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Corinne
Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167
state of confusion

0 posted 2004-03-02 12:56 PM


Nomalanga

She is a specter in the skyline
and the intimacy of shadow.



She begs me to keep the idea of her,
not to let it wane with time
or be crushed by pragmatics.
I can hear her
when noises are quelled,
when I’ll listen.

Her voice is clearest, though,
in the lilt of my neighbor’s tongue;
whenever he and his wife wave me over
to sit in overheated rooms,
sip sweetened Rooibos
and munch on apple slices.

We begin with the benign:
bumper crops of acorns last fall,
yesterday’s windstorm,
whether the snow pack
will be sufficient this year.

Sometimes we don’t discuss her.
It’s left to me to bring her up,
to ask what it was like in her country

before the core vanished
and kernels became dust,
before the old and young
were all that were left.

When we rinse our bone-china cups in clean, hot water,
and sit by the fire with sated stomachs,

her face rises
in the window’s condensation.


© Copyright 2004 Corinne - All Rights Reserved
Cpat Hair
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Patricius
since 2001-06-05
Posts 11793

1 posted 2004-03-02 01:35 PM


your pen has lost nothing since last I read you... your phrasing and use of imagery examples for the rest of us to study and learn from..

always enjoy reading you..and always am left with a desire to write with such power and clarity...


Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
2 posted 2004-03-02 01:40 PM



and I am reminded
when you come to visit
before disappearing
what it is that draws me
to you...

mystic.

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200
Between the Lines
3 posted 2004-03-02 02:01 PM


reminded me of my Grandfather's tales of the old country, when I was small, how he came to America on a ship alone at the age of 8..and he would tell me all he could while I sat watching him peel an apple skin in one piece.

M

Corinne
Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167
state of confusion
4 posted 2004-03-02 02:59 PM


Ron, you are so kind, thank you. I apologize for not having been around lately. Hoping to get that resolved soon.

Sunshine - aha! Well said my dear. But who here is the mystic?

Thank you, Naked Thoughts. I love that image of the apple being peeled in one long strand. Saw that in a play once, I was amazed that the woman could act, talk and peel at the same time.

Corinne


Marge Tindal
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Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
5 posted 2004-03-02 03:15 PM


Corinne~
You draw me in ... suspend me within your word-web, then gently word-sway me ...
reminding me of just why I LOVE to read you~

This is richly wonderful ...~
Thank you for being a poet ... and a friend~
*Huglets*
~*Marge*~

~*When the heart grieves over what it has lost,
the spirit rejoices over what it has left.
- Sufi epigram <))><

noles1@totcon.com

Mistletoe Angel
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Member Empyrean
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon
6 posted 2004-03-02 04:11 PM




(big angel hugs) Yay! Oh Corinne, I have missed your wonderful poetry so much, sweet friend, what makes your poetry so enjoyable to read is how you fulfill your heart with the notion "let me feel as you do", and you made me feel right at home, sitting in the warm chair by the fire with honey darjeeling on a small plate! (kiss on cheek) God Bless You, sweet friend, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Corinne, thank you for sharing!



May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

"You'll find something that's enough to keep you
But if the bright lights don't receive you
You should turn yourself around and come back home" MB20

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
7 posted 2004-03-02 04:26 PM



You be, of course!

Dark Angel
Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095

8 posted 2004-03-03 06:29 PM


Oh Corinne, this is absolutely smashing, you're one of my favourite poets here, not sure if you know that.

it truly is a pleasure to read you and I'm never disappointed

more please

Maree.

p.s

keeping it.

Beauty of the world which is soon to perish has two edges, one of laughter and one of anguish, cutting the heart asunder.
(by Virginia Woolf)

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
9 posted 2004-03-03 06:30 PM


Agreeing with Maree....it is always such a pleasure to read your poetry!  Good to see you, Corinne!
Midnitesun
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647
Gaia
10 posted 2004-03-03 06:36 PM


Dang, but I loved this write more than the previous ones I remember from your quill.
You've made the soul and spirit of the subject back to life.

Krawdad
Member Elite
since 2001-01-03
Posts 2597

11 posted 2004-03-03 08:56 PM


Been wondering where you've been.
Good to read you again, Corinne.

Corinne
Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167
state of confusion
12 posted 2004-03-04 09:56 AM


Sweet Marge! And I always love reading your  uplifting, spiritual poems! I probably should have put some footnotes into this one:

Nomalanga is a South African girl's name. Rooiboss is a South African red tea. I've been haunted by the idea of adopting a South African child (heh, even though I've got two of my own to finish raising). Everyone around me thinks I'm nuts (noble in theory, crazy in reality).

Noah - thank you for the warm welcome back! I see you are up to 30,000+ posts! Good lord, Noah! I've been a member since 1999 and I think I only have around 3,000. haha!


Sunshine - Ah! Well, I'm not the one with a book ready to go, now am I?  

Oh, thank you, you are so kind, Maree!

Thanks Martie! Good to be here again! Looking forward to some sunny Cali weather this weekend! Yipee!

Thank you, Midnight Sun!

I've forgotten how sweet everyone here is, Krawdad! Thank you for the warm welcome!


Corinne

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