Orion, Reimagined (a pleiade)
In memory of Wilmot Dunn, stargazer
Old Grandpa Dunn and Charlotte
Out to the telescope shack
(over Grandma’s dead body…
only money saved, for that?)
“On left, three stars, that’s O’Toole.
One Irish constellation.”
Obviously, Grandpa fibbed!
© 2014 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For dverse Poets Pub, where (while sipping a fine Wisconsin microbrew (Bitter Woman, tastes just like it sounds!), I wrote to the prompt, a new form called a PLEIADE. “Inspired by “Pleiades,” a star cluster in Taurus constellation, also called the ‘Seven Sisters’ (Greek Mythology).” Seven lines, seven syllables, plus the first letter of each line must match the first letter of the title. I found this doubly delightful because I could remember Grandpa Dunn, my wonderful second great-grandfather.
The Story: My mother’s Great-grandma Dunn was mortified when her mischievous, spendthrift husband used their entire life savings from his work as a railroad conductor to buy a state-of-the-art telescope. He proceeded to build a shack around it, which Grandma referred to as “the Shithouse,” both for her opinion of the endeavor… and for the state in which Grandpa found himself after the purchase. (Can’t blame her. This was mid-1930s Depression Iowa.)
Wilmot Dunn was a dreamer. Mom said he had many, many graphs written up of a proposed rocket ship to the moon, and, after Grandpa Dunn died, little Charlotte asked if she could keep all his charts and writings. Grandma had already donated the telescope to Drake University, per Grandpa’s wishes. The writings, she left in the Shithouse, which she promptly doused with kerosene and burned. Mom was heartbroken, but it instilled in her the telling of his stories to me, and it’s still a part of that rich Shanty Irish oral tradition in my family! Peace, Amy
brian miller
October 17, 2014 at 9:42 pm
ha. an irish constellation…sounds like the name of a pub…
hey, who can stop a dreamer you know…i dreamed of the stars
and the moon myself once…
sharplittlepencil
October 17, 2014 at 10:55 pm
My mother was dating her soon-to-be husband and father of us three girls, and when she pointed to “O’Toole,” having never learned better, apparently he almost split a gut!! Yeah, we are the stargazers, friend. twinkle
Sherry Blue Sky
October 17, 2014 at 10:19 pm
Oh I love this story, Amy……I am glad he bought it, as it must have meant so much to him…..though hard to justify during the Depression……….I loved the poem, and, especially, your story after.
kaykuala
October 17, 2014 at 11:07 pm
How very interesting Amelita! A determined man will do what he likes even at the expense of comfort. Often times viewed as eccentric but there are some good arising from them in some cases. Thanks for sharing!
Hank
Polly
October 17, 2014 at 11:46 pm
An Irish constellation 🙂 Fab poem, Amy, meets the form well. Love the story behind it too. x
Björn Rudberg (brudberg)
October 18, 2014 at 1:17 am
What a family story.. Somehow at hard times it’s worse to be a dreamer.. Love the Irish constellation Amy..
Roger Green
October 18, 2014 at 1:53 am
well, not a fib, exactly…
oldegg
October 18, 2014 at 4:32 am
Loved the story and the poetic form which I observed earlier this week on another site. I am sure every family has an odd ball relation who curiously we can learn from…to proudly be ourselves.
sharplittlepencil
October 25, 2014 at 9:40 pm
Robin, I AM that oddball relation, for my generation at least! LOL
ManicDdaily
October 18, 2014 at 6:36 am
What a wonderful story and clever poem. I think you should write up the story more clearly though and at greater length as it really is so compelling–this wish to see/be more–and the practical woman there–very real (as of course it is) and so interesting. Thanks much, Amy. One can see one’s self in both of them–and I’m sure you can see yourself. k
sharplittlepencil
October 20, 2014 at 9:33 pm
Hey, MDD, I am actually in perpetual writing mode with my mom’s stories about our nutty family… I archive everything I can remember. Funny thing: She told each story the exact same every time, never embellishing, even when she was completely loaded with gin. That’s how you KNOW it’s true…!
ManicDdaily
October 21, 2014 at 7:20 am
Ha. Well, yes. Sometimes a story gets fixed in stone, but you are right–that’s usually pretty close to the real thing! Sounds like you have a wealth of material! k.
vandana
October 18, 2014 at 7:57 am
your granddad was a great man and pure of heart. thanks for sharing this wonderfl story and for your participation.
Sumana Roy
October 18, 2014 at 11:11 am
i must say he was a great dreamer with courage…thanks for this wonderful post Amy…
Ginny Brannan
October 18, 2014 at 7:16 pm
Loved this, and the explanation that went with it. Colorful family you have. And proud you should be that your grandpa was a dreamer (with grandma the ever-practical one!) Thanks for sharing!
C.C.
October 18, 2014 at 8:36 pm
This was so enjoyable to read….such vivid ‘characters’ in your family tree 🙂
Renee Espriu
October 18, 2014 at 10:39 pm
Great story and poem, Amy. Wonderful that you could share such a story. Hope you are well.
Snakypoet (Rosemary Nissen-Wade)
October 19, 2014 at 7:43 am
Oh, I love the idea of the O’Toole constellation!
Ninotaziz
October 19, 2014 at 2:27 pm
Amy! Oh how you made me smile…I would never think of such a poem, how could I – this is inspired by a very unique memory. And what a wonderful story.