Surgical Time Travel
Think of it: I’d take that undergraduate geology degree in hydrology, master future underwater technologies, create alternative energies, transform political hot air and raging capitalism into clean fuel. Laffing Gass® makes for geopolitical win-win.
Why stop there? Land in 1920s Europe, step into my great-great-great-grandmother’s Gebhardt-skin, call that rabble rouser out before he could get started in earnest, invent a cream-pie-in-your-eye maniac inverter.
Revert to the Romantic period and publish a masterful scientific theory to put an end to competitive pigeon hunting: They’re spirits guarding-guiding our children’s children. Let the birds fly free.
* * *
My prose poem in response to this week’s Big Tent Poetry prompt. Find others’ responses here.
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Political hot air to clean fuel – now we are dreaming :)
Yes. Yes we are. :-)
what great great ideas! wonderfully imaginative!!
this is how you’ll make your millions: “Laffing Gass® makes for geopolitical win-win.”
I’m so depressed by the Gulf mess I could only fantasize.
:-)
xxoo
I did love the idea of transforming political hot air and raging capitalism into clean fuel. That definitely would solve the energy crisis. I enjoyed your light-hearted poem….though hard, for sure, in the light of the continuing awful Gulf situation.
http://inthecornerofmyeye.blogspot.com/2010/06/tauranga-jet-boat-ride.html
Thanks, Mary. I’m not sure I meant it to be light-hearted, but ironic. :-)
Ah, I’m counting on you! It may all turn out well, then. A fun piece – not easy in this particular Now.
We’re definitely in trouble. But thank you anyway. :-)
Boy Deb this gave me chills with that last line
Well done!
Pamela
Thanks, Pamela.
What an interesting take on this prompt…I love the places you would take yourself! Love your take on Hilter, the “rabble rouser”.
Strange take, to be sure.
I think we used the same concept – turn back time – just that you expressed it so much better than I. I like your drafty. It has a tone of fine irony with a bit of bitter touch…
And I prefer yours. Has beauty to support it. But I’m glad you caught that bit of bitter.
Beautiful prose poem Deb and beautiful last line ‘Let the birds fly free.’
Thank you, Uma.
Go, Deb! Tell ‘em.
Hi Reth.
They’re not listening. But I am glad you are. xxoo
Your descent into the hydrology degree and the underwater energy world and then time-traveling back to Europe in the 1920s in the next paragraph linking (perhaps surgically we’re not sure) with your grandmother and changing the future (how we’re not exactly sure, it’s better that way, a mystery) and in the final paragraph back to the Romantic era, a literary landscape, where pigeons are to be saved by a masterful scientific publication was as breath-taking as it was witty. Superb and Surreal moments!
How you linked such disparate scenarios I’m not sure, it’s a dizzying and daring leap, or should I say leaps, but it works as writing, and works beautifully.
An imaginative tour de force!
You’re much too kind, but thank you!
In revision I will clarify the “surgical” by which I mean to selectively change bits of history — another fantasy on top of fantasy.
You’ve got the kind of dreams I can relate to. I love “cream-pie-in-you-eye maniac inverter” and the last line is perfect.
Thank you, Francis. And for quoting, because I left out the r in your!
Ah, Deb…I know how you feel right now. While I’ve been raging on, you cleverly dip into hot air and outright lies (my paraphrase) to generate something safe for us and for the planet. That would definitely put that side of the fence to good use. Taking me back in time was a nice trick, too…and referring to pigeons rather than to Brown Pelicans or egrets made the poem’s idea stick for me…A poetic and prosaic answer to a problem that I fear has no answer.
Thanks, Linda. I think I am so depressed about it I can’t come up with anything other than absurdity.
I’m not sure I can even write an angry pantoum (what a strange idea that is!)
LOL — thanks for the comedic relief. I tried, and the anger is not evident, but the absurdity within the pantoum is, quite.
I’m a big fan of the absurd & strange. :-) I look forward to reading!
We are definitely in trouble. Is there really hope for our children’s children? Poor birds.
Breaks my heart.