Wilma in the Valley - User contributions [en]

Borrowed Coats

2025-06-26T18:59:38Z

WikiSysop: Removed redirect to Borrowed Coats (book)

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====Borrowed Coats<ref>This is the title poem of this book</ref> ====
<poem>
The night was clear
as Mama's crystal cake plate
and stinging cold

Rabbits burrowed in
hollow logs
squirrels curled their
bushy tails into muffs

Toodle Barnes and I
stood at the window
of our sharecrop house
longing to go outside
and consult the moon

But our coats were much
too thin
we dared not go
though destiny called us
from the glittering sky

My younger brothers had no belief
in a magic moonthey played dominoes by the fire
and never saw us sneak out
in their sheep-lined coats

where the moon waited
to show us its boy faces
and let us choose from them:
Toodle wavered between three faces
I looked hard and made one
irrevocable choice</poem>

====Notes====
<references/>
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Borrowed Coats (book)

2025-06-26T18:57:12Z

WikiSysop: /* Pies */

[[File:BC Cover2.jpg]]
 McDaniel, Wilma. (2001). Borrowed Coats. Hanging Loose Press, Brooklyn, New York.

===Table of Contents ===

====Burned in the Test====
<poem>
[[Burned in the Test]] 11
[[A Zealot in Big Muddy]] 12
[[Could I Stop There]] 13
[[Can Crows Smell Jasmine]] 14
[[Frying Potatoes]] 15
[[Murder Past Midnight]] 16
[[Thoughts After Telephone Call]] 17
[[Waiting for a Train]] 18
[[My New Business]] 19
[[Finding Old Perfume Bottle]] 20
[[Entrapment]] 21
[[Going to Autographing in Foreign Car]] 22
[[New California Industry]] 23
[[Agreement]] 24
[[Suddenly I Remember]] 25
[[Breadstuff]] 26
[[Live and Let Live]] 27
[[January Reality, 1998]] 28
[[At Spring Yard Sale]] 29
[[We Never Called It Theatre]] 30
[[Where on Earth]] 31
</poem>
====Late Spring for a Catholic====
<poem>
[[Admission]] 35
[[My Question]] 36
[[To Boating Friends]] 37
[[In Their Company]] 38
[[In the Paradise Restaurant]] 39
[[Late Spring for a Catholic]] 40
[[Opal.]] 41
[[The Extremist]] 42
[[Dignity]] 43
[[Some Day Soon]] 44
[[My Landlady Brings Me an Easter Gift]] 45
[[Sister Beuline's Advice]] 46
[[Surprise]] 47
[[Calling on a Bereaved Neighbor]] 48
[[I Never Felt Right ]]49
[[Vigil with Aunt Maggie Bowman ]]50
[[Tonight Is Carnival ]]51
</poem>
====Out of the Mouths====
<poem>
[[The Last Go-Around ]]55
[[A Grandfather's View ]]56
[[A Mother's Vocation. ]]57
[[My Brother and His Barber ]]58
[[I Have My Own Ideas ]]59
[[Mourners ]]60
[[News on the Legal Front ]]61
[[Forty-Five-Year-Old Man on Total Disability ]]62
[[Perfume Hound ]]63
[[Cornered ]]64
[[Reprimand at Rosewood Manor ]]65
[[Bonus Concert in Tulare, 1997 ]]66
[[Friendship Fracture ]]67
[[A Proper Present ]]68
[[Revelation ]]69
[[A Blustery Palm Sunday in Tulare, California ]]70
[[Solution ]]71
[[I Would Like to Shoot the Quack ]]72
[[Is Woody Gilmore Only a Two-Timer ]]73
[[Maybe I Am All Wrong ]]74
[[Fastidious Leonard ]]75
[[Bad Timing ]]76
[[After the Loss ]]77
[[Mismatch ]]78
[[Out of the Mouths of Bail Bondsmen ]]79
[[Two Helens ]]80
</poem>
==== Pies ====
<poem>
[[Remembering ]]83
[[A Mug for Comfort ]]84
[[A Notable Death of 1949 ]]85
[[California Frigid Zone, 1937 ]]87
[[Literary Mentor ]]88
[[Let Yourself Go ]]89
[[Vineyard Phantasy ]]90
[[Nineteen Thirty ]]91
[[Courting Music ]]92
[[Inflation. ]]93
[[Two Worlds ]]94
[[Opening My Mail. ]]96
[[Obsession with Hunting Greens ]]97
[[A Fine Cuisine Memory ]]98
[[Ancestor ]]99
[[Sweat ]]100
[[Remembering Farm Women ]]101
[[Mrs. Percival's Toilet Water ]]102
[[Recollections of Homestead Uncle ]]103
[[Waiting Game, 1926 ]]104
[[A Pagan Mystery ]]105
[[The Zane Grey Secret ]]106
[[Summer Hired Hand, 1926]]107
[[Our Old Ways ]]108
[[Great Depression Tragedy ]]109
[[My Father's Brothers ]]110
[[Pies ]]111
[[Borrowed Coats]] 112
</poem>

Borrowed Coats (book)

2025-06-26T18:56:42Z

WikiSysop: /* Pies */

Main Page

2025-06-26T18:56:16Z

WikiSysop: /* Published works */

This web-site is dedicated to Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel, the "Okie Poet".

[[File:Wilma Cover Protrait.jpg|150px]]
[[File:Landmark2.jpg|300px]]
 One of six [https://www.ala.org/united/products_services/literarylandmarks Literary Landmarks] in California (as of May 2025), at the [https://www.tularehistoricalmuseum.org/ Tulare Historical Museum].

===Biography===
*[https://www.amazon.com/Pick-Your-Name-Write-Elizabeth/dp/B0D3N5ZVH5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3AQYD9NHQ242I&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZXpVjpWAlaeie4A1lw0jwBNYzoLy_7A6gHHzIFjN8_SvGfmoyS3tIIgNvH-lrkKes-Asf1ozoOVQoP-4asGHvwIcfaKvHolj-VAXjSQHzbgqtjZ0QxAacXIjtHgWgx_RN5uNk-KCwVr0_J1uEVX4dFnVz3K0BIvIE8XrkYY7WskVU2at_Ur3JdZQ2xU09L4_B-s6Q9Mb56QAT_AB2Nb94HB-liTPyPCbfCsVg5bCE5M.7FP-qV34O2K9eoKaueuipbm-NulLaJfPmS6IO28K1LU&dib_tag=se&keywords=wilma+mcdaniel&qid=1745468125&sprefix=%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-1 Pick up Your Name and Write] a biography by [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559766083348# Betty Blanks]
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilma_Elizabeth_McDaniel Wikipedia article]

*[https://library.ucmerced.edu/news/2024/pick-your-name-and-write-life-wilma-elizabeth-mcdaniel-author-betty-blanks Honored at UC Merced Library] Tuesday, October 29, 2024

===Archives===
*[https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt8x0nf88v/dsc/ Index] and [https://calisphere.org/collections/14256/ Documents] at UC Merced archival collection
*[https://library.okstate.edu/search-and-find/collections/digital-collections/wilma-elizabeth-mcdaniel/ Wilma McDaniel collection] at the University of Oklahoma Edmon Low Library

==Published works==
...
...
[[Borrowed Coats (book)]] 2001
...
...

