You
Never said
What I wanted to hear
Show
What I wanted to see
Gave only
What I needed
So they said
It wasn’t enough
But I knew
It was
Everything
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Posting a belated for yesterday’s interview Catching Up with Samuel Peralta at dVerse.
A Twitter poem is the challenge of writing poems within the limit of 140 characters (including spaces, line-spaces etc.) of a tweet.
Beauty: sells tanning lotion in one area and lightening creams in another
Is: the TVs, magazines and runways of thinness attainable
In: a land where the curvy is passable, yet too fat is unacceptable– too?
The: rhinoplasty done to make noses look smaller while
Eye: get surgery to make them look wider.
Of: braids deemed unprofessional or locs truly dreaded in
The: root of – the problem?And if it can’t grow is it clip, glue or sew to a
Beholder: in the mirror who wonders…
But who is the beholder?
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At dVerse an interview with Anthony Desmond, and Gayle hosting, prompts us with beliefs; pondering what we might believe in, or had believed in.
I was struck by a conversation among friends of the (in)constant state of beliefs in what is considered beautiful and by whom.
For two hours daily my parakeet squawks
while my cat hisses as
my dog is howling
All in harmony with cars honking below
Planes flying above and the kid
badly practicing the cello next door
Earplugs are a thing of beauty indeed
Artist: Claudia Schoenfeld
Used with Permission
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Today at dVerse Victoria inspires us to use one of the paintings of fellow dVerse Poet Claudia Schoenfeld for our poems. As Claudia is also a musician we are further challenged to write a poem using the SEVENLING form with a theme of music.
The painting I chose clearly inspired me in an offbeat direction.
dVerse ~Poets Pub |
Poetry and Painting Embrace: We Can’t Forget Claudia Schoenfeld
what the books can’t tell,
the news can’t sell,
the senses imbibe –
aromas alongside stenches
vintage contrasts innovative
durable touching dilapidated
rancid against delectable
melodic rhythms divide harsh screeches
and the fierce pride of a people
who journeyed time
while standing frozen in it
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I recently returned from a trip to Cuba and fully understand why, among many things, it is called a A Country Frozen In Time. A year ago today, Cuba and the United States restored diplomatic relations. It’s only been a few scant years since Cuba’s resurgence into the US’ consciousness as a restricted travel destination and while the times are indeed a’changing for the country as those restriction become more and more relaxed, it has a very long way to go. That which makes Cuba unique remains very much in place.
dVerse ~Poets Pub | 5th Anniversary Quadrille – Journey
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Oh, I’m lousy at meter
Unless it’s Demeter
Of she I can speak night and day
Iambic pentameter
Just doesn’t matterer
To my muse any way
Saw what I did there, eh?
And “da-DUM da-DUM”
Just makes me feel dumb
Strike that mouse in the clock I begs
For I will give the boot
To all who mention “foot”
When lyrics ain’t got any legs,
But will run for some green ham and eggs. Dregs!
Whether di-, pent- or Hexes
Oh how meter vexes
The voice when unnaturally dropped
On meter spanned then
With lines enjambed when
Ow! I think my poor brain has popped!
And now my watch is end-stopped
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In a play against how cell phones now seem to take up so much of our time, Izy at Real Toads takes us “Out of Standard” and challenges us to pick up our cell phones for some “inspiredo” by taking the last text received and use it in a poem. Luckily, my last text had no emojis.
Real Toads | Out of Standard – From the Black Mirror
Meanwhile at dVerse, Victoria challenges us to pick a subject and write in meter to set its mood. Can you say ‘Ugh!”? I have never been one for formal meter. If a word or phrasing comes naturally to my write, an errant “foot”, sticking out like a sore thumb, will happen. The message is more important. Thus, I could not resist delightfully mocking it here as my subject, throwing in some poetic terminology, Hickory Dickory, Dr. Seuss and a touch of Game of Thrones to boot.
They marvel at your skill
How lifelike I appear
As though I could fly
Every way the wind blows
They know not your dark secret
A twirl in Sol’s gold
Coiling in Luna’s silver
Diaphanous and solid
Every way the wind blows
How your majik sealed me within
Lighter than dandelion fluff
Joyful wings ever airborne
Yet never take flight
Every way the wind blows
A statue admired as so alive
The ethereal made corporeal
To this post ever bound
In eternal dervish motion
Every way the wind blows
I scream unheard in living death
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Today at dVerse Lillian invites us to pick a piece of art and tell a story from the view of the artist or the art itself. I recently saw this wonderful piece of kinetic art and have been completely enchanted by it.
I promise this started out on a much happier note, wondering about the unknown artist who could create such a delightful thing. But as I watched the video again, I thought what if this isn’t the magnificent work of a very talented artist, but of magic, dark magic that trapped a faerie playing with a dandelion.
