Three Views of a Singularity

 

There were

     a fox 

     in the wildflowers,

a coyote

     in the weeds,

and me

     lying in the lilies, waiting.

The fox offered

     certain pieties

that the red-necked chicken

     spoke tacitly against.

The coyote carried

     a lucky amulet

that the rabbit might be missing

     could she rise from his belly.

There was

      a soup

     strained from April,

a blues

     blown from 

     scents of oranges

and me

     lying in the lilies

     waiting.

_______

For Word Garden Word List--Yusef Komunyakka 

Music: Anouar Brahem The Astounding Eyes of Rita

M-M-M-M-My Shadormas

zen master
drinks too much coffee
says to class
pardon me
leaves lotus, runs down the hall
but not fast enough
____

zen master
visits his sister
she hands him
new nephew.
our bodies are illusions
but shoulder puke real
_____

zen master
ponders the spring rain
when stupid
car breaks down.
meditation does no good--
fucking thing is shit 
_____

zen master
can control his mind
but sometimes
unlucky
erection comes at wrong time
don't stand up just yet
______

zen master
says souls can migrate
from body
to body.
unsightly skin condition
will end when you do
______

zen master
has the hots for jane
but he must
ignore this.
concentrate on breathing or
think about baseball 
_______

zen master
should avoid dairy
but didn't
and now he
hopes he will not blow sour note
while teaching flute class
______

zen master
left his trash novel
on the stand
by the bed
with just ten pages to go.
"be here now" my ass
_____

zen master
opens his chakras
to clear them
and cleanse them
wishes there was E-Z-Off
or some shit like that
_____

zen master
sleeps on a pallet
on the floor
but dreams of
room with big-ass hotel bed
escort and happy ending
_____

zen master
hates fireblossom lots
and wishes
she would stop
writing stupid shadormas
with him butt of joke
______ 

for: Fussy Little Forms/ Shadorma at Real Toads.
 

 

Two Ways Of Courting Lorelei

I gave Lorelei the usual sweets--
she cursed the stuff and spat;

I charmed the birds down from the trees--
Lorelei played the cat.

I hid my heart, denied desire,
and waited where I sat

to hypnotize, but Lorelei's
too wise, by half, for that.
_______

Exactly 45 words for Mama Zen's Words Count

suburban juju

she got a different hound
a different child
and the lady herself
is of a different mind

don't just drop by
she ain't havin it
don't park your piece of shit in her drive
she ain't havin it

she sit in a dragon's jaw
writing what she writes
with a leopard's claw

she got suburban juju
it's in her eyes
she make native blades and magic
and a mean pecan pie.
---------------

for Real Toads

Fem Solo

She's always been different--
a golden-eyed girl apart from the others.

In her hours alone, she talked to the sky and the sky told her:
"Gather yourself, girl. Be still. You will be filled as I am filled."

That was when she noticed the first feather; the first spot.
She fought the strangeness, then invited it bone-deep to take hold.

Her lovers have woken with their arms around a creature
Both beautiful and Other, hidden just behind her kiss.

In her sleep, the messengers come; Joan and Emily on fire.
Don't think she is mad. She is burdened and she is blessed.

Woman, to love her is to love sharpness;
To love her is to fall together down a thousand feet and more.

Still, she is just a girl. She holds more than she was meant to,
and when she shivers, she will seek your arms, her second skin.

She will always be different; cat and bird together--
But if she makes herself yours, she will come to you today and forever,

bearing gifts.
_______

For Mama Zen's "Words Count" at The Imaginary Garden With Real Toads. Kelli asks us to write about our power symbols. She also asked that we do so in 25 words or less, which I just this second remembered. Forgive me, it's not yet 6 in the morning. I hope this will be all right, lengthy though it is. 

How To Write A Poem

Learn to distinguish
Voices
from voices.

Don't say, "who, me?"
Yes, you
with the whole of Heaven at your back.

Call out
mockery,
injury,
flattery,
churchmen...

Love the truth.
Light your own flame.

Burn hard.
_________

At The Imaginary Garden With Real Toads, the fiercely fabulous Mama Zen wants us to peez shut mouf, stuff a sock in it, and stfu already! 35 words or less, she says, and I made it in right at 35.

_____ 

Zen Cones

Summer has brought forth much life.
To set one's feet in nature, is to find joy.
Do not mistake the diamondback for the gentle garter snake.
We all err; dance with enthusiasm, then lie down.