==Available books==
 [https://www.tularehistoricalmuseum.org/search?q=mcdaniel Tulare Historical Museum] 15 titles<ref>on 26 April 2025</ref>
 [https://sjvls.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/tchq/search/results?qu=wilma+mcdaniel&te= Tulare County Library] 37 items.
 [https://www.amazon.com/Books-Wilma-Elizabeth-McDaniel/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AWilma%2BElizabeth%2BMcDaniel Amazon] 13 titles new and used<ref>on 26 April 2025</ref>
 [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/wilma%20mcdaniel Barnes and Noble] 5 titles new and used<ref>on 26 April 2025</ref>

Borrowed Coats

2025-06-26T18:55:54Z

WikiSysop: WikiSysop moved page Borrowed Coats to Borrowed Coats (book)

#REDIRECT [[Borrowed Coats (book)]]

Borrowed Coats (book)

2025-06-26T18:55:54Z

WikiSysop: WikiSysop moved page Borrowed Coats to Borrowed Coats (book)

Pies

2025-06-26T18:54:02Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Pies ==== <poem> In 1933 hope for the future did not grow as fast as FDR had predicted Papa's hope for a job did not grow at all About all that grew was mulberries-- back of our house along the creek in deepest shade the biggest berries I ever saw bursting juicy dark They made good pies in those hard times Some women complained the fruit was too bland "Add a little vinegar" Mama said "and they will taste like blackberries and look the sam..."

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====Pies ====
<poem>
In 1933
hope for the future
did not grow as fast
as FDR had predicted

Papa's hope for a job
did not grow at all

About all that grew
was mulberries--

back of our house
along the creek
in deepest shade

the biggest berries
I ever saw
bursting juicy dark

They made good pies
in those hard times

Some women complained
the fruit was too bland

"Add a little vinegar" Mama said
"and they will taste like blackberries
and look the same
when you cut the pie"

I remember when Papa took
his first bite of pie
he got a crinkle of hope
around his eyes
</poem>

====Notes====

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My Father's Brothers

2025-06-26T18:52:23Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====My Father's Brothers ==== <poem> Light of foot and heavy of hair their witty tongues bonded the brothers even when they bailed the weak one out of jail for being drunk yet steady enough to rope and hogtie the constable of Big Muddy They were brothers in failures as well as in triumphs They took liberties only blood will allow joked privately and called each other Blanket Indians knowing their mother was half Cherokee</poem> ====Notes==== --..."

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====My Father's Brothers ====
<poem>
Light of foot
and heavy of hair
their witty tongues
bonded the brothers

even when they bailed
the weak one
out of jail
for being drunk
yet steady enough

to rope and hogtie
the constable
of Big Muddy

They were brothers
in failures
as well as in triumphs

They took liberties
only blood will allow
joked privately
and called each other
Blanket Indians
knowing their mother
was half Cherokee</poem>

====Notes====

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Great Depression Tragedy

2025-06-26T18:51:22Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Great Depression Tragedy ==== <poem> Kinfolk edged closer around the potbelly stove The blackjack fire blazed more fiercely red and Cousin Billy told us stories too sad to hear all true "Been on the bum" he said soberly "riding the rails hard out there Leastways I made it home Some didn't make it back Lordy, have mercy! "Up there on the Great Divide in my same boxcar we had a nice young couple a pretty girl and her husband "I remember how the..."

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====Great Depression Tragedy ====
<poem>
Kinfolk edged closer
around the potbelly stove
The blackjack fire blazed
more fiercely red
and Cousin Billy
told us stories too sad to hear
all true

"Been on the bum"
he said soberly
"riding the rails
hard out there
Leastways I made it home
Some didn't make it back
Lordy, have mercy!

"Up there on the Great Divide
in my same boxcar
we had a nice young couple
a pretty girl
and her husband

"I remember how they
looked up at the high mountains
and down at the rushing water
then they called each other's names
locked their arms around each other
and leaped from the train"

''Coda: True''
</poem>

====Notes====

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Our Old Ways

2025-06-26T18:50:07Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Our Old Ways ==== <poem> The most charming man I ever met had seven producing oil wells and crumbled crackers in his chili He didn't realize he had become very wealthy still ate at Poor Boy's Cafe instead of floorboarding his gleaming Packard to Tulsa's steakhouses I had to take a message to Mattie the cook at Poor Boy's and found Mister Compton having a late bowl of chili I had grown since he saw me but he said "you're Ben's daughter" and..."

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====Our Old Ways ====
<poem>
The most charming man
I ever met
had seven producing oil wells
and crumbled crackers in his chili
He didn't realize he had become
very wealthy

still ate at Poor Boy's Cafe
instead of floorboarding
his gleaming Packard to Tulsa's
steakhouses

I had to take a message
to Mattie the cook at Poor Boy's
and found Mister Compton
having a late bowl of chili

I had grown since he saw me
but he said "you're Ben's daughter"
and called, "Mattie, cut Miss Wilma
a piece of lemon pie"

Steeped in Mama's counsel, I hung back
but Mr Compton assured me "Honey
I know your daddy and our old ways
You can eat with me"
and I sat down on the stool beside him
</poem>

====Notes====

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Summer Hired Hand, 1926

2025-06-26T18:48:27Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Summer Hired Hand, 1926 ==== <poem> He came from Osage County I remember he had warm brown eyes and was from a hard motherless family Somehow he turned out gentle and wise for fifteen and worked like a beaver Mama took him in like a son asked about his eating habits what he liked and didn't like "About breakfast" he answered politely "Don't give me no shredded wheat or puffed rice That is food for city folks Just fry me two eggs over once and g..."

