I Teeter-Tottered Upside Down... Variations on a Poem (#2)

This poem brought forth uulations.

Sarah's comment brought forth laughter, which I should have spelled as laughteration, but that would be silly, and as we know, Gather is a serious place.

And don't you forget it!

LoL made me feel like I was on a teeter totter ;0)

Thank you for posting to this group whose only purpose is to thank you for posting to this group/

group this to posting for you thank to is purpose only whose group this to posting for you thank.

I just came back to say this poem grows on you. I like it better and better every time.

Sarah... my plan is working then! This theme was actually started nearly 70 years ago when my father was a youngster. He attended school in a small rural Wisconsin hamlet, and the teacher was his older sister! (My Aunt Agnes.) He often told us stories about his experiences in this one room educational crucible, mostly involving the "agonies of Agnes" that he endured.

But one tale in particular stayed with me all of these years:

Each student was to memorize a poem for recital to the rest of the class. One of less studiously inclined boys had completely ignored the assignment, and hoped that he wouldn't be called upon that day. Of course, as we all know, the surest way to get yourself called upon is to shrink into your chair and look like you're trying to be invisible. Naturally, my aunt called on him, recognizing all the symptoms of complete unpreparedness. As his brain scrambled frantically for some kernel of an idea, the boy stood before the class and proceeded to provide a recitation of a poem that was, as far as anyone could tell, completely extemporaneous. Not only that... the theme of the recited poem was wholly unrelated to those of the poem that had been assigned to him.

In the retelling, the only words my father could recall of the poem--before bursting into laughter that I never fully appreciated until many years later--were those that comprised the first line. As you've already guessed, that line was "I teeter-tottered upside down..."

I've spent over 40 years bouncing that line around in my mind. It has inspired me in unexpected ways, and offered a new insight to situations that I might otherwise not have had. Many questions remain:

1) What was the original poem that had been assigned for recital?

2) What was the complete text of the extemporaneous poem he recited?

3) What is it about this magical intro that has woven its way into my psyche for all these years?

Barely a month goes by that doesn't present some experience or situation that triggers the echoing of "I teeter-tottered upside down" in my brain as I observe the cosmic playing out of what I'm sure were unintended consequences to the actions of an otherwise reasonable person. (I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt.)

And now, through the magic that is Gather, I have planted that magical seed into your mind, and the minds of others. Mark my words, they will pop up some day completely out of the blue... and again another day, another year, another decade.

Consider it my little gift to you.

Thank you for posting your content to the group Whatever!

Oh man! This has been posted for about three weeks and just today my daughter pointed out to me that I misspelled exuberance!

I am gradually losing my faculties, one by one. When I was a youth I could out spell pretty much everyone, even those who were 4 or 5 years ahead of me in school. Now, I sometimes have to stop and think about words I spelled effortlessly just weeks ago.

I also realize that many of you who read this noticed and, as a courtesy, didn't want to point it out. I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but just lay it out there... I'm won't be offended.

Now then, time to continue my practice drills: cat - C A T, dog - D O G, discreet - D I S C R E T E... doh!