Wednesday, October 14, 2015

132

image from google dot com


FIRE JABS
In the passion of the beat
In the coolness of night
The fire eaters channel gullets
To taste of the fire of deceit
They eat of the fear which
They have crammed in the belly
Of onlookers
For the night is bright
But the display is dark
Dark enough so you cringe
And step back
Away from the grotesque masks
They wear to show their control
Of the night
FIRE JABS © gillena cox 2015

#jab or #jab jab is a vintage Carnival character of Trinidad and Tobago masquerade


Written for Sumana's prompt
Midweek Motif ~ Fire



34 comments:

  1. I enjoyed getting a glimpse of your culture, Gillena. This must really be quite impressive to see.

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    Replies
    1. that particular mas can be quite scary too; happy you dropped in Mary

      much love...

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  2. love the touch of carnival and celebrations here..."They eat of the fear which / They have crammed in the belly / Of onlookers"...love this :)

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  3. Love the cultural touch of the poem - beautifully haunting :D

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  4. OUCH! And yet manifesting "the fire of deceit" must take some of the sting out of the jabbing. Here is culture that physicalizes a knowledge that can not be put into words any better than this. Wow. BTW--I didn't know know about the masquerade without your note. Had you not glossed it, I still would have been blown away by these words that acknowledge this belly full of pain. You and Leslie (moondustwriter) both reached inside to reveal fire that makes me cringe. A GREAT POEM!

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  5. Great lines Gillena! Fire-eaters make us cringe. It is true!

    Hank

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  6. "Fire eaters channel gullets to taste the fire od deceit." Great lines.

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  7. Now that's something that takes great mastery ~ I can certainly see why it captured your imagination because it's certainly captured mine!

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    1. Thanks for dropping in to read mine Claire

      Much love...

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    2. How vividly recreated here! I love the way you weave in the emotions of the onlookers, so that the fire-eater expresses the community.

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    3. Thanks for your appreciation Rosemary

      Much love...

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  8. That's very exciting - your poem captures it well.

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  9. Beautifully written Gillena. We are fascinated by such displays knowing that we are safe in doing so but what if...?

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    Replies
    1. I'm sure the performers toy with that question all the time

      Thanks for dropping in Robin

      Much love...

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  10. Great description of the performers.

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  11. So much to enjoy of our cultures in celebration. Too bad they can't eat the deceit of the world. Fantastic poem Gillena

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  12. It sounds exciting. Would love to see this.

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  13. I would imagine it is an experience gladly shared - quite frightening otherwise perhaps

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    Replies
    1. scary for adults as well as kids; but we watch in awe

      much love...

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