Lyric Fire

Lyric Fire: NaPoWriMo 2012 - Day 14 of 30 Poems in 30 Days - Spaghetti & Fried Fish

NaPoWriMo 2012 - 30 Poems in 30 Days - Day 14

I can hardly believe it's been 14 days since this poetry challenge started, but life moves at a rapid pace when you're having fun doesn't it? Today's poem will pay homage to one of my favorite meals from my childhood. Spaghetti and fried fish! I remember when my mom cooked this for dinner for the first time. I frowned and said, "Spaghetti and fried fish don't go together!" My mother gave me "the look" and said, "Well, it does today!"

I asked her why she put the two foods together and she said it was a meal she ate a lot in her own childhood. She hailed from the south, Georgia in fact, and she explained that sometimes poor families that worked for rich families would bring home food that the wealthy people discarded and they would make meals for their family from what some would call "scraps." I couldn't imagine anyone thinking fried fish would be a scrap, but hey, different strokes! She also told me that her mom would also make stews and soups that consisted of chicken or fish (if they were lucky) and different veggies and potatoes, and anything else she could find to make a meal for her large family.

So here is a shout-out to all the southern moms who made spaghetti and fried fish for their kids! Somewhere this meal is now a delicacy!

 

Spaghetti & Fried Fish  

 

Spaghetti & fried fish

What a peculiar dish!

Southern sensibilities and Italy hugged and shared a kiss!

Oh, what tasty bliss!

A meal best not to miss

Culinary artists cringe

But there's no dissing this!

 

Red sauce and noodles

Do seem to canoodle

Resting nicely together

Topped off with shredded cheddar

 

Fish so hot it sizzles

Crunchy skin with a tender middle

It's still singing when it hits the plate

Looks so inviting, my tastebuds can't wait

 

Salt, pepper, cornmeal and protein

Garlic, spice, tomato sauce and starch

Forget about Picasso

This right here is art! 

 

For more delicious servings of poetry this month, please visit these bloggers as they are also participating in NaPoWriMo! 

Sweepy Jean Explores the (Webby) World

AscendingTheHills

142 Books

Sulekha Rawat: Memoirs

To create…

memoirs of a homemaker

For Jen’s Sake

One Time Pad

Thoughts Of Beauty In The Stillness Of Dawn

Lyric Fire: NaPoWriMo 2012 - Day 13 of 30 Poems in 30 Days - Before I Take The Mic

 

NaPoWriMo 2012 - 30 Poems in 30 Days - Day 13

Thirteen straight days of poetry! It's been a joy, a challenge, a means to emotionally purge, pay homage, mourn and laugh. How sweet it is! I hope you enjoy my next piece:  

 

Before I Take The Mic

 

i'm pacing

tracing

orange lines on coloring book pages

breathing in and out

slow

doing hand stands

the blood is rushing

texting

making sex plans

for after the show

i need a release

after i release

honey slides down my throat

tea drips down the cup

staining my jeans

gotta instagram that

tweet it out

see

i'm normal

but the pic

makes even my ordinary

larger than my life

 

before i take the mic

 

i argue

with my son's father

i need to work

you knew what you signed up for

you like the perks

that escalade rides real good

you've never seen steaks that thick

i'm not seeing no one else

i gotta work

it's work

selling dreams 

for the price of admission 

is labor intensive

i'm building worlds up there

mixing colors

throwing paint on pavements

turning dark to light

 

before i take the mic

 

my attorney is producing bail

i'm brushing my teeth with my finger

no paste

just spit

this aint glamorous

just life

my poetic life

my gift is in my throat

not my cerebellum

i don't think

i don't have to 

i have 20 other people to do it for me

my glee lasts for two hours at a time

on stage

under hot lights

the stadium closes

i shut down

you don't know what i have inside

you could never imagine

how hard i've had to fight

 

before i take the mic

 

For more delicious servings of poetry this month, please visit these bloggers as they are also participating in NaPoWriMo! 

Sweepy Jean Explores the (Webby) World

AscendingTheHills

142 Books

Sulekha Rawat: Memoirs

To create…

memoirs of a homemaker

For Jen’s Sake

One Time Pad

Thoughts Of Beauty In The Stillness Of Dawn

Lyric Fire: NaPoWriMo 2012 - Day 12 of 30 Poems in 30 Days - Sound The Alarm!

NaPoWriMo 2012 - 30 Poems in 30 Days - Day 12

 

Sound The Alarm

The page is blank

My mind is a blur

Where oh where is thou poetry?

Has anyone seen her?

 

The words are hiding 

Rhythmic passages are subsiding

My brain is on empty

Can anybody save me?

