in red topped quarter machines
by the doors
in front of the store
they sell
bubble gum and
princess rings,
all sorts of wondrous things
and voodoo dolls;
who's arm will we teach
our children to twist?
What can you say in 160 characters? (including spaces) Go see Monkey Man.
This just kinda struck me as strange yesterday at the store. I guess I just believe in all we do we teach, especially when it comes to our kids. And I wonder what this would teach them?
If that was not enough, I am also spinning it for Sacred Sunday over at 5th Sister.
About Me
- Brian Miller
- Married to the most amazing woman and dad of two adventurous boys. I am figuring out what life has in store next. Enjoy the journey.
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82 comments:
I never get over your incredible ability to show the poetry in every day moments...
My kids don't even see them anymore. After you hear "no" enough times, it does finally start to sink in! :)
Mine's up, too.
A wonderful poem. Sounds like those machines have taught our children how to twist our arms. Have a great week end.
Voo Doo dolls ...What the?
What on earth are they thinking selling voodoo dolls? Very strange ..
OH! THOSE MACHINES! Wondrous is the RIGHT word...when you are LOOKING at them...but what comes out is often NOT WONDROUS at all!
Voodoo dolls? That's odd.
I came over from 5th sisters....love what you wrote:)
Hi Brian, found you through 5th Sister (I guest blogged there a few weeks ago) and just love your style of poetry. I read back five or so posts, and was more and more impressed the more I read. You have a quite a gift. I'm your new follower. Check out Life is Good if you have a chance.
The fact that you are forever looking for opportunities to teach your kids is commendable. You find interesting and fun ways to be an example and to tell them in stories. Love it.
The rhyme near the end adds another dimension to a great short piece.
I'm a grown adult (ish) and am still looking for someones arm to twist :)
Are you serious? Are there really voodoo dolls in the machines - or are you using that as a metaphor?
Someone must have twisted and squeezed the brains and conscience out of the 'genius' that came up with that idea!
Twist my arm and somewhere a voodoo doll lets out a scream. ;)
no metaphor bonnie....we were at the store yesterday when i saw this...and i could just imagine a kid sneaking into his sisters room to get a snip of hair to attach to it...
All for a half buck
Voodoo dolls.... in a vending machine? Silly me, I just put candy and gum in mine. Now I am wondering if they would actually sell......
Lovely poem,nicely written!
Have fun writing Bria :)
marinela x
Voodoo dolls, ...., really. Who's brilliant idea do you suppose this was?
I love how you are able to capture such complete and complicated ideas in so few words...signs of an excellent writer, of course. We do not care what our junk teaches kids, we just want to sell it.
Wow. Saw you on Polly's.
And ... ummm....
in my extremely eloquent way I would just like to say ...
wow.
lovely 160,
You rocked!
Enjoy your gifts in writing,
I appreciate your innocent part on this, with you, anything could happen, life is full of wonders and fun her.
Upbeat Mood,
Delicate Poem in cheerful tone!
I wonder the same thing, Brian. Heading over to 5th Sister.....
Happy Sunday to You and Your Precious Family!
Boys love stuffed animals too,
It is a bright Sunday in my place,
May your Day Be full of GRACE!
It teaches them that sometimes the smallest prizes or presents that cost very little can bring the biggest smiles in life.
Brian ~ I just read your post over at 5th Sister. My heart is broken and I am weeping. Sometimes, like as of late, I forget. Thank you for reminding me. I'm starting to remember ....
There as so many things we just don't see. I am going to make it a point to look around today and really notice.
♥namaste♥
They put voodoo dolls in there? Go figure.
How much money does the world spend on Bigfoot, UFOs, ghosts, voodoo, the Loch Ness monster, etc.? P.T. Barnum was right...
I loved those red containers when I was a child - and I admit I still have a desire to use a coin, turn that knob and see what I will get.;)
Hope you had a great weekend,
xoxo
Scary!
voodoo dolls? those are still around?
you are a busy fellow!
Wow..voodoo dolls?
well, if I were you, I will tell my kids and tell them to stay away.
hugs
shakira
Would a child even realize it was a voodoo doll or do they come with instructions? That is bizarre!
Don't forget to poke your voodoo doll with your princess ring. I guess it's all fantasy...but to kids? Great 160. Have a solid Sunday.
Really kewl
Heck with the fake bling! I wanna giant gumball :P Oh wait...that'll run me 6 bits these days...!
I miss the nickel ones :(
Your talent is bringing you quite a following! I know I always look forward to reading your work. kudos!
The world truly is the greatest work of poetry, your poems always capture this. And in 160 characters, simply amazing.
