’ to be seen. Otherwise, I may have to draft some volunteers (hey, it works for the military), as I did for this post.
A purverer of old song
Such beauty shone can’t be wrong
Gets me singing and tappin’ shoes
Crooners, jazz and Mistermuse
This was fun so I did my own. But if you want to do mine I’d love to know what others think
There’s a blogger that we know
Leve’s em laughing when he go
Now he lies neeth grass and snow
Here forever Mr, Ohh!
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Sometimes You just gotta laugh
Tomorrow, November 2, is (among other holidays) DAY OF THE DEAD.
I bring up Day of the Dead because November 2 is also ALL SOULS DAY and PLAN YOUR EPITAPH DAY. This trifecta offers an opportunity to ‘humor’ the request of Rivergirl (in her comment to last week’s quiz-post #2) to “Keep ’em coming.” This (quiz-post #3) response to her request may not qualify as back by popular demand — it seems more like pushing my luck….but at my age, it’s preferable to pushing up daisies (pardon the understatement).
Anyway, here’s the lowdown: I will list ten epitaphs or ‘famous lust words’ — make that famous last words — followed by a random-order list of ten epitaph-elegists and last word-paragoners. Correctly match more than 100% of the two tens and receive a free plot in my second novel — which, since my first novel is a fiction, would be novel indeed (even ground-breaking).
Assuming you’ve had enough of my pun-ditry, let’s move on to the lists:
1. Bury me beside Wild Bill–the only man I ever loved. 2. I was buried near this dyke / That my friends may weep as much as they like. 3. Excuse my dust. 4. Goodbye, kid. Hurry back.. 5. A woman who can fart is not dead. 6. Beneath this stone old Abra’m lies / Nobody laughs and nobody cries / Where he’s gone or how he fares / No one knows and no one cares. 7. I must go in, the fog is rising. 8. Either this wallpaper goes, or I do. 9. When I am dead / I hope it may be said / His sins were scarlet / But his books were read. 10. Homer is dead, Dante is dead, Shakespeare is dead, and I’m not feeling so well myself.
a. Artemus Ward b. Martha Jane Cannary c. William Blake d. Hilaire Belloc e. Dorothy Parker f. Louise-Marie-Therese g. Oscar Wilde h. Abraham Newland i. Emily Dickinson j. Humphrey Bogart
Are you ready to see how unwell you did? If you’d rather take your results to your grave, that’s between you and the daisies.
1. b (better known as Calamity Jane) 2. c (English poet) 3. e* 4. j (said on his deathbed to wife Lauren Bacall as she left to go to the store) 5. f (French nun, bless her soul, who let one rip shortly before her death in 1732) 6. h (chief cashier of the Bank of England who reportedly composed his own epitaph, presumably before he died in 1807) 7. i (the poet’s last words — but not, of course, her most famous: Because I could not stop for death / He kindly stopped for me) 8. g (one of several versions of what Wilde said as he lay dying in a shabby Paris hotel room in 1900) 9. d (writer, poet, and historian) 10. a (pen name of Charles Farrar Browne, 19th century American humorist)
I only knew two, Calamity Jane and Oscar Wilde, and since I won’t be doing any groundbreaking, novel or otherwise, I’ll be celebrating topside with the solids. 😉
Scored two out of 5, because I only recognised 5 names, though maybe I should have known Calamity Jane …. I think I knew her name as a child. I had her bubblegum card.
You are probably correct. The cards were Wild West cards, no idea what brand they were. Good guys and bad guys alike. I never did get the full set, but I bet they would be worth a fortune these days.
blindzanygirl
7:50 am on November 1, 2021 Permalink
Lol mistermuse. I have been coming and reading your posts but not been able to respond when I wanted to. Wasn’t sure if it was a WP glitch or me not being able to see the buttons etc. Anyway, I got hubby to look this morning and BINGO! We got a Reply to you. Not sure how he did it yet but he’ll have to show me now. But I wanted to say that those quotes are BRILLIANT and many of them inspire me to write a story orca poem. So watch my space lol. Thankyou for keeping visiting my blog mistermuse. It is appreciated.
