A List of Special Things:
How about roasting marshmallows?
That's special...
Camping with friends,
Flames and really bad singing-
Who could ask for more?
Oh, wait…
You can roast 'em with a fork over a burner,
Alone.
Well, what about wishing on wishbones?
Yep, that's special!
There's that happy night waiting for it to dry
And thinking of wishes.
Well, unless you put it in the microwave.
Then it takes about 30 seconds...
Do microwaved wishes come true?
Hmmm.
There’s always sex…
That’s unique and beautiful.
Only exciting, romantic people get to have sex, right?
Only that really fat old man
And your parents
And nearly everyone else you’ve ever met
And all their friends.
Ugh. Is anything special?
Not the cheap-quick-now versions
No. It seems the most joy of any pleasure
Comes through waiting, and anticipation
Right?
So...
Save the marshmallows for the campfire,
And eat them with burned fingers
While you're laughing
Save the wishbone for the morning,
(After you’ve talked smack to the other breaker)
And had a night to think of your favorite wish
Save your passion for your wedding bed,
And instead of these wildfires that burn you black
And hide your truth,
You’ll find a secret hearth
With crackling flames that warm both of you
Against the drenching rains of the world-
And that’s special.
Author notes
And it is! 
Written January 6th, 2004
In a list
A contest entry
- Waiting 'til Marriage: A Contest on Romance and Society. by greenewhiplash.
300 points, ended October 6, 2006, 13 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - At the end of the day.... by SomethingPoetic.
470 points, ended July 10, 2008, 12 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 41 of 41
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that made me sad. Really sad. Not gonna lie.
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There's a companion poem to this one I wrote after I was married called "A Grieving" that covers my sadness with the issue as well.
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Amazing! This contains so much honesty that most of today's youth would simply overlook. I love the way it made me think and i mean really think...that is a great write and it deserves more praise than i have words for.
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I noticed you posted this in the contest as a prewrite... that you wrote it back in 2004.
I was just wondering if you knew the guy that you're married to now back then.
I enjoyed this- thank you.
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Song- I don't remember if I ever responded to this question. I don't see the answer if I did- Yes, I knew Cliff back then. I didn't date him, and this was in that period of time when I was entirely alone. God made it very clear I was to keep myself seperate, and so all my walls were up until He said it was safe to take them down, and it was Cliff who was coming to me. Actually, I never dated him, we just got married all of a sudden.
Our first kiss was at the wedding.
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Now this is my sort of poem. Loved the dry tone and irony, and how it didn't try to be funny, it just was. Great work. Thanks for entering!
Abbi
Edited on Sep 26, 10:08 p.m. because ''. -
OH MY GOSHHHH--haha yes!! at first i was like, oh, this is unusual, then i was like, woohoo! its going somewhere, and then it did, and... *sigh* a wonderful piece came about. LOVED the moral, and the idea of waiting. my mum always says, "anything worth having's worth waiting for" and its totally tru. fantastic write, and good luck in the contest!! --Shannon
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at fisrt i didnt like the poem cuz i thought it was negative but then when i got to the bottom i knew the point of ur poem... i believe in many of the same things... stongly i feel of waiting till ur married to have sex... i really enjoyed this poem... keep writing!
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Very impressed
This had a bit of everything, yet it flowed so well.
Really good poem. -
this speeks the truth. you seem to know what is special. i have one of my own...waking up in the morning and being only able to think about the one you are with...that is special.
great poem!
~joe~ -
Like Absinthe said- Amen! This was funny, especially the sex bit... although thinking about your friends isn't half as bad as thinking about your parents, or old people... ew, old people. Anyway, this was insightful. I can't remember ever waiting for a wishbone but I suppose it's definitely worth the wait. Good job.
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Yes ma'am.. you've got a way with words
Loved this write, not only did it have humor (which I just
love), but it also had love, and a hint of inspiration to others. Very well written!! And.. I have to agree... that it is special.
~Aimee
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I loved this one! I have needed a reminder of whats special in my own life, and you have made me think of those things. You have a very good message in this piece, that i think we could all learn from it if we choose to listen.
~Akhila Amoda -
There is one more thing that is special this night. Sitting here and reading your work has become very special to me. Seems to be warming my soul and you have no idea how much I truly need that. Thank you ever so much.
Hugs and bites, Lady Raven -
Great poem. Simply said, very well done. I liked the message and i believe that you put it well.
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I liked it too. Nice to come across a poem that has had some thought put into it. Obviously. Ok, and the last one... like the marshmellows can be taken care of alone, and quick, like the wishbone in the microwave too. Hahaha!
Peace. -
Wow, it was really good. & above all true. More people should read it. That might save abortions & starving. Woh, now it sounds preppy... i need 2 stop. oh well, i liked it.
