What Happened One Night In My Attic Studio As I Started Writing A Poem About a Rabbit Playing Tennis
Poetry | Posted by Jannie on 1 August 2010 @ 11:08 PM 36 Comments
I started writing a poem about a rabbit playing tennis
when suddenly Morgan Freeman and Charlton Heston
and Meryl Streep were taking turns reading my poem
out loud as cherry blossoms began snowing from my
hair onto what had just been my old blue sweatpants,
but were now a pair of purple satin vintage palazzos.
Then autumn leaves began swirling around what mere
moments before had been my chair but was now a gold
and mahogany bicycle sailing me through the dining room
of the Hearst Castle. I blinked and the bike changed into
a gondola being steered by The Pioneer Woman through a
field of California poppies where little mice dressed in ball
caps and togas were dancing jigs and singing “Hey Jude.”
Just when I thought the night couldn’t get any weirder, the
gondola turned back into my chair and I was flung by the
wind to the top of a pine tree overlooking a fancy French
street cafe where people were either throwing pastries at
each other or playing violins made out of recycled canoes.
I blinked again and my chair fell out of the tree and into a
tornado spinning westwards across the ocean and finally
home through my attic window. Boy, was I glad to be back
safe and sound in my little garrett, with Blue Bunny at his
laptop eating apple pie and surfing some tennis gear sites.
Quite a night, eh? I guess we all have ones like that now and then, right? Or was it all just a dream? Hmn, I do wonder.
Posted with love and such,
Jannie
xoxoxo
P.S. I have not been surfing blogs lately as much as I’d dearly love to – I’ve been putting my nose to the grindstone on songs. But know that I am thinking about you all, and missing you!!
(Washington cherry blossoms photo via Wikimedia Commons, user Bossi)
On 2 August 2010 at 1:53 am desk49/Ellis Moore said,
You’re right the last time I took a trip like that I stop taking drugs. That was 42 years ago. That third slice of anchovy, pineapple pizza with extra jalapenos was too much.
Did I understand right?
A rabbit fall
Some tennis ball
And Stars all around
Blossoms rain
Pants that change
Your poem read out loud
Leaves that spun
A golden bicycle run
Mice singing and dancing away
A chair flue
French men threw
Fine pastries that day
The wind whirled
A bunny curled
A computer on his lap did lie
Yes that was quite a day
.-= desk49/Ellis Moore´s last blog ..Off to War and Back Again- =-.
On 2 August 2010 at 6:41 am Mandy said,
Jannie,
Wow, that was quite a night! Loved reading it, though. I come to you via Blog Frog. Glad to discover your blog.
On 2 August 2010 at 9:15 am Lynn said,
I like that your dream had a blogger in it.
Fun.
On 2 August 2010 at 10:45 am LL Cool Joe said,
I don’t dream very often at all, or if I do I don’t remember them, but when I do they often feature bloggers!
.-= LL Cool Joe´s last blog ..Why do you answer every question with another one =-.
On 2 August 2010 at 12:09 pm Glenn Buttkus said,
A rabbit playing tennis is no stranger than a March Hare
playing croquet, right? BB looks very studly in his head
band and tennis togs. I doubt that this adventure was
a dream. Considering you were up late, and Big Jim and
little Pea were asleep, it was just a Funster moment run
amok. I love the loose flow of it, that your imagination
knows, and does not respect, boundaries. I posted it
PDQ with a great image of Hearst Castle over it.
It was a terrific way to start my day, mixing poetry,
bunnies, sports, literature, movie stars, animation,
the seasons, poppies, Venice and California, cycling,
French pastry chefs, and canoes. What more could
a Funster follower ever crave right after breakfast.
Kelly will get a charge out of this adventure, for sure.