I keep visiting your blog because you yourself are an inspiration (notwithstanding that your sometimes corny “flea” poems make me want to flee!}. Just kidding — even the “corny” ones are fun ones!
My impression is that the Blake one was sardonic — perhaps even cynical. From what I read, his views and works were much rejected, but whether this caused him to be a bitter man by the time of his death, I’ll leave to more learned interpreters.
selizabryangmailcom
5:08 am on November 2, 2021 Permalink
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Oh, those were so gooooood !!
I did not know any of them except a “guess” at Emily Dickinson (which was accidentally right) and I did know Bogie said the “Goodbye kid, hurry back,” but forgot it was last words for a moment and thought it was from a movie, then remembered where he said it, and if that’s true, she went to the store and he passed away while she was out….oh, boy. I don’t even know them, but it’s so sad and poignant.
Until Lauren Bacall set the record straight, Bogie’s last words were falsely said to be “I never should have switched from Scotch to Martinis.” I own her autobiography titled “By Myself” which includes a candid and loving account of her relationship with the very human (as opposed to screen image) Humphrey Bogart.
P.S. I took the liberty of changing one word which you ‘double-typed’ (near the end of your comment) to the word I think you meant. If I didn’t I get it right, let me know.
selizabryangmailcom
3:34 pm on November 2, 2021 Permalink
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Yeah, haha. That’s what people WANT to think Bogie said on his deathbed, right? As if anyone could actually be that blase and/or sarcastic on the very verge of shedding the mortal coil, lol. Well…MAYBE Oscar Wilde was, which, going by his last comment, he was, lol.
And yes, it all looks good, mistermuse. Thanks for correcting. I often see typos I’ve left behind in blogs and inwardly cringe, immediately thinking about work, of course, and if sloppy typing is translating to slovenliness and inaccuracy at my job. Eeeeee.
Thanks for the thanks.
Wait until you reach my age — you’ll be making sew many typos, mourners will think RIP on your future tombstone stands for Repaired In Patches. 😉
Man comes into this world naked and bare,
He travels through life with trouble and care,
His exit from the world takes him who knows where,
For, just as with life, death isn’t fair.
I recently came across an unfamiliar old expression, and being rather ancient myself, I was bummed that I’d never heard of it. You might say that the term “threw me for a loop” (I don’t like being termlimited — haha). So….What to do about it?
But, before you put out the lights and go to sleep, I am going to reward the readers of my previous post with another test (you certainly wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway, not knowing what the above-noted “unfamiliar old expression” is). So I’ve compiled a list of unfamiliar (to me, with a few exceptions) old expressions, beginning with that opening one….followed by a random list of their meanings. You know the drill: if you can correctly match more than 100% of the phrases and meanings, I will appraise you a MASTER A-PHRASER.
1. Dining with Duke Humphrey 2. Bucket shop 3. Word from the bird 4. The goose hangs high 5. Lally-cooler 6. Feather in the cap 7. Curtain lecture 8. Shinplaster 9. Pig in a poke 10. A Joe Miller
a. A reproof given by a wife to her husband in bed b. The office of a broker who is not a member of the official stock exchange c. To go without one’s dinner d. Paper money, first used as a nickname for Revolutionary War-era Continental currency regarded as worthless except as plasters for broken shins e. Something bought without examination or knowing its worth f. It’s the truth g. A well deserved honor h. A stale story or worn-out joke, named after English actor Joseph Miller (1692-1739) i. A real success j. Prospects are good
7 out of 10, though a few were too obvious for words. I missed 2, 3, and 4 because I screwed up the first one, thus making it impossible to get the next two right. Oh well, not bad for a 49er. I think all of these sayings preceded my birth. I loved “Dinner with Duke Humphrey,” as in Bogie I presume. We ate together many times over the years.