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====Summer Hired Hand, 1926 ====
<poem>
He came from Osage County
I remember he had warm brown eyes
and was from a hard motherless family
Somehow he turned out gentle and
wise for fifteen and worked like a beaver

Mama took him in like a son
asked about his eating habits
what he liked and didn't like

"About breakfast" he answered politely
"Don't give me no shredded wheat
or puffed rice
That is food for city folks
Just fry me two eggs over once
and give me a few biscuits

"I am real easy to please
Just don't shake me out no
haystack cereal from a box"
</poem>

====Notes====

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The Zane Grey Secret

2025-06-26T18:47:29Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====The Zane Grey Secret ==== <poem> Papa called Rory several times really loud "Go find that stray calf" He could have been heard as far away as Gypsy Corner but Rory never answered He couldn't be found for a very good reason He was down by the pond in the mulberry grove smoking long lengths of dry grapevines and reading Under the Tonto Rim At suppertime his lips were purplish blue but I didn't tell on him I wanted to read that book after he finish..."

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====The Zane Grey Secret ====
<poem>
Papa called Rory several times
really loud "Go find that stray calf"
He could have been heard as far away
as Gypsy Corner
but Rory never answered
He couldn't be found
for a very good reason
He was down by the pond
in the mulberry grove
smoking long lengths of
dry grapevines
and reading Under the Tonto Rim

At suppertime his lips were
purplish blue
but I didn't tell on him
I wanted to read that book
after he finished
I was only eight and a half
but I could read as well as
he could at eleven
He borrowed books from
Mister Rowan
who had a complete collection
of Zane Grey novels
and loaned them to a few worthy readers</poem>

====Notes====

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A Pagan Mystery

2025-06-26T18:46:36Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====A Pagan Mystery ==== <poem> I had many country cousins Among them was Mobley He lived in Tulsa and wore cologne said it was aftershave I was only eight but I remember he went crazy the first time he heard "The Pagan Love Song" He bought the record and played it on the Victrola over and over Cousin Nona May said she wasn't surprised at Mobley's choice He had always been a pagan I didn't know what to make of her indictment Mobley taught Sun..."

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====A Pagan Mystery ====
<poem>
I had many country cousins
Among them was Mobley
He lived in Tulsa
and wore cologne
said it was aftershave

I was only eight
but I remember he went crazy
the first time he heard
"The Pagan Love Song"

He bought the record
and played it on the Victrola
over and over

Cousin Nona May
said she wasn't surprised
at Mobley's choice
He had always been
a pagan

I didn't know what to make
of her indictment
Mobley taught Sunday School
and gave his testimony
at every prayer meeting</poem>

====Notes====

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Waiting Game, 1926

2025-06-26T18:45:22Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Waiting Game, 1926 ==== <poem> Ground was sandy cool and easy I saw Jack Pelton dig a hole beneath the cottonwood and bury a fruit jar of moonshine whiskey He patted the mound smoothed it off and disappeared into the blackjacks I could have told someone Papa or Uncle Prez but I wanted to have one secret to myself Perhaps if I waited long enough I would see Jack dig the jar up Men said whiskey had to age How long would it take Would I be ol..."

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====Waiting Game, 1926 ====
<poem>
Ground was sandy cool and easy
I saw Jack Pelton
dig a hole
beneath the cottonwood
and bury a fruit jar
of moonshine whiskey

He patted the mound
smoothed it off
and disappeared
into the blackjacks

I could have told someone
Papa or Uncle Prez
but I wanted to have
one secret to myself

Perhaps if I waited
long enough
I would see Jack dig
the jar up

Men said whiskey
had to age
How long would it take
Would I be old enough to vote
or go with boys to the pie supper
whichever came first

''Coda: True, about the whiskey, I saw it.''
</poem>

====Notes====

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Recollections of Homestead Uncle

2025-06-26T18:43:53Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Recollections of Homestead Uncle ==== <poem> "It was hard out there in early day New Mexico If someone got bad sick we used Indian herbs or poultices on them If they were really strong they would pull through and thank God Looking back I never met an atheist homesteader For sure there were none When the Reaper came they bowed to him and prayed there wouldn't be a bad sandstorm until we closed the grave and piled rocks on it to keep the sand..."

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====Recollections of Homestead Uncle ====
<poem>
"It was hard
out there in early day
New Mexico

If someone got bad sick
we used Indian herbs
or poultices on them

If they were really strong
they would pull through
and thank God

Looking back
I never met an atheist
homesteader

For sure there were none
When the Reaper came
they bowed to him

and prayed there wouldn't
be a bad sandstorm
until we closed the grave
and piled rocks on it
to keep the sand
from blowing away"</poem>

====Notes====

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Mrs. Percival's Toilet Water

2025-06-26T18:43:06Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Mrs Percival's Toilet Water ==== <poem> I knew her smell through seven years from five to twelve For me blue lilac toilet water meant Mrs Percival I had seen the bottle on her dressing table and wondered why she didn't use rose water Too young to know women are as different as the scents they choose to wear or in some cases not wear Preacher Philpot's wife said perfume was a snare of Satan though she loved her own flower garden sat swinging..."

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====Mrs Percival's Toilet Water ====
<poem>
I knew her smell
through seven years
from five to twelve

For me
blue lilac toilet water
meant Mrs Percival

I had seen the bottle
on her dressing table
and wondered why
she didn't use rose water

Too young to know
women are as different
as the scents they choose
to wear
or in some cases
not wear

Preacher Philpot's wife
said perfume was a snare
of Satan

though she loved her own
flower garden
sat swinging on her porch
breathing its heavy fragrance</poem>

====Notes====

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Remembering Farm Women

2025-06-26T18:42:14Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Remembering Farm Women ==== <poem> As a child I watched them and I remember a woman's defense was anything in reach Her weapons were few and always begrudged Why did men imagine they deserved the velvet touch the nightingale's voice from a woman who plowed when planting got behind and prayed for rainwater to wash her hair Why did rough farmers dream of girls from the Ziegfeld Follies when wives were vomiting with another pregnancy</poem>..."

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====Remembering Farm Women ====
<poem>
As a child
I watched them
and I remember

a woman's defense
was anything in reach

Her weapons were few
and always begrudged

Why did men imagine
they deserved the velvet touch
the nightingale's voice

from a woman who plowed
when planting got behind

and prayed for rainwater
to wash her hair

Why did rough farmers
dream of girls
from the Ziegfeld Follies

when wives were vomiting
with another pregnancy</poem>

====Notes====

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Sweat

2025-06-26T18:41:07Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Sweat ==== When I was spindly four, when the world was all Easter egg colored, good folks read from the Bible every day Some could quote the preacher's words before he got them out. Some of the words stayed with me, the part where God told Adam to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. That was hard. On a hot June day I felt my forehead to see if it was wet, then I buttered a high golden biscuit. When Papa passed the plate around, I saw his s..."

