Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Honorable Mention: Poetry by Shel Silverstein

"It would seem strange if old 
friends lacked certain quirks."  
~Goethe

“Almost Perfect” by Shel Silverstein

“Almost perfect… but not quite.”
Those were the words of Mary Hume
At her seventh birthday party,
Looking ‘round the ribboned room.
“This tablecloth is pink not white—
Almost perfect…but not quite.”

“Almost perfect…but not quite.”
Those were the words of grown-up Mary
Talking about her handsome beau,
The one she wasn’t gonna marry.
“Squeezes me a bit too tight—
Almost perfect…but not quite.”

“Almost perfect…but not quite.”
Those were the words of ol’ Miss Hume.
Teaching in the seventh grade,
Grading papers in the gloom
Late at night up in her room.
“They never cross their t’s just right—
Almost perfect…but not quite.”

Ninety-eight the day she died
Complainin’ bout the spotless floor.
People shook their heads and sighed,
“Guess that she’ll like heaven more.”
Up went her soul on feathered wings,
Out the door, up out of sight.
Another voice from heaven came—
“Almost perfect…but not quite.”

I drew a teacher I had in grade school. She had humiliated me in front of the class for coloring outside the lines and threw my paper at me.
It was then that I wondered what perfection really was. I had wanted to be many things when I grew up...I loved photography, art and drawing, animals, I even wanted to be a teacher. But goodness gravy-did trying to be perfect make you so grouchy?
I had to find out the answer...well, I had enough sense not to ask her....
But am glad I had her as a teacher, teachers are supposed to make you think-and think I did.....

2 comments:

Julie Parker, Social Media Executive said...

Hey Barb,

I love that saying... Friends have certain quirks and that makes us individuals.

So fitting.

I know I have traits and hopefully not to many quirks.

I don't like people leaving things around the house. My mom gave me good home training and we were taught not to leave the dishes (even washed) on the counter.

I think its order rather than a quirk.

My roomates seem to think I put everything away and confuse them but I really am just trying to keep things picked up.

However I am learning to make do with the dining room table that has become their office since I don't like sharing mine. LOL

but thats another story.

I loved your posts as always.

Keep up the good work.

I am going to be starting a new blog.

North Carolina Changed me...

Whoo

Oh we are working out tonight if your free

Huggs

Barbra The Bloggess said...

HI JujuBEE,
For me quirks are Ms. Carolina's tight hugs (Love um!), Ms. Tasha's head nod saying "unacceptable" when she disagrees...it's almost comical, My husbands cowlick in his hair he desperately tries to hide to no avail...
So many little things all together make our friends...well.
Perfect.
I do believe in perfection. Is there is such thing as a top with out a bottom and a side with out a side...well, we all agree imperfection exists.
I don't think it's what you'll find in a magazine or on a runway.
I believe it's something the world can't give me and the world can't take it away...