Amy's Place ... Poetry and Potpourri ... September, 2008

September 1, 2008 | JustAmy; St.Louie1; MamaBear; Billie

[JustAmy]

Welcome To....


'Amy's Place' welcomes all poets
and those who enjoy poetry.
'Amy's Place' is more than just about poetry.
Come in, relax, and share with fellow FReepers
your thoughts about any of the things on the *Menu*.

Enjoy! :)











Never Forget!





Bad Penny



Amy's personal guardian ~
the ever charming, lovable, huggable,
LouieWolf




Many thanks for stopping by. : )

[Mama_Bear]

Okay, drive carefully. :-)

After watching OESY's video links, it doesn't make we want to get out on the road. LOL

[Mama_Bear]

.......make that ME. Sheesh!

[jaycee]

Hello, Billie! Thought I had better say hi as I will be in and out! Didn’t want to miss greeting you! I went crazy last night for over an hour trying to get on FR and I didn find out through Lori that it was down.

We don’t know how we miss ‘anything’ until its gone and that includes Free Republic!

[jaycee]

Excuse typo in that post. Typing too fast can cause one to leave out important letters...LOL!

[jaycee]

Great video....

BBL!!

[Billie]

Hi, Jaycee! Don't know why FR is having so many problems lately, but it's been unreliable for a few weeks now and I get impatient and don't stay around long.

Hope they fix whatever is wrong soon.

[Kitty Mittens]

Thank you, Dearest Bp, and Amen! It's So Good to See you Here!

[Kitty Mittens]

How Beautiful, Lori! I Hope Everyone is having a Good "Thank You" Day.

[OESY]

It’s amazing what a little sand could have done in that tunnel to prevent accidents.

[OESY]

Stercus accidit.

[Lady Jag]

This was the dentist appointment to take impressions for the tooth. In three weeks I have to go again for final crowning.

[WVNan]

Ouch Lady. Those are not fun. I’m so glad I don’t have any teeth. LOL. No teeth, no pain.

[OESY]

The Face on the Barroom Floor
by Hugh Antoine D'Arcy

‘Twas a balmy summer evening and a goodly crowd was there
Which well-nigh filled Joe's barroom on the corner of the square,
And as songs and witty stories came through the open door
A vagabond crept slowly in and posed upon the floor.

“Where did it come from?” Someone said. “The wind has blown it in.”
“What does it want?” another cried, “Some whisky, rum or gin?”
“Here, Toby, seek him, if your stomach's equal to the work —
I wouldn't touch him with a fork, He's as filthy as a Turk.”

This badinage the poor wretch took with stoical good grace;
In fact, he smiled as though he thought he'd struck the proper place.
“Come, boys, I know there's kindly hearts among so good a crowd —
To be in such good company would make a deacon proud.”

“Give me a drink — that's what I want — I'm out of funds, you know;
When I had cash to treat the gang, this hand was never slow.
What? You laugh as if you thought this pocket never held a sou:
I once was fixed as well, my boys, as anyone of you.”

“There, thanks; that's braced me nicely; God bless you one and all;
Next time I pass this good saloon, I'll make another call.
Give you a song? No, I can't do that, my singing days are past;
My voice is cracked, my throat's worn out, and my lungs are going fast.

“Say, Give me another whiskey ,and I'll tell you what I'll do —
I'll tell you a funny story, and a fact, I promise, too.
That I was ever a decent man, not one of you would think;
But, I was some four of five years back. Say, give me another drink.

“Fill her up, Joe, I want to put some life into my frame—
Such little drinks, to a bum like me, are miserably tame;
Five fingers —there, that's the scheme — and corking whisky, too.
Well, here's luck, boys; and, landlord, my best regards to you.

“You've treated me pretty kindly, and I'd like to tell you how
I came to be the dirty sot you see before you now.
As I told you, once I was a man, with muscle , frame, and health,
And, but for a blunder, ought to have made considerable wealth.

“I was a painter — not one that daubed on bricks and wood
But an artist, and, for my age, was rated pretty good.
I worked hard at my canvas and was bidding fair to rise,
For gradually I saw the star of fame before my eyes.

“I made a picture, perhaps you've seen, ‘tis called the ‘Chase of Fame.’
It brought me fifteen hundred pounds and added to my name.
And then I met a woman — now comes the funny part —
With eyes that petrified my brain, and sunk into my heart.

“Why don't you laugh? ‘Tis funny that the vagabond you see
Could ever love a woman and expect her love for me;
But ‘twas so, and for a month or two her smiles were freely given,
And when her loving lips met mine it carried me to heaven.