 

I'm being challenged

Rocked to the core

I'm losing my lines

I can't write anymore

 

My pen has fizzled

My swag is gone

Time to sing another

Really bad swan song

 

The sound of a roar

Just snapped me awake

It's my alarm clock & it's after eight

 

I shake my head

I'm remembering a dream

My notepad is filled

With delightful things

 

I go to the mirror to comb my hair

Seems I was just having a dreadful nightmare

 

My pen is intact

My computer is juiced

It's about that time 

To let loose the muse

 

My poetic vibe

Is definitely here to stay

God Bless the Child!

What a wonderful day! 

 

For more delicious servings of poetry this month, please visit these bloggers as they are also participating in NaPoWriMo! 

Sweepy Jean Explores the (Webby) World

AscendingTheHills

142 Books

Sulekha Rawat: Memoirs

To create…

memoirs of a homemaker

For Jen’s Sake

One Time Pad

Thoughts Of Beauty In The Stillness Of Dawn

Lyric Fire: NaPoWriMo 2012 - Day 11 of 30 Poems in 30 Days - A Tumbleweed Rolling

NaPoWriMo 2012 - 30 Poems in 30 Days - Day 11

I am following the NaPoWriMo poetry prompt today and it calls for writing a poem highlighting the five senses. I bring you:

 

A Tumbleweed Rolling

It bears down hard, but the weight of it rivals that of a dandelion wisp

White, light, airy, filled with seeds of life

Blowing onto and into many lives

It's like a tumbleweed rolling

Enchanting the vision of all who see

 

When unencumbered by complications, it sings rare melodies

Striking a chord, causing a contented soul hum

It makes the heart pump with passion

And fingers tremble at the slightest touch

 

Those who encounter this enigmatic wanderer are entranced

Taken over, scent-bombed and captured

Trapped in a fragrant cage

Pumpkin spice and vanilla surrounds the senses

 

The center of the chained doth salivate

Days on end they dive into the cookery

Tasting the sweetness, decadence and deliciousness

 

Of love 

 

For more sweet and savory servings of poetry this month, please visit these bloggers as they are also participating in NaPoWriMo! 

Sweepy Jean Explores the (Webby) World

AscendingTheHills

142 Books

Sulekha Rawat: Memoirs

To create…

memoirs of a homemaker

For Jen’s Sake

One Time Pad

Thoughts Of Beauty In The Stillness Of Dawn

Lyric Fire: NaPoWriMo 2012 - Day 10 of 30 Poems in 30 Days - Sancheeta's Diary

 

NaPoWriMo 2012 - 30 Poems in 30 Days - Day 10

On day 10 of National Poetry Month, I'm feeling deep pain. I belong to a vibrant and beautiful blogging community that is filled with poets, writers, photographers and other artists and I learned yesterday that we had lost one of our own. A bright light and sensitive soul, Sancheeta Biswas. 

As writers we share our most intimate thoughts, beliefs, desires and wishes along with things we create from pure imagination that have nothing and sometimes everything to do with us. The fun part as a reader is trying to figure out what is true of the writer and what is fiction. As I was only connected to Sancheeta through writing as miles separated us, I can only imagine what her true joys and fears were, but I was indeed blessed to have the connection that I had as she was very supportive of my writing. I will always remember her kind words, thoughtful reflections and most of all her sensitive, sensual and poetic writing. Today's poem is dedicated to her memory and is entitled, Sancheeta's Diary. Sancheeta you will be forever missed dear one.

Sancheeta's Diary

i await her hands

soft and precious

they hold me with great care

 

i anticipate her touch                                        

daily

because when i feel the warmth 

i know

adventure is at hand

 

i travel far inside

the mind of sunny souls

cold black hearts

gold mines

valleys

paradise and back

via her imagination

 

i am always traveling

even though sometimes 

i am still

 

i long

i ponder

where will she take me today

i transport myself in her absence 

into her pysche

 

i am there

one with her

i am the keeper

of her dreams

secrets

admirations

and aspirations

 

i know how dear

she holds her daughter

her family 

and her friends

i know her fears

she teaches

i listen

i learn

i glean

i am in awe

 

i look deep into 

fierce piercing eyes

as she looks deeply

into me to my spine 

after unleashing her thoughts

she seeks answers

i can only provide

an outlet

 

it has been a few days

i long for her fingers

to trace my pages

her smiles to grace 

the ink as it dries

 

her voice echoes loudly

i hear her 

but her form is gone

i weep

my friend is gone

 

but her words remain

to cover the stain

and hole in my heart

i will guard and keep

her treasures forever

 

dear sancheeta

 

For more poetry this month, please visit these bloggers as they are also participating in NaPoWriMo! 

