Thank you to Roan for hosting this meme. So much good rubbish out there and what a great way to share it in all its glory.
An invitation
With
one toll
it signals
lunch is ready.
The neighbors may hear
and happen to drop by.
Good thing the cookie jar’s full
and there’s a pie in the oven.
“Beverly, please come share some tea with
us when you hear the bell ring. Bring James, too.”
This is an etheree. It consists of 10 lines with a syllable count matching the line number: line 1 = 1 syllable, line 2 = 2 syllables, etc. to ten. You can reverse the order 10, 9, 8…1, or go 1 to 10 then reverse the order 10-1 creating 20 lines. Have fun!
PS to last week’s post. Notice the color of the porch post. I may just leave the milk can “as is” but give it a good washing with a hose and sponge.
I pick ringing the bell, but then I’m a bit old fashioned. Cool bell. The milk can would fit right in as is.
ooo…I figured out where to link in this morning. Yay! I’m looking forward to using the bell at lunchtime or whenever.
I’m with Roan, I’d ring the bell – I have a bell (although not as old as this one) that a friend found in a junk shop and gave to me, I need to find somewhere to put it, sadly I don’t have a porch.
Perhaps you can hang it from a tree branch. Do find a place to ring your bell. Thank you for stopping by to share your bell.
I enjoyed reading the etheree as well as viewing the photo!
Thank you, EG. I want to write more of these as this one just wrote itself out. Funny how smoothly that went.
You’re the third of my readers to have posted an etheree this week — and such a delightful one! I really like it. It’s wonderful to see the form spreading.
Since I don’t text, I’m always looking for ways to “ring the bell”, literally or metaphorically. My neighbors in the hill country have a wonderful bell, with its frame covered with grape vines. He spent a lot of time in his woodworking shop, and when she wanted him to come up to the house, for whatever reason, she’d ring the bell. If it rang at noon, we knew dinner was ready. If it rang in the morning or the middle of the afternoon, neighbors sometimes would show up, just to be sure nothing was wrong.
Thank you for reminding us and inspiring us. The ice cream post just lingered with me, and it had been a while since I had posted my last etheree here. Speaking about ice cream, I got a kick out of the 78 of “I scream, you scream…”
I love the idea of ringing a bell at mealtime. Growing up, my mom used to blow a whistle when she wanted my sister and I to come in for dinner.
I think leaving the milk can as is, is a great idea, Georgette!
Now that’s a post in the making…all the ways we were called to dinner. Your mother had a whistle! I still remember our neighbor down the street calling her four boys and the dog “Hal, Cal, Jack, Mack and Laddiiieee … supperrrr!” ooo…what a delightful memory you just stirred up.
Yep…I think I will keep the milk can “as is” + a scrub. Thank you for visiting some of my treasured rubbish again, Jill.
Ha ha! I thought about writing a post about my mother and her whistle. 🙂
We grew up during a wonderful time.
We certainly did. Your mother sounds like Captain von Trapp with the whistle.
Love the idea of ringing that bell on the porch! And that etheree, Georgette, you’re one talented gal.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the etheree. You’ll understand this…it just wrote itself out and you know where the inspiration came from. Amazing how things just work out when you really want them to. When incredibly the syllables worked with minor adjustments, I just whispered “thank you.”
What a creative soul you are, writing an etheree and introducing me to this appealing poetic form. Of course, I’ve taught villanelle (e.g. Dylan Thomas’ “Do Not Go Gentle . . . “) and George Herbert’s technopaegnia as in “Easter Wings” but never the etheree. I’ll have to try it!
Here is a link to my post featuring Herbert’s unusual visual form in case you missed it: http://plainandfancygirl.com/2014/04/05/2-easter-vignettes-sacred-and-sentimental/
You are always inspiring as you connect the verbal and visual through theme. Thank you, Georgette!
I’m so glad I was able to introduce you to this. They’re fun and kind of like writing flash fiction. The last one I wrote was in August, 2012 “Who goes to Germany for the weekend?” for nephew and his future bride.
