ode to a stoppered gut

i will bathe you in all manners

of indulgence if you will agree

to end this interminable state

of affairs--double-stacked cheeseburgers,

extra onions & deep fried anything, the companion

milkshake. for breakfast, coffee &

spiced teas with lemon peel, scones filled

with berries & chocolate. thick artesian

breads stuffed with three different kinds of ham

& cheese & oil flaked with olives & capers. see

how my arteries tighten

for you, chips of plaque held close,

tacked to the walls

like duran duran posters. they glisten

with the sweat of last night's meringue

& a delicate sauce of sparkling

water & commodity syrup,

a bubbly reduction, the relief of knowing

air still finds passage somewhere.

ode to tambourines

yo. this is alisa. a new member of this fine blog. i'm trying to put my words down here for you all, and also, for myself. terrible or not, here they are. enjoy.

ode to tambourines

singing vagabonds
clapping hands
shaking hips

tambourines are a clatterin'
making your stage
right there on the grass
below my tappin' feet
in the setting sun

practice?
performance?
play on passion?
which is it?
which is it not?

you embrace the freedom to play

tiny tunes
sing your secrets aloud
and allow your fearless

freckles

to shadow over your shoulders
of a summer drawing near

will your notes still remain
after the sun goes down?

will your shaky voice still skip
over my rosy cheeks?

will your tambourine still
continue to rattle my heart?


well, that wasn't too terrible. looking forward to more terrible poetry with you all.

chao.

en paz.,

alisa

The Irrelevance of Numbers (Or, Happy Birthday!)

On your birthday

Cannot recall if you are

21

Or

42

But numbers only get in the way

Of the amazing things you have accomplished

Giving birth to 3 terrific daughters

Creating a home that is always welcoming

To vagrants and vagabonds

Like myself

The way you handled your Oh Hell loss last night

Was

Far more graceful

Than Jim

And your patience when flipping over the trump card

May we all learn that lesson of serenity in the eye of the

Competitive card storm

Deep respect

I have for what you do

It must not be easy to find the humanity in everyone

To be warm and welcoming to those who may feel cold or alone

To allow yourself to be that vulnerable

To continue to make a concerted effort

Even when those relationships may let you down

May today be a day of celebration for you!

Of joy!

Or at least quiet contentment

On this

The anniversary

Of the day of your birth

Ode to a Desert Rainstorm

The desert heaves

a quiet, tingling breath 

Much like the anticipation 

of a lover's touch

The cumulonimbus fingers

poised above the rigid mountainous spine

twist and tease but yield little

to the frustrated, parched earth

Reprieve!  What I wouldn't give

for a deep lungful of air that didn't taste 

like baked clay

perspiration

suffocation

The sun sets in a brilliant bloody fashion

Spilling over the darkening bulbous

cloud banks

Release!  The water finally oozes free

leaving quarter-sized traces on the steaming pavement

Tension snaps

in the form of ragged streaks

that perform their terrifying dance from sky

to ground

Sharp invasive jabs

into the sand

I hear you can find glass scars in the desert

after a lightning strike

And then...

brief, so brief

the clouds move on

trapped in the funnel of the mountains

offering a grimy shell of respite

as again the thermometer slowly climbs. 

Ode to Unemployment

Unemployment oh how you doth protest
I have a love and hate relationship with you
On one hand
I have so much time
On the other
I have no money
I have no purpose
Should I...
Canoe?
Write?
Draw?
Make music?
Or should I just...
Watch another This American Life re-run?
Or Mad Men episode?
Have you discovered Hulu?
I hope not
Because it could be dangerous during your months of unemployment
I really should...
Send out yet another
Resume
Cover letter
Mission statement
Letter of purpose
Life statement
Contemplate my self worth
Let's not
I'd rather not
I'd rather join a gym
Take a YOGA class
Go for a run
Or maybe just a walk
Let's see how long before anyone notices
I'm not paying them back
I'm not paying my rent
Or bills
Or dropping off the face of the earth
Unemployment is fun
It's a quest for new opportunity
Or some other bullshit line
They are feeding you kids now
I'll shut up now
This is my ode to unemployment

Ode to Cheese

And what will I do?
My sometimes-yellow, sometimes-white shepherd
I am nothing without you
From an early childhood of string cheese
Trying to remain diligent and
Digest one string at a time
It would last half the stick
The rest devoured in two bites
You stuck with me when I was a teenager
Still so ignorant of your illuminating ways
I would cover toasted bread with American slices
Still waiting for those days to be introduced
Alex
This is Mr. and Mr. Provolone
Meet their kids
Colby Catalina
Fred Feta
Patsy Paneer

Of all
It might be you
Pepper Jack
We only knew each other a few years
Not enough time to develop that sustaining commitment
That refreshing aura all solid friendships provide
Forgive me
One day you will understand

Tell all the rest
Parmesan on pasta
Nacho cheese at the Dome
My beloved mozzarella sticks
I will miss them dearly
True friends you have all been

I walk now into the darkness
That is my future diet
I will mourn every morning
Part of me will die at sunset
Let this be my lament
Let it stand as a testament of loving
And letting go
This is not temporary
This is my final goodbye
The eulogy
Procession
Burial

This is my ode to tearful goodbyes
This is my ode to Cheese