When I read your musing, a quote of Friedrich Nietzsche was the first thought that came to my mind: “You must have chaos inside to give birth to a dancing star. “It’s exactly the chaos, the self doubts, the questions upon questions, the deep reflections at night which give birth to a dancing star of inspirations writings and deep thoughts. Great work, dear Damian!

This is a good piece of musing, Damian.
This is so true
“Timid people constantly read the room

While they study the human psyche “

Amazing piece Damian. Thank you for sharing 🙏

I think it all comes from being wounded too many times. I identify with this very much.

Wonderfully written Damian. Well said. Keep up the great poetry my friend.

Dude, I’m not timid at all and yet I still read a room! I am extremely observant of my surroundings. It’s a crazy world yaknow!
Your write is a crowd of personalities, interesting in each of their ways. The rhyme makes it flow really well. It’s carrying a beat all its own. Well versed Damian.

hello dearest Damian this is excellent I can relate to the searching and lonliness of not being satisfied with pat answers ❤️

It takes so many approaches and responses to survive these days. And not the least of which is temporary retreat and regroup. How do your pieces always seem so relevant to every moment? Prophet, I’m telling you. Keep assembling the pieces of the puzzle, my friend

There’s a real honesty here in the way you weave survival, wisdom, and self‑doubt into one puzzle feels deeply human. The closing admission about chaos being “demanding” hit especially true.🙏🏻🕊️

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Mary. So glad you connected with the write my friend. One of my favorite stanzas as well. Thank you for your continued support my friend, right back at ya. Appreciate you.

Damian

Reminds me of the matrix with the red and blue pill. Either face reality or live in fantasy.

Great ink friend.

Damian you formed this into a great poem of rumination. Very much loved the way this unfolded. So much wisdom in your words. Truly great poem my friend.

John

this is really well written I’m from Cali too ❤️

Unicorns, dragons and plant devas are still among us! But most humans have lost their belief in the magic that dwells all around us. Whenever you spend time in nature, you can feel and smell the Spirit of different plants (their devas) which guide you to their hidden healing properties. It’s the same with unicorns and dragons. We just have to rediscover them and to become aware of the spiritual world. Become like children… I’m serious about it.
Awesome work, dear Curt!

Fantastic!

Kelly
Great write and a bloody great album by Steely Dan.🌻

“These things are gone forever, over a long time ago.” Monopoly, and music, played in a slow southern style and Johnny Walker, Red or Black as either would aid in loquacious conversation. But, curious minds want to know (okay me) was it your “coquettish wiles”, or Johnny Walker, or “pretzel logic”, that overcame his “zealous” monopoly playing. I can only imagine those “conversations”. But I do not need imagination to know what a sensual poem this is Kelly. (Pssst, Kelly, I’ll give you my Reading and B&O Railroads for some of that Johnny Walker… LOL)

Curt

Between the poem and your picture I can’t decide which one is better. 🙂
Always a pleasure to read your poems Kelly. Steely dan was always one of my favorite bands.

Thank you for the compliment on my picture, Tim. You know, I found through the years of working at a record store that men preferred Steely Dan more so than women. Still sounds good to me!

Cleverly penned, Kelly. Excellent write my friend. I’m also a fan of the Dan! Classic album, I knew from the title what band you were talking about. Fagan and Becker were studio geeks, perfectionists, but most importantly they were brilliant songwriters. Who were know to have 80 versions or more of a song. With the best studio musicians sprinkled in and out of each recording. Really dig this one! Appreciate you.

Damian

I was hoping someone would remember it being the name of a studio LP. Thanks so much, Damian!

You’ve provided us with many elements to consider in this monopoly game, and all of them take me back to an earlier time. The title drew me in, of course, as I’m a Steely Dan fan. That game can last so long–I wonder if one bottle of Johnny Walker was enough.

Looks like you did the “Dirty Work” in this one. (That’s a great song btw!)
Details are your forte in your writes. As well as capturing the nuances within the push-pull of the evening. Casual, yet with an underlying intensity ready to spring. No?
Excellent write. If you are not published frequently, you should be. You are quite skilled at writing about the human condition.

