It IS OLN--Open Link Night Week #52
Post your favorite poem or whatever, and
anytime after 3 PM Tuesday, come HERE
to dVerse Poets Pub, follow directions
GREASE AND RUST
NOTE:
Six nights each week, for seven years,
I worked from 11 PM--7 AM
cleaning a McDonald's store, alone.
Yes, Peeps, I played violin at night,
Yes, Peeps, I played violin at night,
then rapidly changed 'costumes' to
scrape, sweep, mop and breathe
that stale death-odor, grease.
Asleep during the day,
Asleep during the day,
I dreamed for years this dream--
that the 'secret of the Universe'
is grease. EVERYTHING was,
basically...fat and grease.
And so this poem was born:
Sorry, store is closed
25 Billion sold
place so old
full of mold
Grease is the name
Greasless, the aim
Mop, flop, slop, flop, not Whopp(er)
Dark night after dark night
until morn bright with light
Oil, Boil, Bubble
Yes...toil and trouble--grin!
Soapy, rinsy,
Swishy around...
circle, push, floors clean
aluminum shining to sheen
Windows, why so many?
What? For Vista?
Bring outside in!
Tape up for wind...
Grease everywhere
thick by inches
running a'kittle
warm and soft, or
hard and brittle
Neons blinking,
old man thinking:
Is God Grease?
Is Universe
after it cease...
GREASE?
Secret of life
not child, not wife
but warm runny fat
scooped into warm vat
Morning Prayer to Grease:
Dear Fatty Renderings
have mercy on obese,
our sleazy, greasy layers
under foot in store,
under skin and more.
I pray this for
all our Peeps and me.
LOVE and PEACE!
--steveroni
Sorry, store is closed
25 Billion sold
place so old
full of mold
Grease is the name
Greasless, the aim
Mop, flop, slop, flop, not Whopp(er)
Dark night after dark night
until morn bright with light
Oil, Boil, Bubble
Yes...toil and trouble--grin!
Soapy, rinsy,
Swishy around...
circle, push, floors clean
aluminum shining to sheen
Windows, why so many?
What? For Vista?
Bring outside in!
Tape up for wind...
Grease everywhere
thick by inches
running a'kittle
warm and soft, or
hard and brittle
Neons blinking,
old man thinking:
Is God Grease?
Is Universe
after it cease...
GREASE?
Secret of life
not child, not wife
but warm runny fat
scooped into warm vat
Morning Prayer to Grease:
Dear Fatty Renderings
have mercy on obese,
our sleazy, greasy layers
under foot in store,
under skin and more.
I pray this for
all our Peeps and me.
LOVE and PEACE!
--steveroni
HAHAHAHAHA! I enjoyed that. Sent you an email.
ReplyDeleteNice to 'hear' you laugh, Ces.
DeleteWe ALL need to do that more!
Hahahahahah! I almost got kicked out of a meeting when I received your comment on my phone. Hahahahah! I love you. Ooops. I think that is the first time I ever said that to you. I mean after your comment, I don't care if your real name was Stella. Hahahahah! Back to work. Tsup!
Deletelol...good luck being greaseless....those places are firmly coated with it....man i could not imagine trying to cleen one...the prayer to grease is a riot...
ReplyDeleteWonder which is worse?
DeleteA greasy pot?
Or a slippery slope?
--grin!
Whew- I tried to degrease a hardware store DURING regular business hours- what a battle cry I had- Much like yours! good one :)
ReplyDelete'Talking' about a McDonald's kitchen--
Deleteit never occurred to me that a Hardware Store
would need periodic De-greasing.
Interesting.
Glad we BOTH doing something else now!
Oh the white tile floor got creamed by black streaks from boots, hand trucks, carts , machine oil- you name it! I used a double edged razor to remove clumps of yellow something from certain corners! Hah! And the worst part was the people who would not let it dry clean!! :D
DeleteThe one joy of working alone at night
Deleteafter closing--NO Peeps!
A world full of grease...its too much work ~ I enjoyed the prayer, Amen :-)
ReplyDeleteThe world,--I have found--is somewhat grease-less.
DeleteBut the kitchens of the world?
(I swear I'm gonna dream about that stuff again tonight, DAMMMMIT!)
--grin!
Okay, I opened the comment section for you.
ReplyDeleteGuess now I gotta USE it--scribble, scribble, scribble!
DeleteTHANKS!
I never thought grease could be so fascinating. A study on how even grease can inspire poetic inspiration.
ReplyDeleteWell, every word is true--as lived by steveroni, Jess.
DeletePEACE!!!!! "We pause when agitated..." YEAH! RIGHT!--grin!
BEST is don't get agitated? It is easier than 'pausing when...'
