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Open Poetry #39
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serenity blaze
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since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738


0 posted 2006-12-04 04:48 AM


* * * * *

Ezekiel 25:17--as quoted from the movie, Pulp Fiction, spoken by the character:

Jules: "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and
destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."

*  *  *

I thought, perhaps
"it's broken glass"
a pretty shining requiem
for a momentary rage
another sign
of post mortem--
flamboyances
of tears that grin
in spite of it
in spite of them
posturing between the bricks
mortar prisming
at risk
of settling too soon and this
is how my feet
sparked glittering
dancing decorated death
amongst the tombs
of recklessness
second-lining handkerchiefs
yellow fever casketless
a town that never
made much sense--
the port within the storm
that is
the cork that indicates
that fish
heads
will gather scavengers--
where men were sold
and women told
that flesh
was just
appliances...

the purpling of green
to gold
like verdigris of coppering
processed in reverse

this curse

weighs upon a nation, birthed
by piracy and plundering
re-written in our history
in blood of such indignities--
rape and rampage
rioting
against the native redman

we

are not what we were taught to be--
manifest of destiny
we took the crown to smelt
as "free"--
manacled ourselves in greed
dancing on the bones
to bleed
our future from the past.

I saw all of this and more
and shed my shoes to dance the floor
littered with the glitterings
of all the tears I'd wept before
when I was black
when I was red
when "Irishmen" were better dead--
and Jews were numbered on the wrist--

I closed my eyes
and danced the twist
I drank the wine
I raised my fist

praising Tarentino's Hell

I denied descent and yelled--

"I never could tell!"

Um, nope--

y'never can--

"tell"...


* * * * *



© Copyright 2006 serenity blaze - All Rights Reserved
LeeJ
Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296

1 posted 2006-12-04 05:50 AM


yanno, kiddo, I think this stage of life we're in right now is so absolutely marvelous.  Ya seem to keep thinking, if only we knew and felt this when we were younger....

Outstanding poem, love the sound of the musical philosophy you share...

and oh, by the way
Good Morning


loved this a lot....

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200
Between the Lines
2 posted 2006-12-04 05:56 AM


the port within the storm
that is
the cork that indicates
that fish
heads
will gather scavengers--
where men were sold
and women told
that flesh
was just
appliances...
always food for thought...my breakfast this morning

prayers and hope that you are coping...
M

Marge Tindal
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since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
3 posted 2006-12-04 07:40 AM


Serenity~
Oh my girlie ... when you 'do The Twist' ...
you REALLY DO THE TWIST !


All this ... from that ?

AMAZING !

Hey ... cool glasses~

*Huglets*
~*Marge*~

~*The sound of a kiss is not as strong as that of a cannon, but it's echo endures much longer*~
Email -           noles1@totcon.com     

passing shadows
Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
4 posted 2006-12-04 07:58 AM


well this one just socked me right in the gut...I like that

love the new pic

Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
5 posted 2006-12-04 08:12 AM


serenity,
Nope you never can tell, for history is written by the victor. You have rings on your fingers bells on your toes and write history that washes like cloths.

Nightshade
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Member Patricius
since 2001-08-31
Posts 13962
just out of reach
6 posted 2006-12-04 10:15 AM


Goodness gracious Karen !
My head and my heart feel like they are about to explode.
Hugs, Chrislane

Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles ~

Paul Wilson
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Member Elite
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711
United States
7 posted 2006-12-04 08:46 PM


Karen...I see much in this masterpiece.
Your upbringing, New Orleans traditions ie: Jazz Funerals, The levees that broke. Voodoo and its relationship with the creoles of Louisiana and slavery. Many other traditions.
A condenced history of New Orleans and not knowing what is in store for the next hundred years. " You Never Can Tell "...Paul

~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~
Paul

Lady In White
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since 2001-02-12
Posts 2799
USA
8 posted 2006-12-04 09:58 PM


where men were sold
and women told
that flesh
was just

~*~

Tarantella, yes...
the ubiquitous dance


of life.


serenity blaze
Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738

9 posted 2006-12-05 05:08 PM


Thanks all for reading--your generosity is much appreciated, as always.

Love to all.

inkedgoddess
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-19
Posts 7392
Ohio
10 posted 2006-12-05 10:34 PM


sometimes you just nail it home
and speak the gospel with grace

Mysteria
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Member Laureate
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada
11 posted 2006-12-05 10:48 PM


quote:
saw all of this and more
and shed my shoes to dance the floor
littered with the glitterings
of all the tears I'd wept before
when I was black
when I was red
when "Irishmen" were better dead--
and Jews were numbered on the wrist--

Well I for one love it when you hunker down and get to reading something that stirs you.  It seems to always surface a "feel" and think.  I felt this and "thunk" it too.   Loved that part K.  

