Saturday, February 02, 2013

The Annual Groundhog Day Shrinklit

I rerun it (almost) every year, in honor of the movie, Bill Murray, and groundhogs everywhere.

I wrote this shrinklit about five years ago. Remember Shrinklits? They were funny, succinct little retellings of classic works. Here's my version.

And, best wishes for either six more weeks of winter, or perhaps only a month and a half.



Karen's Groundhog Day Shrinklit

Phil: at first, a selfish jerk
Focused on his fun and work
Women were a toy or game
Till every day became the same.

Quite suddenly, no rules apply
Steal some money, tell a lie
Nihilism's worth a spin
until despair comes crashing in

Suicide just didn't take
Surely something is at stake
Could it be that it is worth
Striving for a true rebirth?

Self improvement: worth a try?
Though all past ways it does defy?
Selflessness for its own sake?
Letting go of all that's fake?

Helping, saving, giving, tears
Authentic feelings, first in years
Letting go of all that's old
Lets in truth, releases cold

Something genuine and kind
Allows this man his best to find
Is this conversion? God at work?
Or one colossal cosmic quirk?

2 comments:

~k~ said...

Hi Karen, Clever Shrinklit. I don't know how I missed this in the past, but I do remember you writing about The Groundhog Day movie Before. As we were watching the movie tonight, I was telling my husband that I remembered reading a blog that shared about redemption as the theme of this story. Perhaps it was yours?
Blessings to you and yours, Kristina

Karen Edmisten said...

Hi, Kristina -- you might be thinking of this post. I didn't go into any great depth, but I think I linked to some other things at some point, too. :)