a good slap front and back palm and dorsal across a haggard face ring this bell give me a reason hooky is what i’m looking for see that it’s Dylan Thomas’ and Joaquin Phoenix’s birthdays well, Thomas yesterday i missed it and reason enough now let me do my best to celebrate just read a Buk poem about all the hours he’d sweated and bled for the man and the shaking, convulsions, the repulsion and all that it wasted and crushed except and most importantly the spark of his being to all the stiffs who just keep on punching that clock that refuses to stay down for the count cheers the weekend at last
Yes, fortunately I'm out of the job that inspired it and have another teaching position that is much better paced and even allows just a bit (I'd gladly take more) of writing time.
True, true. Senseless work vs. real work. Wrote this some time back when I was giving eleven classes a day Monday and Tuesday and eight the other days and too often working Saturday in Brazil trying to get ahead $$$. I enjoy my current teaching job aside from administration insanity...Happy holidays and thanks for your renewed subscription. You are the sole paid subscriber and I salute you.
"Working Stiff Blues," is a poem that I'm going to be talking about with friends. This is another poem that I want to push you to send in to one of the many literary art magazines who take previous unpublished works. First of all, I love your reference to Dylan Thomas, one of my favorite writers. He reminds me of Eugene O'Neill who wrote a lot of tragic plays but then wrote the joyous "Ah, Wilderness." Thomas wrote a lot of very sad and dark poem, but then he wrote "A Child's Christmas of Wales," that I read every year around this time. You also do a wonderful job (which Thomas would applaud) of saluting the working man who punches that clock. When I was a teacher for the Board of Education, I had to punch that clock. The secretaries in the main office used to tease me, because I tended to leave late. Bravo!
Hey thanks for the suggestion. Think I'll take a few moments right now to read "A Child's Christmas in Wales"...That's a fantastic story, witty, funny, and full of great imagery and nostalgia. I might have to make it a tradition. It paints such a pleasant as well as mischievious scene from the grand poet's youth. Thank you for sharing. Wonderful tale.
So, I’ve been wondering about the origin of the term, “working stiff”.
Is it referring to stiff as in corpse? Stiff as in bad sleep, hence working stiff?
Things that make you go hmmmmmm. Your thoughts?
Great questions all. Maybe all of the above? Though zombie working dead is what first comes to mind.
Ditto. What a horrible, but truthful, image.
Yes, fortunately I'm out of the job that inspired it and have another teaching position that is much better paced and even allows just a bit (I'd gladly take more) of writing time.
Bring on the entries! 🙏
Would have liked this sooner but I worked all weekend😵💫
Hope you’re able to relax today?
Nope. Same ol’.
Monday, Monday...Maybe Christmas then will allow you some r&r
At least I have Christmas off.
Your post introduced me to Buk and his poetry. Thank you. He wrote with the same visceral gusto that you exhibit. Thank you, B.
Hey, no problem. Thanks for reading and the nice comment.
Not to mention: work is what keeps us human and sane.
True, true. Senseless work vs. real work. Wrote this some time back when I was giving eleven classes a day Monday and Tuesday and eight the other days and too often working Saturday in Brazil trying to get ahead $$$. I enjoy my current teaching job aside from administration insanity...Happy holidays and thanks for your renewed subscription. You are the sole paid subscriber and I salute you.
Somebody has to keep the drink money rolling in. I guess it must be up to me.
Glad to see you've kinda sorta found a niche to crawl into.
Cheers and thanks...Yeah, not reaching the masses but there's a group of us that appreciate each other ;) Stay warm. Hot toddies and NFL perhaps...
"Working Stiff Blues," is a poem that I'm going to be talking about with friends. This is another poem that I want to push you to send in to one of the many literary art magazines who take previous unpublished works. First of all, I love your reference to Dylan Thomas, one of my favorite writers. He reminds me of Eugene O'Neill who wrote a lot of tragic plays but then wrote the joyous "Ah, Wilderness." Thomas wrote a lot of very sad and dark poem, but then he wrote "A Child's Christmas of Wales," that I read every year around this time. You also do a wonderful job (which Thomas would applaud) of saluting the working man who punches that clock. When I was a teacher for the Board of Education, I had to punch that clock. The secretaries in the main office used to tease me, because I tended to leave late. Bravo!
Hey thanks for the suggestion. Think I'll take a few moments right now to read "A Child's Christmas in Wales"...That's a fantastic story, witty, funny, and full of great imagery and nostalgia. I might have to make it a tradition. It paints such a pleasant as well as mischievious scene from the grand poet's youth. Thank you for sharing. Wonderful tale.