Incidental (right alongside) Consequential (after) Including (but not limited to) time passing while you cannot see
Loss of use when you crash into the plate glass window because you cannot see Is not covered
The repair center the guy with all the lenses in a cushioned box with all the expertise having to do with lenses who tells you you look younger than you actually are and you tell him maybe he needs glasses too but thanks all the same the girl who makes the frames the person who packs them into a box if they couldn’t make it in today This is not covered
Time passing while you cannot see Things you crash into while you cannot see Any shelf they’re sitting on while you can’t see Otherwise awaiting parts Not covered
Pre-existing conditions, damage from abuse, Introduction of foreign objects Je ne peux pas voir Modifications or alterations Failure to follow the care instructions Are not covered
Third-party actions Fire Collision Vandalism Theft Or Acts of God War Invasion A foreign enemy Embassy Bone saw A bathtub of acid These guys are good at what they do lorsque vous brisez une vitre de verre These are not covered
Hostilities Civil War Unrest Rebellion While all of these may on occasion be called for Remember: they are not covered Likewise: a Strike a Labor Disturbance a Lockout a Riot or Civil Commotion If you fall on your face while wearing your glasses If you fall on your face diving under your desk Remember: this is not covered
Preventive maintenance Curled beneath the desk Remembering That this is not covered
Damage which is not reported within thirty (30) days
Decorative Embellishments whatever you want: glitter feathers pom-poms antennae but remember: these are not covered
Damage caused by animals and insects Finding your corpse, in a culvert, let’s say the nibbles the nesting ingested lens-shards Not covered
Unauthorized repairs Sold as-is Products that are lost or stolen Also not covered
Cleanings, Adjustments, Fittings Outgrowth you can’t stay young forever, and this is not covered A change in prescription nor can your eyes (please see above) Any other medical reason and someday, you will die beneath your desk in the culvert in your bed
What is not covered will be laid bare What is not covered will fall away
…a found poem, made up of hits I got when I typed the word “search” into Google
Today I searched
I searched for God and found only myself
I searched for God among the Christians and on the Cross
and found Him not
And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one
Maria van Beuren graduated from St. John’s College in 1973. She’s been indexing and editing scientific and medical books for decades now. Lately she’s begun writing poetry and has had some published, much to her surprise. She is the founder and director of Toad Hall Writers and Artists retreats, in New Hampshire, which have attracted attendees from the US and Europe, including various Johnnies who shall remain anonymous if they pay her enough to keep quiet.
…a poem, prose poem, or microstory, up to 100 words, made out of something that used to be something else: the label on a Windex bottle markup language ad copy the Articles of Impeachment a flyer on a telephone pole …you get the idea
I can only pay in gratitude, but I’ll link to your site/blog if you have one. Links to posts also appear on the Facebook Recycled Page, on Twitter at @melroo62, and LinkedIn
I’ll start! Watch for Keynote: Variations on a Theme of Steve Jobs, (re)posting this Friday.
Tack on a brief bio and submit to recycledfiction@gmail.com
Recycled: Found Narratives 