Reanimated Lavender Granola Switchblade Nun rides again.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Venus de Milo

Venus de Milo couldn't get that gig as a railroad switchman--
I fucked the foreman for it, and oh,
the thundering crashes I cause when my mood starts to falter.

Vene, honey, hand me that lantern, won't you?
Diogenes left it here when he caught the Tulsa Queen last night.
He said he'd be back for it, but he lies like a rug.
I said, Vene--
oh, shit, sorry. Haha. 
"Take my arms; I never use them." Got to love Lady Day.

Every night, after the first responders have gone,
I review my work, and find
that I am unkind,
uncharitable,
homicidal and terrible.
Oh, Vene, let me lay my poor head on your breast.
(Try and stop me! Ha!)
I don't want to be this way for the rest of my life.

Here, you can have all the covers,
I want to be naked, as a sign of purity and renewal.
Pray with me, Vene.
Fold your hands and--oh fuck a duck, you're hopeless, girl.
Glorious God,
Hear me, though I am your most unworthy servant.
Make me nicer.

Vene, here comes Casey Jones.
Drivin' that train, high on cocaine.
Watch me bring him in soft as a mail sack full of feathers.
It's the new me. Hold my hand, Vene!
Oh, for the love of Mike.

Did you see that? My hand just reached out and switched the lights.
All by itself! It wasn't me!
Casey Jones you'd better watch your speed.
_______

 For Mag 291. Image by Daniel Murtagh. Quoted lyrics from "All Of Me" by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons and the Grateful Dead's "Casey Jones" by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter.






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22 comments:

  1. Maude LynnOctober 25, 2015 at 12:41 PM

    This is just what I needed this morning. I shall say no more.

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  2. De JacksonOctober 25, 2015 at 12:42 PM

    Heavens. This is a fantastic mix of tall tale, truth and sharp tongue. Well done, ma'am.

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  3. Bekkie SanchezOctober 25, 2015 at 12:45 PM

    I don't know where this came from but I loved the spirit in it. I liked the way you used the song and somehow Venus De Milo is perfect for this. Bravo!

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  4. AnonymousOctober 25, 2015 at 1:07 PM

    Ha ha ha! I am laughing my ass off over here! I adore your ADHD, personality-disordered, doin'-everybody speaker. (Look! No hands! No hands! ... That's a Julia Roberts quote from Pretty Woman.)

    At least she's trying to change. ~And guide Vene along, as well. What a groovy Samaritan.

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  5. Sherry Blue SkyOctober 25, 2015 at 3:16 PM

    I especially love the reviewing of the day "after the first responders come".........your brain must be an amazing place to hang out in, you must have so much fun.

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  6. brudbergOctober 25, 2015 at 3:40 PM

    Wasn't it Hemingway who wrote "Farewell to arms"... it should have been poor Vene....

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  7. HelenOctober 25, 2015 at 3:50 PM

    Lawd have mercy ... Lawd have mercy!

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  8. CloudiaOctober 25, 2015 at 7:34 PM

    Full On Shay. One of your shattering best in some time [not undercutting the intervening. . . oh shit, I just mean this one screamed "Shay At Her Best"]



    ALOHA, Your Faithful Serpent
    ComfortSpiral

    (\__/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_('')

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sioux RoslawskiOctober 25, 2015 at 8:49 PM

    I swear--swear, dammit--that I left a comment on your last post, because I really want--no, need--a consultant like that.

    I almost always visit. Except during parent-teacher conference weeks, when my schedule is cray-cray.

    ReplyDelete
  10. purplepeninportland.comOctober 25, 2015 at 11:16 PM

    Priceless piece. The Grateful Dead would be grateful.

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  11. DeepaOctober 26, 2015 at 1:07 AM

    Just awesome read

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  12. KathleenOctober 26, 2015 at 8:11 AM

    Funny: Take my arms, I never use them!

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  13. hedgewitchOctober 26, 2015 at 9:14 AM

    Yes, it's fortunate I have learned to avoid all beverages while visiting here...honestly, I'm not sure what inspiration Venus de Milo can provide, but handling her...er, employing her like this is genius--a reflection of the narrator's own inability to change--I mean, when your arms are gone, they're gone, and when the bitchiness calls, you must obey. I do love the layers I am not describing here even more though-the sense of why terrible crap happens, of random spite, of a stony breast, not only unheard but unsayable prayers--anyway, as always, the best of the best poetry is growing in this garden.

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  14. Buddah MoskowitzOctober 26, 2015 at 12:53 PM

    I love your prayer to make you nicer. Underneath your smartassedness, there is much tenderness. La la mosk

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  15. Kerry O'ConnorOctober 26, 2015 at 12:55 PM

    I love the references to the railroad. The whole cracked me up... poor Vene.

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  16. LynnOctober 26, 2015 at 12:55 PM

    Take my arms, I never use them. Ha!

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  17. KutamunOctober 26, 2015 at 4:52 PM

    A thousand tonne beast of liminality

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  18. Tess KincaidOctober 26, 2015 at 5:29 PM

    Here you can have all the covers...brilliant...wish I had thought of that...

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  19. WanderOctober 26, 2015 at 6:28 PM

    Thanks for sharing

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  20. Joanna JenkinsOctober 26, 2015 at 8:08 PM

    I think the Grateful Dead are giving you a standing ovation!
    xo jj

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  21. Kathe W.October 26, 2015 at 11:45 PM

    Mama mia-my goodness me!WOW!

    ReplyDelete
  22. 21 WitsOctober 27, 2015 at 6:04 PM

    Powerful, impacting of thoughts and images, and the between the lines are a melting pot of passion and wit! Love it.

    ReplyDelete

Spirit, what do you wish to tell us?

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