There once was a lady named Myrtle
whose body was shaped like a turtle
But no one knew
Except the few
Who helped her into her girdle.
IF I SHOULD DIE WHILE I’M AWAKE – for d’Verse
Published April 20, 2017 by Nan MykelIf I should die while I’m awake
will I go seeking absolution,
dragged down by the shackles
of sin in my swollen belly, or
ship out soundlessly from my berth
into the eternal matrix
where sins are but a fleet of
rubber duckies?
Refreshing
Published April 19, 2017 by Nan MykelAs I was cleaning out some genealogical papers, I came across one I had forgotten about, and in this day and age I found refreshing:
A notice from the Henry County Bulletin years ago:
The Poet for Councilman
To the Voters of the Town of Martinsville
Two years ago as you well know
The ticket bore my name
And if you scratched it off or not
I thanked you just the same
Again I ask for your support
Not that I claim to be
A better man than others are
For all of you know me
But promising to ever stand
For what is just and true
I will simply sign my name
And leave results with you.
Yours to serve,
J. L. Minter
The Shoe Maker
Guns and Roses
Published April 17, 2017 by Nan MykelShannon took videos of the International Street Fair yesterday, in Athens, Ohio, for Public Access Television. I was asleep when she got back and she didn’t wake me, so I don’t know how it went. I saw in the paper today, however, that at the happy international festivities 5 out-of-towners visited the fair bearing unconcealed weapons and smiles. A city policeman was on their heels the entire time. The visitors seemed to think that it was an act of overt goodwill and an opportunity for discussion, but I declare I wonder about their judgment. I seriously wonder if men would be so attached to their guns if they were not phallic symbols? Maybe the entire hoo-haw relates back to castration anxiety?
P.S. For some spooky reason, Word Press was slow to accept “guns” as a category. (Maybe not so spooky, now that I think about it).
a sister’s love – a reblog by Survivor Road
Published April 15, 2017 by Nan MykelStupendous. I can’t help wondering who damaged her. Thanks so much for sharing light on this little acknowledged area of child sexual abuse. I’m re-blogging.
In silence she moves
the air itself doesn’t betray her presence
there is nothing to announce her arrival
She walks slowly
bulbous eyes locked on the floor
where, in the center
her prize awaits
She approaches the ball slowly
like a cat stalking it’s lunch
so does she move
Her eyes burning with the hunger
of her crazed desires
She reaches the boy
strokes his hair
her defensive hard shell strangely soft
her touch deceitfully gentle
He tightens against her presence
but she murmurs
almost purrs
as her eight legs begin to pry at him
unfolding his frame
until he lies before her, unable to move
held fast to the floor
Her fangs drip with the venom of her lust
and he closes his eyes,
wishing himself gone
as she bends down and begins her feast
taking what she wishes
leaving him filled with shame
humiliation
fear
For a…
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The Truth Shall Set You Free?
Published April 15, 2017 by Nan MykelI apologize. I failed to include one truth from my book Fallout: A Survivor Talks to Incest Offenders and Others. I was afraid one piece of truth I came across might be destructive to victims of severe sexual abuse in childhood, and I didn’t want to depress them even further. I have since realized that it may be important for those survivors to know and understand the full effects, which are reflected in the following:
“Child Sex Abuse Leaves Mark on the Brain,” by B. Bower, Science News of the Week, Vol. 147 June 3, 1995. “Two new brain-imaging studies, conducted independently, indicate that severe, repeated sexual abuse in childhood underlies damage to a brain structure that helps to orchestrate memory. This cerebral injury may predispose people to experience an altered state of consciousness known as dissociation and to develop symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)”….They had remarkably smaller hippocampal volume. Dr. Murray Stein’s brain-imaging studies at he Univ. of Cal. at San Diego was supported by J. Douglas Brenner of Yale University School of Medicine….Since I didn’t (don’t) consider myself an extreme case of incest, I overlooked the article. Later in my research I came across even more recent findings about this. I realize now that, with so much discounting of the effects of child sexual abuse, bringing this information forward, instead of depressing survivors, may be experienced as validation for their current feelings.
I lost the reference, but Jamie Talan in Newsday reported that physical, behavioral change can result from sexual abuse during childhood, as well as high testosterone and stress hormone cortisol and an adrenal hormone. Severely sexually abused young girls tend to reach puberty a year or two before their peers. The abused girls have fewer friends, are disliked by teachers and have high levels of depression and attention deficit disorder. (Of course this finding may reflect the attention deficit disorder, which would not endear them to teachers either.)
I apologize for leaving the above out of my book.
During therapy, accepting and grieving the loss of what might have been is an important step.
When things go wrong…
Published April 15, 2017 by Nan Mykel We…MAKE DO!
POEM BEGINNINGS …
Published April 15, 2017 by Nan MykelPulling your hair only hurts your head–
that’s what grandma always said.
If you can’t say something nice,
then tell the truth said cousin Ruth.
The parole
of the troll
who stole
the payroll
won’ last long.
Sticks and stones
may break my bones
said brother Jones,
but words can really
piss me off!
What about North Korea?
Published April 14, 2017 by Nan MykelThanks for your time and skill to educate me. I’m re-blogging.
Buffalo Sister City 2017 Exchange Student at Korean War Memorial at Canalside
At the risk of sounding like an alarmist, I’m alarmed. For work and for curiosity, I’ve spent many years following Asia; politics, culture, history, I went so far as to teach myself Chinese so I could read their papers, I was put into the Korean language program at the Defense Language Institute.
I spent a short time, in Korea, reading breaking news in Chinese and Korean and telling my bosses what I thought it meant. I don’t claim to be a great brain on Geo-politics, but I’ve followed it and macro-economics for several decades. Given my background, unqualified as it is, I’m growing more dismayed daily.
Buffalo Sister City Korean Exchange Students with Buffalo State Program Director’s Kid
In a nutshell, our President is taking us into schoolyard fights with the world’s biggest bullies. Putin – Russia’s…
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Feeling sorry for inanimate objects – a re-blog
Published April 13, 2017 by Nan MykelDelightful. Boy can I resonate to this! They may be a sort of transtional object, but long live transitional objects! I’m re-blogging!
Credit: Danielle Hamer Photography/Abandoned Objects
I saw someone’s tweet today that caught my attention because I could relate to its sentiment.
True story @ work tonite I completely crushed a paper cup out of stress at work & almost threw it away but felt bad for the cup so I used it.
And a few minutes later:
This falls under the same category as me feeling sad after accidentally stepping on an ant, but worse.
I thought I was the only one who ever had these absurd feelings of remorse or pity for inanimate objects, but apparently I’m not.
I remember a couple of years ago, when I was painting my kitchen Kelly green, I accidentally flung some of the paint from my brush all over a small throw pillow that had somehow wound up on the kitchen floor and I’d neglected to pick up and bring to safety. (Don’t…
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