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====Sweat ====

When I was spindly four, when the world was all Easter
egg colored, good folks read from the Bible every day Some
could quote the preacher's words before he got them out.
Some of the words stayed with me, the part where God
told Adam to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. That
was hard. On a hot June day I felt my forehead to see if it
was wet, then I buttered a high golden biscuit.

When Papa passed the plate around, I saw his sleeves were
wet in the armpits. He told Uncle Prez, "I'm sure glad to
finish off that north field before noon. It's a real scorcher."

I ate my biscuit while the butter was melting, and thought
about the Bible. Maybe Papa and Uncle were earning their
bread by the sweat of their brow and under their arms. I
wondered if Mama earned her bread by baking it.

====Notes====

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Ancestor

2025-06-26T18:40:24Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Ancestor ==== <poem> A God-fearing man with a buggy whip was hard to live with Hard on his children: strapping boys with rebellious eyes frail girls in the shade of bonnets King Cotton and the buggy whip ruled them all and it was even hard on God having to listen to his own words read devoutly every night by a man with a buggy whip hanging on the wall behind his chair</poem> ====Notes==== -------- {{Template:Borrowed Coats}} {{Template:Per..."

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====Ancestor ====
<poem>
A God-fearing man
with a buggy whip
was hard to live with

Hard on his children:
strapping boys
with rebellious eyes
frail girls
in the shade of bonnets

King Cotton
and the buggy whip
ruled them all

and it was even hard
on God
having to listen to his
own words
read devoutly every night

by a man with a buggy whip
hanging on the wall behind
his chair</poem>

====Notes====

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A Fine Cuisine Memory

2025-06-26T18:39:06Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====A Fine Cuisine Memory ==== <poem> It now seems incredible to me that once I knew three Kickapoo indians in Oklahoma who opened a Mexican café and called it El Burrito and kept burros in a pen just outside of town These boys had no experience with Mexican cuisine but they hired Tico Chavez as chef and cleanup man after he hurt his back and couldn't lift feed sacks at the mill Tico's wife Rosie helped him on weekends always took the customers' m..."

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====A Fine Cuisine Memory ====
<poem>
It now seems incredible
to me that once I knew
three Kickapoo indians
in Oklahoma
who opened a Mexican café
and called it El Burrito
and kept burros in a pen
just outside of town

These boys had no experience
with Mexican cuisine
but they hired Tico Chavez
as chef and cleanup man
after he hurt his back
and couldn't lift feed sacks
at the mill

Tico's wife Rosie helped him on weekends
always took the customers' money
because Tico couldn't make change

Papa loved Tico's chili
would make his own change
on weekdays if he came to town
told me before he died
"That boy Tico made real chili"
</poem>

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Obsession with Hunting Greens

2025-06-26T18:38:10Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Obsession with Hunting Greens ==== <poem> Orville is a tax consultant and good at it a rather cold-eyed type but if you ever get to know him I mean really know him out on a golf course on the manicured links at some point he will break down and talk about picking greens with his mother back in the bottomlands of Arkansas He will lean on a club and tell you solemnly "I carried a tin dishpan for Mama and followed behind her When she spotted the..."

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====Obsession with Hunting Greens ====
<poem>
Orville is a tax consultant
and good at it
a rather cold-eyed type
but if you ever get to know him
I mean really know him
out on a golf course
on the manicured links
at some point he will break down
and talk about picking greens
with his mother
back in the bottomlands of Arkansas
He will lean on a club and tell you solemnly

"I carried a tin dishpan for Mama
and followed behind her
When she spotted the best greens
she would stoop down and cut them
with a sharp little knife I remember dandelion and dock
wild lettuce and pokeroot"
He will frown when he mentions pokeroot

"The berries made beautiful purple ink
but they were poisonous and I'm not sure
the roots weren't
but Mama cooked them down with
salt pork and we never had any trouble"
</poem>

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Opening My Mail.

2025-06-26T18:36:39Z

WikiSysop: Created page with " {{Template:Youtube}} ====Opening My Mail ==== <poem> He wrote me in a jerky hand in care of the postmaster no street address no house number just ''Poet'' and my hometown "My life is unsettled nothing in the right place" he wrote on yellow paper "I didn't know where to start but after I read that one book of yours I know I have to find myself a battered old Stetson with my grandfather's history "I don't smoke Prince Albert but now when I smell it drifting down the..."

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====Opening My Mail ====
<poem>
He wrote me in a jerky hand
in care of the postmaster
no street address
no house number
just ''Poet''
and my hometown

"My life is unsettled
nothing in the right place"
he wrote on yellow paper

"I didn't know where to start
but after I read that one book
of yours
I know I have to find myself a battered old Stetson
with my grandfather's history

"I don't smoke Prince Albert
but now when I smell it
drifting down the streets
I know my ancestors are seeking me
and I am half-crazy to meet them"</poem>

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Two Worlds

2025-06-26T18:35:10Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Two Worlds ==== <poem> Ervin Pike was what girls called a sweet boy safe to walk home with His hair curled white-trash long around his neck before it became high style He was too poor for a barber and hated home crock cuts the last time I saw Ervin in Oklahoma was in front of Big Muddy Mercantile He said his father was about ready to give up farming and head for California The next time I saw him was on Main Street in Merced 1937 in front of..."

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====Two Worlds ====
<poem>
Ervin Pike
was what girls called
a sweet boy
safe to walk home with

His hair curled white-trash long
around his neck
before it became high style
He was too poor for a barber
and hated home crock cuts

the last time I saw Ervin in Oklahoma
was in front of Big Muddy Mercantile
He said his father was about
ready to give up farming
and head for California

The next time I saw him
was on Main Street in Merced 1937
in front of the Merced Theater
I didn't recognize him at first glance
hair cut short-still shiny, thick--
he had given up bib overalls
for black dress pants and a silky shirt

There was a girl with him
slim as a reed
with the blondest hair
I ever saw
so pretty she hurt my eyes

I never let on to little Buster
that I saw Ervin ahead of us
We got our tickets
and sat several rows back of them
Once there was a space between
patrons' heads
and I saw Ervin kiss the girl
</poem>

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Inflation.

2025-06-26T18:33:08Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Inflation ==== <poem> Vonda must have been the best-looking girl in Merced County in the 1930s and still looked good widowed when she came to visit from Houston this spring I was surprised at her interest in the place she asked if the Fruit Basket in Madera was still operating off old Highway 99 She remembered stopping there in 1936 with Cliff, the man she married later She said they had pie and coffee and the bill was only thirty cents She r..."

