In keeping with my universe theme I borrowed the idea that the (my) body is like its own (my) universe; a whole system controlling a much larger system. The body and the brain, two halves of one whole. So, I took that and played with the poetic form, the Diamante, a diamond shape that starts with one idea and flows into the complete opposite. The two halves of a person, and what skin (body) and mind mean, and VIOLA!! I also free wrote a little verse about the universal body-mind.
Possibilities: What do you find tantalizing? What has provoked your interest or desire recently? Free write for ten minutes answering those questions or some of your own.
I love the feeling of certain sweaters or my black dancer pants. The softness make my skin tingle. Sunlight on my skin, after a long summer of being outdoors and active. My skin is wonderful and tantalizing when its been outside and moisturized and I run my fingers along my arms. Its sacred sometimes...
Tell me, what do you thinks constitutes a universe? Leave me a comment below...
I went specific today. But in keeping with my universe theme that I started with, I thought about mini universes and my Mum's rose garden came to mind. My Dad planted 8 roses bushes in front/side of our old farmhouse (where he grew up), next to a row of Lily of the Valley, and out of the (true) front window there where Tiger Lilies. A pleasant memory, so I ran with it. I wish I had picture of the garden to show you, Dear Readers, it was a favourite childhood spot to sit and think (as much at seven year old think of deep philosophy and existential meanderings). Here's my favourite concept that I came up with and it is the one I started my blitz with. As blitzes go, what you start with isn't what you end up with.
What microcosms? What is sharp? How are microcosms sharp?
As always, Dear Readers, leave me some love. What is sharp for you? How do you deal with that sharpness? Sharp are the thorns on a rose back in my mother's garden. Colours of the rainbow, reds, pinks, a yellow, a white, and even a light garden. Its like a mini universe of flora. A Flora microcosm. photos from MorgueFile Sharp Microcosms
Roses have thorns
Roses are pretty
Pretty are the flowers
Pretty, you are
Are you looking
Are there more
More to gather
More to see
See what I am
See the sunset
Sunset going down
Sunset is over
Over the hill
Over the time
Time is gone
Time for the end End of an era
End of the day
Day is night
Day of the week
Week ends after tomorrow
Week is seven days long
Long time gone
Long am I waiting
Waiting for something
Waiting for anything
Anything I want
Anything is possible
Possible solutions
Possible dreams
Dreams of the future
Dreams I make
Make my own
Make the choice
Choice of left Choice of Right
Right way or not
Right is not left
Left to my devices
Left alone
Alone is not bad
Alone I am not
Not what I planned
Not the end
End is only in sight
End is a beginning
Beginning
Sight...
Have you every thought that watching a sunset is like watching the edge of the universe? That maybe there isn't much beyond the orangey crimson turning slowly into purpley greys; or maybe that the sunset is the gate to another realm. It's like all the possibilities there are are in the colours of the dying light.
Today's prompt got me a little dark with my whimsy, which I try to keep up beat as much as possible, but sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Today is universe edge, sunsets, and emotional releases. (I will admit that some of this is Buffy Season 5 related). Also, Nina's album is inspiring today's poem. I am actually listening to the WHOLE thing now!
I wrote for 15 minute minutes on the subject of the colour purple; and no I do not go into the book. I have read it, but I wanted to try a free write. I don't usually do the free writes, but today I was curious. I came up with a few really good images.
Free Write: Purple is a mixture of Red and Blue, anger and sadness. It seems like a peaceful colour, if maybe a little sad. ...And a sunset long pass being a sunset, when the wound of the sun is to turn purple. Purple, Indigo, Periwinkle, all purples that fade become Blues, which is when the happy is removed from life, leaving only the Blues of sadness. Word Prompts: shade, tone, tincture, spectral, mottle Poetic Form:Cascades
I decided to go with a slightly cliche concept, but this month seems to be about the universe, both macrocosm and microcosm. So, I am playing with those ideas with my them. It's the first time I've gotten a theme to go with each poem. I hope I can keep it up, Dear Readers. Aw, hell's bells, I WILL keep it up!!
Okay, so I loathe when I start late on a project, but I did have an excuse. I was acting in a 24 hour theatre production yesterday. In case you, Dear Readers, don't know what that is, it is where within 24 hours 5 to 6 short plays are written, directed, and performed in 24 hours. It's a rush and always entertaining.
This meant that my brain wasn't in the poetry frame of mind last night. I just binged on Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and baked brownies for a friends birthday today. Today is a new day. Today I am writing two poems, and thus will be caught up, and STAY caught up!! Ha! (Whose gonna take bets? Anyone?)
I have been on a Nina Gordon kick and I used Tonight and the Rest of My Life as my writing muse. I am following some of the prompts that are outlined each day on OctPoWriMo. Go check out my fellow poets while you're at it! They are wonderful!!
Day 1 Prompt: Time -Time is such a constant in our lives, racing the clock, wishing it would go faster or slower. Rarely do we get off the train of time and focus solely in the moment. What does time mean to you?
Time Race
Time,
racing by infinitesimal moments,
in a constant race
never stopping to enjoy
these moments
that arise.
