Sunday, May 13, 2012

Forgotten meal


                                                                          The Meal, 1891, by Paul Gauguin

She places her half eaten guava on the table 
with a knife, she starts to slice the bananas, 
into the bowl of sweetened coconut milk, 
when she hears the music booming in the streets   


Putting down her apron, she stands up to peer
through the gates, where drums and dancers beat to the hot sun   
Banners and stilts proclaim the festival of the mother moon


Running to her closet, she unwraps the headdress and red clothes 
In the mirror, she sees a butterfly, gliding and swaying in the air  
With a smile, she goes out into the crowd, clapping her hands 


Twirling her arms to the rhythmic beat of native song,
She forgets the meal, the strings of duties that engulf her day
Specially on this day       




                                                                        © Peggy Goetz: Chinese Dancer


Happy Mother's Day ~ 

Picture prompts:   The Mag 117 and Imaginary Garden with Real Toads 

35 comments:

  1. Great job bringing the two pics as one, enjoy life no matter what we have thrown our way. Enjoy mother's day too!

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  2. life-affirming - written so well this scene is easy to imagine.

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  3. That is beautiful, Grace! You created a beautiful scene.

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  4. dancers and singers really get in the zone on performance day, and only things that have to do with the upcoming performance count.

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  5. Beautiful write Grace! Happy Mother's Day, Ma'am!

    Hank

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  6. Such perfection in combining these prompts!!! I love this part so much:

    " she sees a butterfly, gliding and swaying in the air
    With a smile, she goes out into the crowd, clapping her hands"

    Such a poignant image and celebratory feeling!! Wonderful!

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  7. How lovely, Grace, to provide a moment of respite and beauty to a woman about her work. I love the traditional lifestyle to which you allude.

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  8. Uplifting and inspiring...we should all embrace that inner butterfly and make the most of our days!

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  9. So sweet and such a joyous spirit, as we all should have... happy mother's day!!

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  10. Thanks as I was in a rush to go to church ~ Done ~

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  11. Beautiful. Glad the meal was forgotten :) Happy Mother's day Grace!

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  12. And happy Mother's Day to you! At least you got the fruit on the table right. I almost went off on asparagus but caught myself just in time. Nice poem, Grace.

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  13. smiles...you set the scene nice before leading us into the celebration...i like her joy in it, and willingness to let everything else go to join in...smiles...

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  14. Good for her!

    Happy Mother's Day!

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  15. I like the way you tied this photo of the Chinese woman to the ordinary work of a woman's day. And actually when I took this photo we had seen lots of dancing in the streets in traditional clothing as you seem to have captured. Thanks for responding to my photo prompt.

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  16. I love the scene you have created with your words and pictures. Happy Mother's Day to all mothers among us.

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  17. Oh I do like how you spin a story! Nicely done!

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  18. Great response to both prompts! And to mother's day! k.

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  19. Really sweet! Hope your Mother's Day was truly special.

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  20. beautifully written.. loved the little story there..wonderful.. :)

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  21. def would rather dance than cook!!! very lovely xx

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  22. Who wouldn't choose dancing over preparing food?! :)

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  23. Gorgeous, Grace! I just love this part: "drums and dancers beat to the hot sun Banners and stilts proclaim the festival of the mother moon" It sure makes me want to dance with her.

    In the opening, I enjoyed the mixture of guava, banana, and coconut milk; I could almost taste the dance of flavors.

    I think my favorite description is that of her seeing the butterfly while she's looking in the mirror, almost as if her spirit is the butterfly ready to fly away from duty and dance in the street for a while. :)

    Beautiful work.

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  24. You have captured a happy feeling of spirituality and celebration in your response to this prompt, Grace. I love the flow of feelings expressed here. Thank you for sharing. =D

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  25. A beautiful celebration of all mothers! Love this Grace! :-)

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  26. This is a glorious celebratory poem ....

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  27. Mmm! I love that guava. :-) Happy Mother's Day!

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  28. I was slightly confused at first by the double- barrelled nature of the poem, but greatly impressed by your use of coconut milk. I found that impossibly difficult to fit into the rhythms of my poem, so Bravo you!

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  29. When a get a chance, dance! I love this...so very good.

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  30. Beautifully written and nice tribute to the woman on a special day.

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