A pole dancer and a minister move in together.
They don't love each other, but,
They agree that everyone else is an asshole.
They are both sick of the needy looking to them for what they cannot find at home.
They hand out titillation, or cans from the food bank, with the same smile, and the same withering scorn.
Their friends are all horrified.
"How can you move in with someone like that?" they ask, eyes wide.
But in the night, she asks him to recite scripture to her. His chest is hairy, it's like passing out on someone's front porch with her face on the bristly doormat.
The words he says are loony gibberish, but his voice is like newspaper trucks rumbling by in the pre-dawn; his arms are a porch light and she the moth.
In the night, he touches his fingertips to her skin, and finds that she is smoother than a surplice. It is like being handed the bowl, for the sweet batter within.
He knows her history, the cafeteria line of her past lovers hovering like moondogs, but in her arms he feels that she is braille, and he the blind man.
People begin to notice changes.
She quits the club and takes up dancing at her kitchen sink.
He quits the ministry and finds himself suddenly mute, but his hearing improves.
Their friends are horrified.
"You've changed. I knew this would happen!" they say, eyes wide.
The pole dancer and the minister move away.
They live in a dinky place, but
They love each other.
Their neighbors smile, but regard them with withering scorn.
They think the couple are bohemians, and if there's a cat left in the local shelter, it must be because those two missed it.
She likes the cats for their physical grace.
He likes them for their silence.
Neither of them goes to clubs, or to church.
They make new friends.
The friends say, "One day at a time, keep coming back," and other loony gibberish.
The sun comes up, the sun goes down.
If they keep living on the Mobius Strip,
They may just find themselves yet.
__________
I'm not sure I have anything useful to add, but I really like this one.
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful words... you are an angel!
ReplyDeleteHey Shay!!
ReplyDeleteLove the music and this was great...all about living and loving and moving through life...
BTW--the banner picture--is that a file photo or is it somewhere I think I've been? lol
Thanks, K and Bren! I really appreciate your kind comments. :-)
ReplyDeletehey Akannie! I'm glad you the poem and the music. As for the banner pic, I took it myself. It is a picture of the San Antonio riverwalk, taken from street level in February of 2001.
I'm glad you liked, that should say.
ReplyDeleteYou have outdone yourself again. I found the line: "The friends say, "One day at a time, keep coming back," and other loony gibberish" especially enlightening. How often do we finally get on the path to self-awareness only for our "friends" to think we're back sliding? Or some other nonsense, I say.
ReplyDeleteOh, again, you just amaze me with your words and talent.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I have read an entire story with just these few words.
Enlightening!:)
LOL, Pouty, nonsense is my specialty. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, T. I'm gratified you should say that. I do try to say as much as I can as concisely as possible. And I always love it when you visit.
I like it too...and I just saw Zach and Miri last night!
ReplyDelete"He quits the ministry and finds himself suddenly mute, but his hearing improves."
ReplyDeleteamazing, it was just wonderful...the simplicity with which you presented the entire plot. soft and sober...couldn't help but smile. thanks
'Blossom, you tell such a thoughtful story with so few, yet meaningfull words. Thanks. You're still one of the favs in my sidebar. Hey, that "pouty girl", whatever, and I got to know each other this evening, fun to have a new blog-buddy, but not a lot of time to correspond.
ReplyDeletePlease keep up the good work! I mean that.
Steve E.
how wonderful!!! love it!
ReplyDeleteThat was really beautiful, creative and lovely. I really liked it. Bless you and your talents.
ReplyDeletePeace,
Phil
RK at the movies! How was it? Tell me everything.
ReplyDeleteNick, I love your comment! Thank you and welcome to Word Garden. I hope you'll be back!
Steve, thank you for the kind words about the poem. Just to let you know, though, my dear friend's name is Poutalicious, or Poutylips, not pouty-whatever.
Thank you, Shadow! I have become a fan of yours, as well!
You are a true poet for understanding that a name (label)can be either poetry in motion, or misused entirely, thus rendering a person either significant or totally insignificant. Your attention to detail is very remarkable to me.
ReplyDeletePhil, thank you so much, I'm delighted to see you back!
