Sunday, June 29, 2014

Solitaire

Solitaire


I pluck a card from the display.
The words within gargle in my throat
Until my tongue longs to spit the sour.
I swallow the urge,
And place the card back into its slot.
This ritual repeats until options exhaust,
Save the cloying cards below
And the ostentatious offerings above.

How does something so seemingly simple
As purchasing a greeting card
Become a game of betting and bluffing?
I loathe to trite complications.
For whatever you were,
Whatever you are,
Whatever we are…
I know what I am not.

I skulk over to the blank card section.
I can write the truth there.
Not the whole truth.
But enough.
I choose a card with flowers.
You like flowers, don’t you?


- Theresa Milstein







59 comments:

  1. A down to earth interpretation of this week's Mag - well done.

    ReplyDelete
  2. hah! You described me to a tee hee! I hate picking out cards and usually go for the blank ones! Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  3. i know this feeling!! Nice take on the prompt.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh yes, I mostly head to the blank for your own message cards too... the other ones have such yucky messages in! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Freyawrites, that's a good point. Often, it's better to write the sentiments ourselves.

      Delete
  5. I luv the progression of surprises in this poem, have a nicecSunday

    Much love...

    ReplyDelete
  6. I do not envy the recipient of this floral card! :-)

    p.s. love love love the bitter bile oozing from your poem!! :-)

    Take care
    x

    ReplyDelete
  7. I can relate to that! Yes, go for the funny cards.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think a flower card with a handwritten message from the heart means more than a poetic, canned message anyway. Unless the card is funny or plays music or something. There's no competing with that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephanie, I always get surprised when I open a card in the store and it plays music!

      Delete
  9. This was an excellent poem, and I like the idea of writing the truth well enough of it. Creates a lovely sense of mystery. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I tend to choose the blank cards as well... the one's with words already printed tend to be so generic.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Very good Theresa and something I can relate to. I have gotten to the point where I select lots of blank on the inside cards so that I can write what I want. "Trite" is a great description of too many card contents.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Slamdunk, finding a blank card saves a lot of time, doesn't it?

      Delete
  12. all I can ever buy are funny ones, blank ones, or make my own.
    nice poem. strong ending and the title is great

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Impressive that you make your own cards, BelindaBroughton.

      Delete
  13. I like the way you have described the card buying process poetically.

    ReplyDelete
  14. "programme or be programmed !, " ....... She Said

    ReplyDelete
  15. So true! I can spend hours comparing birthday cards etc, from all the shops in town to find an apt one. Blank card - best idea!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Helena, I agree. If it's so hard to find the right one, we're better off writing it ourselves.

      Delete
  16. Truth, an air of mystery. Great word choices. Great job, my friend! Skulk. What a word! Love it. xoxoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love this! Finding the right card is impossible!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful poem. It also reminds me of the character Solitaire in a very old James Bond film.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael, I didn't even think of that reference. Thanks!

      Delete
  19. Theresa ~ pleased to meet you ~ I'm Eddie
    Loved the way you tranpsed from playing card to greeting card - trying to find the right one. The right one is very rare but exists.
    Love the way you wrote this.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Yes, as a matter of taste, I do like the flowers! A most smooth, lovely read, of truth dealt well by you.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I like this poem, Theresa; it's very well-written and I can definitely relate to it. It's also hard for me to pick out greeting cards sometimes, because the pre-printed messages usually say things that I don't feel.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neurotic Workaholic, it's hard to let others speak for us.

      Delete
  22. I too would choose the blank card over a trite greeting, or some sickeningly sweet rhyme made for those who can't come up with the words themselves. Always best to keep things simple and to the point, and true to who we are!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wonderful poem. I don't enjoy card shopping with all the choices. I do have blank ones, though.

    ReplyDelete
  24. with the pic - brilliant! loved this! :D

    ReplyDelete
  25. Choosing just the right card isn't easy. Most of them say things that would never pass my lips. This piece is very well done!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Belva, yes, most of what's written in cards would never pass my lips either.

      Delete
  26. Why are those cards so hard to pick out? Interesting take on the prompt..

    ReplyDelete