Life spins round and round until
POP-GOES-THE-WEASEL
in our face.
Stuff it back in the box.
Keep turning the crank,
humming the tune
over and over until
POP-GOES-THE-WEASEL!
But this time,
the spring is shot.
So what to do
with us worn out Jacks?
Written for Quadrille Monday at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe. Today Mish is tending bar and asks us to use the word “pop” or a form of the word, in our poem of exactly 44 words, sans title.
Image from Falln-Stock
lillian the home poet 
I love this as it feels so animated and light yet at the same time brings a serious tone of life’s unexpected surprises. Darn, I used to hate that toy though….the anticipation of the jolt, never knowing when it was going to pop up. I would sit on edge……just as in life sometimes!! Nice one, Lill and welcome back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep…..life pops up with surprises, we cope, stuff our worries back in the box and keep cranking. But eventually…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
My thought is repurpose! Welcome back, Lillian!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good one!
LikeLiked by 2 people
❤
LikeLike
I don’t know that association, jack-in-the-box and the nursery rhyme. It fits though. I think you should move on to other toys. That one was never any fun 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always got nervous cranking the crank…..I think life is like this. We spin and spin and something surprises the heck out of us. We adjust and turn and turn….until….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some people like that feeling of controlled danger. I never did either.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very clever! This poem is quite energetic & comes to a hard stop at the end – make me think. Wonderfully crafted, thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nice one. What to do indeed! Happy Monday.
Much💖love
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good to be back to dVerse! Glad you enjoyed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
loved my jack in the box as a kid. loved this take on the quadrille
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gosh, this brings back memories for me, Lillian… Hopefully there’s a repair story nearby!
Much love,
David
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always happy to bring back happy memories to folks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Darn…you dropped me like a rock! Clever.
LikeLiked by 1 person
yep…..that’s a jack-in-the-box for you…..just like life in many ways.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Life is like that! Things pop and startle you–and you try to put them back in the box.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
What do children now think of that silly toy that so many of us loved as children?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually, I always hated that toy. My feelings were echoed in the movie Elf….when he’s turning the crank on the jack-in-the-box….knowing what’s coming but never knowing when. That to me, echoes life in many ways….we always know the end of our journey is coming but . . .
LikeLiked by 2 people
To be totally honest I don’t remember how I felt about the toy except I do remember liking that you could stuff the clown back in, close the lid, and turn the little crank. Maybe I liked just shoving him back in! Lol
LikeLike
It’s the unexpected pop in life that keeps us on the edge.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s a positive spin on it! 🙂
LikeLike
Those jacks are frightening things. I could never bare to turn them, and then the dread of what might come out of it….it is a lot like summer passing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Did you ever see the movie Elf? There’s a scene in it when he “plays” with a jack-in-the-box and it’s actually painful to watch him….I hated that toy. And in so many ways, those surprises that keep coming….that’s life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no, I haven’t seen that one. But, I can’t bare those things. I just know there’s going to be something evil inside of it. I remember in the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang when the children hid in them. Still terrified by that scene.
LikeLike
Dear Lillian,
This poem struck a weird/sad/ominous/depressing chord. We have been facing rather seriously our age and place and all things having to do with getting old. Roy is having a major surgery on Friday—I covet your prayers. And it is unclear whether we can remain in our beloved home. And if we move into some sort of assisted living situation, should it be here near friends or in the Mpls. Area near family. All questions that launch me into sadness. Roy is having a full hip replacement which they think will work even though his pelvis is filled with cancer. Because of excruciating pain, they finally did a CAT and discovered that his femur is broken right below the ball of the hip and the ball is deteriorating or crumbling or whatever the word is for bone that just goes away.
Will let you know how it goes. Keep writing. m
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, Mary . . . I will send you an email. Yes, you understood exactly what the poem is about
LikeLiked by 1 person
The spring is shot–it’s too hot even for Jack. Thanks, this made me smile. xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a great take on the prompt word Lillian 🙌
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love this, Lillian. Seems like life is a series of Jack in the box pop ups!
LikeLike