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====Inflation ====
<poem>
Vonda must have been
the best-looking girl in
Merced County in the 1930s
and still looked good widowed
when she came to visit
from Houston this spring

I was surprised at her interest
in the place
she asked if the Fruit Basket in
Madera was still operating off
old Highway 99

She remembered
stopping there in 1936
with Cliff, the man she married later
She said they had pie and coffee
and the bill was only thirty cents

She remembered nice size pieces
of pie and real coffeе
and there were tears in her violet eyes

It reminded me of the way she
looked when Cliff was knocked
cold in a football game with Turlock</poem>

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Courting Music

2025-06-26T18:31:55Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Courting Music ==== <poem> Cousin Mick was my favorite a good sharing Okie boy I remember he saved his peach picking money and bought a battery-operated radio from Monkey Ward Through his open door we could hear Little Richard and Fats Domino-- Jerry Lee Lewis nearly drove Uncle Doc crazy About that time we began to hear Les Paul and Mary Ford ''How High the Moon'' ''Blue Skies'' ''Caravan'' then one evening we heard "Take my hand and we're..."

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====Courting Music ====
<poem>
Cousin Mick was my favorite
a good sharing Okie boy
I remember he saved his peach picking
money and bought a battery-operated
radio from Monkey Ward

Through his open door we could hear
Little Richard
and Fats Domino--
Jerry Lee Lewis
nearly drove Uncle Doc crazy

About that time we began to hear
Les Paul and Mary Ford
''How High the Moon''
''Blue Skies''
''Caravan''

then one evening we heard
"Take my hand
and we're halfway there"

This last song caused Uncle Doс
to get a faraway look in his eyes
"Now that's what I call
courting music" he said

went to his bedroom
and brought Aunt Stacey's old fringed shawl
laid it across the back of his recliner
and sat down with his head against it</poem>

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Nineteen Thirty

2025-06-26T18:28:52Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====1930-31==== This faded yellow snapshot unsettles my memory of my departed oldest brother. He and his long tall pal Smokey Fiscus were working in the grapes at Arvin, 1930-31. They would work until the harvest was over and save whatever money they could. Before the fog settled over the valley they would go to Los Angeles and rent a cheap clean place from a widow with canaries. It was warm there and the air pure and since employment was scarce the..."

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====1930-31====

This faded yellow snapshot unsettles my memory of my
departed oldest brother. He and his long tall pal Smokey
Fiscus were working in the grapes at Arvin, 1930-31. They
would work until the harvest was over and save whatever
money they could. Before the fog settled over the valley
they would go to Los Angeles and rent a cheap clean place
from a widow with canaries. It was warm there and the air
pure and since employment was scarce they had plenty of
time to explore the area. Vernon would laugh and say,
"When things got a little dull we could always go to
Angelus Temple and see Sister Aimee Semple McPherson.
It was the best show in town and free."
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Vineyard Phantasy

2025-06-26T18:28:07Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Vineyard Phantasy ==== <poem> I felt sorry for the boy He was alone and boarded somewhere and used to pick grapes with us at old man Peroni's vineyard He didn't mix much with other workers He would sing all day-one song: "Some day you're gonna miss me baby some day you're gonna feel so lonely" Buster took him a drink of water and the boy said his name was Morgan and he sang that song because he wanted to think a girl had thrown him out when..."

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====Vineyard Phantasy ====
<poem>
I felt sorry for the boy
He was alone
and boarded somewhere

and used to pick grapes
with us
at old man Peroni's vineyard

He didn't mix much
with other workers
He would sing all day-one song:

"Some day
you're gonna miss me baby
some day
you're gonna feel so lonely"

Buster took him a drink of water
and the boy said
his name was Morgan

and he sang that song
because he wanted
to think a girl had thrown him out
when to tell the truth
he never had a girl to start with</poem>

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Let Yourself Go

2025-06-26T18:26:57Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Let Yourself Go ==== <poem> Corrina hated picking grapes and tying up their vines but there was no other way to mine silver from sand dimes quarters half-dollars never silver dollar bonanzas to stash away in a cup with no handle Corrina wanted to dance Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers style ''When you hear that'' ''hot marimba'' ''loosen up and hit the timber'' ''let yourself go'' She found an old pair of tap shoes at Goodwill and wore holes in A..."

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====Let Yourself Go ====
<poem>
Corrina hated picking grapes
and tying up their vines

but there was no other way
to mine silver from sand

dimes quarters half-dollars
never silver dollar bonanzas

to stash away in a cup
with no handle

Corrina wanted to dance
Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers style

''When you hear that''
''hot marimba''
''loosen up and hit the timber''
''let yourself go''

She found an old pair
of tap shoes at Goodwill
and wore holes in
Aunt Eulia's Congoleum rug

we could hear her tapping
out of the house
down the road forever
toward San Francisco</poem>

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Literary Mentor

2025-06-26T18:25:37Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Literary Mentor==== <poem> Cousin Truman had finished one year at Tulsa U when he came to California on a working vacation To tell the truth he picked very few grapes That part didn't matter: He filled the hours between hot sandy rows with stories that lit my teen-age mind "Saint X" he declared one day "What a writer what a life he led flying the mail between Dakar and Algiers in those flimsy crates" and he quoted from ''Wind Sand and Stars''..."

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====Literary Mentor====
<poem>
Cousin Truman
had finished one year at Tulsa U
when he came to California
on a working vacation

To tell the truth
he picked very few grapes
That part didn't matter:

He filled the hours
between hot sandy rows
with stories
that lit my teen-age mind

"Saint X"
he declared one day
"What a writer
what a life he led
flying the mail between
Dakar and Algiers
in those flimsy crates"
and he quoted from
''Wind Sand and Stars''

Remembering the book
he had become emotionally lost
in the Sahara Desert
and told me dreamily

"Cousin you're a girl
but you have to read this stuff
for yourself
try to broaden your mind"
</poem>

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A Notable Death of 1949

2025-06-26T18:24:06Z

WikiSysop: /* A Notable Death of 1949 */

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====A Notable Death of 1949 ====
<poem>
As yet the sky
had not caved in
our old fig tree
gave us fat fruit
and we were happy

until we turned on
the radio at noon
and heard
"Leadbelly is dead
from Lou Gehrig's disease"

Then we fell apart
became basket cases
Rory took the news
even harder than I
at least outwardly

He walked through the house
singing snatches of
''Let the Midnight Special''
''Shine Her Light on Me''

His voice cracked
and he broke down
when he tried
''Take This Hammer''

I needed to be alone
and went out on the porch
all I wanted to sing was
''Goodnight Irene''

but it was broad daylight
on North F Street
a Pepsi truck rumbled past
and Mama's petunias were stirring
in the breeze
</poem>

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California Frigid Zone, 1937

2025-06-26T18:23:34Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====California Frigid Zone 1937 ==== <poem> It should not have been so hard to understand a peach a smile a yellow pencil I only wanted something warm but California showed me an icy face each morning gave me cold shoulder every night A vandal it threw out my poems from a shoe box while I picked grapes and wrote more verses in the sand Who knows why I could not erase a word blot out a single tear-- nor did I try to that lifelong year</poem> ===..."