1slick_lady
Member Ascendant
since 2000-12-22
Posts 6088
standing on a shadow's lace
12 posted 2006-12-05 11:39 PM


oh how beautiful you write
latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
13 posted 2006-12-06 02:48 AM


Serenity, You constantly  outdo yourself, and that takes some mighty high writing........ Loved this, martyjo
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
14 posted 2006-12-06 10:12 AM


Karen....well darn...I want to say something clever, but I can't find it.  Just know I think you're amazing..ok?  
Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666
California
15 posted 2006-12-06 05:37 PM


Holy... um... cow, Karen, this is great.  

"Manifest of Destiny" ... you stole my line!!!

I swear I have been working on a poem for, well just about forever it seems... since before I moved to Florida anyway, and that is the ending to one of the lines in it.  

Since you did such a remarkable job with it maybe I should just send you my poem and let you finish it for me.     

Lord knows it's going nowhere as it is.

We truly do live in "a nation, birthed
by piracy and plundering."

Glad to see I am not the only one who shares this view.

I've missed reading you K.

catalinamoon
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543
The Shores of Alone
16 posted 2006-12-06 06:05 PM


Wow, Karen, just like I always feel reading you, how do you say it so well? Sad the truth about our country..and a fine way to say it.
Sandra

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738

17 posted 2006-12-06 08:10 PM


a huge hug for m'sandra--you keep my number handy, k?

and Michael? *laughing* BRING IT ON--and you know me--if something strikes me, I'm a match in an oil field--

I swear this crap just writes itself--

but I'd love to read yours, and since I've already shown ya MINE--well...



thanks you

and thank you all--notwithstanding politics, I think we would all be wise to ponder the preponderance of "if"...

Edward Grim
Senior Member
since 2005-12-18
Posts 1154
Greenville, South Carolina
18 posted 2006-12-06 08:21 PM


HA HA! I love that you quoted Pulp Fiction and ran with it! Weird, cause I was watchin that the other day, funny. Great job, really. Love love loved it. Cheers and a brewski on me.    Edweird (lol)

And I said to the devil, "You better leave my spleen alone."

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
19 posted 2006-12-06 09:20 PM


quote:
and you know me--if something strikes me, I'm a match in an oil field--

I swear this crap just writes itself--


and don't I know what you say
is all too true....

and thank God for that!

speak on, write on, and never
let that pen dry up!





garysgirl
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Member Laureate
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237
Florida, USA
20 posted 2006-12-06 10:05 PM


I saw all of this and more
and shed my shoes to dance the floor
littered with the glitterings
of all the tears I'd wept before
when I was black
when I was red
when "Irishmen" were better dead--
and Jews were numbered on the wrist--

I closed my eyes
and danced the twist
I drank the wine
I raised my fist


Karen, I LOVE this part....and all the rest, too, of course.
You are a true writer, Lady!!
Hugs,
Ethel

Roniece Dawson-Bruce
Member Ascendant
since 2000-01-29
Posts 5689
Sydney, Australia
21 posted 2006-12-07 03:19 AM


Karen, I have read this thru about 4 times and I get something new out of it each time.. a wonderful write..  RDB
Susan Caldwell
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348
Florida
22 posted 2006-12-08 10:24 AM


This made me think of the carriage ride I took a couple of days ago in St. Augustine.  During the tour they point out the cemetary where most the yellow fever victims are buried and another area where slaves were displayed and sold...

and it writes itself for you Karen...you are the teller...the only one that could tell these stories.

Email me so I can tell you all about Duncan's latest trip to Florida! *eg*

Love you lady!

"too bad ignorance isn't painful"
~Unknown~

suthern
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Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723
Louisiana
23 posted 2006-12-21 10:31 AM


dancing on the bones
to bleed
our future from the past.

I saw all of this and more
and shed my shoes to dance the floor
littered with the glitterings
of all the tears I'd wept before
when I was black
when I was red
when "Irishmen" were better dead--
and Jews were numbered on the wrist--

Gal, you leave me speechless... And when my mind is concentrating so fiercely on the feast of words before it that it can't conjure any words of its own... I know I've just read a helluva poem... WOW!!

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
24 posted 2006-12-21 09:17 PM


Nice writing...James
Snowflake From Hell
Senior Member
since 2003-07-10
Posts 777
My own little Icey Oblivion
25 posted 2006-12-21 10:10 PM


W-O-W!

Madness is the gift that has been given to me

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