Thursday, January 21, 2010

Tantrums


El Nino,
the sleepy little boy,
is awaking from his
long nap.

His
wailing winds
blast high speeds across
Cal-i-for-ni-a.

His
tears rain
down soaking
parched land.

His
diaper, full from
floods and brown,
sludgy mudslides, reeks.

He
throws tantrum
after stormy tantrum
until finally spent,
he's, hopefully, put
our years of drought
behind us.


Friday Flash Fiction 55: tell a story in EXACTLY 55 words. Go see g-man on Friday to give it a try or read more.

61 comments:

ratatouille's archives said...

Hi! Ronda,
Your post title..."Tantrums
sums up El Nino perfectly.
I especially, like your use of the words...His, His, His and He and the effect(s) that "he" is leaving behind.
Thanks, for sharing!
Happy, Theme Thursday!
DeeDee

Brian Miller said...

dang that was good. the lines about his diaper...gave me nightmares of earlier days with little boys...

DUTA said...

Very nicely structered little poem, and lovely imagery of the windy awaking little boy, tears raining down, muddy diapers...

The last stanza which is the largest of the five stanzas, conveys the message: El Nino, the bad boy who sends winds, rain, and storms is also the savior who "has hopefully put years of drought behind us".

Leah said...

This is great, Ronda. I love the imagery.

Candie said...

Really cool Ronda!Nice one!Hope you're having a nice day!Sending you lot of love!

Megan said...

Nicely done. The diaper especially! Ha!

Ronda Laveen said...

DeeDee: I'm glad you like the title. For the last week, tantrums feel exactly like what El Nino has been hurling our way.

Brian: I'll bet the diaper line did give you nightmares about the early days with your boys. Life is messy, yes?

DUTA: Exactly right! El Nino, despite acting like a brat right now, is giving us exactly what we need. We will tolerate his naughty behavior.

Leah: Thanks, Freedom Queen.

Candie: Love to you too, oh inspired one.

Megan: You know the diaper line was just for you and your So-Cal mudslides.

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

Just watching the news saying more rain for you. BOY...that is a lot of rain!!!


Thanks for your sweet comment...I guess I kindof AM working on my dream huh?

CiCi said...

Awesome writing, Ronda! Would it be okay if I copy this to send to my kids in California? I so like this. We have been keeping a close watch on the weather news online for LA and Orange Counties as well as San Diego. Hugs.

Ronda Laveen said...

Jill: Yes, more rain for us which is good but I hope that it comes gently now. Seems like El Nino has a point to make:-)

And you are DEFINITELY working on your dream!!

TechnoBabe: Yes! Feel free to send this to your kids. I hope the aren't near any of the areas in danger of mudslides or flooding. I'll keep holding for their safety.

CiCi said...

Ronda, thanks for the permission. I emailed the poem to family in CA. Take care.

Mike said...

I have heard about people refusing to evacuate even though they are in danger of getting buried in a mud slide. That was a great 55.

Ronda Laveen said...

Otin: I know what you mean. I know I wouldn't want to lose my house but I'm not gonna win against a massive mudslide.

inappropriatesue said...

I love the idea of a storm being like a kid having a tantrum. Great 55! I'm up too right HERE

♥ Boomer ♥ said...

Great 55! And I've heard it's terrible in California.

G-Man said...

Mud slides DO kinda remind me of Diaper Doo!!
Excellent 55 Ronda.
Real Life is always the best inspiration!
Thanks for playing FRIDAY Flash 55, and have a Kick Ass Week-End!

Maude Lynn said...

Now, that is some imagery!

smarmoofus said...

Wow, so timely and topical! Well done! Is it settling down out there?

-smarmoofus

Ronda Laveen said...

Susan: that is so what all those storms felt like--a kid kicking and screaming and pounding his fists on the floor.

Boomer: It has been quite a wild ride. The big storms are in southern California and I'm at the top about an hour and a half from the Oregon border.

G-man: It is my pleasure to play this most excellent word game. You have a kick ass weekend too!

