February 9, 2018
(Click image to enlarge.)
(This is a re-post from 2017.)
This poetic Valentine’s Day card was postmarked Perry Ill., 4 p.m., Feb. 13, 1911. The man who mailed it could expect that his beloved, “Birdie,” would have it in her hand the very next day—Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day. In those days, first-class mail was delivered morning and afternoon and postcards required only a one-cent postage stamp. Note also that in this case the card was mailed and delivered sans street name or number. Small town—everyone knows everyone else—therefore, no street address required. What ever happened to that wonderful postal system? Well, for one thing, Time happened.
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Posted by Jim
October 24, 2017
The Physics of Pumpkins
By Florence Newman
“The top’s too heavy, too much space below,”
my neighbor says. “’Spect she’ll start sagging soon.”
He’d lugged the massive thing out front for me.
I realize with horror that he’s right.
I’d carved my share of pumpkins through the years,
protected them from predatory squirrels,
from Mischief Night marauders: hubris had
at last undone me. A slightly wider grin,
an extra tooth or two—I should have known
the plan was flawed, the architecture tenuous.
Before too long the carriage will collapse,
sides slump, rind pit and wrinkle, pulp dissolve
and putrify. The oblique eyes, the arching brows,
isosceles nose are doomed to droop and molder.
Look on those overweening teeth, ye mighty,
and descry their graying edges fold and sear,
like the striate skin of a stitched cadaver.
Now soon a press of princesses, pop stars,
pirates, pixies, vampires, ninjas, sprites,
enchanters, supermen, and bumblebees
will throng the street, importunate to take
their turn, while my poor jack-o-lantern, claimed
by gravity, sits rotting at the door
before I’ve even got the candle lit.
Copyright © 2017, Florence Newman
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Posted by Jim
June 9, 2017
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Posted by Jim
December 22, 2016
Design copyright 2016, Jim Sizemore
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Posted by Jim
October 14, 2016
The Physics of Pumpkins
By Florence Newman
“The top’s too heavy, too much space below,”
my neighbor says. “’Spect she’ll start sagging soon.”
He’d lugged the massive thing out front for me.
I realize with horror that he’s right.
I’d carved my share of pumpkins through the years,
protected them from predatory squirrels,
from Mischief Night marauders: hubris had
at last undone me. A slightly wider grin,
an extra tooth or two—I should have known
the plan was flawed, the architecture tenuous.
Before too long the carriage will collapse,
sides slump, rind pit and wrinkle, pulp dissolve
and putrify. The oblique eyes, the arching brows,
isosceles nose are doomed to droop and molder.
Look on those overweening teeth, ye mighty,
and descry their graying edges fold and sear,
like the striate skin of a stitched cadaver.
Now soon a press of princesses, pop stars,
pirates, pixies, vampires, ninjas, sprites,
enchanters, supermen, and bumblebees
will throng the street, importunate to take
their turn, while my poor jack-o-lantern, claimed
by gravity, sits rotting at the door
before I’ve even got the candle lit.
Copyright © 2016, Florence Newman
4 Comments | bats, cartooning, composition, conflict, costumes, death, doodles, Halloween, holidays, humor, illustration, life, light verse, memoir, philosophy, poetry, superstitions, surrealism, wisdom, writing | Tagged: death, Halloween, holidays, philosophy, physics, poetry, pumpkins, surrealism, verse, writing | Permalink
Posted by Jim
March 14, 2016
Click image to enlarge. These four cartoon characters, among others, were created to represent actual people who were somehow involved in the battle to defend Fort McHenry from the British on September 12-14, 1814. Three years ago, the images were published in a Jr. Rangers booklet at the fort. This composite image is now available for printing on mugs, t-shirts, and various other products at: zazzle.com.
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Posted by Jim
February 12, 2016
Copyright © 2016 Jim Sizemore.
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Posted by Jim
January 22, 2016
Copyright © 2016 Jim Sizemore.
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Posted by Jim
December 24, 2015
© 2015 Jim Sizemore.
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Posted by Jim
December 20, 2015
Copyright © 2015 Jim Sizemore.
4 Comments | business as usual, Christmas, conflict, doctors, domestic conflict, family, holidays, kids, life, medical, mental health, relationships, shopping | Tagged: business as usual, Christmas, conflict, family, gag cartoons, gags, holiday, kids, mental health, relationships, Santa, shopping, therapy, Today's Gag | Permalink
Posted by Jim
Doodlemeister's Weblog 