Waitaminute, suddenly my office filled with red
light, then orange rays ran rampant, and I could
hear the hot hiss of golden shards slicing their
way through the gray mist that lay heavy on
my back yard, just past my deck, out the window,
where I do see Julia Roberts in a bikini serving
cocktails to Tiny Tim, Prince, and Michael Jackson,
while Cirque Du Soleil is dropping down on red
velvet ropes doing incredible twists and flips
and twirls, and President Obama is standing
on my garage roof playing a cello and wearing
a cowboy hat, while a battalion of ravens has
appeared darkening the horizon, and they are
singing God Bless America as the Blue Angels
make a pass over and Robin Redbreast is perched
on a deck post giving a lecture on quantum physics,
and Woody Allen is sitting in a beach chair in our
tomato garden playing his clarinet, and the
unmistakable strains of I NEED A MAN come
wafting in the wind, as a wagon train passes,
their canvas flapping, led by Billy Graham riding
a white donkey that is wearing red plumes,
moving parallel to a caravan of llamas and camels
laden with old computers and large screen tv’s
lumbers by, all scattered by two black Ops
helicopters hovering over the alley, and black
suited dudes are slipping down dark ropes,
with rifles on their backs led by Bette Midler
who is leading George Bush Jr. on a lease, as
he chafes against his green fur collar with
Lassie nipping at his heels, followed by Zorro
on a Honda black gullwing with a whip antenna,
and 37 leprechauns are standing on the right side
of my house pointing to three rainbows, all of which
end up touching our new 2011 Camry Hyrid with
its blue whisper paintjob, and 9 pizza makers are
running past flipping pizza dough high into the
air, which morphs into bluebirds that are all
carrying roses in their beaks, roses of all colors,
flying straight up the curve to the rainbows and
disappearing between blue and red, while a
Washington State Super Ferry streaks across
the horizon, its fog horns blearing, lit up like
a Christmas tree, harmonizing with the Mormon
Tabernacle Choir singing another Funster hit,
while JFK shows up on the roof next to Barrack,
and he is wearing a hula skirt and Grateful Dead
tee shirt as he yells, “Ich bin ein Funster follower!”
just as Venus and Mars begin to fill up the whole
sky, and Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams begin to erupt,
and fire lava shoots ten miles into the sky, as
blue bunny stuffs three karrits in his maw
and claps like a covey of quail.
.-= Glenn Buttkus´s last blog ..What Happened One Night In My Attic Studio As I Started Writing A Poem About a Rabbit Playing Tennis =-.
On 2 August 2010 at 12:44 pm Jannie said,
Dearest Desk 49. Nope, no substances — just an overactive mind I guess.
And I just LOVE your poem. A+++ for amazing skill on that one! BRAVO on that,a masterpiece!!!!! So happy you share your talent. Thank you loads, bushels and pecks.
Dearest Mandy — and I am so glad, pleased, surprised, humbled and happy that YOU came on over. I shall never forget this day you landed here. It was quite a night indeed. My favorite part was the Hearst Castle. I did see that dining room in 1994.
Dearest Lynn of the babbling brook, I dreamed about you once, about a day or 3 before I called you on the phone that time. You and I were selling flowers under a San Antonio overpass. Weird. But wonderful!
Dearest LLCoolJoe — pray do TELL on those blogger dreams. Who? Where?
What kinds of dreams? Are you all wearing bling? This curious mind would LOVE to know. Maybe you’ll do a post?
Dearest Glenn — really? You posted this shenannigans over at Batman Land? How fun! Have you been to the Hearst Castle? I read part of it to Kelly and she just rolled her eyes and said it should’ve been recycled pencils — not canoes.
And Holy Cow — I LOVED your sudden poem. Woody Allen sometimes plays clarinet in Kelly’s tree house!!! 
Gotta go! Would you believe Mister Jim will actually have me working with him at The Car Barn in about an hour? Yep. Who knew?
xxxoxoooxo
On 2 August 2010 at 12:59 pm SuziCate said,
Dreams are sooooo crazy sometimes, where would we find the energy to keep up if they were real?!
.-= SuziCate´s last blog ..Not Exactly Musical- But I’ll Toot My Horn AnyWay! =-.
On 2 August 2010 at 2:04 pm Carla said,
That’s quite the adventure. Lot’s of food for fodder there. I love the picture of the cherry blossoms too.
On 2 August 2010 at 2:51 pm Evita said,
Hi Jannie
Oh that photo! Those blossoms are just heavenly! I would love to have a garden full of these trees!!!!
As for your night, WOW! that was something… isn’t life fun when we have all of these awesome adventures!!!