~Ashley~ -
Wonderful
Amen. That was wonderfully presented and I just love the message. That's all I have to say at the moment so keep on writing; I'll keep on reading.
Absinthe
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I love the "gin up specialness" hee hee! Yep, yep!
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This was so beautiful and funny and touching. I loved it! Special is so overused. People spend all their time trying to gin up specialness, and miss the moments right under their noses. Closing thought was dynamic!
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Mmm, yes I agree with all of that - and very well put. Have you read C.S. Lewis's Cosmic Trilogy? In Perelandra there's a few bits about keeping things special. Read it if you haven't - if you like the Chronicles you'll like the Trilogy!
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oh my gosh. this is soooo good! it's very sweet. and it has a very, very interesting twist. i really, really like this. i like the comparasin with sex and the wedding bed...good words, that's exactly what i believe. it will be so much more special then. wow...this is such a wonderful poem. keep up the good work and thank you very much for entering my contest. God bless!
~Jessilynn11
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This poem is special. Nice flow, and the idea behind it is awesome. Nice write.
A/E/S -
Oh wow I love this one!! Great job on proving your point. I agree mainly with the sex part. It is a gift from God and is meant for those who are married, therefore it's SPECIAL. People need to realize aspects like that and keep gifts from God meaningful. Goodjob
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Absolutely great!!!
And you are right, we usually take the special moments and actions for granted. Wasting emotions and memories.
I really enjoyed this poem!
Mari
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awww this is great..i like the message i wish more people would go by that message and think like that ..becuase its always good to keep things *special* but ppl dont do that and blah..good job i like this unique
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Meaningful
I wasn't so sure after reading the first part of this poem, the sort of depressive humour... Hmm. But after reading on it stresses the later made point well, shifting the emphasis somewhat. The message of the poem is one many (including me!) could learn from put across nicely. Well written.
lynn xXx
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This poem is really great!!!! It has a very meaningful message behind it and i just wanted to say that I really liked it, you made the things that were special co much more special...All things are special if you share them with friends and if you wait for the right moment. And i also think that we should hold on to the "good old days." So great write, keep up the good work, and i look forward to reading some of your future work!!!
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Beautiful message. Everything looses its meaning these days... hold onto the good old days, even if you're too young to remember them.
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when I have no words to comment on a great write I just clap.. so here we go
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Sweet idea about saving it for the wedding bed...hahaha, I liked your poem, I thought more about savouring the small things we usually take for granted, taking these things and finding soemthing special in them to renew their lustre... Thankyou for your write.
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Everything in life is special hun, even life it's self, for
even tho we all may do the same things, we never do them in
exactly the same way or with the same thoughts in our head,
and so as such, all actions are special to us...
Keep penning
Eddy
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i LOVED this poem.. the mashmallow section reminds me of fond memories of backyard camp fires after football games. and you're definitely right. all of those things are special because when you wait for something it becomes much more meaningful. great work.
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Intresting read, different in a good way. I liked it!
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Brilliant!
Phenomenal work, tongue-in-cheek and deliciously clever. This was an engaging read, never too scathing, just perfectly executed. And such a warm message, it definitely put things in perspective. Loved it.
Thanks!
- Giovanni -
This is nicely written I love roasting marshmellows over a open camp fire this poem really brought back speacial memories thanks for sharing. Healing Heart
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Great Advice!
this is a great write and wonderful advice! thanks so much! i luv it... looking forward to reading more of ur work! keep it up! ~av~ -xoxo- -
excellent
Beautifully done. It is hard to get through those lonely times. But it is definitely worth it. Too many bad memories and heart aches from being with the wrong person.
Excellently written.
John -
This is wonderful advice and a wonderful write.
You did an awesome job exposing special things are for special times.
For this piece is special and I thank you for sharing it with me.....
sam
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Lol- I'll tell dad. He'll love it.
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special
I'll tell you what's specal. This poem. Awesome write. At first I thought you were having a blue mood and getting ready to nuke everything we think is special. But I loved how you turned it all around midstream into a sort of life's lesson in keeping special things special and why that's so important. Awesome write (again!)
On another more scientific note, I have finally proved the wishbone theorem is more than just a myth. Here's the wishbone theorem: Two people take a dried wishbone and pull it apart. Whoever gets the larger part gets their wish granted, and whoever gets the smaller part does not.
I have found this to be 100% true and provable as follows:
No matter what you think you wish for at the time you are pulling on the wishbone, your one real overriding and all-consuming wish is to get the larger piece of the wishbone. *right?* So if you in fact get the larger piece, then you have also received (instantly I might add) fulfillment of your wish. On the other hand, if you received the smaller piece, then not only did you not get your ultimate wish, but the other person did get theirs!
Keep writing glass, and thanks for all your feedback on my work
-LongRoad
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