Sweepy Jean Explores the (Webby) World

AscendingTheHills

142 Books

Sulekha Rawat: Memoirs

To create…

memoirs of a homemaker

For Jen’s Sake

One Time Pad

Thoughts Of Beauty In The Stillness Of Dawn

Lyric Fire: NaPoWriMo 2012 - Day Nine of 30 Poems in 30 Days - Angelica's Angst

NaPoWriMo 2012 - 30 Poems in 30 Days - Day Nine 

Happy Monday! It is the ninth day of National Poetry Month! Yes! Today I will attempt to write a persona poem per today's prompt. It's a piece where the poet writes in the voice of another person. Ideally the poem should resemble a dramatic monologue. As a former actress, I think I can do this. The person I've picked is my sister Angela who was a stillborn baby. I love her and miss her each day. Here is:

 

Angelica's Angst 

Your doubts about me are correct. The stories you've been told are all lies.

Stillborn? Really? Is that the best they could come up with? 

Listen closely. I was NOT a stillborn baby.

Nope. 

That was the cleaned up version. A story to cover the lies.

So what's the truth? Hmm, can you handle the truth?

Yes, I'm privy to your Hollywood sayings that become iconic catch phrases.

I am not dead honey. I am very much alive. 

When you giggle, I live.

When you give someone the side-eye, I am breathing. 

Yes, I know your colorful slang too. 

Oh, yeah, well I guess I am side-stepping the truth. 

The truth. 

Reality. 

You really want to know what happened don't you?

What difference would it make?

Would it bring me back?

Would we be able to do each other's make-up and rag on guys?

Would we miraculously merge into best friend's overnight just because I appeared?

Would we?

Why must you know everything? 

Okay, here it is. 

Our mother ravaged her body with toxic substances and as a result I was ravaged with toxic substances. 

I lived but for a short time, but my little body could not withstand all of those chemicals so I died. 

Happy now? 

Does knowing this give you any satisfaction Miss "I Have To Know Everything?"

Okay, let me stop being so mean.

It's not you I am mad at. 

I am upset because I didn't even get the chance to...

I should be over this by now, but I'm not!

I wanted to be a sister, not a memory.

I'm not even really a memory for you am I?

You say you love me, but I know you only say that because of pity. 

You feel sorry for me that I didn't live. 

I feel your guilt sometimes too. You wonder why you escaped the chemicals and I didn't.

You wonder what I look like, what I sound like. 

You cry in your sleep sometimes missing a person you never knew.

I see this and I try to comfort you.

Yes, it was me that day. 

I sat on your bed as you slept. 

I know you felt the weight of me.

I looked at my sister drooling and hogging the bed.

You were probably dreaming a colorful dream and I interrupted it. 

I wouldn't let you wake up. That is against the rules. But I know you felt me. 

I felt you too.

I am there always.

Always there.

 

I am.

Always.

There. 

 

For more delicious servings of poetry this month, please visit these bloggers as they are also participating in NaPoWriMo! 

Sweepy Jean Explores the (Webby) World

AscendingTheHills

142 Books

Sulekha Rawat: Memoirs

To create…

memoirs of a homemaker

For Jen’s Sake

One Time Pad

Thoughts Of Beauty In The Stillness Of Dawn

Lyric Fire: NaPoWriMo 2012 - Day Eight of 30 Poems in 30 Days - Manna & Moonbeams

NaPoWriMo 2012 - 30 Poems in 30 Days - Day Eight

Eight days in and the poetry is still flowing and I have God to thank. I also thank him for every blessing he's ever graced me with and those that are on the way. Best wishes to all on this Easter Sunday. Please enjoy:

 

Manna & Moonbeams

You promised me the moon

If I claimed you

The stars and all that they cast light on would be mine

If I claimed you

 

My savior

Prince of Peace

My King

I am not worthy

But I claim you

I am 

Because you are

I breathe because you provide the air

Yes, I claim you

 

Manna now is scarce for some 

Even though they say we live in the best of times

And there is abundance all around

But yet, too, there is lack

 

Grant me the ability to feel full

Even though I may be depleted

Strong despite my weaknesses

Accomplished in spite of my failures

Generous even though I may be poor

 

A jewel is only dust if not recognized by you

So even when I shine, I want not to forget who gives the glow

If I ever put you aside for worldly things I am sorry

I knew not what I was doing

I was not yet who I longed to be

 

Some want the world and all that's in it

I can't claim to be any different

You created beauty that is almost too dear to view

It's tempting

But, what I want most of all

What I need most 

Is manna and moonbeams

Spiritual substance, edification, divine light

For sustenance, fulfillment and guidance

 

I shall reach

Stretch

Endure

Walk

Run

Jump

Extend

Pray

Work

Strive

Believe

Until I am ready to fully receive these holy gifts

 

I ask for your mercy 

As I do all in remembrance of you

 

For more delicious servings of poetry this month, please visit these bloggers as they are also participating in NaPoWriMo! 

Sweepy Jean Explores the (Webby) World

AscendingTheHills

142 Books

Sulekha Rawat: Memoirs

To create…

memoirs of a homemaker

For Jen’s Sake

One Time Pad

Thoughts Of Beauty In The Stillness Of Dawn