Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Friday Shoot Out- Colors, and a poem

This week's theme is 'Colors' by Doreen- Color.... your favorite color. Where ever, what ever you see in your town or surrounding area, like the country, out in nature. I am a nature lover!!!















I totally hijacked this weeks them and used it in honor of my mother's birthday this coming Monday, my Irish heritage, and new life that comes to my writing- this speaks of a color that screams so loudly to my own personal preference- shades of red.

This weeks Read Write Poetry prompt #117: create a hinge, by zachary schomburg is Volta- Part One, missive; Part Two, confession, with a few liberties of length from m'E twists, winds together up a trellis, reaching for sunshine...

PHOTO (shot this way on purpose): My mom enjoyed the fact my second job in high school as a cook, I would bring her new foods to try, things my picky father would rather, her not cook, or we could not afford. My plate above is a balance of the colors in my life, and a food she never got to try- Broccoli Rabe.

Remember Émeraude

I.

Sister and Brother think of Mama in March, her
hairdo in the 60’s- touching the sky. Elizabeth Taylor looks

black dyed raggedy towels, but Man! did she smell good
in her favorite drug store cologne, those tight waist

poofy skirts gliding across shiny hardwood floors. How
did she have the energy to keep up with him, and not

her own children. His dance hall queen with no jewels,
only invisible crown of beer bottles shards. Barely

a father present, teddy bear bribe doors slamming,
and echoes of her voice in between repetitive ramblings,

years of misery, “you kids have no idea what
really goes on”, annoying please- I still feel her anger, hair

brush whelps, bruising, tear drops on my cheeks, and years of
mental illness consuming a house, passed down from generations.

Maturity questioned her childhood; was her family ever
like her- do parents realize they are role models. Mama

lies in the bed, nursing home bible at her side, buzzing television
company, baby sister told her on a warm day in May, 

my son’s seventeenth birthday, he was gone- for a moment
she smiled, even laughed, and followed her only life to the grave.

II.

I fight off the smell of baked bread, cake and pies, roast beef
laced with fear, ghosts arguing as I enter a kitchen.

While coffee smells good, but it gages me with images of thick
full pots sitting all day until 4 AM, and hard to clean scrubbing.

Grey hair defines, disguises men and maturity- my own hair
dyed, locks brought back to life, brownish red.

An emerald ring was made unintentionally before my son
was ever conceived, born years later.

Dirty, full ashtrays are sickening, poison my air as smokers
stare into the distance, mashing down the butts unaware

a prostitute had just filled a needle and began to shoot up
cocaine in the same room I sat, I looked away.

Down the road death bed dementia brought on confessions
of infidelity at bus stops; MP drunken altercations; loving

a wife; not being a good father, and never an ‘I’m sorry’ uttered
I was high on drugs the day after my daughter died, until

my parents passed. I did not attend my mother’s funeral-
this poet still hates the color green even if it symbolizes- new life.

© E Stelling, 2010

17 comments:

Jama said...

Green- the color of nature! I love it too, in fact I think I got too many favorite colors!

GingerV said...

love the red and green together. and the poem.

Suburban Girl said...

Of course you would focus on food. Honoring your mom is a bonus!

Kerry said...

What an intense poem. Obviously these colors have strong emotional ties for you; thank you for sharing.

spiritsoflena said...

Loved the poem and photo!

Unknown said...

very intense poem. the second part was full of feeling and emotions. great way to honor your Mom.

Anonymous said...

I hear what you are saying in the poem, loud and clear. Very very courageous E.
QMM

Sarah Sullivan said...

Hugging you from here hon..I am!!
Wonderful deep work! Hugs and love, Sarah

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Mine's green too, On Wednesday, I wore green and taught my adult ESL foreign students about the 4 leaf clover.

You veg looks very tasty.

Bagman and Butler said...

Your poem is moving and beautiful. Thanks for combining themes so well.

Barry said...

I love the photo and the food it portrays and the colours it symbolizes, but the poem...It will be a long time before I forget that poem. So powerful and honest, it takes my breath away.

Kim, USA said...

I'm a nature lover too. Your veggies looks so yummy now I am hungry ^_^. Happy weekend!

Favorite color: Yellow

NanU said...

Peace to you, Elizabeth!

Sara Diana said...

Green the healing colour, good choice!

~JarieLyn~ said...

I love the poem. The green veggies look wonderful.

Oh, and you can use my photo for one of your poems.

Bryan Borland said...

Just wow, E. Line by line, so powerful. The line "and followed her only life to the grave" moved me so much... especially after visiting my grandfather yesterday in the nursing home.

Vivid stuff. Possibly the strongest poem that you've shared with us.

Tipper said...

Just Wow-such raw emotion you've shared by way of the poem. Makes me wonder if you felt better after you wrote it? I like how the everyday items tie into the emotion-cause the little things are what makes up our lives. You are a talented writer-to be able to move people is what fits the bill-and you moved me.