MamaZen: All I had to do to capture the imagery was look out the window.

Smarmoofus: The storms are settling a little bit. Just having regular rain right now not the torrents we were getting. Heard the weekend might be okay but more rain on the way.

mouse (aka kimy) said...

I can just sense all those aquifers charging up

geez sometimes when it rains it pours

wonderful word weaving

Ronda Laveen said...

Hi Mouse: you are right about those aquafiers revving up. And, it is definitely pouring.

clean and crazy said...

perfectly written 55!! i lived in California when i was a kid and i remember not being able to flush the toilets, they told us in the news not to in order to conserve water.

i have a ton of family there and i hope they are all well.

great 55!! thanks for stopping by

Ronda Laveen said...

Clean and Crazy: Ahh, so you know about not flushing the toilet during a drought. I hope your family is all right too!

Janna said...

I like it!
And I agree with the people who've said that the diaper lines were great. :)

Thanks for doing Friday 55!
You can read mine right here.

Alice Audrey said...

Mother nature's tantrums can be real scary.

Dianne said...

I love it, and especially the analogy to the muddy diapers

thanks for visiting my site!

Ronda Laveen said...

Janna: I've read you many times on VE's site and I've visted yours on many occasions. Welcome. Glad you liked that line. I was at your site earlier and your FF55 wasn't up yet. I'll be right over.

Audrey: You are right about Mother Nature's tantrums being scary. She has been pitching a fit and has her kid, El Nino, all upset.

Dianne: It was my pleaseure to visit your blog. Welcome.

Joanna Jenkins said...

Great job Rhonda. You captured our weather perfectly.

Stay dry and warm.
xo

SandyCarlson said...

Well done. You have created a wonderful myth here.

Dave King said...

A great little poem, and very apt for the present time. I thought the lineation was inspired.

Hootin Anni said...

El Nino was good for us during the hurricane season...but NOT nice during the winter...we've been freezing our toochies off here in South Texas.

Loved your 55.

My 55 is HERE, scroll below my show n tell stuff.

Happy Friday.

One Prayer Girl said...

Welcome to my blog. Thank you so much for leaving a comment. It gave me a chance to meet a new blogger. I love meeting new people when they comment or become followers.

I loved your 55. I like reading and writing poetry. This was really a good read. Thanks.

PG

Gemel said...

Ronda,
Great post
Fab pics
Thank you x

Dorraine said...

Oh, yes, I remember muddy brown diapers! Great analogy, Ronda. Your poem conjured up all kinds of images. Great job. I hope you see Mr. Sun very soon. :-)

JGH said...

El nino as a bratty little boy! I love it. Glad you were able to find something good in all those tantrums.

Susan at Stony River said...

OMG El Nino's diaper ROFL! You give him such life in this!

Ms Hen's said...

Wow... I love how you a 'play on words' diaper..too.

Very interesting..

And thanks for visiting my first 55.. this is fun.

Michael said...

Well tht is a good way to look at all those rains--ending the drought. It is incredible, isn't it? hope you get through it all ok enough.

Nikki (Sarah) said...

Rhonda...this is excellent...It expresses the fury and necessity of El Nino

Fandango said...

WE dragons think this is a great description of California weather. In this case 55 words beats a hundred pictures.

Dr.John said...

I guess our snow is better than mud slides.
Great 55

Monkey Man said...

What a wonderfulo analogy....in 55. My 55 is HERE.

Baino said...

Lovely schmubly rain! I wish. Our yard is brown, the magpies are gasping in the heat, the flies are sticking to the ceiling . . . I know you've had a helluva storm over there but boy do we need one or two here. Your turn for El Ninio this year, we're having a year off but it's so, so dry.

Unknown said...

I think that baby paid me a visit this morning.


Mine is up Here

C.M. Jackson said...

ronda-thanks for stopping by--I felt the wind and the rain--here's hoping the sun shines soon-c

Anonymous said...

A great 55... I am working on being clever enough or babbling less so that I can join!

Reya Mellicker said...