Steve
Is God grease? God is grease. Is God grease?
ReplyDeleteAnd if universe is grease, I shall not walk, but skid.
And I shall be grease.
Not necessarily 'greasy!
DeleteSimply constituted wholly od GREASE! that's us--or it was, in my dreams, both day- and night-dreams...
haha...you're so good steve...love your sense of humor..can picture you there... yeah maybe it's grease that holds it all together...smiles
ReplyDeleteClaudia, I just KNEW you would
Deleteappreciate , ummmm, "Fine Humor"???
--grinnnnnnnn!
Ooops! I slipped on a greasy spot. LOL!
Reminds me of my sister's first job at McDs. I felt so sorry for her having to clean that I got up and started to help her. I was only 9!
ReplyDeleteEmpathy AND a work-ethic at age 9.
DeleteIt is no wonder you are an exceptional Peep.
Very hard work, especially for "us perfectionists"--grin!
A world full of grease :) fun read, Steve.
ReplyDeletePeace to you and best wishes :)
You write about the most horrible things. And then again, you are so nice, caring and comforting.
ReplyDeleteMade me remember one of my first jobs; to scrub a men's toilet that hadn't been cleaned for years. 30 men living in an institution built in the 40-ies. I made it though, and later I came to love those men. Hope I for a moment made their lives a little brighter.
I for sure haven't forgotten them.
Gosh, I didn't see that as horrible--it was hard work, yes. But a completely different environment from the beautiful symphony hall stage only a half-hour before, violin in hand.
DeleteBesides, I got a free, fatty, big breakfast every morning, before going home to bed. I'm so glad you come here once-in-a-while, Felisol. You are a specially spiritual Peep, and bring that energy with you even through a comment.
PEACE!
Excellent, Steve, and so... greasy. Now I'm gonna go wash my hands.
ReplyDeleteRemember PattiKen, the only thing which removes grease from your hands...is more grease (soap!).
DeleteSteve, I remember working a Friendly's Ice Cream and feeling like I could not wash my hands enough. Went home and practically scraped it off my face. And wouldn't you know, I married an Italian guy who exudes olive oil? Literally? I go to kiss him and sometimes slide off his face, ha ha ha. Love this. Peace, Amy
ReplyDelete"Kissing" and sliding off his face sound like lines from a lusty love poem--grin!
DeletePEACE!
I'll have to get over there to visit...
Brilliant! I've stopped buttering my toast since reading this and my lip-salve has gone in the bin. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI butter my toast on both sides...ya see I'm really got into the "GREASE HABIT"! I don't use lip stick, Sir...grin!
Delete'25 billion sold' just how big they are. They have a hold on all Mcs that even a real McD from Scotland is prevented to proudly own up. Would it sell as much if the name is Kroc Burgers? I wonder! Wonderful write Steve!
ReplyDeleteHank
I met Ray Kroc--and he was certainly NOT "full of it".
DeleteExtraordinary story of entrepreneurial success.
I wanted to be funny right here, but have run out of funniness.
ONLY TEMPORARY, THOUGH. be assured of THAT--grin!
Ah the feel, the smell, the crisp of fat. Rendered well here sir. Very enjoyable!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU, Beachanny! I can see, you understand! Well...you understand everything. METHINKS!
DeletePEACE!
Steve you got it i once worked cleaning up in a kebab shop i have seen the grease and felt it slither into my pores
ReplyDeletepaid you a return visit, and your writing is positively 'positive', entertaining, the kind I like to read.
Delete"Slither through my pores" I LIKE that...maybe will rub it into the poem somewhere!
PEACE!
I smirked...and then I laughed!
ReplyDelete'...dear fatty renderings...'!
Ah, the preamble is just as delightful!
Enjoyed!
Hello, laughing smirker. I am a 'grinner', means afraid to laugh or NOT laugh, so I sit in between.
DeleteI'll be over to visit. just stopped in for a look. be back!
PEACE!
Oh wow, I think I actually see a hamburger patty in the picture. Aaah, grease. Yummy, tasty grease. Grease with salt makes everything go down smoother. And this did not give you an aversion to McD's?
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed reading about your morning routine! Keeping biking, Maestro! Remember to grease those gears.
Well...NOW I CAN close this post...BELLA HAS BEEN HERE!!!--grin!
DeleteI have a happy!
Been many a moon since I ate a McD, Bella. I DO use their bath rooms, and Espresso coffee (LOTS!) when on bike trip. Gonna take a three-week trip middle of August, on bike alone...up through North Carolina. This is my first announcement--and you probably won't even SEE it. BLAHHGH!
Glad to 'see' you on your vacation schedule...Thanks!