I stowed the wreckage of the broken poem in my pockets and dragged myself to my room. It was there that I shook out this mishmash, onto the little table in the corner, and I fell to thinking how it could be rearranged into a new poem. Some lines stuck out awkwardly here and there, and I suddenly recalled how in my childhood I would play Mikado. This flashback was so quick and so bright that it slashed through my mind like a lightning bolt.
We preferred to play with fine aluminium wires, not with woody sticks. We bent the ends of the wires into loops, hooks, and waves. This made the game more difficult because every move had to be executed with surgical precision. (By the way, I’d heard of a variation of this game that was part of the professional practice of pocket lifters.)
I found myself mindlessly poking my finger into the pile of words. My angriness fumed away. The professor’s voice echoed in my head: “And don’t spoil such precious words for glamorous bullshit.” We played with literal junk when we were children, and we did it with style. Why should I fuck with such high class stuff now?
I pulled out a long, shiny wire from the pile and smiled. I knew what I needed to do. I accurately stowed all the wordy bits into a little box and went to the library.
by TETIANA ALEKSINA
© All rights reserved 2017
unbolt me 
Mind blowing
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Thank you! 🙂
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Hmm, Mikado, sounds fascinating. Wonder if it’s any relation to Mornington Crescent …
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This delights me very much. Some of my very favourite people on there! 😉
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I love a good mix of words. But I have never heard of a game called “Mikado!” I think I’ve heard of a play by that title.but I never saw it. And for some reason, it makes me think of the song, “Three Little Maids of School.” Is that from The Mikado? Maybe I have seen it?
Anyhow, apparently my mind is tripping on A.D.D. this morning. A fun, eclectic read!
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I’ve never heard of a game called ‘Mikado’ either, so perhaps Tati can explain it to both of us. Hee hee! Thanks so much for visiting our little site!
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A charming piece.
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Thank you for saying so. Tati will be happy to read your kind words!
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Brilliant work Tati. The parallels drawn between the skill required to pick up sticks and the words is simply genius.
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Yes, I wish I’d thought of it! Thanks for visiting and reading us as always, my friend!
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