P.S. I saw your comment on Lance’s on the Smile video…. yes, that was me Jannie
wow, I felt so special that you noticed… and I was in our house that we are building out in the wild and natural parts of yours truly Canada 
.-= Evita´s last blog ..Evolving Being in Action- Kaushik Chokshi =-.
On 2 August 2010 at 4:07 pm Paige said,
how lovery! so full of just the funnest of stuff.
did I tell you about the time Beloved dreamed of a blue horse? hum I think I wrote a poem about it. maybe it’s on my blog some wheres…the poem not the blue horse, silly
hugs to Slim Jim, Swann Kelly, Busy Bunny and be sure to hug yourself too
I love the falling hair blooms
.-= Paige´s last blog ..Want my 2 cents =-.
On 2 August 2010 at 4:28 pm debbie said,
I have heard some violins that I thought would be better off as canoes. But never the other way around.
On 2 August 2010 at 5:24 pm Megan "JoyGirl!" Bord said,
I love how your mind works, and that you share such creativity with all of us. I was right there with you, and especially loved the idea of being near a pastry-throwing party!
Love to you!
On 2 August 2010 at 5:24 pm sheila said,
Super weird dream, lol…..SUPER AWESOME PHOTO!
On 2 August 2010 at 6:31 pm Alice Audrey said,
Songs have to come first. That’s just the way it is.
I’m amazed you could remember all that when you woke up.
On 2 August 2010 at 6:37 pm Jannie said,
Dearest Suzicate. Hello and a hearty welcome back to BB and my humble corner of blog land. I sure would be in good shape if I did all I do in my dreams IRL. All that magical bicycle riding and tornado spinning and such!
Dearest Carla. My esteemed honor to have you grace me with a comment yet again. Aside of one tree on my aunt’s property, I have never seen other cherry blossoms, and I would so dearly love to, they seem so so magical. I bet you have lots of cherry trees in your gorgeous valley?
Dearest Evita. How thrilled I am to once again find you in my funsterment midst! Yes, I want to go to Washington in spring to witness all those blossoms for myself!! Ah, how awesome — it WAS you smiling on the Levity video. And building a house in the wild wonderment of Canada — that is so so super-great-awesome!! When will you be moving in?
Dearest Paige who enlightens my site with each visit, welcome! yes indeed I do remember a blue horse poem over in yonder paradise valley to hell’s apex. He was playing a banjo top Gregorian chants, I believe? Ooooffffff. There just hugged the stuffing out of myself for you. Thanks!!
Dearest Debbie from the fair mountain hills — you made me snort my decaf out my nose at that. Reminds me of “the piccolo player in church” joke. You know that one? It has a naughty word repeated in it, but is indeed a classic.
My Dearest Fair Megan of jogging 3 to 6 miles a day, and always looking so fabulous while doing so… I am only too eager to share these snippets that might amuse and divert you dear people for a minute or two from the reality of your non-dreaming state. Such is my mission for now, anyway.
My Dearest Sheila who is now ON FIRE over at Startup Nation!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, I so want to dive into those cherry blossoms. I wonder if they smell good? Must Google. Won’t plan a visit to D.C if they stink.
Dearest Alice Audrey who does keep me in line and welcomely and blessedly so on that… I am at the library at the moment, releasing my mind from the rigors of tunesmithing. I think I shall fling myself to the hills of Capistrano or Cork to find my missing 2 lines of lyric. Or maybe just go to Starbucks and let my mind wander. ALWAYS a highlight to see you here. Thanks!
xoxoxoxoxo
xoxoxo
On 2 August 2010 at 7:02 pm Emmanuel Ibok said,
Beautiful and creative thought. I enjoyed the read.
Have a super August and a fulfilled week.
Cheers!
.-= Emmanuel Ibok´s last blog ..5 seconds out of time =-.
On 2 August 2010 at 8:50 pm Jingle said,
Dear Jannie,
you are rocking the blogging world with your poetry, very productive and poetic…
wow,
where did you get the inspirations?
you truly impress me…
love pink cheery blossom trees.
very precious piece here.
On 2 August 2010 at 8:55 pm Jingle said,
I blinked again and my chair fell out of the tree and into a
tornado spinning westwards across the ocean and finally
home through my attic window. Boy, was I glad to be back
safe and sound in my little garrets, with Blue Bunny at his
laptop eating apple pie and surfing some tennis gear sites.
look at those lines,
you are flying with beautiful imaginations…
your talent is unbeatable.