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====California Frigid Zone 1937 ====
<poem>
It should not have been
so hard to understand

a peach
a smile
a yellow pencil
I only wanted something
warm

but California showed me
an icy face each morning
gave me cold shoulder
every night

A vandal
it threw out my poems
from a shoe box

while I picked grapes
and wrote more verses
in the sand

Who knows why
I could not erase a word
blot out a single tear--
nor did I try to
that lifelong year</poem>

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A Notable Death of 1949

2025-06-26T18:22:11Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====A Notable Death of 1949 ==== <poem> As yet the sky had not caved in our old fig tree gave us fat fruit and we were happy until we turned on the radio at noon and heard "Leadbelly is dead from Lou Gehrig's disease" Then we fell apart became basket cases Rory took the news even harder than I at least outwardly He walked through the house singing snatches of ''Let the Midnight Special'' ''Shine Her Light on Me'' His voice cracked and he broke do..."

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====A Notable Death of 1949 ====
<poem>
As yet the sky
had not caved in
our old fig tree
gave us fat fruit
and we were happy

until we turned on
the radio at noon
and heard
"Leadbelly is dead
from Lou Gehrig's disease"

Then we fell apart
became basket cases
Rory took the news
even harder than I
at least outwardly

He walked through the house
singing snatches of
''Let the Midnight Special''
''Shine Her Light on Me''

His voice cracked
and he broke down
when he tried
''Take This Hammer''

I needed to be alone
and went out on the porch
all I wanted to sing was
''Goodnight Irene''
</poem>

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A Mug for Comfort

2025-06-26T18:20:27Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====A Mug for Comfort ==== <poem> This sturdy gray mug stood out: a motel maid among fragile fine ladies in the china shop a stepchild really and not blood kin-- for that reason I chose her She has comforted me many mornings when the sun refused to rise In appreciation I have put a silver spoon in her mouth solid silver circa 1819 from Great-Grandpa's knapsack</poem> ====Notes==== -------- {{Template:Borrowed Coats}} {{Template:Permission}}"

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====A Mug for Comfort ====
<poem>
This sturdy gray mug
stood out:
a motel maid
among fragile fine ladies
in the china shop

a stepchild really
and not blood kin--
for that reason I chose her

She has comforted me
many mornings
when the sun refused to rise

In appreciation
I have put a silver spoon
in her mouth
solid silver circa 1819
from Great-Grandpa's knapsack</poem>

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Remembering

2025-06-26T18:18:53Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Remembering ==== <poem> I don't know why I wrote so much when I was twenty-seven and let that woman cut my hair and listened when she demanded "take off your glasses for this shot "We already know you write poetry and it wouldn't hurt you to wear a little lipstick"</poem> ====Notes==== -------- {{Template:Borrowed Coats}} {{Template:Permission}}"

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====Remembering ====
<poem>
I don't know why
I wrote so much
when I was twenty-seven

and let that woman
cut my hair
and listened
when she demanded
"take off your glasses
for this shot

"We already know
you write poetry
and it wouldn't hurt you
to wear a little lipstick"</poem>

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Two Helens

2025-06-26T18:00:29Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Two Helens ==== As our school principal escorted him out to the bleachers for the big game, I overheard the visiting professor say he taught Greek at Berkeley. The professor didn't look much like a sports enthusiast. He was scrawny, with a bread dough personality. But I have to say he had a quick eye for the girls. About that time our number one cheerleader Helen Boles led her pom-pom girls out on the field. She was a raven-haired beauty, easil..."

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====Two Helens ====
As our school principal escorted him out to the bleachers
for the big game, I overheard the visiting professor say he
taught Greek at Berkeley.

The professor didn't look much like a sports enthusiast. He
was scrawny, with a bread dough personality. But I have to
say he had a quick eye for the girls.

About that time our number one cheerleader Helen Boles
led her pom-pom girls out on the field. She was a raven-haired beauty, easily the most gorgeous girl at LHS.

The principal said "Here comes Helen, our own homecoming
queen." The doughy professor straightened up and said
with real conviction, "Helen of Troy never looked this
good."

The principal was pleased and said modestly, "Helen of
Troy might have launched a thousand ships, but she couldn't
have inspired the Gauchos the way our Helen has."

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Out of the Mouths of Bail Bondsmen

2025-06-26T17:59:18Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Out of the Mouths of Bail Bondsmen ==== <poem> Little Joey arrived late in life after Herman and Beth had given up on having a baby of their own Joey is very bright and picks up things fast from the neighborhood kids mostly Mexican and Filipino children Beth heard him using a totally new word It sounded like encarcelado She had her neighbor Lupe interpret for her "Why it means someone in jail You see it a lot in bail bonds" and she showed Beth..."

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====Out of the Mouths of Bail Bondsmen ====
<poem>
Little Joey arrived late
in life after Herman and Beth
had given up on having
a baby of their own

Joey is very bright
and picks up things fast
from the neighborhood kids
mostly Mexican
and Filipino children

Beth heard him using
a totally new word
It sounded like encarcelado
She had her neighbor Lupe
interpret for her

"Why it means someone in jail
You see it a lot in bail bonds"
and she showed Beth eight
such ads in the telephone directory
some with tricky slogans

''If you don't like it behind the wall''
''give Speedy McFerrin a call''
</poem>

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Mismatch

2025-06-26T17:58:00Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Mismatch ==== <poem> I always liked Guy and I still think the boy could have done better He is from a poor background and strangely awed by Marlene's father a pencil-necked CPA who keeps a family crest above his office desk Guy drives a sanitation truck has never missed a day can retire in twenty years with a pension The in-laws do admire Guy's wonderful good looks and Marlene's crowd cannot believe such a hunk would fall to her I heard a sh..."

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====Mismatch ====
<poem>

I always liked Guy
and I still think the boy
could have done better

He is from a poor background
and strangely awed
by Marlene's father
a pencil-necked CPA
who keeps a family crest
above his office desk

Guy drives a sanitation truck
has never missed a day
can retire in twenty years with a pension

The in-laws do admire Guy's
wonderful good looks
and Marlene's crowd cannot believe
such a hunk would fall to her

I heard a sharp-eyed woman
at the Sunday smorgasbord saying
after Marlene and Guy had passed
"If that princely man
ever learns basic grammar
Marlene will be back
where he found her"
</poem>

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After the Loss

2025-06-26T17:56:59Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====After the Loss ==== I think Mona is coming to life again, thank heaven. She said her son Nick wants to be the Lion King this Halloween and Bobby wants to go as Spiderman, but she can't find those costumes here and must go all the way to Bakersfield where they have a huge Halloween display at Party Works-dozens of characters. Mona said her boys asked, "Mama, why don't you dress up like Cinderella and go around with us trick or treating?" And Mona..."

