A still life by Adriaen van Utrecht ‘Rote Musings’ by Edward Ahern The Society December 23, 2020 Poetry 9 Comments My day dredges through its habits like chicken wings that flop through flour, like tame lettuce-nibbling rabbits, so to say, lacking brainpower. Rote nothings wasting useful hours. I need to force feed, briefly sleep, skip the laundry and flush the shower, and pray the lord my mind to keep. Edward Ahern is a fiction writer and retired international trade executive living in Fairfield, Connecticut. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. 9 Responses Joe Tessitore December 23, 2020 I love it! Reply Beverly S Stock December 23, 2020 Exactly! Reply Julian D. Woodruff December 23, 2020 My sentiments, too, Mr. Ahern: Current conditions pose demands That weigh on us and often make Us feel we are but sifting sand Or drifting aimless, like some flake. Reply Rita B. Rose December 23, 2020 I enjoyed ‘Rote Musings’ wonderful! Reply Margaret Coats December 23, 2020 The opening images certainly figure the waste of time and lack of brainpower! The sloppy meter in the first four lines does the same, but this is a set-up for the increased regularity and mental speed in the last four lines. You even offer symmetry of the two parts of the poem, as line 2 is the only line of regular iambic tetrameter in the first four, and line 7 the only irregular one in the last four. And though line 7 shows metrical variation, it has four stresses, showing that meter has improved to the degree that you are displaying credible mental effort as you ask the Lord to preserve your mind. Interesting metrical effects that support your theme! Reply C.B. Anderson December 23, 2020 This little poem, Edward, is a gem in many ways, most especially for the points noted by Ms. Coats, which I might not have noticed had she not pointed them out. Indirection and outrageous images (“like chicken wings that flop through flour”) are lovely things. The very last line was an evocative echo of the “Now I lay me …” verse my mother recited with me when I was very young. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant December 23, 2020 Edward, this is an instantly engaging gem of a poem. Its quirky observations and lovely closing line have me smiling in delight. Bravo! Reply Yael December 25, 2020 Nice! Who hasn’t had days like this? But it never occurred to me to liken them to “chicken wings that flop through flower” with tame rabbits nibbling lettuce, close on their heels. I love it. Reply Yael December 25, 2020 That was supposed to be “flour”… Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Julian D. Woodruff December 23, 2020 My sentiments, too, Mr. Ahern: Current conditions pose demands That weigh on us and often make Us feel we are but sifting sand Or drifting aimless, like some flake. Reply
Margaret Coats December 23, 2020 The opening images certainly figure the waste of time and lack of brainpower! The sloppy meter in the first four lines does the same, but this is a set-up for the increased regularity and mental speed in the last four lines. You even offer symmetry of the two parts of the poem, as line 2 is the only line of regular iambic tetrameter in the first four, and line 7 the only irregular one in the last four. And though line 7 shows metrical variation, it has four stresses, showing that meter has improved to the degree that you are displaying credible mental effort as you ask the Lord to preserve your mind. Interesting metrical effects that support your theme! Reply
C.B. Anderson December 23, 2020 This little poem, Edward, is a gem in many ways, most especially for the points noted by Ms. Coats, which I might not have noticed had she not pointed them out. Indirection and outrageous images (“like chicken wings that flop through flour”) are lovely things. The very last line was an evocative echo of the “Now I lay me …” verse my mother recited with me when I was very young. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant December 23, 2020 Edward, this is an instantly engaging gem of a poem. Its quirky observations and lovely closing line have me smiling in delight. Bravo! Reply
Yael December 25, 2020 Nice! Who hasn’t had days like this? But it never occurred to me to liken them to “chicken wings that flop through flower” with tame rabbits nibbling lettuce, close on their heels. I love it. Reply
