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Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

0 posted 2003-08-15 11:17 AM

Cecilia’s Escape

That girl’s devotion to men is going to ruin her life,
confides my Aunt.
She watches from the kitchen window
as Cecilia climbs into a car
with a college guy.

My Aunt flicks a knife at the green skin
of an apple. I sit at her scarred pine table;
its rough, scrubbed texture
matching the back of her hands.

She gestures to the silver percolator.
I pour a cup of the strong, thick brew,
reminding me of some ancient recipe -
cinnamon, orange peels and egg shells.
She claims it takes away bitterness.

My eyes are on her knife, which does not stop.
She knows this action by rote, though,
her fingers own certainty.

Slices piled on the wooden cutting board,
she moves to the stove to melt butter and
brown sugar - and turns to me.

Here it comes,
I think,
the pity.

Don’t worry, dear, you’ll find someone,
one day! I keep telling you the only place
to meet a decent man is in a house of worship.

I stare into my cup,
mesmerized by half-and-half
clotting in lazy semicircles.

The key is not to lose hope!
Men can sense despair surely as
a horse can smell fear!

Apples tucked neatly into their shell,
she dresses them in sugary syrup,
lays on a top, trims the edges
and pops the tart into her hot oven.

That pie will be cold by the time that girl gets home,
she sighs.

© 2003 Core

[This message has been edited by Corinne (08-15-2003 03:27 PM).]

Cpat Hair

Member Patricius

since 2001-06-05

Posts 11793

1 posted 2003-08-15 11:52 AM

you know... sure you know by now... I'd say more about this one, but you know I think its good and you know I enjoyed...

Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

2 posted 2003-08-15 12:31 PM

Thanks Bob - long time no see!

Ah, purely fiction, this - a word challenge.
My aunt is blind as a bat and doesn't cook,
except to zap food in her microwave in her little mobile home in Arizona. She's got a grapefruit tree, though.

How you been?

MoniDaPoet
Member

since 2003-08-14

Posts 73
California, USA

3 posted 2003-08-15 12:39 PM

I think that every woman i know can relate to this piece. It's practically illegal to be a Chican in L.A. with no boyfriend or husband. I always tell my husband that he saved my life when he married me. Great write!

I have only my genius to declare!

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

4 posted 2003-08-15 12:42 PM

This is fabulous, and the fact that it is fiction is testimony to your ability.

I LOVE this and thank you. You made me remember the way I want to write.

Wish I'd written this.

wranx
Member Elite

since 2002-06-07

Posts 3689
Moved from a shack to a barn

5 posted 2003-08-15 12:46 PM

Ahhh! a rare Corinne sighting!

This is a wonderful write. Stellar!
"her hands own certainty" Knocked me out

Ed

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

6 posted 2003-08-15 01:04 PM

Corinne~
My dear, dear poetess, but this is rich~

And no one, but no one, can write it as you do~
Exquisite it is~

Word challenge, indeed ?
Well ... you met the full-measure here~
Love n' *huglets* galore~
~*Marge*~

~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
noles1@totcon.com

Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

7 posted 2003-08-15 03:26 PM

Thanks MoniDaPoet! It must be so in every culture, don't you think? A hold over from the "old maid" days.

Thanks very much Serenity! Don't sell youself short, now, you are a wonderful poet!

Hiya Ed! Yeah, I've been greatly remiss in not coming 'round more often. Life overtakes, 'ya know? Thank you!

Dear Marge, thanks, lady! Here's the list of words: pity, devotion, worship, men, of, me, despair, feeling, hope, dear. Heh, you've just been challenged!

hee hee!

Corinne

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

8 posted 2003-08-15 03:46 PM

thanks C...and I came back to read again. And thought I'd bounce this back to the top.

grin...caught me studying you!

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

9 posted 2003-08-15 03:50 PM

Enjoyed...James

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate

since 2000-10-29

Posts 19200
Between the Lines

10 posted 2003-08-15 03:57 PM

Don’t worry, dear, you’ll find someone,
one day! I keep telling you the only place
to meet a decent man is in a house of worship.

I hear that same thing now...

geat write
*s
M

angelblueyes
Member Elite

since 2003-07-19

Posts 2148
Oklahoma

11 posted 2003-08-15 03:59 PM

Well done here.
angelblueyes

Susan Caldwell
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-12-27

Posts 8348
Florida

12 posted 2003-08-15 04:04 PM

My divorce wasn't even final and my Mom was telling me I needed a man!!!! Bounce to now..a year later...I have made her eat her words...

Excellent, stunning, amazing piece of work...I have not read much of you...so could you write more?? please?

Susan

Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

13 posted 2003-08-15 04:15 PM

Ah, Serenity, you are too nice to me! Thank you!

Thanks James!

Awww, M - sorry to hear that! Tell them this is a new century - not the dark ages!

Thanks angelblue eyes!

Thank you Susan! I will, and I'll definitely look for your work as well!

Core

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

14 posted 2003-08-15 05:10 PM

Corinne

It's always a pleasure to read you...now this lady you made up sure did remind me of someone I know, and seems she has made me very hungry for apple pie. Now that's fine writing!

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

15 posted 2003-08-16 11:30 AM

What a cinnamony slice of life, Corinne.
Thank you!

Dark Angel
Member Patricius

since 1999-08-04

Posts 10095

16 posted 2003-08-16 05:54 PM

WOW! I began to pick out my favourite lines and images but ended up quoting the whole poem. it's fantabulous.

More please!

oh and I'm keeping it, if yo don't mind

Maree

fate is not just
whose cooking smells good
but which way the wind blows

(Ani DiFranco)

Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

17 posted 2003-08-17 06:57 PM

Martie, Sunshine and darkangel - thank you!!!

Cor

RMW
Senior Member

since 2001-03-21

Posts 1424

18 posted 2003-08-18 05:13 PM

Corinne...."...mesmerized by half and half.."...Now there's a half-truth for you. Smiling. Nicely done. Bob P.S. (Scrolling up...."Ron" has been well, I think. Smiling. You ladies really must not confuse your gentlemen."

Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

19 posted 2003-08-18 07:13 PM

Gee, I'm so embarrassed, Bob! Must be because somehow I have the two of you linked in my head - like you know each other. That's my story and I'm sticking to it
(with apologies to Ron).

Core

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