Well...this world is a circus at times. I hope you have a great week discovering all of the stange things in life.
http://itistimetothinkformyself.blogspot.com/2010/05/jingles-may-followers-award.html
Some May awards,
Happy Sunday!
sounded like an excert from willie wonka mate, lol well done :)
Looking through a child's eyes...those machines are magnets!! They love them and are always drawn to them.
Wonderful poem
Hugs
SueAnn
Seriously?
That's just wrong on many levels.
Yikes!
Great 160, though!
Great poem. Don't like the idea of voodoo dolls though!
Nuts in May
Well, that's just weird! Not your piece which is "wonderous" but the torture doll.
Wow - voodoo dolls for a quarter? Sheesh! And I paid $5 for mine! LOL! Kidding folks, just kidding! Don't get your underwear in a bunch!
Great imagery as always, Brian.
I prefer having my own arm twisted. It helps erase the guilt. :)
I'm thinking pretty soon won't be safe for our kids to dispense bubblegum
hope you are enjoying those bubblegum chewers today
Another great one as always! I always enjoy reading your posts...I love how you put everything into poetry :)
brian, brian. not only did i think that your bubble gum 160 was great, i cruised over to sacred sunday and all i can say is WOW! i don't know you well enough to be a betting woman but i would have to say that you KNOW Him...excellent, excellent post, my friend!
Unfortunately, I believe the world has a lot worse to offer our children than voodoo dolls......
and those things are all around us.
All I can do is be the best role model I can be, introduce them to the beautiful things in life, AND pray a lot.
PG
UNbelieveable!!!!! Voodoo dolls in those machines?? What next??? ha
Athough, come to think of it, I would have paid good money a while back to have one of my boss.
ha
Oh those machines looked so easy gazing in but really nothing good came out of it but now a voo doo doll that's a pretty cool thought, and very original.....:-) Hugs
lol... i love it.. i wonder if i get u a description if you could try to get one that looks like my mother in law..ill send the quarters..lol
I too thought the voodoo doll was a metaphor until I saw your comment about it being real. How odd. What store were you IN???
Voodoo dolls, just a strange thing to offer in a toy machine. "Daddy (or Mommy)..what's voodoo?". :)
Well, there's "bubble gum" machines, and then there's POET machines, of which you are one, Mr Brian--a poet machine with a huge heart! Thanks!
I can't say I've ever seen a voodoo doll in a gum machine. I've always found them a sinister invention.
I still like the machines that sell the Bubba teeth. I don't buy any and have no kids who twist my arm. But am still a big kid at heart I guess.
You're right, as usual!
http://jingleyanqiu.wordpress.com/2010/05/03/jingles-may-awards-week-1-awards-4-u-all/
How is everything?
Monday Again,
Time is unstoppable!
Best Wishes for you!
Kids learn from grown ups about everything, I used to laugh when I read my older boy''s career plan when he was 7th grade:
"two kids,
middle class..." Everything he describes is what my family has NOW...
Enjoy An Excellent Evening!
It's incredible all the messages children are getting from every direction. On the up side, that sort of stuff does spark some interesting conversations with kids :)
poetic perspective;)
Great 160! That title sure catches the eye... Very clever. Who's arm will they twist, and who's arm will they be poking needles into, I wonder...? An occasional bubble gum is fine, but at voodoo dolls I would probably draw the line...
/Jo.
u hav been tagged...hav a luk,,,!!
Superb Brian, wow, the worst parental moment I kinda witnessed was a dad saying to his daugther 'since you asked for it, I'm not getting it. if you hadn't, I would have' how emotionally cruel, what kind of a lesson is that...
My kids got bored with those when they started losing their own money in them, lol.
Voodoo dolls in a gumball machine ~ what will they think of next? I agree with you fully about everything in life being an opportunity to teach ~ and to learn. What do you tell your kids? What a lesson.
~Karis
A Twist In The Tale!
This was fun. BTW, do the dolls come with a name tag? LOL
Great 160. Have an awesome day!
wonderful as always. its very true, sometimes violence seeps in children through these- we were far better off, we grew up in a non complex environment without much provocations of this type.
Great reflection -- the snares are everywhere!
Great reflection -- the snares are everywhere!
This is great Brian :) Oh childhood memories...
I love how you can take an everyday occurence and turn it inot a piece of art!
I think it will be my arm that gets twisted.
Frightful! But your retelling of it is simply awesome.
I don't get the voodoo dolls either. Not really a good idea. Nice poem.
They sell voodoo dolls in the bubble gum machines? lol
Really? You have those little machines loaded with voodoo dolls? we just have stickers of ganster-ish people around here. . . . That said, I'll most likely stop and consider this next time I see one of those.
oooh I sneeked out of the music academy to such a machine around the corner at the bakery.
I got a badge with Jezus on it. Not quite what I expected to be in there, but I liked it nevertheless. Where would it be now?
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