I recall that you used to promote Talon,
you are the reason i started noticing her and begin to follow her.
wow,
now,
you are beating her, poetry, short stories, humor, personal life, song writing…
u r the queen in my eyes.
cheers,
dear!
xoxo
On 2 August 2010 at 8:55 pm Liara Covert said,
One perspective is the essence of being is you, is also the functioning beings all around you. Everything in form is a mirror, a portal of the deeper soul. Whomever created each perceived person, object or idea, it comes out of that consciousness, and you are invited to see the formless reflected through the light. There is always more than what the physical senses register in the mind.
.-= Liara Covert´s last blog ..Celebrate your rough edges =-.
On 2 August 2010 at 9:36 pm Jannie said,
My Dearest Emmanuel, what a delight to have your shining presence gracing my page again Thank you for your comment! Was this a crazy post, or what!?
I am so silly. But happy at your enjoyment.
My Dearest Magical Jingle who brings me so much joy in life, I mostly get my inspriations from things that pop int my head. And sometimes I buy them in the coffee aisle at the local H.E.B. You remember H.E.B. right, Miss Lamar Boulevard Former Dweller??
Yes, Talon’s button had to go bye-bye today, as yours will when it’s been up 21 days. But…. will reappear in a spectacular recap post of the 21 buttons. Ahh, Talon — she has been the wind beneath my wings, a beautiful, kind, sweet loyal friend — like YOU!! You are both my queens Can I REALLY be this lucky?? And hey, I must do another dream-poem like this one! Keep the fun rockin’! 
My Dearest Liara, I have almost no idea what you said exactly in the first part of your comment, so forgive me as I continue to broaden my perception. And realize I love you to pieces — you highly functioning being you, and I so enjoy your posts at Dream Builders. I am ever thankful for your prolific thoughts that inspire and guide me. The formless through the light, the formless through the light. Seeing the formless through the light. Lovely!!
xoxoxoxoxoxo
On 2 August 2010 at 9:42 pm Tony Single said,
Dear Jannie,
I would very much appreciate it if you were to gift me with the kind of dream that you have relayed on this here blog. I put in a special order for a guest appearance by Morgan Freeman. He rocks!
Yours sincerely,
Tony Single
PS: I have been good all year (so far)
On 2 August 2010 at 10:11 pm Patricia said,
Oh I love to watch tennis and I so enjoyed the recounting of your travels….
Did you sell any cars?
Keep on singing and working on those songs….big time…big time…
On 2 August 2010 at 10:13 pm Daisy said,
Oh my goodness, that picture is amazing!! So pretty! As for the dream…at least I hope it was a dream, perhaps you had too much pizza late at night. That happens to me sometimes. HA HA! Have a good week, Jannie! Hugs from Daisy.
.-= Daisy´s last blog ..Monday Birthday Photo Meme =-.
On 2 August 2010 at 11:28 pm Rose said,
Quite a night indeed. It’s funny where both dreams & poetry can take us. Loved the photo.
On 3 August 2010 at 8:42 am SnaggleTooth said,
Such pretty blossoms in the larger format.
Such a wild n diverse poem! I especially enjoyed the audio-visual of mice in togas dancing jigs to Hey Jude… what a strange combo-
.-= SnaggleTooth´s last blog ..Kayak =-.
On 3 August 2010 at 11:01 am Alice Audrey said,
That’s the thing about the creative process, it’s sometimes hard to tell when the creator is hard at work. I keep telling my husband that laying down is part of my process. He doesn’t argue, but I’m not sure he believes me.
On 3 August 2010 at 12:33 pm Mama Zen said,
Ask your doctor if Haldol is right for you!
.-= Mama Zen´s last blog ..Review- Through The Triangle =-.
On 3 August 2010 at 2:15 pm william said,
oo sounds worrying dear, hope u get it sorted out xx great pic
.-= william´s last blog ..DAILY POEM INN OF HAPPINESS PART 29 =-.
