And the word is...

**PrinceMyshkin** · 07-23-2007, 11:44 AM

Firefangled! Ampoule! How fine! How fine!

PUMMELING

Why, it's love! It's love
--calling to us
like a banana-boat in the night.

(But where is the glint
of native iron from the shore?)

The boat is low in the water.
The long oars dip, and dip again.
The wind is fresh, but with the taint
of something heavy on its breath,
and the downstream ocean
licks at the river,
wooing it home: "Come hooooome."

On the bank, palms sway.
The boat creaks. The crew shifts,
ready to earn their danger pay,
then

a stammer of moonlit spearheads
arcs across the water. "Jettison the cargo!
"Speed! More speed,"
the captain cries,

and hunchbacked bananas
shoulder apart the water.
The prow lifts, and the crew,
dirty and eager for home, clash oars

and go pummelling away in the night.

**ampoule** · 07-23-2007, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by PrinceMyshkin

Firefangled! Ampoule! How fine! How fine!

PUMMELING

Why, it's love! It's love
--calling to us
like a banana-boat in the night.

(But where is the glint
of native iron from the shore?)

The boat is low in the water.
The long oars dip, and dip again.
The wind is fresh, but with the taint
of something heavy on its breath,
and the downstream ocean
licks at the river,
wooing it home: "Come hooooome."

On the bank, palms sway.
The boat creaks. The crew shifts,
ready to earn their danger pay,
then

a stammer of moonlit spearheads
arcs across the water. "Jettison the cargo!
"Speed! More speed,"
the captain cries,

and hunchbacked bananas
shoulder apart the water.
The prow lifts, and the crew,
dirty and eager for home, clash oars

and go pummelling away in the night.

And me in my dark skin and my long black hair and my dress half-off.... grrrrRUFF!
And you are probably doing what computer people all over the world are doing, rolling on some dirty floor laughing......she doesn't get it, she doesn't get it......but that's how it made me feel. So there.

**firefangled** · 07-23-2007, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by PrinceMyshkin

PUMMELING

Why, it's love! It's love
--calling to us
like a banana-boat in the night.

(But where is the glint
of native iron from the shore?)

The boat is low in the water.
The long oars dip, and dip again.
The wind is fresh, but with the taint
of something heavy on its breath,
and the downstream ocean
licks at the river,
wooing it home: "Come hooooome."

On the bank, palms sway.
The boat creaks. The crew shifts,
ready to earn their danger pay,
then

a stammer of moonlit spearheads
arcs across the water. "Jettison the cargo!
"Speed! More speed,"
the captain cries,

and hunchbacked bananas
shoulder apart the water.
The prow lifts, and the crew,
dirty and eager for home, clash oars

and go pummelling away in the night.

There is so much about this to admire and revel in that it is hard to pick one section. Even though there are sections, the rhymes and indirect repetition makes them stick like glue to each other...."and the downstream ocean licks at the river" has to be the ONE if any....

It is complex in the sense of some of Wallace Stevens' "Key West" poems like Someone Puts a Pineapple Together or The Idea of Order at Key West. Excellent!

**ampoule** · 07-24-2007, 07:04 AM

>>>>>>Gratitude<<<<<<

Would you share with us, please?

**

**PrinceMyshkin** · 07-24-2007, 07:45 AM

Not by wishing will magic be achieved,
Nor what we give
Will equal that which we’ve received.

We travel on crooked paths, in hazy light,
Convinced that we’re on highways, bright
And straight. By losing our way,

We finally get home. We say
The meanest things at times instead
Of the love we mean to say. That word

Is difficult for us.
But love is not what’s said,
But what’s both said and heard.

**symphony** · 07-24-2007, 08:08 AM

so is the next word gratitude?

**PrinceMyshkin** · 07-24-2007, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by symphony

so is the next word gratitude?

That's my understanding. Better that than "fish-sticks," don't you think?

**ampoule** · 07-24-2007, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by symphony

so is the next word gratitude?

Yes, the next word is gratitude. Thank you. Mahalo. Gracias. Merci. Danke. Grazie. Arigato. Go raibh maith agat, Dua Netjer.

**symphony** · 07-24-2007, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by PrinceMyshkin

That's my understanding. Better that than "fish-sticks," don't you think?

Debatable. With the talents in here, I bet this forum can even make fish-sticks poetic.

In a postive sense, by the way.

Anyway, ultra-slow as I am, I was still writing on that love thing, *sigh* my love went in vain!