“Did you ever see a woman for whom your soul you'd give,
With a form like the Milo Venus, too beautiful to live;
With eyes that would beat the Koh-i-noor, and a wealth of chestnut hair?
If so, ‘twas she, for there never was another half so fair.

“I was working on a portrait, one afternoon in May,
Of a fair-haired boy, a friend of mine, who lived across the way,
And Madeline admired it, and much to my surprise,
Said that she'd like to know the man that had such dreamy eyes.

“It didn't take long to know him, and before the month had flown
My friend had stolen my darling, and I was left alone;
And, ere a year of misery had passed above my head,
The jewel I had treasured so had tarnished, and was dead.

“That's why I took to drink, boys. Why, I never saw you smile,
I thought you'd be amused, and laughing all the while.
Why, what's the matter, friend? There's a teardrop in your eye,
Come, laugh like me; ‘tis only babes and women that should cry.

“Say, boys, if you give me just another whiskey, I'll be glad,
And I'll draw right here a picture of the face that drove me mad.
Give me that piece of chalk with which you mark the baseball score —
And you shall see the lovely Madeline upon the barroom floor.

Another drink, and with chalk in hand the vagabond began
To sketch a face that well might buy the soul of any man.
Then, as he placed another lock upon the shapely head,
With a fearful shriek, he leaped and fell across the picture — dead.

.

[Lady Jag]

Having grown attached to my toofs, I punish them when they act up. This last one I kicked out and am replacing it with a mindless cap. Serves it right.

[Mama_Bear]

Finally, the long awaited photos of my visit with FReeper WVNan. There are quite a few photos, so I have reduced the file size as much as possible in hopes that everyone will be able to view them. I wasn't sure who to ping, so I just picked those I thought might be interested in seeing a little glimpse into our visit with Nan. (My apologies if I pinged you and shouldn't have, or if I should have and didn't.)

What a memory making time this was with WVNan and her family! Last July we took a side trip from our vacation in New England and traveled south to West Virginia to visit one of my favorite FReeper FRiends. Nan opened her home to us and took time out of her busy life to show us her little corner of the world - "Wild and Wonderful West Virginia". Thank you, Nan, for everything (including that yummy Banana Split Pie that I have not yet been able to replicate!), and thank you to Mr.WVNan for the lip-smackin' West Virginia taste treats that he prepared for us. (You’ve got a great cook there, Nan!) ;-)

We arrived in Point Pleasant late in the evening after having a nice dinner in Columbus with my dear FRiends, dutchess, her husband, and dollycali. We enjoyed some great food, good conversation and lots of hugs. Spending time with these two special ladies again and getting to meet Mr.D. was a real treat. Thank you all for driving so far to have dinner with us.

After the flight from Boston to Columbus, the dinner with my Ohio FRiends and the three hour drive to Point Pleasant, we eventually arrived at Nan's house quite road weary and ready to call it a day. Nan showed us to her comfortable guestroom and we enjoyed one of the best night’s sleep we had on our entire vacation.

The next morning what a treat awaited us! Talk about a fabulous bed and breakfast! We awoke to the wonderful aroma of coffee, sausage, eggs, biscuits, gravy and hashed browns being prepared by Mr.WVNan. This was my second time experiencing a real down-home West Virginia breakfast prepared by Nan's very own personal Chef. I told my husband that he wouldn’t get a better breakfast ever, anywhere. It was sooooo good! (However, I am still not believing that was “possum sausage”. LOL.) ;-)

WVNan's House with Yard of Month Sign



A Real West Virginia Breakfast
Mr.WVNan's brother, Mr.WVNan, jkphoto, Mama_Bear




Nan in Her Kitchen

Our first day in Point Pleasant, Nan took us on a drive through the West Virginia countryside along some of the prettiest country roads I’ve seen anywhere! Lucky Nan, she travels these roads daily, but for us, this was a real treat. Living in the arid California Central Valley, the lush green countryside and the winding roads lined with wildflowers was a little corner of heaven that we are not accustomed to.

West Virginia Wildflowers

We drove past these pretty white churches where Mr. and Mrs.WVNan are Pastors.

These little white churches dot the countryside around Point Pleasant and American flags were displayed on the porches of many houses we passed. This display of reverence for "God and Country" was everywhere we looked. As Nan said, "arriving in Point Pleasant is like stepping back in time to the 1950's".

This is the pretty church where WVNan is Pastor...

Beech Hill United Methodist Church

After our tour of Nan's church and her country roads we went to her son’s photography studio, which my husband was especially anxious to see. We spent time there visiting with Nan’s very talented son, the two professional photographers happily talking shop. We practically had to pry to the two away from each other as they discussed promotions, backgrounds, suppliers, props, photo techniques, and on and on....as only two photographers can. LOL.

