Can You Do It In A Minute?

I recently stumbled upon In Posse Review’s website (figure of speech, I didn’t really stumble and I’m okay. Thank you for your concern). They have a call for submissions for their theater issue for one-minute works. Plays, short stories, essays or poetry; anything goes as long as it can be read in one minute. I thought I’d pass it along in case you read this and think it might be fun.

From their website:

“We like to publish: inventive, imaginative work by writers are well-acquainted with the craft of their genre. We encourage you to take risks and walk to the edges.”

That pretty much rules me out since I’m not a risk taker and prefer to stay away from edges of any type. Although when I was a kid I used to have this really neat toy that I liked a lot called an Edge-A-Sketch. I also like scrambled edge (with ketchup) and I’m in favor of everyone getting an edgeacation. So maybe I’m not so negedgeative after all? Hmm…

Have fun!

Today is December 19th and it was on this day that President Bill Clinton became only the second United States president to be impeached. Today is also the birthday of singer/songwriter Phil Ochs who would have been 71 today.

Today is also Monday which means it’s time again for Monday’s Music Moves Me which is a fun, weekly, music-themed blog hop. Click on the icon below and that will take you to Dolly’s host site where you can check out the other entries for today and add one of your own if you’re so inclined.

Here is a Christmas song that Phil Ochs wrote back in the early to mid 1960’s. It’s interesting how relevant the song still is today. The lyrics are copied below the song.

Christmas shoppers shopping on a neon city street.
Another Christmas dollar for another Christmas treat.
There’s satin on the pretty dolls that make the children glow,
while a boy walking ragged in the cold Kentucky snow.

CHORUS:
No, they don’t have Christmas in Kentucky.
There’s no holly on a West Virginia door.
For the trees don’t twinkle when you’re hungry,
and the Jingle Bells don’t jingle when you’re poor.

There’s lots of toys for children when then Christmas time is near,
but the present for the miners is a stocking full of beer.
In the dark hills of Kentucky there’s one gift that may be found,
the coal dust of forgotten days that’s lying on the ground.

CHORUS:
No, they don’t have Christmas in Kentucky.
There’s no holly on a West Virginia door.
For the trees don’t twinkle when you’re hungry.
and the Jingle Bells don’t jingle when you’re poor.

Let’s drink a toast to Congress and a toast to Santa Claus
and a toast to all the speeches that bring the loud applause.
There’s not enough to give, no, there’s not enough to share.
So let’s drown the sounds of sorrow with a hearty Christmas cheer.

CHORUS:
No, they don’t have Christmas in Kentucky.
There’s no holly on a West Virginia door.
For the trees don’t twinkle when you’re hungry,
and the Jingle Bells don’t jingle when you’re poor.

Have a merry, merry Christmas and a happy new year’s day,
for now’s a time of plenty, and plenty’s here to stay.
But if you knew what Christmas was, I think that you would find
that Christ is spending Christmas in the cold Kentucky mine.

CHORUS:
No, they don’t have Christmas in Kentucky.
There’s no holly on a West Virginia door.
For the trees don’t twinkle when you’re hungry,
and the Jingle Bells don’t jingle when you’re poor.

“No Christmas in Kentucky” by Phil Ochs
Lyrics reprinted without permission and with no intention of violating any rights or laws and will be removed upon request.