The Omen; Not the Movie

a collaboration between Mattevelli and Einstein Noodle

I chose the place and yet
My freedom is not met.
An omen moved next door you see;
Chagrined the hope in me

He seemed alright at first,
but life's become the worst.
That morning music shreds my dreams
and drowns exhausted screams.

And when I leave for work,
I offer him a smirk.
He walks his dog on my side lawn
and waves, with no clothes on.

the garbage piling high'r,
I wish his funeral pyre.
I never get such luck in life,
here comes ten kids and wife.

The look of them all ten,
presumed a brooding hen,
but she was more up top than that.
I looked and looked again.

The diesel fumes explode
from trucks and cars and pets.
the worst of it remains undone
the relatives have come

I lay awake all night,
nightmarish dreams and fright
along with crashing breaking sounds;
now stench of green abounds

The mower that I'd lent
returned with a wheel bent.
And that same day my cat was shaved.
Who could be so depraved?

Those kids keep setting fires
and someone stole my tires.
I've set a chair with a clear view
to catch what next they'll do.

clattering trucks of
    fire    and opus
        deranged the climate of 
my scopus.
an omen moved in next door you see

with gaping mouth i stood
                            the gendarmes 

closing fast 
    batons ..........a' whirling
                                              twirling ......... whirling
damn they've come
for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Mattevelli and Einstein Noodle

Author's Note

Reviews

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Hahahaha- Help need an Exorcism here! Excellent, comedic collaboration between Mattevelli and Einstein Noodle. Demonic neighbors- oh no! The maniacal music, the sauntering with dog poop out of bounds- OMG! Eloquent, whimsical, clever verses with jaunty, infectious cadence and great rhyming. An ending to die for- “ damn they’ve come..for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” Superb!

[Einstein Noodle]

i feel rollicking reading your review .. thanks so much and so happy you enjoyed..neither of us have written much stuff on the lighter side so were both challenged ... so gratified you found it so Annette! thanks!
E.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

You are so welcome E! Maybe you’ve found a new niche?...:))

[Einstein Noodle]

:) .......................

[barleygirl]

They're coming to take you two away, ha! ha! ho! ho! hay! hay!
Youse the neighbor about whom we pray, hoo! hoo! don't stay!
No way to compete with two dangling doofus's cray! cray!
You redefine "deranged" in a whole nother way, bay-bay!
(I'm so freakin' jealous of the dueling duo!!!!) Fondly, Margie

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahahaha how you make me smile Ms. Barley! how your make me smile :))))))))))))))))
E.

[barleygirl]

OK, you two brilliant & hilarious poets . . . I've now posted my dueling poem . . .

[Einstein Noodle]

en garde! .......................

[Mrudula Rani]

If neighbors from hell moved into next door the scenario will be this poem. What can one do in a real life situation like that? Feel totally helpless. Your collaborations produce amazing writings.

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you Mrudula! yes...what can one do?? pray for peace i guess ;}
E.

[R.E. Ray]

An impressive collaboration. Spectacular imagery and emotion created in relatively few words, particularly frustration and dread. And, then you bring out some humor. I can't say much else others haven't said below. Nice work, sir.

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks man ... it was good fun working on this with Mattavelli ... i don't do form nor humor very well so learned a lot ..glad you enjoyed the read and thanks again for visiting and leaving your impressions :)
E.

[Paul Bell]

This is when you actually want the real Omen.
Ten spears heading in that direction.
You wouldn't even have to explain to the Police.
Alas, not to be.
I'm running like hell.
They're coming after me.

[Einstein Noodle]

yeah..perhaps the real deal demon would be better ... at least any Exorcist would be on our same side .. unlike the Police in this case :) thanks for stopping and so glad you enjoyed our bit of fun
E.

[emmajoy]

Imagination holds everything.. we see, we feel, we inhale surroundings and are lost! Between you, there's an incredible connection.. great sense of horror written finely with a finish that sends me running, wondering. You've lived to tell the tale.. Not selecting one stanza over another, not what i do.. however.. there are a few gaps in the atmosphere ! :) Great collab.

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks emma! we need to exercise that imagination from time to time don't we?! i always appreciate your encouragement and support dear one ... thanks much!

[h d e rushin]

I remember the "Omen" . That scene when the severed seemed to be rolling down the isle. I ran for the exit..But I feel you in this poem. This poem about observation. This poem about the unknown where you build and build and build a false narrative (or perhaps a non false one) about a family of people you can start to feel uneasy about. How they look, how their garbage is stacking up and things are starting to happen. Bad things like fires and car tires being stolen....and you know damn well where to point. Now, to make this into a poem means two things. 1. it moved you to inspiration or 2. It hurt your inspiration. either way it made you call upon the muse for it's creation.....Bravery is when you see something jagged and want to smooth it out....great write...dana

[Einstein Noodle]

dan! what a thorough and thoughtful review ...both Mattevelli and i decided to give a bit of humor a try and inspired by Emily Dickinson's use of the hymn verse and introducing her rebellion from them with dashes and spaces etc ... this is the short hymn verse form ;)
E
ps. all fiction dear friend :) thank goodness!

[Karen Redburn]

Oh, this is so good! You both have covered off the nightmarish possibilities when it comes to neighbours bad neighbours!

[Einstein Noodle]

so glad you enjoyed and related Karen ... a little humor now and then goes a long way ...working with Mattevelli was a real treat for me ... i am not prone to classic form, nor humor ;) thanks again for taking time

[Ardra]

that sounds like torture hehe...scary neighbors..
mmm nice collab. :))

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks G! i am not very good at humor ... we worked at this one Mattavelli and i ..its in short hymn verse .. something we also wanted to try ..thanks for taking time my friend
E.

[Lydia Shutter]

Smiling here....the neighbors from hell, but are they real or imagined? I wonder...if the gendarmes came for you, well, perhaps you were just seeing things. In any case, I was amused by the scenario and the rhyming. Great collaboration, you two. lydi**

[Einstein Noodle]

hey Lydia! glad to get a smile from you ... interesting twist you offer...perhaps it is i with vivid imaginations and hallucinations causing all the ruckus ;) and there i go ..the one in the straight jacket right?! ;))) always glad for your reviewing dear friend
E.

[andrew mitchell]

This had a mixture of keystone cops and the horrifying omen 666. Nicely executed Einstein and Matt

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahaha! yes the keystone cops! thanks andrew ..sure appreciate you taking time here! may your neighbors ever be filled with grace and not the "Omens" aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrgh!
E.