NaPoWriMo 2018: Day 17 – A Family Anecdote

Experiences, Poetry 26 comments

Our prompt for the day (optional as always) follows Gowrishankar’s suggestion that we write a poem re-telling a family anecdote that has stuck with you over time. It could be the story of the time your Uncle Louis caught a home run ball, the time your Cousin May accidentally brought home a coyote and gave it a bath, thinking it was a stray dog, or something darker (or even sillier).

carol burnett.jpg

I have no idea what to write about today,

an anecdote I have to say

So much easier to remember all the sad stuff

while bringing back the funny stories, is tough.

I can remember the laughing,

my stomach hurting and eyes watering-

but when I begin writing

I can’t but help thinking

That the things that made us laugh

If plotted on a graph

were those that embarrassed,

and were not the fairest…

Like the time when Aunt Sheela was shopping

and seeing her uncle coming-

She rushed out to greet

But slipped and slid and landed at his feet!

Flat on her stomach, hands stretched, she had a big fall

Under the bright lights, in the heart of the mall,

Uncle, shocked at this sudden entry

Bent forward rather gently,

and putting his hands on her head,

in a baritone voice, he said

“God Bless you, my dear child!”

Aunt Sheela still sprawled on the floor, looked dazed and wild

Uncle continued, “You  needn’t do this here, you know.”

“Enough. Get up now. Let’s go.”

 

Note: In India, blessings are taken by Hindus, by touching elders’ feet. My grand-uncle, oblivious to the fact that my aunt had fallen flat and was not taking his blessings, had blessed her and not considered offering her his hand. My aunt narrated this incident to me a long time ago, in between giggles and peals of laughter. Thinking of it, still makes me laugh. I hope it made you laugh too but if it didn’t, I told you, “I can’t tell a joke.”

 

 

 

 

 

26 comments

  1. This really did make me smile, Smitha. I am not sure if your uncle’s reaction was because he was trying to spare her embarrassment or whether he really thought she was wanting to be blessed but either way it is amusing.

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    1. 🙂 I’m glad it did. Even thinking of it makes me laugh. That’s a good question Robbie. I must ask my aunt when I meet her next if she did ask him why he did what he did but who would think a custom would create such confusion. lol

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  2. Pingback: NaPoWriMo / GloPoWriMo 2018 – Day 17 – “Today Seen Through The Eyes Of Tomorrow” by David Ellis | toofulltowrite (I've started so I'll finish)

          3. Just read it Preethi and you’ve completely left me speechless. Thank you for the appreciation. Will share your post on my blog and fb. Feels great when someone says nice things about you, right?😊

            Liked by 1 person

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