Time,
rushing about in a hurry,
meeting and deadlines,
but always just missing
the right time,
for a sunset,
rainbow,
or a kiss.
Time,
a master
controlling all of those moments;
or
Time,
a child asking to play
hide and seek
and wasting the days away.
Can be both,
or neither,
I suppose.
What will you choose?
Day 2 Prompt - The Void- as writers, and especially poetry writers, I believe we dive into the void on a regular basis to find the words, to gain perspective, to hibernate and more. How have you used the void? What does, "the void" mean to you?
I re-discovered Nina Gordon, who was bury in my CD collection; no case, or CD artwork, but stuck in the middle of my binder of CDs with no case/artwork. (Don't ask, I was silly stupid in the early 2000s).
One little question and I remember why I love Tonight and The Rest of My Life, the title track to the album of the same name. When it came out it was a force to be reckoned with Nina's vocals. I didn't catch it when it came in 2000. There was something haunting about the music, and yet Nina was speaking of truths, which I wouldn't get until 2016, so sixteen years later. Feeling joy in something simple, and enjoying that feeling. It might have stemmed from something sad, or frustrating, but there is a joy is finding your personal truths.
After asking this question, I pulled "Tonight..." up on youtube and gave it a listen, and then I listened a few more times. I was compelled to find my CD, realized that it had been a few years since listening to it. I saw much more within "Tonight's..." track and the rest of the album, something I missed on prior listens.
I set about to write while "Tonight..." played. I have discovered that I tap into deeper creative outlets, rivulets and reservoirs with music. Often I stick to instrumental music, Celtic, Afro-Celtic (Ladysmith Black Mambazo), Asian (12 Girls Band), Hawaiian, but there are times that lyrical music (songs with words) will spark an idea. "Tonight..." did that, and I wanted to share with you, Dear Readers some of my universe poetry; one is silly and one is surreal, which I think works on at least one level. Mine! :-)
This post is dedicated for one person, just because. Thanks James!
Factoid: Nina Gordon was in the late nineties band, Veruca Salt.
Universal Cookbook
Have you ever thought,
what makes a world?
A cosmic soup
of gas,
minerals,
and a spark.
Seems so simple,
like making a batch of no-bakes,
but really,
How do make a world?
Measuring the ingredients,
with a pinch of Carbon
and a dash I Nitrogen,
mix well, while pre-set the oven
to 350 degrees
for what?
a few billion years?
Let set for several thousands years,
and maybe it'll be ready
to be served with
a side of Sun and Moon,
and four seasons.
Then, maybe,
just maybe,
your earth will be ready to join the
universe,
like a giant macrocosm bake sale.
Universe Truths
Like dust,
covering everything--
the universal is dusty,
though, nothing like faerie
or pixie ,
because
when I am covered
I can see all--
a clarity
riding in crests
foaming waves upon seas--
or deeply turned earth,
loam from which
all things return--
or blazing infernos
orangey golden,
and I can see the universe
roiling and churning,
making civilasation soup
out from which we,
humanity is birth
to make great things,
truths
and lies,
art and
terror.
Everything is what can
be, within the universe,
the heavens,
dusty.
Do you like to listen to music, podcast, TV, radio while writing, Dear Readers? I think I asked this question before, but I am always curious to know what my readers like to listen to while writing, or at least what do you listen to when relaxing (or doing housework, etc.)? Leave me a comment below, and catch you on the flip....
I write a lot, but sometime even I get a little lost. Sometime I hardly write a word, and yet I can still write one helluva poem, be it sonnets, villanelle, or blitz poem. I am a F***kin' Awesome Writer. In preparation for OctPoWriMo starting October 1st I wanted to share a poem a write.
My friend Joy found this local poetry contest of female sexuality, gender expression, gender identity, and the like. She sent it to me. I vowed to submit something, and so I wrote. I haven't submitting anything yet, but I have until November. In the mean time I wanted to share one of my attempts to write about female sexuality. It is not a topic I often tackle, but I felt compelled to try, also, I am trying to revised one or more of this poem for inclusion in this contest.
I hope you enjoy it, Dear Readers.
There will be a lot more poetry in the coming months, and even regular blog posts again. I have had a busy and intense year, starting to wind down into a bit of normalcy again. Not that I always want normalcy, but I like some consistency at least.
With that, I give you...
Pleasure Moment
I am my sex,
female, if you will,
alive with sensual desires--
breathing down my neck.
Tingling
and
goose pimpled flesh.
The moment's gone, you see,
unless the fire is stoked,
and fed by tinder
and
wood.
Pulses race--
I know I am alive,
desires
and
thrilling.
Are you?
Give me a moment
and I will come when called;
and your fannng my desires,
making the woman in me
stand out.
I am not ashamed.
This is a pleasure moment,
silently sought
hard pressed to win.
My desires are real,
as am I. See me!
I am touch, to yours,
giving in, to yours--
drink me in
and in a moment,
know that I am
woman,
heat and desire,
pleasure and pain,
housed all in one.
Will you give in too?
And the moment need not pass again.
Leave me some love in the comments section...Poetry