Perhaps the statue looks so alive because she is….
Sunday morning was not some knuckle head popping off a couple of rounds in drunken celebration, but an intentional act to eradicate as many people as possible in a club of smiling, happy, dancing people for no other reason than the patronage of Pulse, where Sunday’s massacre happened, are known to be gay. It’s no coincidence Mateen’s attack took place where it did and when it did, he had been there before and knew he would find a lot of people there.
That he was on a federal watch list yet was able to purchase his assault rifle and handgun legally. This post is not about gun control. This nation still argues over the accessibility of guns and I will leave that there with them.
On its website, Pulse, describes itself as “a place of fun and fantasy.” It was anything but as Omar Siddiqui Mateen killed at least 50 people and wounded 53 others in what is the deadliest mass shooting in US history. We have a history of attacks against the gay community – Roanoke, VA 2000, Atlanta 1997, New Orleans 1973, Stonewall 1969 – those are the major news making events, but there are countless others; some make the headlines, but the majority of the day-to-day-to-day conflicts do not.
The news reports are quick to report Omar Siddiqui Mateen’s Islamic ties; but his religion had nothing to do with his actions. They also report how he was born in New York – as though that should automatically negate his potential to hate gays; I wish. Omar’s father is quoted as saying he was shocked and saddened to learn that his only son is behind the carnage at Pulse. He does not believe his son was radicalized. Apparently, the final straw for Omar Mateen was walking along the street and seeing two men kissing. So whether Mateen’s killings were a product of religious leanings or abject homophobia it is undeniably a hate crime. And that is where history repeats itself anew.
We repeat these histories through the generations in finding different ways to spread the same hates. Not always recognizing it for what it is until the damage is done. Still we try to do better. And for the most part we do succeed. It is why when the horrible things such as Orlando happen we do recognize it for what it is. We know that this is not our norm and we can/should do better.
That this attack occurs at a time when the country is celebrating LGBT Pride month, is another twist of the dagger in the collective hearts of those of us who mourn for Orlando. In the wake of this, it’s a given LGBT venues across the country will be tightening their security in preparation for Pride celebrations.
While Mateen’s killing spree was focused on the LGBT community, it affects us all because what he did attacks what we hold most dear – the right to live freely, the right to live openly. The right to go out and party without fear is a pursuit of happiness.
Whether one believes that the LGBT community is sinning against God or believes that people love who they love and it’s all good is not at the issue here. Agree or disagree, that is fine. We don’t have to like it, but we don’t need to hate it.
Omar Siddiqui Mateen damn sure did not need to repeat history, hating it to the point that he felt the only recourse is to murder these people:
Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old
Amanda Alvear, 25 years old
Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old
Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old
Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old
Cory James Connell, 21 years old
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old
Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old
Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old
Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old
Frank Hernandez, 27 years old
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old
Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old
Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old
Kimberly Morris, 37 years old
Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old
Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old
Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old
Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old
Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old
Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old
#SayTheirName
“They are more than a list of names. They are people who loved and who were loved.”
— Anderson Cooper“Love is love is love is love is love,
and love cannot be killed or swept aside.
Fill the world with music, love and pride.”— Lin-Manuel Miranda
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#LOVEisLOVEisLOVEisLOVE
Midnight dawning
Pulse spills
Their beats and grooves
That dance from night
Into the morning
But where one man assaults 103 rights so dear
To live freely, openly and party without fear
When without warning
Pulses spill
Their blood and cries
That screams from night
Into the mourning
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#LOVEisLOVEisLOVEisLOVE
At dVerse De (aka WhimsyGizmo) wants us to “spill”. All my muse could think of was yesterday morning’s mass murder in Orlando. Pulse is the name of the dance club where the killings happened. 103 being the confirmed number of deaths and wounded.
The hashtag above is my take on “Hamilton” creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda’s heartfelt, original sonnet used as acceptance speech at last night’s 70th annual Tony Awards.
Blown soft against the gentle bloom
Bloom of the most, tender of white
White fluff to fly, upon the winds
Winds soft under, warm summer nights
Nights just like this, where clouds are naught
Naught like true love, thought ne’er to find
Find just for her, but now she feels
Feels of that chance, once deemed declined
Declined to ones, money denied
Denied like her, of lower class
Class of poor – she, he – class of clout
Clout that declares love of the lass
Lass who now dares, to dream of life
Life like only, the rich have known
Known not by her, she felt ‘till now
Now with the prayer, she’s gently blown
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Today’s form? Chain Verse
Chain verse has two known forms: one repeats the last word or syllable of a line with the first word or syllable of the next line, while the other repeats the last line of each stanza with the first line of the following stanza.
While not required, I created a complete chain where the last word of the poem is also the first word.
Raivenne-lations 