go back.
Back to the sludge-depths,
down where the dead-roots rise.
What were you thinking you could offer me?
I wear white lace gloves
even while shucking oysters.
They must be bought live, in their shells,
so that they may whisper to their conquerors
at the fateful moment.
All right.
I'm being ridiculous,
but you didn't know me back in mushroom days.
We took our German professor
down to the cold beach.
I have his accent still, in a jewelry box, in a drawer,
a little trophy for me to keep.
Back then,
I admit it, I was toasted most of the time.
I have a lot to answer for,
but I'm not sorry for the road I took.
I had a cute top I made from hurricane flags;
when black-haired Rachel ran her fingers up under it,
I blessed her for it, as the gooseflesh rose.
My universal veil and my bullshit affectations are gone.
I'm sober these days,
no shrooms, no Schlitz.
Listen, I could give a shit less
for the dead things
and the depths.
Let me just stand here,
sailor,
mermaid,
woman of my dreams...
when I sing to you, let me do it in daylight,
facing into the wind
like a sea bird.
______
I got some of my words HERE. Flipside, do you like that picture? I knew you would!
So beautiful......especially the closing lines. Wowzers!
ReplyDeleteEnchanting the ending was spellbinding~
ReplyDeletemy father drank schlitz. whatever was cheap...
ReplyDeleteFlat out powerful stuff--affecting without affectation. Fine,fine work.
ReplyDeleteSing, girl. Sing.
ReplyDeleteNo Schlitz?! Isn't that a punishable offense in some states?
ReplyDeleteYay! I just stole that picture from you today. :) And Rachel makes me think of Friends.
ReplyDelete"Gilled creatures,
go back.
Back to the sludge-depths,
down where the dead-roots rise." ... Kick ass.
"so that they may whisper to their conquerors
at the fateful moment" ... Dang. That is awesome. I've never thought of that bit of wisdom; thank you for sharing. I love raw oysters.
"I have his accent still, in a jewelry box" ... Oh yeah. This rules.
"I had a cute top I made from hurricane flags" ... Ha! I love cute tops and all the memories that go with them.
"My universal veil and my bullshit affectations are gone." ... I knew you would like "universal veil," and this line is awesome.
"when I sing to you, let me do it in daylight" ... A fair plea. The kind made for poems.
Brilliant. Loved it. Especially where you said "I'm being ridiculous" because I didn't think you were being ridiculous at all.
You rule, sea bird.
I loved the "No shrooms, no Schlitz" line the best, until I was whalloped by the last three lines. Wowza! Those are achingly gorgeous.
ReplyDelete(And an added bonus, a Gracie Slick song sung by someone--I assume--more contemporary. Thanks.)
Shay, this was so damn good.
ReplyDeleteWhat a kick ass, ball of unapologetic lightning voice this is written in.
razor sharp, acid-hot...fiery to the very end.signature stuff!
ReplyDeletedead-roots rise
ReplyDeletedead-roots rise
dead-roots rise
dead-roots rise
NICE
Sincere Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
<(-'.'-)>
Shay, this is like my own life. Best coupling (besides the girls) is Schlitz and "shit less." I had to laugh at the quirkiness of this, so real. But I wouldn't drink another Schlitz if you paid me!! And yeah, I'd knock back shrooms with that...
ReplyDeleteReality, non-mood-altered reality, so much better, no? Peace, Amy
http://sharplittlepencil.com/2012/07/18/life-without-limits-sun-scribs-3ww/
I pinged on the "no shrooms no Schlitz" line, too.
ReplyDeleteLet me just stand here,
ReplyDeletesailor,
mermaid,
woman of my dreams...
when I sing to you, let me do it in daylight,
facing into the wind
like a sea bird.
______
existential, unbiased, mythical, sensuous, spiritual, liberating
i like the bashful photo with the blushing flowers
I'm with Kortas: very fine work, indeed.
ReplyDeleteI love the little twists of magical realism: the whispering oysters, the German accent kept in a box, the top fashioned from hurricane flags. Your language is always luscious in the most cut-throat way (if that makes any sense).
Each stanza has something that is wonderful about it. Loved every inch of it. Just the usual magic - don't you get tired of being brilliant? I know I get tired from not being brilliant. Love love love this and you. Mosk
ReplyDeleteI love RTB's comment about the photo. It is pure artwork the way she holds those flowers in place without falling over. I can't help but picture myself trying to pose for this. Let's just say my shots would be much funnier. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm in agreement here with a lot of these peeps, Shay!!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea:
"I have his accent still, in a jewelry box, in a drawer,
a little trophy for me to keep."
Kinda dark...super cool...carved out his accent to save a s a trophy....rugged!!
Oh, the flag dress moment...mm-hmm goose-flesh, yes!!
Excellent writing with the flipside words!!!
Oh my lord, another beauty. I love love this. Your poetry always slams right into my heart. With joy and pain and longing. Truly stunning.
ReplyDeleteOhhh, playing the music, one of my favorite songs--Surrealistic Pillow--memories of the mushroom days that can be flirted with now that "my universal veil and my bullshit affectations are gone." Was it for love that I changed? For air and sun:
ReplyDelete"Let me just stand here,
sailor,
mermaid,
woman of my dreams...
when I sing to you, let me do it in daylight,
facing into the wind
like a sea bird."
Another vote for the last three lines. You rock, Shay.
ReplyDeleteK
Of course, the last stanza is beautiful, but what I like best is that German professor whose accent is in your jewelry box. And the hands under the flag top. But that German professor .... k.
ReplyDeleteI am back again to read and hear and listen. The gems in here all spark memories.
ReplyDelete"when I sing to you, let me do it in daylight,
ReplyDeletefacing into the wind
like a sea bird."
wow!
{i'd never heard emiliana torrini before ~ loved it!}
♥
flipside words always make writing fun. I'm with her on the turn in the piece. I loved the change in tone. Drew me deeper into the poetic conversation.
ReplyDelete