ReplyDeleteDetails, baby! That's me, pouty. ;-)
You may have to start your own church. :)
ReplyDeleteI left a comment yesterday and it seems to have disappeared :( . At any rate, it said I love this poem, especially the parts where you describe how the two feel about each other (he like a welcome mat, she like cake batter)
ReplyDeleteoOo, don't tempt me, Scarlet! I'll call it Our Lady of the Blackbirds. I'll allow people to write and draw on the walls. Will you make me some art for me, Scarlet? pleeeease?
ReplyDeleteHi Vicarious, nice to see you, and I don't know where your comment could have gone. Maybe it is living with the dryer socks. I'm glad you liked that section, I was trying to show their vulnerability with each other.
The common realization that everyone else is an asshole is the only stable foundation for true love.
ReplyDeleteI thought that I recognized the San Antonio river walk!
This was wonderful. I love the whole underlying message.
ReplyDeleteMama Zen, you crack me up. And yes, that's the River Walk, a wonderful place to go if ever there was one, especially in the company of someone who understands the lackingness of everyone else! LOL.
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie! Thanks! :-)
Shay, Shay, Shay, Shay, Shay.
ReplyDeleteYou are a blessing to this planet. Which one -- or galaxy do you hail from? Planet Poeticus from the distant galaxy Moondoggie Wordburger perhaps?
And to think I've actually not only crossed paths with you but you think me lofty enough for the Scary Clown.
Holey cow!!
Moondoggie Wordburger! I love it. That reminds me of the old ads for Whattaburger: "What a burger, what a burger, just what a burger should be, the unbeatable, unbelievable, bigger better burger, Whattaburger!"
ReplyDeleteLovin me some Jannie Funnnsterrr
Lady of the Blackbirds...I'm in!
ReplyDeleteYou work the podium and I'll take care of the murals. ;)
Just blog-surfing by....I loved that story/poem about the pole dander and the minister!
ReplyDeletei read this when it first came out and it was fab then, reading it again, it makes me smile.. and reminds me of so many other examples of the same concept... love it, especially:
ReplyDeleteIn the night, he touches his fingertips to her skin, and finds that she is smoother than a surplice. It is like being handed the bowl, for the sweet batter within.
He knows her history, the cafeteria line of her past lovers hovering like moondogs, but in her arms he feels that she is braille, and he the blind man.
Kx
So rich
ReplyDeleteso wise.
who ARE you?!
I feel less alone in this world, knowing the poet of this piece is afoot..... Gotta spotlight some of my worthy posts like this - glad you do ;-]
Aloha
Comfort Spiral
Who am I, Cloudia? (love that, by the way). Well, the answer to that depends on the day and the hour, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteI swiped the idea of the favorites list from another blogger. Please swipe it from me! ;-)
I love it when you come and read and comment.
Wow. I think I know you!
ReplyDeleteI realize I'm a year late with this comment, but I love this one and had to say it.
.. I began with #7.
ReplyDeleteShay, I think this is my favorite. The porch light, door mat, moth, batter bowl....arghhh, it's all so insanely perfect.
ReplyDeleteAnd i hate you :)
Love, Rene
Oh yes!
ReplyDeleteThey are both sick of the needy looking to them for what they cannot find at home... Kind of says it all, but the whole narrative soars.
This is marvelous. Too bad that we are not speaking to my husband's folks, as his stepfather--a retired Presbyterian minister--would be horrified by this, which means I would take great pleasure in sharing it with him...if we were speaking, that is.
ReplyDelete"but in her arms he feels that she is braille, and he the blind man."
ReplyDeletethat has to be one of the most romantic lines ever written!
someday i'm going to be able to go back into your archives and stay until Hell freezes over or pigs fly or something like that. this IS a Pride-Worthy Post. love it!
An absolutely beautiful parable, fable, story... this is my favorite kind of story - humanistic and rewarding because they are loved for who they are, not what they do.
ReplyDeleteExquisite. Loved the reference / pun to the Mobius Strip.
You are too damned talented. If writing comes easily and naturally to you, please never admit it to me. :) thanks- el mosk
I love this to pieces. Everyone should be stripped bare before telling anyone exactly who they are.
ReplyDeleterosemarymint.wordpress.com
Love it... when we let the unexpected change us...when we have no idea how things might go between others... brilliant x
ReplyDelete