dog day afternoon
a grasshopper jumps
in front of the lawn-mower
Published by
Todd Claus
C. Todd Claus (todd.claus at us.army.mil) is a former Pararescueman who now writes about the military care health care system. His work has appeared in Stylus Poetry Journal and in the Mainichi Daily News. He is currently working on a collection of conversations with members of the American military special operations community. He lives with his family in rural Maryland.
View all posts by Todd Claus
11 thoughts on “”
i am trying to comprehend todd’s moment.
first line:
“dog day afternoon”
hot, doubly hot, since dog days are the hottest days, technically, of the year.
midsummer heat, about july 3rd to about august 11th
the time of the year, when the dog star, sirius, rise and set with the sun
a hot time, i’m assuming, to be cutting grass
“a grasshopper jumps”
plausible, though in my years of southern living, all is at rest, even dogs refuse to bark at intruders
“in front of the lawn-mower”
regardless of mowing the yard, or the mower at rest, a grasshopper could be found in front of one
regardless, “without regards to advice”, it’s too hot to be fooling around with the mower, even viewing one, while in passing
the thoughts that come rushing to mind, totally unwound, on a weekend
good morning todd,
no one is forcing you to read my comments, though i sense you are taking the time to read them, even skimming them.
regardless of what you write, apparently, it is evident, you feel it is not worthy enough to withstand “my” criticism; the first sign of a weakness.
however, i appreciate your taking the time to write me.
i am amazed at how some think themselves a master of what, i am at a lost.
rather than respond childishly, respond with sound argument to expose my posting for what you think they are, “Your posts are tedious, nonsensical and as interesting as junkyard carpet, in need of a rest”, i believe these were your word.
Bob, must you slam every haiku that Tiny
Words posts? Could we try a different game for
awhile? How about you post some of your haiku,
and let the readers comment on them.
Todd, even though your comment to Bob was in
private – at least until he chose to make it
public, you were still wrong: the junkyard
carpet would be much more interesting than Bob’s
comments!!!
michael,
first, i do not slam every haiku, tinywords publishes.
secondly, there might not be anything i like, which is indeed my prerogative.
fourthly, i give anyone the opportunity of “commenting” on anything i say or write; my posting is a good place to start; by the way if you search around you will see some of my work.
fifthly, private conversations do not have privy on privacy, have you forgotten, the initial birth was in public; any response, if it is worthy, should be able to be made publicly. if todd feels better sending me e-mails to vent, that’s his prerogative, but expect me to stay public initially, which is my prerogative. i will “not” respond back and forth about feelings being hurt, but i will address any comment in response to my initial postings. once bickering ensues, i will keep it private, as todd well knows by now.
michael, when we are being taught how to read, there was never a lesson that stated you had to read everything
i am trying to comprehend todd’s moment.
first line:
“dog day afternoon”
hot, doubly hot, since dog days are the hottest days, technically, of the year.
midsummer heat, about july 3rd to about august 11th
the time of the year, when the dog star, sirius, rise and set with the sun
a hot time, i’m assuming, to be cutting grass
“a grasshopper jumps”
plausible, though in my years of southern living, all is at rest, even dogs refuse to bark at intruders
“in front of the lawn-mower”
regardless of mowing the yard, or the mower at rest, a grasshopper could be found in front of one
regardless, “without regards to advice”, it’s too hot to be fooling around with the mower, even viewing one, while in passing
the thoughts that come rushing to mind, totally unwound, on a weekend
the piece reads akin to a sentence
try this:
dog day afternoon
a grasshopper
mower causes it to jump
todd has made my day.
and in response to his e-mail, my response:
7/14/03
good morning todd,
no one is forcing you to read my comments, though i sense you are taking the time to read them, even skimming them.
regardless of what you write, apparently, it is evident, you feel it is not worthy enough to withstand “my” criticism; the first sign of a weakness.
however, i appreciate your taking the time to write me.
i am amazed at how some think themselves a master of what, i am at a lost.
rather than respond childishly, respond with sound argument to expose my posting for what you think they are, “Your posts are tedious, nonsensical and as interesting as junkyard carpet, in need of a rest”, i believe these were your word.
please, feel free to correct me if i have erred.
sincerely(i think)
bob richardson
in the grass behind me
flap-flapping
half a butterfly
email
i do believe the sun has gotten to norman…
Dual comment:
Bob, must you slam every haiku that Tiny
Words posts? Could we try a different game for
awhile? How about you post some of your haiku,
and let the readers comment on them.
Todd, even though your comment to Bob was in
private – at least until he chose to make it
public, you were still wrong: the junkyard
carpet would be much more interesting than Bob’s
comments!!!
michael,
first, i do not slam every haiku, tinywords publishes.
secondly, there might not be anything i like, which is indeed my prerogative.
fourthly, i give anyone the opportunity of “commenting” on anything i say or write; my posting is a good place to start; by the way if you search around you will see some of my work.
fifthly, private conversations do not have privy on privacy, have you forgotten, the initial birth was in public; any response, if it is worthy, should be able to be made publicly. if todd feels better sending me e-mails to vent, that’s his prerogative, but expect me to stay public initially, which is my prerogative. i will “not” respond back and forth about feelings being hurt, but i will address any comment in response to my initial postings. once bickering ensues, i will keep it private, as todd well knows by now.
michael, when we are being taught how to read, there was never a lesson that stated you had to read everything
there’s more
last part of two parts series….
michael, i trust you feel better at this juncture, if not, e-mail me, because at this point we have steered away from the haiku.
hmmm, michael, here’s a haiku for you.
the ghetto
a pale flower…
struggles in the crack
michael, you knew you’d get a response, right.
soccer betting
his wish that
his country would lose
early, summer afternoon –
thunderheads exploding
the cooling rain
–
Break-time –
a grasshoper examines
the lawn-mower’s teeth
flock of seafowls …
early january evening
slice the sun
–