Saturday, April 4, 2015

42


ONIONS
What does it matter tears adding winks to the aromas; just adding more saltiness i suppose, a scenario of chopping and slicing, slicing and chopping, needs the empathy of wholesome joy, so yes let the tears flow before the hungers are appeased.
What matters then, if you wring your sadness like clothes wet, from the washing tub into the dross of daily menus, into bellies belied of gratitude.
The sauce of ungrudging toil, of course! not like a day at the mines in the earth’s dark womb to triumph the cause of sparkle, sparkling cut stoned diamante
Does it matter if mockery lures the smiles of tired hands and unassuming
gait, into accepting a bargain for a pledge, or a fledge or fledgling passion.
The weight of trump cards played like words at the gaming table, serves to
sweeten the delight of augur. Passion please take your seat to the left of the head table where the carrots cannot not be eaten.
© gillena cox 2015







Written for the prompt today at
Poems In April DAY FOUR - Caution: Tender Buttons

THE CHALLENGE
Read the excerpts from Tender Buttons given and write a short poem about an object, foods, or a room in the style of Stein. If you are one of the many readers who find Stein's work inaccessible or baffling or just not inspired by Tender Buttons???? then your challenge will be to write a poem without any gendered pronouns (she or he).

I CHOSE FOR MY INSPIRATION THIS EXCERPT FROM STEIN'S - ROOMS
Why is there more craving than there is in a mountain. This does not seem strange to one, it does not seem strange to an echo and more surely is in there not being a habit. Why is there so much useless suffering. Why is there.
Any wet weather means an open window, what is attaching eating, anything that is violent and cooking and shows weather is the same in the end and why is there more use in something than in all that.
The cases are made and books, back books are used to secure tears and church. They are even used to exchange black slippers. They can not be mended with wax. They show no need of any such occasion.
Imaginary Garden With Real Toads
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Location: Saint James, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

22 comments:

  1. Debi SwimApril 4, 2015 at 9:32 AM

    Gillena, I think you did it. Great job.

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  2. Gillena CoxApril 4, 2015 at 9:37 AM

    Thanks Debi

    much love...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Isadora GruyeApril 4, 2015 at 9:44 AM

    Wow, Gillena....wonderful work here. I love the depth of your words. You really took an onion and made it something completely new. In particular..."The sauce of ungrudging toil, of course! not like a day at the mines in the earth’s dark womb to triumph the cause of sparkle, sparkling cut stoned diamante" was a favorite of mine, but I read the whole thing outloud twice and could easily pick any line as a standout. Well done and viva la!!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Gillena CoxApril 4, 2015 at 10:46 AM

      Thanks for your appreciation Isadora

      much love...

      Delete
  4. MarianApril 4, 2015 at 9:44 AM

    Love, love! Dross/sauce = totally inspired. Wonderful!

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  5. Other MaryApril 4, 2015 at 9:50 AM

    Wow, this is great! I love how you go from chopping the onions to washing to mining and back to the table.

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    Replies
    1. Gillena CoxApril 4, 2015 at 10:47 AM

      Thanks you for your appreciation Mary

      much love...

      Delete
  6. Kerry O'ConnorApril 4, 2015 at 9:57 AM

    Spectacular! I think this poem is a new favourite of your work, Gillena. You added such depth of emotional understanding to the humble work of onion chopping that took us to sorrow and all toils which must, in the end, be their own reward. I think you handled the repetitions very well indeed.

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    Replies
    1. Gillena CoxApril 4, 2015 at 10:48 AM

      Thanks for your appreciation Kerry

      much love...

      Delete
  7. Sherry Blue SkyApril 4, 2015 at 11:09 AM

    This is my favorite of your poems, Gillena. You took the challenge to another level and gave us something really amazing. Fantastic work.

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  8. grapelingApril 4, 2015 at 1:07 PM

    love that final line, too ~

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  9. De JacksonApril 4, 2015 at 1:51 PM

    This is wonderful. WON.DER.FULL.
    Especially love:
    "What matters then, if you wring your sadness like clothes wet"

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  10. Gillena CoxApril 4, 2015 at 2:03 PM

    Thanks for dropping in De

    much love...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Rosemary Nissen-WadeApril 4, 2015 at 6:12 PM

    Fabulous! And in case i haven't mentioned it before, you are most definitely a poet, and a brilliant one. That's my decision, anyway. :)

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  12. HelenApril 4, 2015 at 8:17 PM

    What can I say other than you have channeled Ms. Stein beautifully!!

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  13. JimApril 4, 2015 at 9:10 PM

    Just a little bit of "Alice in Wonderland" comes to mind reading this, Gillena. I like it. I think you, for me, saved the best for last, "Passion please take your seat to the left of the head table where the carrots cannot not be eaten." I'll be thinking of places I would know now where carrots can't be eaten.
    ..

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    Replies
    1. Gillena CoxApril 5, 2015 at 6:28 AM

      (◕‿◕｡) thanks Jim; glad you liked it

      much love...

      Delete
  14. OutlawyerApril 5, 2015 at 8:07 AM

    This is really terrific, Gillena--moving and fanciful and just super well done. Thanks. k. (Manicddaily)

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  15. Gillena CoxApril 5, 2015 at 9:47 AM

    Thanks for dropping in to read mine K

    much love...

    ReplyDelete

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