On 3 August 2010 at 6:29 pm brian said,
haha. brilliant…i would love charleton heston to read one of my poems…hope blue bunny has fun playing tennis…
.-= brian´s last blog ..160 – beyond yesterdays =-.
On 3 August 2010 at 10:53 pm Jannie said,
Dearest Tony, Dream order shipped today, FEdEx. Morgan says he’s a bit tied up at the moment but he says Rob Reiner is available for poetry readings after April 15th 2012. Will that work? So you’ve been good for Santa?
Dearest Patricia, the famine has been held at bay for while again by my car guy, yes. Steak tonight. Macaroni for a couple weeks past. Do you take in any live tennis, or watch it on tv? I never got into the sport after Billie Jean King retired.
Dearest Daisy — now that you menion it and I think back, there may have been a bit too much Haagen Dazs consumption in my attic garret that night. with lots of whipped cream and chocolate fudge, candied pecans, and caramel too! Hugs right back at ya, Sweetie!
Dearest Rose — you got it! A dream poem. Or maybe a poem dream?
Dearest Snaggle — yes, the mice were singing a very fast rendition of Hey Jude, most interesting I thought.
Such sweet little voices in harmony.
Dearest Alice Audrey — you mean laying down as in reposing? Reclining? Resting up? Hmmn, I sang a bit on it while walking the dogs tonight. maybe I ought to just lie down and see what comes up.
Dearest Mama Zen, Haldol, even the way that sounds is slow and mellow. Something like a lude maybe. But I’d have to Google it.
Dearest William, peaceful normal dreams last night — of me making pumpkin scones in my railroad pyjamas — quiet stuff.
Dearest Brian, I think that Charlton Heston idea must’ve come from watching Wayne’s World 1 again a week or so ago.
Ahhhh, it is late. Where’s my chocolate?
xoxoxo
On 3 August 2010 at 11:30 pm Patricia said,
I love watching my kiddo play tennis and play the piano – it is like prayer in action….but she has let go of both activities at this point in her life – makes me sad, sad….I like to go over to the High School and watch the matches – very fun and like the kids at play energy
On 5 August 2010 at 2:21 pm Hilary said,
Hi Jannie – befores I gets to your one night … I tink you needs to go here soon .. wedgie blues seem to be playing …http://bloggingwithoutablog.com/one-blog-title-52-ways/
But you must get across to Barbara .. essential reading & perhaps ideas …
Now to business of one night – only one night?! Hey boy am I glad BB was there to welcome you back – what a night of travel and dashing about …
Devise those songs well … have fun .. love Hilree ..xoxoxo
PS BB – Hardwick visits Mum in hospital .. I don’t want him travelling too far – like to the laundry never to return ..
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Could this be a sitcom – or a break out sitcom Ever had a one word – at a time – conversation Fish and Chips – how do you spell it =-.
On 5 August 2010 at 8:01 pm Jannie said,
Dearest Patricia, it is so lovely your daughter has those 2 great skills / arts under her belt. I am sure she will draw from them again later in life. It is amazing how the good stuff comes back. Just trust it will. Do you find it hard on the neck to keep swinging your head back and forth to watch the ball going to and fro?
My Dearest Hilary, I see BB answered your comment on the other post. Oh, thanks for the tip on Barbara’s blog! I have been so busy of late and not reading all my favorite blogs as I’d like to. Yes, keep tabs on precious Hardwick. How far from hospital to your place? So WONDERFUL to see you, as usual!!
xoxoxoxoxo
On 7 August 2010 at 10:07 pm J.D. Meier said,
At least you didn’t have the noodle dream.
Good job focusing on your priority — your songs won’t write themselves and only you can write your songs the way you do — it’s your unique value to the world.
.-= J.D. Meier´s last blog ..Day 6 – Friday Reflection – Identify Three Things Going Well and Three Things to Improve =-.
On 7 August 2010 at 11:57 pm Davina said,
Jannie, this is SO neat! I love it. Your imagination is delightful and your dreams are just as amazing. “people were either throwing pastries at
each other or playing violins made out of recycled canoes.” This is so out there, it makes me think of the movie Alice and Wonderland.
On 9 August 2010 at 5:02 pm Jannie said,
Thanks J.D. and Davina!! You are both deers. And dears!!!
xoxoxoxo