January 24, 2012

Popcorn While Rolling Dice Greases Up Nice

Marvin Gardens we both wanted. But we mortgaged our properties and gave up the dream. While everyone else was building hotels, we concentrated on piggy-back rides. They paid the luxury tax, and I tasted lemon on your lips. 

The rain poured across the drafty window. The kettle blew steam. The tamale lady doesn’t come around in weather like this, but it was like Park Place bundled up in here with you.

Electric Company was the sweetener. We already landed on Chance. The official rules say there’s no payday for landing on Free Parking. But we’re not playing by the official rules anymore. You railroaded my plans good. 

Once when I was a boy, I saw the very first ghostly shades of light tickle away the night. They invited me to dance, and I levitated into the cool grass.

They installed a little dancing demon inside me and it never stops. So when you went for the trade and cashed out quick, he popped out for a bow. 

I am designed for collapse, as you see. And as I go, I like to grab hold of something dear to me. 

There are benefits to being broke and making a quick exit from a long game of Monopoly.




For dVerse Open Link Nite.

53 comments:

Daydreamertoo said...

LOL. When I was in the army and we were so bored with weather holding up practice firing etc, we would play a game of Monopoly and sometimes it would last us about 4 days. Take about highly animated LOL
Took me back to my youth this did. :)
Lovely writing!

Reena said...

This was delightful!

ayala said...

Love this...and love a good game of Monopoly :)

Anonymous said...

Oh wow, this is great:

"But we’re not playing by the official rules anymore. You railroaded my plans good."

These are more of my favorites:

"While everyone else was building hotels, we concentrated on piggy-back rides. They paid the luxury tax, and I tasted lemon on your lips."

"They installed a little dancing demon inside"

"I am designed for collapse"

~Shawna
rosemarymint.com

Pat Hatt said...

Took me a second to clue in but as soon as you hit luxary tax I knew, as that thing always ran me dry. Yeah, we always cheated to and got money for free parking. Those games do last a long time too.

Sage Ravenwood said...

Absolutely delightful read sweet friend. I wish more people appreciated getting railroaded by life. I've always found the small simple joys to be the greatest treasure. (Hugs)Indigo

EcoGrrl said...

makes me sentimental for my days of packing everything in the back of my li'l lipstick-red chevy s10 and cruising to the next town...something about buying a house though has been quite good for me, a wanderer forced to be still. now i just move my furniture around constantly :)

Ben Ditty said...

Monopoly is my favorite board game (though no one will play it with me). Loved how you related it.

Betsy Brock said...

When my hubs and I got married, it was December in an ice storm. We didn't have jobs, didn't have money for a honeymoon and our car doors froze shut. We couldn't have been happier.

Thanks for bringing back some nice memories. :)

Laura said...

"They paid the luxury tax, and I tasted lemon on your lips." and whose to say what luxury truly is? Well done Ed!

Arron Shilling said...

hey ed - i do like to read your explorations; i find your work V easy to read and enjoy its nature: something notable, an ease is truly present, sure and safe hands, so to speak but with enough flair and invention to be fresh and stimulating.

balance :)

thanks ed.

Brian Miller said...

nice write ed...love all the monopoly refs through the beginning...i think piggy back rides are more important for the record...smiles...and so are lemon lips much more a luxury...

Susie Clevenger said...

Ah Monopoly...it has been so long since I played it. It is fun to see where your mind will go.

Claudia said...

*sits spellbound...* just love this ed...They paid the luxury tax, and I tasted lemon on your lips... how much better to taste lemon and piggy-back ride than living in safe houses... love it...did i mention...? this is your voice i love most, the passionate, dreamy, carefree, a little crazy and so honest ed voice..smiles

WomanInLove said...

"They installed a little dancing demon inside me and it never stops" - Absolutely lovely lines. And yes, I too have that demon inside me

Ruby said...

This was a delightful read. I loved the analogies and the way you have expressed it. Cheers, Ruby.

Ruhi said...

I love this style of writing...beautiful :)

Anonymous said...

this has brought some nice memories for me :-) ... love that lemon kiss & the way you write Ed!

Lisa said...

The writing is no doubt beautiful. This is wonderful and cute. Quite clever too. because Monopoly is the economic game we are playing now. 200 dollars per cycle is not enough for anything.

Jax said...

You just made Monopoly beautiful! Marvin Gardens was always one of my favorite properties, not b/c of it's social status, but b/c it was yellow. Yellow is my favorite color :)

Jill said...

Monopoly will never be the same! :)

darlin said...

Ed your writing makes me want a game of Monopoly now, and I haven't played in forever! Excellent piece!

Anonymous said...

Nice play of words here... one can be rich in many ways

Mary said...

Oh, Ed, I enjoyed this. I remember those long games of Monopoly. And yes, Marvin Gardens, was always one that I sought as well. But not as much as Park Place. Your post put life into the game (but don't ask me to play). LOL. Well written.

Ygraine said...

