Oh, goodness! (Wellaneba!) This took me into a nightmare state, like when I
had a fever. In my delirium, I hallucinated. This exercise felt like that to me.
Good or bad? Hard to say…
Please click on the link to see the twenty questions that brought these words
in this order out of me. I am wowed. Thanks.
You are the apple of my eye. At times a lovely odd duck, hardly noticing if people are booing or cheering; and at others, a frigging armadillo that gives little and the only way to get to you is to reach under your armor Your presence taints and fills me with the unbridled joy of a five-year-old. When you draw close, and I see your veins bulgy and blue, and your stale breath blows against my hair, I feel as frail as twigs put together. Our union has the tensile strength of a cobweb. I’m buoyed by the fervor in your voice; my ears perk up to listen. And when I think of the undulating black, dusty gray of the road we've traveled on, I remember the taste of blood. Gothel Rose Oblong of Illinois, you are by far the shiniest diamond my eyes see in the orchard. Pain shoots through my stomach, and metallic lightning tears through my guts when I see you. Wellaneba! You, the apple of my eye, amplify the wattage of my scare. You're leaven bread-- filled with hot air. That no worry me none! All others are fattened pigs on a greased slide heading into a casket of blackness: the auspicious bodega of covert happenings. When you look at me, the wattage of your stare amplifies, and you turn me into a soft tortilla cut into bite-sized pieces. You understand that being controlling comes from being powerless. My cute Selmita, come closer, eat from my hand so I can love you better, you say. All lies and jests aside, what I’ll find under the wooden planks will be enough to live the life I imagine. I could already see myself climbing to the top of the col and after the winding road regarding the blue mountains, the tall, brown, baked-looking fence behind which I’ll find paradise, still intact. Double-sworded machete! This piranha has eyes the color of wood polished to a high shine. You could never be the apple of my eye. Cabrona! Darkness envelops me, velvety and close until the frailty of twigs put together breaks with my hyperpyrexia. Make the little decisions with your head and the big ones with your heart; never trust what you see with your eyes. © selma
Your body temperature changes during the day and varies throughout your
lifetime. When your body temperature goes above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit
(37.5 degrees Celsius), you have a fever– called pyrexia.
A very high fever is called hyperpyrexia.
One might also become mentally confused and unable to understand the
surrounding environment, with very unstable emotions, causing conscious
and cognitive disturbances such as illusions or hallucinations– delirium.
Thanks so much for reading, and happy national poetry writing month.
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Selma, there are little fires everywhere and there are little truths everywhere in this poem. The ending is a wise reminder to us all.
Fires and truths sprinkled about. Yes. I never know what I’ll write about. I’m driving in the dark, and can see only as far as my headlights show. But the words come…
This was so difficult for me. Especially since it kept expanding and contradicting all the way to the end.
But the end I like.
Thanks for seeing more in this than I do. Thanks for reading the words of this beginner. Xoxo. Happy Easter, Gloria. Xoxo
Congratulations to not only starting this poem but also finishing it! I’m still stuck! I would like to use the TWENTY!!! prompts, but cannot think of anything. I’m in awe that you were able to use these prompts, and use them well. Wow! Will have to come up with something soon…
Funny, it was the prompt that USED ME 🤣
I really struggled with this one and a few others. 🤪 I’m not bound to the prompts as per se. I’m ✍🏻. And when I start, I never know what I’ll write about. I’m driving in the dark, and can see only as far as my headlights show. But the words come…
This was so difficult 😣 indeed. Especially since it kept expanding and contradicting all the way to the end.
But the end I like.
Thanks for reading the words of this beginner and using me as a springboard. I saw what resulted and I’m so awed by you. Keep going— the fun has only just began! Happy Easter.
Thanks, Selma. I love the way you say it: ‘the prompt that USED ME’. Ya. That’s exactly what it felt like! I struggled with the prompt again today, the sea shanty. You seem to get going straight away – it’s nice to read your words. The prompts make a lot more sense when put into practice. This is why I love WordPress. So many excellent poets and we can all inspire each other. It’s a great platform. Happy Easter and a great NaPoWriMo, Selma!
Some poems do take us on a ride, don’t they! Hopefully, going into a “nightmare state” with this one helped you to release some things, which is good. I enjoyed reading your lines! 👏🏻
Driving in the dark, I am. I never know what I’ll write about. And in the dark can see only as far as my headlights show. But the words come…
This was so difficult for me. Especially since it kept expanding and contradicting itself all the way to the end.
But the end I like.
Bless you. Happy Easter.
Thanks for seeing more in this than I do. Thanks for reading the words of this beginner
I completely understand and love the headlights analogy. Such is the gift, mystery, and beauty of creative writing. ✨ I also enjoyed learning about the writing process for you. Love it! My pleasure to read and connect. Have a wonderful week!
This prompt requires hallucination. But the last stanza is lovely. (K)
The last line is the only one I like.
At the moment I cannot see how this exercise worked in my favor, bit maybe months later I’ll know.
Happy Easter, K. Blessings.
(One day Ill try your Sunday prompts) xoxo
This is so well written Selma. Touching on so many emotions
Sadje. Thanks. I never know what I’ll write about. I’m driving in the dark, and can see only as far as my headlights show. But the words come…
This was sooooo difficult for me. Especially since it kept expanding and requiring contradiction all the way to the end.
But the end I like.
🙏 Thanks for reading the words of this beginner
Happy Easter, Sadje.
Thanks Selma. This was a tricky one but you did it so well.
This is absolutely brilliant! You got them all? As far as I could see, the answer is yes…
The headache I could envision when reading the prompt, which is why I didn’t even give it a try 😉
The prompt used me 🤣 as opposed to me using the prompt. And I let it.
That’s how this came to be.
Thanks for reading and liking it. Blessings, Dawn. XoXo
My favourite lines here are
‘You, the apple of my eye, amplify the wattage
of my scare.’
counterbalanced with ‘When you look at me, the wattage of your stare amplifies,’
As I said: brilliant!
You are too kind.
The prompt asked for repeated contradictions. So I gave it. 😂
Thanks. Xoxo
Very moving poem.
Sadje, you’re the bestest. Thanks.
I was out of town this weekend, so I’ve got to go back and look at this prompt. Your lines were fantastic, Selma!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Oh, yes, highly effective, I say! Fierceness abounds. The following verses carry such a good punch:
“This piranha has eyes the color
of wood polished to a high shine.”