Invite a friend to play Chinese checkers in the afternoon.
Like the pieces, companionship comes in many colors.
The dragon may defeat the skunk, but the skunk will have revenge.
How pretty, the lights of the ambulance and police car.

A grain of rice may be humbly small in dry seasons,
But the boiling pot will coax the tiny one larger.
A young woman visits the Zen Master privately.
Even boiled rice is not so large; the Zen Master disapproves of her laughter.

A prettier song lures one bird from the nest.
The other uses solitude to meditate and forget.
Zen Master's dog pees all over the carpet.
Rainy days bring remembering, and a bad smell again.

_______

for Real Toads Sunday mini-challenge: zen koans

Allegro

8 stairs
To my door--
You said, 8 minutes, baby,
Not one more.

8 long kisses,
Fix your lips, and then--
8 letters in "I love you",
Then you're gone again.

_______

for A Word With Laurie

No More Calls. We Have A Winner!!!

Word Garden Fun Park International is excited to announce the winner of the Sunday Quiz! As you may recall, readers were asked to identify the person in a picture (much like the one above). You all did so well! It's too bad that several of you had to be disqualified. Sorry, but all decisions by the judges are final; mine because I am inflexible and obtuse and Bosco's because he tends to lift his leg and piddle on whiners.

First, let's reveal who the picture was actually of! It is, of course, blogger Mama Zen, who doubles as the witch Bayonetta when she is not at Target buying family packs of Cowboy Joe's Genuine Panhandle Squirrel Steaks.

But I know my churlish, quarrelsome readers! I realize that some of you will need proof. Here it is. MZ with Baby Puppy...

...and MZ/Bayonetta attired in OU Boomer Sooner colors. Nuff said.

Now for the disqualifications. Brian Miller's guess was completely correct, and he was the first to comment. Such blatant sucking up is more than reason enough to toss him out on his ear, don't you agree?

Hedgewitch originally guessed Sarah Palin before amending her entry. That's not allowed. Plus God hates a coward. Thanks for playing!

Cloudia guessed correctly, but included fish with her comment. Fish are against Word Garden Fun Park policy, and so down she goes. 

Herman Turnip went on about rules and you know how I get. Good night and good luck, Herman. And watch where you're pointing that thing.

Daryl and some noob poetry blogger failed to make a guess at all, and so cannot win. And Hannah Stephenson guessed incorrectly, but flatteringly.

Now, to our winners! Yes, winners, with an "s"! The first and official winner is Lolamouse, who identified the person in the picture in such detail that I almost expected a slide show and afterglow party. Plus, the tall judge loves her mouse drawing. Never discount those intangibles!

The second winner is Lynn, who failed to meet the deadline, and as previously noted, Fireblossom loves rulebreakers. Plus, she pointed out that the picture had a name pasted on it in big red letters. Helloooo, losers! (Comments by judges do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Word Garden Fun Park International LLC.)

Our last winner is Sioux, who bribed the short judge. Congratulations to all the winners! All three of you get to tell me what you would like me to write a poem about, and I shall do my best. Joy, sorrow, PEZ candies, astrolabes, pitch it on in here, baby, I'm ready. 

I leave you with this video of Mama Zen thinly disguised as Bayonetta. Enjoy!

_

Back to poetry next time. Boo, hiss!
_____

Scorpion

if a scorpion
wraps herself around your heart,
don't
don't look
don't look at anybody else.

if a scorpion
curls her tail around your heart,
don't
don't love
don't love anybody else.

if a scorpion
has wrapped herself around your heart,
love
love like it
love like it's the last day you will see--
that's all
that's all that there may be--
love dangerous love
now that you've found it;
lucky heart
with the scorpion's tail wrapped 'round it.
_______

The Football Game

The football players are getting like marshmallows.

The blockers squish.

The runners ooze.

The situation worsens steadily until the officials are standing there in the middle of a bunch of goo.

Players and teams are indistinguishable.

The commissioner is like a pudding in his seat and cannot be revived.

Angry fans surround the officials.

They speak of the money spent on tickets.

What are you going to do?

The officials are nervous.

There really is no provision...

_________

And now, please indulge me while I pander to my bestie, Mama Zen....

Happy Saturday. Go, Sooners!

__________