I so enjoyed reading this.
The many analogies gave my brain a true workout, and I have since dug out my old monopoly game - though I haven't yet found anyone who is willing to play it with me.
Everyone seems to be too into computer games these days!!

Gina said...

I could never land on MG to buy it and desperately wanted that corner around "Go to Jail". Was always a strategic spot. Park Place always seemed too expensive. However, I'm always the first one out of the game. Loved the analogies!

Carol Riggs said...

What a lovely piece of writing, inspired by Monopoly. Gah--I used to hate playing Monopoly as a kid. I swear, the game would never end!! Anyway, I liked the "installation of the dancing demon" and the lemon taste, among other things. :)

Unknown said...

Oh, that was wonderful ... I that whenever I play Monopoly, I'll think of this piece! :-) Several times in my life, we have just packed a truck with everything we own, grabbed the cat, and traveled. No job, no home, no destination. And each time has been a grand adventure. Thanks for sharing this lovely piece with us. I'm your newest follower! :-)

Margaret said...

Well, who needs the rules... we always did what we wanted with Monopoly. Now my girls like Life, and my oldest son WON without going to college and he kept SUING me... Kids these days... :)

Fun write...you should write a bit about ALL the places on the Monopoly board... ?

Stephanie D said...

Loved this post...and I think we must be on the same wavelength...Peanut and I have been playing Monopoly a lot lately!

Gloria Baker said...

This is nice and I d love play Monopoly!

Janet Martin said...

I played Monopoly with my small daughter recently. This brought a smile to my face...I really loved every bit of this piece but this verse esp...

'The rain poured across the drafty window. The kettle blew steam. The tamale lady doesn’t come around in weather like this, but it was like Park Place bundled up in here with you.'
brought a huge smile and a sigh...

Life really is like a game of monopoly in a lot of ways:)

kaykuala said...

Being railroaded for real can be unsettling, Ed! Especially by the undoings of the powers that be. But a solace it is and an opportunity to fight back on the Monopoly board is most satisfying.

Hank

dopdavid said...

i feel refreshed after reading that, your words are so colorful and descriptive

Anonymous said...

I always ended up broke too...pretty bad when you can't make it big playing monopoly! Ah well...enjoyed your write!

Stephanie D said...

Thank you for your constructive comments on my last post. I love to get feedback like that...and I took your advice and removed the repetition! Awesome!

DWei said...

I'm absolutely terrible at this game. I have no luck what-so-ever.

Anonymous said...

I prefer naked Twister. But seriously, I do think it is a very positive thing to occupy territories beyond those we normally recognize. ~Mary

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

You weave a story so well...just a lovely picture.

Anonymous said...

Awesome write, Ed! A very enjoyable and entertaining read!

Anonymous said...

Awesome write, Ed! A very enjoyable and entertaining read!

hedgewitch said...

Sorry to get here so late, Ed. This was completely delightful, and made me relive many happy Monopoly sessions. None of mine caused collapse, except from hilarity, but I think your way may be better.

[[AguiLeons]] said...

after reading you have a beutiful story

Tracy said...

Your rules for Monopoly are sooo much better, Ed! Me thinks I must revisit this game sometime and break some rules! I like idea of demon dancing and collapse of a sweeter kind. Your stories have a great of keeping the heart on the brink... folding and unfolding. Today I was writing at my place about life, how it like a practice, to keep polishing and honing... I must fit in more time for games and delight. Happy Weekend, Ed. :o) P.S. I'd be very happy to send you one of my embellished moleskine notebooks. Good for jotting your writing notes maybe. I can make one with less butterflies and petals. ;o)

Janie Junebug said...

Excellent, Ed. I am tired of people who always have to play by the official rules.

Love,
Janie

Alexandra said...

Of course, and I'd expect that you wouldn't play by the rules.

You write in such an easy manner, I could sit and "listen" forever...

Shosannah said...

"Once when I was a boy, I saw the very first ghostly shades of light tickle away the night. They invited me to dance, and I levitated into the cool grass."

I like the freedom and possibilities of this innocent vision very much.

"There are benefits to being broke and making a quick exit from a long game of Monopoly."

Yes there are and they're priceless :)

Lovely poem.

Geraldine said...

Oh la la...how wonderful you weave those words Ed! Loved this. :<)

Betsy Brock said...

So, next poem...Scrabble or Sorry? :)

Unspoken said...

At least nobody needed a Get Out of Jail Free card. Sometimes when people collapse they hold onto things that aren't theirs;). I like the poetic playfulness in this and that bit of the romantic you are when you write.

Phoenix said...

"I am designed for collapse" - wow. What a stunning, gorgeous line, Ed. Beautiful. Hits home.

I was the youngest of three siblings, and as you might well know, the youngest doesn't often like to play games like Risk or Monopoly because of how often they use.

But this was charming, and it made me miss the game just a little bit :)

colleen said...

Game over. Someone sold out. You make me want to write a poem set in Monopoly world.

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