FUTILITY

My mom had a brain.,

A big one. One so big

she made it to ninety-six

unhampered by bitterness

or disappointment. Her

expertise was in some

deep knowledge of life

itself and how to get

through it all, a broken

childhood, the Great

Depression, and World

War II were just what

happened along the way

to college and her Marine

Corps lover, tough guy

father to we three boys.

She needed all that,

because the Bible says

suffering produces

endurance, produces

produces character, and

character, hope. She

needed all of it for the

dad gave her and

we three sons. And now I

I tell everyone, “I wish

I had listened to her when

I had the chance,” and they

ask, “Why, what did she

say?” And I always answer,

“I have no idea, I didn’t listen.”

And today, nobody listens to

me. The adage is true, those

who do not study history are

doomed, because nobody

listens, ever.

Author's Note

Ravin' Ink submission for Saturday, 12/14/2024 prompt. "I should have listened." (My mom is still alive, and, I DO!)

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

I do agree my friend. New world forget very quickly.
"The adage is true, those
who do not study history are
doomed, because nobody
listens, ever."
The above lines are the reasons. Our world is controlled by chaos. Powerful and outstanding poetry shared my friend.
Coyote

[Aarti Sriram]

Interesting story and an important point you make dear Vol. When we fail to listen to the lessons of history we pay a heavy price by committing the same mistakes. This keeps happening. Suffering is a given and a constant. A better, compassionate attitude sometimes helps us tide over it or seems to give hope that things will improve. Like their suffering wasn’t in vain, perhaps was the mantra our elders figured out wisely, lets remain hopeful dear! Sweet message from the mother in your poem..

[Sami Khalil]

“I wish

I had listened to her when

I had the chance,”

[Sami Khalil]

"The adage is true, those

who do not study history are

doomed, because nobody

listens, ever."

[Sami Khalil]

If we humble ourselves and listen to our parents, friends even strangers, we can learn lots of things and avoid pitfalls and regrets.
I feel the same way dear poet. I did not listen to this and that.

[Vol]

Sami,
There you have it... a reason to study why we listen some times, but not others... especially in the current political climate where, even in universities, opposing viewpoiints are rejected...
Vol

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! You are welcome sir Vol in any venue.

[Vol]

Aw, Sammi, your words are like a smile from a beautiful stranger sitting on the other side of the room...
Vol
Vol

[John the Baptist]

That may have something to do with why we keep having wars.

[Vol]

John,
My thoughts exactly...
Vol

[Lorry]

There was no such thing as snowflakes back in those days, where men were men and so were most of the women! 😃
They had it all to do and no modern tech to ease their burden. And we think we have it tough today!
I'll leave the rest of the review to a much funnier and wiser man, reflecting on the human condition. One Mr Billy Connolly.
This cracks me up every time I hear it and is my second favourite of all time of his, because I grew up with the people he is talking about.
Ps... my favourite of his is his wildebeest joke BTW! 😃

https://youtu.be/3eKZEyIMmsA?si=E1ix82iSuLaM7m9q

[Lorry]

And here's the wildebeest story. ...

https://youtu.be/wBInfo-Nk-8?si=kzPT-u-ziDWJ-hYS

[Vol]

Lorry,
I finally watched both of these... He's like a longhaired George Carlin... The kind Politicians want to be first against the wall...
Vol

[Lorry]

He's like a doddery old man now. Saw him in the papers last week celebrating his birthday. They didn't say an age, because he now looks older than time itself!
😃

[Vol]

I dunno, man... that Hollywood life is hard... Maybe he's in his twenties...

[Lorry]

I remember when he used to talk about how old he was when he went round to see his friend his father said "he's away to the talkies!" meaning the talking movies!
😃

[Vol]

Wow! I seem to remember when the local theater offered Ten cent double features for kids on Saturday afternoons... all my friends went to the talkies... we'd talk all the way through them.
Vol

[Vol]

Wow! I seem to remember when the local theater offered Ten cent double features for kids on Saturday afternoons... all my friends went to the talkies... we'd talk all the way through them.
Vol

[Lorry]

😃 😊 😀 😄 😁