Main Street Photography

Nan's son is not only a top-notch photographer and father of Nan's sweet little granddaughter, Emma, but he’s also a great fiddle player. In fact, he's been playing fiddle since he was just a little guy. We didn’t get to hear him play in person, but later that evening Nan showed us some video’s of some of his performances. Talent certainly does run in their family! Mr.VWNan is also an accomplished musician. Here is a sample of some of Nan’s son’s music. I have posted a link to this before, but if you've not heard this song and your internet connection can handle large downloads, please click on the link below and listen to this song.

Talk About Suffering
This is a beautiful song, one of Nan's favorites,
featuring her son on the violin.

The next day we were treated to a tour of Point Pleasant by a delightful little lady named "Katy Ulen". Katy is a character out of history (portrayed by Nan) who often gives guided historical tours to the passengers on the riverboats when they dock in Point Pleasant. The Delta Queen did arrive on the day we were there, but Katie wasn’t scheduled to give a tour for the passengers during this visit.

The Delta Queen

Instead, she gave us a PRIVATE tour. Here is our very own WVNan as “Katy Ulen”. Isn’t she the sweetest thing?

Our Tour Guide, "Katy Ulen"



Katy's House in Kentucky


We enjoyed learning about Point Pleasants’ rich history from Katie’s perspective. I wish you all could have been there to hear her sweet lilting voice as she told her stories and described to us what took place many years ago on the very spot where we were standing. As you can see from these historical markers, Point Pleasant played an important part in American history.

Finally, a trip to Point Pleasant wouldn’t be complete without a search for “Mothman”. He certainly wasn’t hard to find! We found him hanging out in the middle of the street downtown, and in the Mothman museum and on t-shirts in shops up and down Main Street. He is very popular in Point Pleasant.

Mothman

Sorry, this post got so long. I tried to keep it short, I really did. LOL. I hope you all enjoyed this vignette of our visit with WVNan.

Thank you again, Nan, for welcoming us into your home and taking the time to show us your West Virginia.

[Mama_Bear]

LOL! Well, you certainly have a good attitude about going to the dentist. I know it was just for impressions, but still.......

[OESY]

Faces and Sadness

.

[Lady Jag]

He had to drill out the substitute tooth so I got a couple of good shots of numbing stuff. It wasn’t bad.

We talked about Marathon Man before he got to work.

[Mama_Bear]

Thanks for this. I love what I learn here. I was so taken with the poem that I googled the author.....

"Hugh Antoine d'Arcy (March 5, 1843 – November 11, 1925) was a French-born poet and writer and a pioneer executive in the American motion picture industry.

Hugh Antoine d'Arcy is most famous for his 1887 poem "The Face upon the Floor" (poem)It is sometimes erroneously called [The Face on the Barroom Floor]," a sorrowful tale of a painter who takes to drink after his lover deserts him for the fair-haired lad in one of his portraits. Keystone Studios would use the poem as the basis for a 1914 film of the same name starring Charlie Chaplin and John Ford would use it for the basis of his 1923 film. It would be put to song by country music star Hank Snow on his 1968 "Tales Of The Yukon" album.

[WVNan]

You did a wonderful job Lori. You only made one mistake. In the first grouping of churches, the one on the middle left is not one of ours. The one that should be there is the Oak Grove church that is undergoing the addition. I'm not sure that JK even got a picture of it. No matter, the Spillman church is representative of the country churches.

Yep, my very on chef is, as we speak, cooking stuffed pork chops and they smell soooo good.

In the breakfast table picture, the guy in the blue shirt is the BIL. Everyone notice that we used only the finest of our dishes for our visitors from CA. Nothing but the best for them. LOL. But, I want to know who the fat lady in the kitchen is. I thought she had lost weight until I saw that rear viewangle.

After 16 years of traveling those roads, I have not grown bored with the beauty of the countryside. It is still "almost heaven," and I thank my Lord every day for allowing us to live in such a beautiful place with such beautiful people.

WE really got a kick out of JK's picture taking. He is a true photographer. Son does the same thing when he goes anywhere. You did forget one picture, or did you already post that one? Chester?

Thanks for posting the song. I think that song epitomizes West Virginia. It makes me think of a windswept mountain top with a single tree silouette in the mist which settles around the mountains and valleys of WV.

One thing I wish to report about your visit. HEY EVERYONE, SHE DIDN'T BREAK THE SHOWER THIS TIME.