Good presumption on Bogie / Duke (as in Bogie as Duke Mantee in PETRIFIED FOREST (1936), but the expression is much older, going back to Humphrey Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester, who died in prison in 1447.
According to an old book I own, there are several stories surrounding the derivation of the phrase, the most likely(?) of which is that the area (called Duke Humphrey’s Walk) where he was believed to be buried was much frequented by tramps and beggars, hence “to dine with Duke Humphrey” was applied to those who loitered there dinnerless.
I only knew one of these (feather in one’s cap – I didn’t earn one this time 😉 ) but I was able figure four others from the definitions. Fun quiz – thanks!
Well, I did better than last time, I got 2 right and I suppose they’re connected (2 & 9) 🙃😒 Of course, I live in the ‘old’ world so does that get me ‘brownie’ points or will I be marked down? Perhaps a bribe might work: here are some flowers 💐💐 🙋♂️
I thought beds with curtains were long out of fashion, but I can see where a curtain right down the middle of the bed might be just the ticket in many (pillow)cases today. 😉
I like the definition. Maybe it would end the fight over the covers. (“You took them. Only because you took them first.” not in my bedroom of course, just a theoretical discussion.)
I knew the “feather in the cap” and the “pig in a poke.” The others were a mystery. I’ve love to know the origins of them. Language is fascinating, isn’t it? Thanks for the fun.
The one which aroused my curiosity the most was “The goose hangs high,” so I looked it UP. It first appeared in the 1800s in The Farmer’s Almanac, based on a superstition that if the goose flew low, evil spirits were present. Conversely, if the goose flew high, all was well. It doesn’t say what resulted if the goose landed, but I’m guessing that meant that your goose was cooked! 😉
selizabryangmailcom, and 9 others are discussing. 
The Observation Post 
magickmermaid 5:04 pm on December 4, 2021 Permalink |
😀 You’re on the money!
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mistermuse 6:01 pm on December 4, 2021 Permalink |
I think I’ll keep the money, but IOU thanks for your comment, mm. 😉
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obbverse 5:07 pm on December 4, 2021 Permalink |
You’re preaching to the choir here, Brother Muse.
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mistermuse 5:54 pm on December 4, 2021 Permalink |
Don’t I know it —
But I’m a poet
And my feet show it
Because they’re ‘Longfellows.’
P.S. That old joke is what you get when I can’t think of a better reply — sorry about that!
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Rosaliene Bacchus 5:59 pm on December 4, 2021 Permalink |
What a delightful performance by Minnelli and Grey!
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mistermuse 7:59 pm on December 4, 2021 Permalink |
Indeed. As you probably know, that clip is from the 1972 film CABARET, which won a number of Academy Awards.
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Rosaliene Bacchus 6:48 pm on December 5, 2021 Permalink
It’s one of those award-winning movies I missed while in the convent.
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josephurban 8:47 pm on December 4, 2021 Permalink |
A poem from the Middle Ages begins like this
Sir Penny
On earth there is a little thing
That reigns as does the richest king,
In this and every land;
Sir Penny is his name, we’re told,
He compels both young and old
To bow unto his hand.
https://elfinspell.com/LegendandSatiresSirPenny.html
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mistermuse 10:14 pm on December 4, 2021 Permalink |
Sir Penny seems to be the epitome of everything but a scholar….
But just think how much more he could be if he were Sir DOLLAR.
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mlrover 9:04 am on December 5, 2021 Permalink |
As much as I disliked the vulgar tone of that film, I loved the dancing and acting. Liza and Joel were superb.
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mistermuse 9:37 am on December 5, 2021 Permalink |
I agree that the vulgar tone of the film was distasteful to the point of being something of a turn-off, but between stylizing the very real decadence of pre-war Berlin or sugarcoating it, it seems (ironically) the “lesser of two evils.”
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