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====After the Loss ====

I think Mona is coming to life again, thank heaven. She
said her son Nick wants to be the Lion King this Halloween
and Bobby wants to go as Spiderman, but she can't find
those costumes here and must go all the way to Bakersfield
where they have a huge Halloween display at Party
Works-dozens of characters. Mona said her boys asked,
"Mama, why don't you dress up like Cinderella and go
around with us trick or treating?" And Mona told them, "I
might just do that very thing."
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Bad Timing

2025-06-26T17:56:19Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Bad Timing ==== We love Clifford alright, but we were sorry that he showed up when our cousin Nora was visiting. We knew his arrival meant only one thing. He brought all his George Bush paraphernalia with him, buttons, stickers, flyers, in a large old briefcase. I knew that was a mistake. He should have left that stuff in his van along with the giant Goldwater placards he still saves. Clifford has no discretion. Right off, sparks began to fly f..."

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====Bad Timing ====

We love Clifford alright, but we were sorry
that he showed up when our cousin Nora was
visiting. We knew his arrival meant only one thing. He brought all his George Bush paraphernalia with him, buttons, stickers, flyers, in
a large old briefcase. I knew that was a mistake. He should have left that stuff in his van
along with the giant Goldwater placards he
still saves. Clifford has no discretion.

Right off, sparks began to fly from Nora-she
came right to the point and said "I would like
to see every Bush-ite carried out of town on a
rail. They are a rich heartless group."

It was becoming very awkward in the living
room. As hostess, I said, "let us have some
dessert. Who wants regular coffee and who
wants decaf?"

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Fastidious Leonard

2025-06-26T17:55:29Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Fastidious Leonard ==== <poem> A newspaper plops on the walk coffee perks and the moon is still up when Leonard shaves: the only sanitation employee who smells of ''Musk'' at six a.m. and doesn't mind his fellow workers who joke "Leonard is the only man who can fall into a garbage dump and come up smelling like a rose"</poem> ====Notes==== -------- {{Template:Borrowed Coats}} {{Template:Permission}}"

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====Fastidious Leonard ====
<poem>
A newspaper plops
on the walk
coffee perks
and the moon is still up
when Leonard shaves:

the only sanitation employee
who smells of ''Musk''
at six a.m.

and doesn't mind
his fellow workers
who joke
"Leonard is the only man
who can fall into a garbage dump

and come up smelling
like a rose"</poem>

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Maybe I Am All Wrong

2025-06-26T17:54:26Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Maybe I Am All Wrong ==== <poem> She is a second cousin from Kokomo a nice square lady a prize jelly maker She phoned me worried: "Is there such a place as the Crystal Palace in Bakersfield "From what I've heard it doesn't fit the picture of pumping oil wells and blowing tumbleweeds "But my grandson Clay swears it's a landmark bar and theatre Buck Owens built around his 1971 Pontiac Granville "That doesn't mean boo to me but maybe I am all..."

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====Maybe I Am All Wrong ====
<poem>
She is a second cousin
from Kokomo
a nice square lady
a prize jelly maker

She phoned me worried:
"Is there such a place
as the Crystal Palace in
Bakersfield

"From what I've heard
it doesn't fit the picture
of pumping oil wells
and blowing tumbleweeds

"But my grandson Clay swears
it's a landmark bar and theatre
Buck Owens built around his
1971 Pontiac Granville

"That doesn't mean boo to me
but maybe I am all wrong
Is there such a place?

"We are coming to California
on a trip in April
and Clay is my driver"

She laughed a little
"and in my car
using my credit card"
</poem>

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Is Woody Gilmore Only a Two-Timer

2025-06-26T17:53:19Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Is Woody Gilmore a Two-Timer ==== I came home really bamboozled today. I don't know what to make of this situation. I saw Ruby hanging out at the Durango Café with Woody Gilmore. I don't believe everything I hear but I was quite jarred. I've known Ruby a long time. She swore to me that she was through with Woody forever. They never saw me in a back booth. I could hear them ordering chili verde just like old times, and Mexican beer, and Woody e..."

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====Is Woody Gilmore a Two-Timer ====

I came home really bamboozled today. I don't know what
to make of this situation. I saw Ruby hanging out at the
Durango Café with Woody Gilmore. I don't believe everything I hear but I was quite jarred. I've known Ruby a long
time. She swore to me that she was through with Woody
forever.

They never saw me in a back booth. I could hear them
ordering chili verde just like old times, and Mexican beer,
and Woody even improvised on a Patsy Cline song: "I've
got your picture and he's got you."

They laughed and pretty soon they called the waitress to
bring more cerveza and I kept remembering how Ruby
looked when she heard Woody had gone back to his wife
after being separated for years and she said she didn't want
to see that two-timer any nearer to Hanford than Mobile,
Alabama.

Yeah, I've heard that song before. What could have
changed? Has Woody's wife died, or is he just what Ruby
called him, a two-timer?

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I Would Like to Shoot the Quack

2025-06-26T17:52:01Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====I Would Like to Shoot the Quack ==== <poem> Our neighbor Vance turned bitter in his last years and vented his feelings on anyone within hearing "Don't give up anything you crave" he ranted "like coffee-- if you love the stuff the way I do keep a pot going all the time bacon and eggs eat 'em every day you live "I would still like to shoot the quack who convinced my wife that this combination would clog arteries and lead to an early death "I did..."

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====I Would Like to Shoot the Quack ====
<poem>
Our neighbor Vance turned bitter
in his last years
and vented his feelings
on anyone within hearing

"Don't give up anything you crave"
he ranted
"like coffee--
if you love the stuff
the way I do
keep a pot going all the time
bacon and eggs
eat 'em every day you live

"I would still like to shoot the quack
who convinced my wife
that this combination
would clog arteries and lead
to an early death

"I didn't really have to shoot him
He keeled over with a heart attack
clogged arteries at fifty-three
too much oat bran and broccoli
"How I miss all the good stuff
I could have had those long years:
I hope that quack spends Purgatory
in pork rinds"</poem>

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Solution

2025-06-26T17:50:19Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Solution ==== <poem> I knew Neva's Pentecostal parents opposed the engagement because her fiancé had not been saved and made it clear to them he had no desire to be saved which caused them to predict disaster for their daughter Yet Neva with the mousy hair learned to make her marriage work (as she related to me looking back) When Clete shaved he cussed the world and everyone in it somehow it helped him start his day but it shocked the life o..."