**symphony** · 07-24-2007, 08:31 AM

Nonetheless,

Gratitude

Another of those mornings
Where the brows never get the chance to be straight,
Where the roads are muddy and the car keeps getting stuck
In the endless manholes of Dhaka,
And the garbage bins are the only perfumeries
The city can offer!

Another disgusting day
Where the street beggars never stop knocking
At the car window—
Bless the traffic jams!

And oh the endless rain!

Another knock at the car window.
A quick look with a quicker frown
Showed a small shaky hand
Offering a rose,
“It wont cost u more than 2 bucks, ma’am”.
Her voice made my day.
And the look in her eyes—
It could have been gratitude,
Or may be it was the gleam of the polished window –
Spoke to my eyes.

Later that night
Winding up in my armchair,
I couldn’t help debating
On whether the rose has fitted more
In the wildernesses, or was it in her hand!

I couldn’t help wondering
On whether two bucks have, ever,
Bought anything so beautiful
As was that look
On her face.

now give me a blanket to hide my face in

**PrinceMyshkin** · 07-24-2007, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by symphony

Nonetheless,

Gratitude

Another of those mornings
Where the brows never get the chance to be straight,
Where the roads are muddy and the car keeps getting stuck
In the endless manholes of Dhaka,
And the garbage bins are the only perfumeries
The city can offer!

Another disgusting day
Where the street beggars never stop knocking
At the car window—
Bless the traffic jams!

And oh the endless rain!

Another knock at the car window.
A quick look with a quicker frown
Showed a small shaky hand
Offering a rose,
“It wont cost u more than 2 bucks, ma’am”.
Her voice made my day.
And the look in her eyes—
It could have been gratitude,
Or may be it was the gleam of the polished window –
Spoke to my eyes.

Later that night
Winding up in my armchair,
I couldn’t help debating
On whether the rose has fitted more
In the wildernesses, or was it in her hand!

I couldn’t help wondering
On whether two bucks have, ever,
Bought anything so beautiful
As was that look
On her face.

now give me a blanket to hide my face in

Who was it who told you that you are NOT a genius? Read this aloud to him or her - if you can get all the way through it without choking up - and watch them slither away in shame!

Feakingly, relentlessly, excessively beautiful!! Thank you!

**firefangled** · 07-24-2007, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by symphony

Nonetheless,

Gratitude

Another of those mornings
Where the brows never get the chance to be straight,
Where the roads are muddy and the car keeps getting stuck
In the endless manholes of Dhaka,
And the garbage bins are the only perfumeries
The city can offer!

Another disgusting day
Where the street beggars never stop knocking
At the car window—
Bless the traffic jams!

And oh the endless rain!

Another knock at the car window.
A quick look with a quicker frown
Showed a small shaky hand
Offering a rose,
“It wont cost u more than 2 bucks, ma’am”.
Her voice made my day.
And the look in her eyes—
It could have been gratitude,
Or may be it was the gleam of the polished window –
Spoke to my eyes.

Later that night
Winding up in my armchair,
I couldn’t help debating
On whether the rose has fitted more
In the wildernesses, or was it in her hand!

I couldn’t help wondering
On whether two bucks have, ever,
Bought anything so beautiful
As was that look
On her face.

Oh, Symphony, oh poet, this so reached my heart. Stay in this language of your heart, write what you think and feel as if you speak to us and you will be great and we will beg you to tell us what you see, tell us what is the world like. This was a rose in a wilderness of wonder. Thank you.

You've no need to hide your face, my friend.

**firefangled** · 07-24-2007, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by symphony

Another of those mornings
Where the brows never get the chance to be straight,
Where the roads are muddy and the car keeps getting stuck
In the endless manholes of Dhaka,
And the garbage bins are the only perfumeries
The city can offer!

I just had to come back and note the beginning, it is where the tears first came to my eyes. Are still there as I tell you this...yes as Prince said, you are a genius...stay, stay, live in this voice, you found it. I hope you know how precious it is to find your voice at 17...a blessing!

**symphony** · 07-24-2007, 08:53 AM

erm...
uhm...

i always thought this forum doesnt have enough smileys...
i always thought i dont know enough english to say thanks ...

but...
THANKS!

**ampoule** · 07-24-2007, 09:02 AM

".......I hear a SYMPHONY".....so sing the Supremes (you may not know of them) and today they are singing about YOU.
And, please, please continue with your poem about 'that love thing'.

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