I do want to explore the villanelle and technopaegnia. You’ve given me some homework at the end of my semester. (smile) I will follow up on your link asap…grades are due this week + I have a sizable consultant project due (more parentheses – sigh) I can’t tell you how much your comments encourage me to press on and see where this blogging adventure leads me. You coined it a while back “the landscape of your mind.” Thanks for listening and continuing to “get” me.
Neat bell!
I do love it!
We have a bell at the Tiny Ten and I use it! Especially when CH is wandering around in the west field. Better than texting any old dang day.. 😀 Doing a teeny happy dance that you MAY leave the milk can “as is”.
Oh you must share your bell in a post…maybe even write an etheree too, about it.
I think I’m happy dancing with you about leaving the milk can “as is.” As Dianna said, it’s less work. So grateful it fits in on the porch with the cedar and all.
I am working up motivation to post.. anything. I have hit a dry spot in blogging.. 😀 The “as is” milk can on the Porch.. perfect!
Join in Pix. I can still visualize your photo of the ole wheel at Trinklein’s nursery, the color of the blooms, the roof of the green house. Keep that camera handy. haha…just yesterday I was sitting on the porch swing around 5:15 because that’s when shadows play on our fence. Husband rolled his eyes a bit when I pointed out a fish (a knot hole provided the eye), a dog, a dog’s face and a frog sitting down. I know, I know…perhaps the old adage “You had to have been there” fits here.
No pressure to post. You’ll know when you’re ready. Blogging needs to be fun.
Such a delightful post! I can hear your bell ringing from here! 😉 We have an old milk can on our back porch, and it gets repainted every time we paint the porch. Kind of like having such a cute, matching accessory. It first belonged to my mother, and I got it when she sold her house years ago. Love it, too!
My mother-in-law acquired the milk can back in the 70’s. How time flies, because I remember when it looked new. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Something about bells at school, Christmas or on the back porch that call to us.
A great etheree about the daily delights of sharing food with good people. The bell is a good connector to call for people to eat. A delightful post.
I’m so glad you clicked, opened and read this post. You are so busy with your students and photography projects, Otto, I am honored that you viewed, enjoyed and commented. 🙂 I do think the theme is rather universal the way you stated in your comment.
Well, I can’t see your photo…but I love your etheree (that’s a new one for me). And I’m glad you’re considering leaving the old milk can as is!
I’m sorry you can’t see the bell. Are you on a mobile device or is it the website? hmmmm…
Yes, the milk can must stand “as is.” It goes with the cedar on the rest of the house. Thanks for kicking off the discussion last week.
Loved the “pony” photos, especially the one where they’re kicking up water.
Georgette, I tried on my computer at our shop and here at home….?? I loved that picture of the horse pawing at the water, too. I took about 10 of him and chose my favorite!
It’s a mystery. Thank you for letting me know.
The horses pawing in the water reminds me of a tremendous bronze sculpture in Las Colinas near Dallas. Life-size horses running through water with tiny fountains imitating splashing in the water. Perhaps I can find a photo of it in Google and share it with you on fb. I’ll look.
Thanks for sharing – I can see why you thought of the sculpture when you saw my photo!
🙂 It’s impressive from the street and walking up to them in the plaza. The kids’ first apartment was near there. Now, they’re in the suburbs.
That’s a lovely find. I wonder how many people have heard it toll for different things!
A number to ponder, for sure. Meals, emergency, help, come home…so many messages could have been conveyed.
I like this image very much Georgette!! Well done.
Thank you, Hootin’ Anni. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
This is wonderful, Georgette. You’ve inspired me. I’m going to try writing an
etheree or two!!!
Thank you.
I was hoping you would see this. I know you will and I look forward to reading them.
I’m all for ringing the bell. Would have preferred in my childhood instead of the shouting and threats of no dessert 😉
This bell rings loud. Folks can hear it across the road and in the next door pastures.
Absolutely ring the bell … loud enough for me to hear it!!
Well…it’s not that loud, (smile) but yes, you can hear it across the pastures. I’m afraid I’ll have to text you. (wink)
Georgette, I wasn’t at all familiar with an etheree poem, but good job writing it. Looks like a bit of a challenge, but yours flows beautifully.
They have been fun to write when I want to focus on one thing. I hope you’re having a great day with your son.