Funny Images

 

Funny face all weather worn and weary

Funny place to find love and hate

Funny time of day to sit and contemplate

Funny reasoning the mind provides

the ocean, the beach, high mountain’s reach,

the dessert, the plains, back roads and interstates,

funny places every which way

Not funny ha, ha, but funny strange and weird

Funny everywhere appears

Oh funny, funny me

The mirror image me is everywhere I seem to be

I pinch the flesh...Pain!

Funny reality

                   -30-

Chris Hanch 5-11-2021

The Blink of an Eye

Blinking is a function

which comes naturally,

occasionally or rapidly,

depending on what

you see. Of course

while asleep, one with

their eyes closed has

no need to blink.

There are times things

will happen to pass

quickly in the blink

of an eye. And one

need not be a baseball

player to flirtatiously

bat an eye. Should

you, however take a

chance, the fast

ball will get by you

for a strike. Be wise,

my friend, three of

those, and in the blink

of an eye, you’re out.

           -30-

Chris Hanch 510-2021 

A Bit of History

 

Several years ago I contacted the curator of the

25^th Infantry Division Historical Museum in

Oklahoma City regarding the cartoon works of

artist, Bill Mauldin. During World War II at the

beginning of his service, Mauldin was assigned

to that unit.

Later, after his artistic talent was recognized,

Mauldin was re-assigned to work for The Stars

and Stripes military newspaper.

Today, the infantry museum displays many of

Mauldin’s original hardship and satirical cartoon

depictions of G.I. situations during World War II.

It’s worth mentioning that Mauldin was a two

time recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for his

cartoon work.

When I was a child, my father, a veteran of WWII,

gave me his government issued paper-back copy

of Mauldin’s, Up Front. Mauldin and his cartoons

were an inspiration to me. I have relied on my

caricatures and whimsical cartoon renderings

for a good deal of my life.

A few years ago, I had done a sculpture honoring

Mauldin’s featured G.I. characters, Willie and Joe.

I asked the museum’s curator if he would be inter-

ested in displaying my art piece. He not only de-

clined my offer, but threatened to file a law suit

against me if I used the title of “Willie and Joe” in

any way, shape or form associated with my work.

I came back at him, “You go right ahead, I could

certainly use the publicity.” But I decided to let

the whole issue go, and went on my merry way.

I wanted to give Bill Mauldin credit for my inspiration,

so appropriately I titled my artwork, After Bill Mauldin’s,

Willie and Joe.

Mauldin’s artistic legacy shall long outlive me and my

rendering of Willie and Joe. And as for that red-neck, Okie

museum, curator’s name, it’s not worth remembering or

mentioning either.

                              -30-

Chris Hanch 5-10-2021

Faces II

 

Faces I have studied throughout my life,

Black, white, red, yellow and brown,

faces oblong, angular and round, faces.

Two eyes, nose and mouth, smiling,

expressionless and frowned, happy

faces and sad, faces foreign and na-

tive, human faces from many places

near and far, from USA, Africa, Asia,

North, South, East and Western faces.

All different and unique, except for

twin faces, composed faces never

quite the same, creases, lines, complex-

ions, variations in myriad ways. But

other worldly, alien faces, I have never

seen, save renderings from imaginations

for no earthly beings have seen those

otherwise faces either. Could be faces

constructed differently. Doubtful yet

hopeful in my lifetime that I shall see

any of those interstellar beauties. Faces,

an entire universe of faces like yours

and mine, or dissimilar in various ways,

nostrils protruding from the forehead,

retractable, telescopic eyes, two mouths,

one to eat and, one to breathe, so many

far flung possibilities left to my unearthly

reckoning, faces light years away, never

to meet and greet, face to face in my life

time and place. And should no one be

left at home when they get here, I have

drawn, painted and photographed a few

images of our beautiful faces for them

to see.

                  -30-

Chris Hanch 5-8-2021

As I See It III

 

I look at seventy-four

and that which came before.

It is the forgotten I miss;

the remembered

I carry with me in memories.

I look at seventy-four

and only that which

came before.

Can’t see in front of me,

that which lies ahead

remains a mystery.

Pills and bills, I suppose.

Older and wiser

may hopefully apply

should I survive

to see seventy-five.

See no practical reason to

imagine otherwise.

-30-

Chris Hanch 5-6-2021

World Recods Every Day

 

I break records with every passing day.

It has been 4-years since giving my

automobile away.

It has been nearly a year and a half since

I put on shoes, tied the laces and left my

place.

Haven’t eaten Chinese food since can’t

remember when. Been more than a year

since hugging family or friend.

74-years water and time for me has run

passed the dam, and I have changed from

the young kid I was to the old man I am.

Haven’t shaved for over 40-years, my

beard has grown long and is a wiry white.

Few have seen me in person since can’t

remember when. Have lost count of days

since way back then.

I shall continue breaking my own records

the rest of my days for which there are

no awards or prizes.

Life accumulates as we live and breathe;

records are broken every day that way.

How long, how far, how many records did

you break getting to where you are?

                     -30-

Chris Hanch 5-6-21

Muleskinner Blues

 

Animal lovers, don’t be upset, I mean no harm.

Google defines a muleskinner as a professional

mule driver whose sole purpose is to keep the

mules moving. The term 'skinner' is slang for

someone who might 'skin' or outsmart a mule.

Mules have a characteristic of being very stub-

born, so outsmarting them to make them move

using skill, wit and a type of determination.”

There were times in my life when I was accused

of being, “stubborn as a mule” for I was not

always one to take directions or advice from

others.

As a child in school, the nuns who were my

teachers frequently used that phrase on me

when I didn’t behave. Parents were also at

the ready to use it on a defiant child such as

I who frequently refused to obey.

Some kids my own age with whom I disagreed

called me an “ass.” And I suppose that meant

the same, unless they added the word “hole”

at the end which of course usually wound up

in a physical confrontation. And believe you

me, I had my share of those.

When I was a kid in the 1950s, there was a

series of movies and shorts made about

Francis the Talking Mule. I liked them because

he was a silly ass with whom I could certainly

relate.

Thank god many of us outgrow our childlike

tendencies. It took me a bit longer than most

to change some of my defiant childish ways.

I suppose a measure of wisdom comes with

age.

I for one have outgrown the phrase “stubborn

as a mule.” Would be muleskinners of modern

day have more appropriately bestowed upon

me what I consider a term of endearment. I

figure I have graduated in life, having earned

the right to be considered now simply as a

“stupid old fool” who frequently needs a swift

kick in the ass.

                     -30-

Chris Hanch 5-5-2021