I've never shunned a cat that's black
nor worried 'bout a spill of salt.
No ladders caused my change in tack.
With cellar drop, I find no fault.
When table seats a doz. plus one,
a hearty meal I still will eat.
To cross my fingers, I must shun.
I do not studder, just repeat!!!

But ev'ry month I flip a page
and e'vry month from now avow
the term "White Rabbit" to engage.
Oh Alba Hare, to you I bow!!!

Wonderfully done Ron, may the white rabbits live forever........

Hello Ron~

I enjoyed reading your dedication to Sylvia and the humor you bring.

Glad to see that you see things clearly and don't agree with Stevie Wonder and his superstition. Alice is smiling!



Happy weekend!

Lindi

Hello Ron.

What a great poem for Halloween! Let's those superstitions fly like the wind.

You've covered many a one here - I never shake that salt over me shoulder, and I LOVE black cats! I used to have one in a former life, "Nayla" a black oriental shorthair with stunning green eyes.

But ev'ry month I flip a page
and e'vry month from now avow
the term "White Rabbit" to engage.
Oh Alba Hare, to you I bow!!!

Well done!
~Cleo

Hi Ron!!!
Gee, I'm overwhelmed and thrilled!!! Thank you for dedicating this extremely amusing and meaningful poem to little me...And it all came about from a N.Y.T. article that I happened to spy and sent out to MM members!!!

Now for the confessions:
1. I try not to walk under ladders (my Mom used to joke that a bucket of paint might fall on me...).
2. Black cats are not my favourites, and in my country there's a superstition that if they cross your path towards the RIGHT, then it's good luck, but if they head LEFT, then that's bad...haha...Nonetheless, I don't remember having seen one do anything of the sort!
3. I don't know what "cellar drop" means?
4. In my country, one leaves an extra place set for the 13th. person, if that situation should crop up. In that case, the extra setting is intended for Jesus, should he wish to participate. I admit to trying to avoid these numbers...but if somebody fails at the last minute, then it's a good idea to follow this tradition.
5. I also sometimes cross my fingers, and touch my head when I mean "touch wood"!!!

Wow, what a mess I am!!! Glad you've adopted the "White Rabbit" custom (even tho' I know you're just teasing...).

That said, I realize that all these superstitions have not kept bad luck away nor good luck by my side... Life just stumbles along in the usual fashion...

Thanks again for this highly clever poem, and, as Lori says, let these superstitions fly like the wind, for Halloween!!!

Cheers, Sylvia

Dear Psyche,
As you can see (or at least, guess) I was thrilled with your request and I'm thrilled that you got to see my response.
I rarely take part in poetic challenges, especially if the submissions are judged, but I do enjoy cases like yours where my curiosity reigns.
I did learn that none of my relatives knew of the superstition, bur good friends remembered his mother saying just "rabbits" on the first day of the month.
Two other acquaintences had some knowledge and I read everything on the internet.
I have a nephew in the Air Force who might practice it as I hear it's competitive there and he who says it to another first gets the other's good luck.
I remember having a rabbit's foot key chain once but not how I got it.
Cheers, Ron jgd

Dear Lindi,
Do tell me about Stevie Wonder.
Cheers, Ron jgd

Dear Cleo,
Now Ihear there's a somewhat similar case on New Year's Day re eating black-eyed peas.
Cheers, Ron jgd

Dear Ron,

I've never heard of that one - anything to do with parades? You'll have to fill me in kind sir!

Cheers
~Cleo

Dear Ron!

I now have to confess that an old school friend of mine (we were borders together), reminded me that we used to say "rabbits" on the first day of each month.... I had totally forgotten...geez...
I'm sure I was never the first to say it, there were always brighter & quicker girls around who woke up with clear minds...haha...

Bye now!
Sylvia

Wonderful humorous piece, Ron... and I'm pleased that Sylvia liked it as well...

but do note that she was a border once... Do you think she has crossed over it? Beware the borderline...

Lightly, Daniel

Some superstitions like most legends have a form basis in some forgotten truth.Why take chances even if you don't believe.It does no harm to play along.

Hi Ron,

I still cannot wipe the smile off my face. This is a wonderful and delightful response poem to Sylvia's White Rabbits poem. What a pleasant read! Thanks ...

My day started out with a rough spot and your poem sort of waved away those woes!

Best Wishes, Liz

By the way, Ron...

Did you answer the question about the dropped cellar door? If so, I missed it. I am not familiar with that superstition either. I've pretty much not only ignored superstitions over the years but purposesly broke mirrors (some couldn't stand my face, methinks), walked under ladders, purposely allowed black cats to cross my path (and owned one for some time, partly for that reason), etc. Once I find out about the cellar door thing, I'll probably do that too. When I buy bagels for my group, I always get 13.

deLightinly, Daniel

Dear Daniel,
Forgive me, I forget where I've been.
The cellar was a salt cellar, not a door.
Talk about memory, I've forgotten "White Rabbit".
Cheers, Ron jgd

Imagine what might happen if a magician had forgotten a pair of white rabbits in his cellar!