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====Solution ====
<poem>
I knew Neva's Pentecostal parents
opposed the engagement because
her fiancé had not been saved

and made it clear to them
he had no desire to be saved
which caused them to predict
disaster for their daughter

Yet Neva with the mousy hair
learned to make
her marriage work
(as she related to me looking back)

When Clete shaved he cussed the world
and everyone in it
somehow it helped him start his day
but it shocked the life out of her

She started taking her coffee outside
and listening to the birds for half an hour
When she returned to the house
Clete was cleanshaven and happy
and ready for two hard-fried eggs

"It wasn't really hard" Neva explained
"once I learned how to handle him"
</poem>

====Notes====

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A Blustery Palm Sunday in Tulare, California

2025-06-26T17:49:08Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====A Blustery Palm Sunday in Tulare, California 4-9-95 ==== <poem> Wind is howling sand is stinging our town's face palms are waving in Jerusalem and palms are waving here at every tumbleweed Women are previewing their Easter finery one week early-- I saw a yellow hat come out of brunch at Apple Annie's and blow away forever Outside Long John Silver's the wind whipped off a man's toupee-- the lady with him was quite upset and wouldn't get in the..."

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====A Blustery Palm Sunday in Tulare, California 4-9-95 ====
<poem>
Wind is howling
sand is stinging our town's face
palms are waving in Jerusalem
and palms are waving here
at every tumbleweed

Women are previewing
their Easter finery
one week early--
I saw a yellow hat
come out of brunch
at Apple Annie's
and blow away forever

Outside Long John Silver's
the wind whipped off
a man's toupee--
the lady with him
was quite upset
and wouldn't get in the car</poem>

====Notes====

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Revelation

2025-06-26T17:48:01Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Revelation ==== <poem> When three of us were eating in Molly's Café Herlan volunteered (certainly no one asked him): "Do you know I was an orphan Someone left me in front of Good Hope House "without even a note pinned to my blanket the nurses judged me to be about one month old "I grew but I never was your Ivory Soap baby-- No one wanted to adopt a flat-faced kid with red straw for hair "I stayed in the orphanage until FDR wanted me for the..."

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====Revelation ====
<poem>
When three of us
were eating in Molly's Café
Herlan volunteered
(certainly no one asked him):

"Do you know I was an orphan
Someone left me in front
of Good Hope House

"without even a note
pinned to my blanket
the nurses judged me
to be about one month old

"I grew
but I never was your
Ivory Soap baby--
No one wanted to adopt a flat-faced kid
with red straw for hair

"I stayed in the orphanage
until FDR wanted me
for the ССC
and paid me a dollar a day
for doing work I loved"
</poem>

====Notes====

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A Proper Present

2025-06-26T17:46:45Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====A Proper Present ==== <poem> Aunt Boots' children knew her birth date marked it red on the calendar but they had no idea what present to give on her ninetieth birthday One son suggested a cruise to the Bahamas while it was winter in Nebraska A daughter reminded him "Mama gets seasick looking at a full bathtub" A great-grandson and eight-year-old country music freak piped up "I know what Grammy would like better than anything-- that new alb..."

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====A Proper Present ====
<poem>
Aunt Boots' children
knew her birth date
marked it red
on the calendar

but they had no idea
what present to give
on her ninetieth birthday

One son suggested
a cruise to the Bahamas
while it was winter
in Nebraska

A daughter reminded him
"Mama gets seasick looking at a full bathtub"

A great-grandson
and eight-year-old
country music freak
piped up
"I know what Grammy
would like better than
anything--
that new album to Jimmie Rodgers"

His father said in wonderment
"What a coup
Grandma had all Jimmie's original
records when we were kids
Don't know what happened to them"</poem>

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Friendship Fracture

2025-06-26T17:45:26Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Friendship Fracture ==== <poem> "Yes we had been friends for many years but that's over since Merle Haggard came to town" Joanne said "Bea could have told me tickets were going on sale at the fair grounds saved me a place in line called me on that phone she always carries "I'd have raced across town red light or high water speeding ticket or rowboat nothing at all "But no she didn't even tell me she'd got tickets for all her family until the s..."

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====Friendship Fracture ====
<poem>
"Yes we had been friends
for many years
but that's over
since Merle Haggard came to town"

Joanne said "Bea
could have told me
tickets were going on sale
at the fair grounds
saved me a place in line
called me on that phone
she always carries

"I'd have raced across town
red light or high water
speeding ticket
or rowboat
nothing at all

"But no
she didn't even tell me
she'd got tickets
for all her family
until the show was over
like she didn't want me
to hear Merle I can't figure it any other way"
</poem>

====Notes====

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Bonus Concert in Tulare, 1997

2025-06-26T17:42:30Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Bonus Concert in Tulare, 1997 ==== <poem> "You don't really believe Wynona will open the fair here tomorrow?" "She certainly will You must hear her All you need do is whip on down here from Goshen "Ruthie don't you understand it wouldn't cost you a cotton-picking penny to hear Wynona through my screen door "Better still we can sit outside to catch a breeze and Wynona's voice will come over nice and clear "Just the way it did for Reba McIntyre..."

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====Bonus Concert in Tulare, 1997 ====
<poem>
"You don't really believe
Wynona will open the fair
here tomorrow?"

"She certainly will
You must hear her
All you need do
is whip on down here
from Goshen

"Ruthie
don't you understand
it wouldn't cost you a cotton-picking penny
to hear Wynona
through my screen door

"Better still
we can sit outside
to catch a breeze
and Wynona's voice
will come over nice
and clear

"Just the way it did
for Reba McIntyre
and Randy Travis"</poem>

====Notes====

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Reprimand at Rosewood Manor

2025-06-26T17:41:36Z

WikiSysop: Created page with "{{Template:Youtube}} ====Reprimand at Rosewood Manor==== ''July 2, 1995'' <poem> The old rooster forgets his true age and struts even though his spurs are blunted his crown drooping He crows a bawdy mouthful The manager takes him aside firmly and reminds him "this is a mixed crowd see those women go get yourself a glass of punch and sit down Please"</poem> ====Notes==== -------- {{Template:Borrowed Coats}} {{Template:Permission}}"

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====Reprimand at Rosewood Manor====
''July 2, 1995''
<poem>
The old rooster forgets
his true age
and struts
even though his spurs
are blunted
his crown drooping
He crows a bawdy mouthful

The manager takes him
aside firmly and reminds him
"this is a mixed crowd
see those women
go get
yourself a glass
of punch
and sit down
Please"</poem>

====Notes====

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