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About This Author
Well, hello. I’m still testing this.
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Music Notes
A blog, generally about music, usually for projects hosted by Jeff is Gru in #2343485  . I may also write about the 48-Hour Media Prompt Challenge if I don't feel like writing a story or poem inspired by the given song. Other bits of poetry or different topics of discussion might end up here as well.
September 4, 2025 at 8:54pm September 4, 2025 at 8:54pm
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Prompt 4:
"Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese."
— G.K. Chesterton.
Make this quote the start of your blog today.
I couldn't help chuckling when I first saw the prompt this morning… Then I immediately tried to remember a poem discussing cheese. All I could come up with is the old nursery rhyme,
If all the world were paper
And all the waters ink
And all the trees were bread and cheese
What would the people drink?
This little doggerel always unnerved me, because it seemed distressing to imagine people being unable to drink water. Since it wormed its way into my head at an early age, I changed the final word to “think” instead of “drink” to make myself feel better.
So… Beyond this, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say. Is this a challenge to write an eloquent, elegant poem about cheese? Are we supposed to contemplate the importance of cheese in our lives? Or what?
Cheese has always been one of my favorite foods. My earliest memories of picnics feature cheese and sardine sandwiches, fruit bowls and yogurt, all purchased at Publix. As I grew older, I ate so much cheese, I would liken myself to a mouse: quiet, unobtrusive, sneaky, and cheese obsessed. I was quite picky about it, though: American cheese in particular tasted like plastic, and I insisted on only eating it melted over omelettes or homemade burgers. American cheese straight from the fridge, peeled away from inside those wax sheets? Yuck!
My favorite cheese was and still is Muenster, though Cheddar, Swiss and Parmesan come in close. Nothing finishes off an Italian pasta dish like the Parm! Mac and cheese, of course, is a classic.
Going through puberty, I had awful acne, to the point where I avoided wearing pinks and reds because it brought out the irritated flush in my face. After a while of doing the usual salicylic acid washes and whatnot, Mom realized I should try cutting back on cheese and dairy products. It worked, and I've had clear skin since then. I still eat a reasonable amount of them, just more balanced with whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
Dairy is important for women at all stages of life because of osteoporosis; we need to maintain bone strength. It's also a good idea to have as much as possible from a young age to set up strong teeth and bones at the start. Cheese is a great way to consume dairy, because it's so versatile and comes in a whole range of varieties.
I should end with a cheese themed poem…
American, Swiss, English, French -
So many cheeses on the bench!
Cheddar, provolone, parmesan, mozz –
Variety overwhelming gives me pause!
I must decide between Gorgonzola or Stilton -
Oh, no, Limburger - my brain's wiltin’!
What's really in that Kraft Mac and Cheese?
Is it top quality, tell me please!
Oh dear, someone else likes cheese as well
Little mouse friend, I'll share, but don't tell!
Sometimes I'm so goofy, I make myself blush… Enjoy!
Words: 506.
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September 4, 2025 at 1:41pm September 4, 2025 at 1:41pm September 4, 2025 at 7:28am September 4, 2025 at 7:28am
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My fourth Barrel of Monkeys pick is a deep cut from the 2021 Imagine Dragons album, Mercury Act 1. It has somewhere over 25 million streams.
What it Sounds Like
A “slow burn fire” (literally,) Dull Knives starts with a quiet plea for help and quickly escalates into full-on grunge, subsiding past the chorus into a suppressed, eerie backdrop for Dan's anguished wailing, then growling up again at the next chorus. It pauses for a moment at the bridge, where we hear what sounds like people arguing and saying “oh come on” to Dan's overdramatized pain, then builds back up into the final (very noisy) climax.
It is a “real” and “earthy” sort of song, bearing the production style of the famed Rick Rubin, who insisted the band use real instruments and rebuild every demo from the ground up.
What It Means
Depending on how you look at it, Dull Knives is either a powerful ballad of mental health awareness, or a pile-on of exaggerated whining. Lead singer and songwriter Dan Reynolds says he sat down at the kitchen table and wrote it with the help of his now ex-wife Aja Volkman, who is credited as a co-writer.
The meaning is fairly straightforward, describing internal warfare with vivid clarity. Dan considers himself a mental health advocate, often exhorting his fans to love themselves, reach out, share their pain, and remember their lives are always worth living.
I should also note the pain he describes is likely to have been literal as well. One wouldn't think it to see him now, but he once struggled with unremitting Ankylosing Spondylitis, a joint stiffening autoimmune disease that would leave him nearly immobilized at times. He keeps it under control with rigorous exercise and a strict diet plan (that falls nicely into his preference of being a Straight Edge.)
Personal Significance
Dull Knives is one of my favorites off of Mercury Act 1, between the easy lyrical melody, unusual heavy sound, and relatable theme. I often sing it to myself. It taught me what grunge sounds like, helping me to identify the style when I happen to hear it around. I remember being able to quickly categorize and feel comfortable with U2’s Wire when I heard it the first time, because I was familiar with the noisy, anguished style of Dull Knives.
I've made a few art pieces with it over the years. I suppose it speaks for itself.
Words: 400.
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© Copyright 2025 Amethyst Angel h✟k ♡ (UN: greenwillow at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Amethyst Angel h✟k ♡ has granted InkSpot.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
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I only have houseplants now.
Haven't had a day below 89 (102 wet-bulb) in two months. Sunscreen is highly recommended. I have a spare room with a private bath, 15 feet from the pool. Let me know well in advance (at least 24 hours 
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