Thank you, Styxian. I am most flattered by your review. I always write from the heart, and gravitate to detail as much as I can. People relate to it in spades. I am grateful for your every word and will remember the kindness! Please stay in touch. I am quite new here and love interacting with my readers. Best wishes!

Dan is my all-time favorite band (that is, if I was forced to choose just one). I love how they are seen as musical “anti-heroes” nowadays. It amuses me how modern-day hipsters absolutely hate them for sounding like “elevator music” without understanding that Steely were the hipsters of their day. Unlike Sabbath, Zeppelin, the Stones, The Eagles and the other loud, grandiose acts of their time, Becker and Fagan were quietly, subtly carving out a lasting niche that thrives on its own. The only bands that even comes close to this, IMO, are bands like Pink Floyd, Rush, old Chicago or maybe King Crimson, and as much as I love those bands, they just don’t lay the cut like Steely can and that is why I will always come back to them no matter what.

Pretzel Logic was the record where they really discovered the direction they wanted to go, and they followed that direction in spite of all the setbacks and hatred they received for not being “hard enough”, yet the careful listener knows that they are actually sharper, harder and far more difficult than all the other “heroes” of the 70’s. Many associate them with the derogatory label “yacht rock”….yeah, only if said yacht were loaded with junkies, losers and degenerate gamblers lol. People who call them by that label aren’t truly listening to the supreme darkness in their music.

“Aja” is my absolute favorite record, with probably “Gaucho” coming in second.

There’s an element of Steely Dan in most every poem I’ve ever written. Their lyrics cut & soothe simultaneously. To me they are master songwriters that more recognized songwriters turn to for inspiration on how really craft a meaningful song. I saw a Steely Dan cover band perform in a Denver nightclub in the late 90s, and it was the best concert I’ve ever seen. Just a good facsimile is superior to real yet lesser bands!

I saw your title and knew I was going to keep this poem. If Becker & Fagan were to write a song about playing Monopoly, it would probably look a lot like this piece. Nice touch to use scotch & cigarettes for images to set the scene, and JUST enough “big words” to keep it cerebral.

Not a fan boy for much, but the sounds of Dan will always qualify. Kudos! With that I end my very loquacious comment lol. Fan boy, like I said…

That’s some review, Benjamin! I admire your love for music, and it speaks in spades here. I’ve always felt Steely Dan was an acquired taste. You either loved the sound of Becker and Fagan or you despised it. I’d consider it a staple in my vestige of good music. Always have, always will. Thank you!

Steely Dan rules and so does this poem. Monopoly kicks ass!

I always used the little hat in Monopoly. House rules! Lol, thank you so much!

Chère K.,
Hope this finds you well?!

So, apart from writing, we’ve been colleagues huh?
I’ve worked in a record store too, het Rembrandtplein, dead centre Amsterdam.

Pretzel is an upstairs LP. I have it, but it spins very very seldom. The downstairs LP’s are regularly played. Yesterday, the self titled Tim Buckley.

Love this Monopoly poem! Keep on keeping on, like Curtis said.
Kind regards, Gus

Good to meet a former music colleague! Those were the days, the very best of days, working at a record store! I consider myself privileged to have worked at one at the height of the eighties, when some of the best music was made. Thanks, Gus. Glad you enjoyed my take on a Monopoly game!

Well I don’t think any woman would know what to say after reading THIS, and it surprises me as I read your poetry how much alike we seem to express poetry, love and nature all together in oneness. This is beyond gorgeous… though it paint such a vivid imagery of flesh, but it goes deeper than this, speaking of a higher love as it flows through everything. Outstanding, magnificent and simply Breathtaking… Nirvana and “come as You are” perfect words for such poem… Thank You!

Hi Mary, you swoon and I blush! er… I mean, can I blame it on those blue lips and eye shadow?? er.. there I go blushing again, what the hell!?? What I mean to say is, Thank you for such kind words and always welcomed visits. Curt, backing out the room before he is bopped upside the head. ;0)