Everyday weather in California is pretty much the same year to year, but when El Nino gets cranking, wow, the weather becomes extreme!

Hope you're staying warm and dry.

Ronda Laveen said...

Joanna: Hope you are not in a slide area.

Sandy: Wow, I have? I created a myth? Hmmm...now I have to continue on with it.

Dave: That is high praise from you. I am deeply honored.

Hootin' Anni: I know, that pesky little boy can sure wreck havoc with us mere mortals.

Prayer Girl: I very much enjoyed reading your work. My pleasure entirely.

Gemel: Glad you enjoyed and your treatment table is positively inspired.

Dorraine: Praise from you about my imagery is like getting Free Ice Cream. Hmmm...where did I get that idea?

JGH: Even though all the rain causes problems, we really do welcome it and continue to do the dance.

Ronda Laveen said...

Susan (Stony River): I can almost see that little bratty boy throwing his toys around.

Ms Hen: This is only my second 55. It is quite addicting. You did very well on your first showing.

Mmm: We are okay so far. We are through the worst of it...I think!

Sarah: Thank you so much!

Fandango: Saying that 55 words beats a 100 pictures means a lot to me. Thanks.

DrJohn: Yes, I do believe your snow is better than the mudslides.

MonkeyMan: You are very literate for a monkey. Thanks.

Baino: I'm sending energy for a cool day your way.

Nara: I hope you didn't have to change his dippy.

CM Jackson: We were supposed to have rain today. We saw it yesterday for about 15 minutes and more rain today.

Eternally: Give it a go. Try writing 55 about your parrot. I'll bet it will be quite good.

Reya: You are so right about our staid California weather gettin' tossed about when El Nino shakes his rattle. Still waiting for the warm and the dry but, you know Cali, it won't be long before we are sweatin' bullets.

Ze O said...

Love your poem, Ronda!
Great metaphor.
Haha about the diaper. Pew! :P

This Blog Of Mine said...

El nino has been a nasty little boy. I like the Flash 55 you posted I like your style of writing. I look forward to reading you again.


Woman Called Rose

Ronda Laveen said...

Christina: Stinky diddy, yes? Not to mention the stinky little rocky nuggets.

TBOM: Thank you very much. I'll stop by your site with a welcome gift.

lettuce said...

oh this is so well done - great one!
and i love the shopping trolley photo especially

tony said...

Lord! I've Been There!!!!!

Evening Light Writer said...

I've seen some major tantrums at the library. Litle faces all scrunched up and red, wailing with anger looking like newborns that have just been delivered. Usually a parent will drag them out their cries disturbing the library. Or, someone will lift them onto their shoulders and carry them out still crying. El Nino, what a naughty boy!

Ronda Laveen said...

Lettuce: Thanks! I really liked the picture of the cart wheel deep in water. I felt like getting in to ride to the car but no one to push me.

Tony: I'll bet you have been there! I read the post where you were flooded the concert.

Mindy: Oh, I can just imagine all those tantrums you get to see at the library. Your despription was classic!

Tom said...

oh, is this the year of el nino again? Wet wet wet!

Mrsupole said...

Great little El Nino poem, and even though my brakes almost went out last week when I had to keep driving through flooded streets when picking up my grandson, we were still saying that we are so thankful for this rain. I think that there have never been so many people that are so thankful for some tantrums. I truly hope this naughty boy keeps having at least one tantrum a week for a few more months. We need the rain so much, although a lighter tantrum would be a little lighter.

You are doing great with these 55's.

God bless.

Ronda Laveen said...

Tom: Yes. But rather than El Nino again, it is more like, El Nino...finally!

Sherry: I was thinking about you with all that rain down there. Some how we have be all right with now flooding...at least in Redding. Shasta and Whiskeytown Lakes are just so thirsty as is the mighty Sacramento river.

Ronda Laveen said...

Sherry: I forgot to add that Siskiyou county to the north, near Mt. Shasta, has been declared a disaster area.

KB said...

I llve this post. I was expecting something totally different from the title.