Monday, December 17, 2012

Second thoughts


Artist:   Lily Higgins


This is part of the doll poem series for Margaret Bednar's daughter and classmates who stitched these wonderful creations ~ My first one is here and for this second one, I have written a short story ~  Thank you for the inspiration ~ 

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the journey to the witch haggler's home   
was long and perilous of white sharks and eels  

blue deep water was colder than i thought
and the squids were faster with their ink defense

i am unlike my cousin, the giant octopus 
who is content with waiting & holding hands to mate -- 

ambitious, i want to make money of trade secrets --
when danger lurks, my nerve poison is most potent  

i am told the black sac fetches a fortune & i dream 
of living in pearly castle and not eating crabby food -- 

but all throughout the weedy & slimy journey  
i pine for my solitary rock bed & holes to curl into  

away from the rock lobster with big creepy eyes
and claws targeting my bagful ass

good thing, my skin color is versatile as sand shifting - 
i can look pale as a shell or sultry vamp if i want to --

at cove's edge, i hear the witch crackling,
limbs eager to suck me dry, witless & predictably tame 

i hesitate & contemplate my choices  - i do have them - 
while admiring my lavender hair & eight tentacles-- they are 

definitely deadlier than just two,  i inhale deeply 
and remember the power of life and death in my hands --

thrill of hunt and escape, learning colors & textures,
gift of re-growing damaged arms, embracing my shadows--

i change my mind, and head for sunnier Pacific Sea
who says i got no backbone ? 

Posted for OpenLinkNight and Sunday's Challenge of Real Toads -
I have already posted a poem based on Friday's tragic event in my haiku on Friday.  For this OLN, I have decided to write something light and fun for a change, to balance my (and others) emotional well-being who is (are) suffering second-hand trauma & stress from all the bad news over the weekend.   Thanks for the visit ~ 

40 comments:

  1. This was a great respite...and a great adventure. the creativity in this one is second to none, and I love the dedications to the dolls...very cool.

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  2. This was a great distraction :D
    Well done...
    I started my doll poem and need to
    go finish~
    You inspired me~

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    1. Thanks Ella ~ Let me know when you are done ~

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  3. There are always choices - that's what captured me.

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    1. Yes Elsie, I thought the message of choices is ideal for the young adults ~ Thanks ~

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  4. That last line is ideal! Terrific write. Those dolls sure inspired some good stuff. Margaret had a great idea, didn't she?

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  5. Way cool sea adventure! I especially love - "choices - I do have them -"

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    1. Yes, we do. Thanks Sherry for liking the cool sea adventure ~

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  6. Great pace and adventure at your place, dolls can be creepy as can be but you sure gave them more of a nice-ity.

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    1. I wish I can rhyme like you to make it even more fun ~ Thanks Pat~

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  7. ha this was fun...like a childrens story...and there are always choices...sunny pacific does not sound like a bad one to me...smiles.

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    1. We are going to winter so sunnier days look good to me ~ Thanks Brian ~

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  8. this was loads of fun.loved the wit that shines through.such experiments suit you well.

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    1. I enjoyed the challenge of writing something different. Thanks Abin ~

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  9. This is fantastic, Grace. I love this line: "limbs eager to suck me dry, witless & predictably tame"

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  10. Love your take on the doll!! A line that jumped out at me was this: " i inhale deeply
    and remember the power of life and death in my hands --" powerful.

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  11. ambitious, i want to make money of trade secrets --
    when danger lurks, my nerve poison is most potent

    i am told the black sac fetches a fortune & i dream
    of living in pearly castle and not eating crabby food --

    I loved your story, and these lines gave such character to your narrator. Lovely work, Grace.

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  12. A fun respite from all the sadness! I love the last line!

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  13. I enjoyed this story/poem very much, Grace. I appreciate the respite from the sadness.

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  14. I had a similar response to tragedy, raise up some good and tender moments! What a lovely voice you have given this mer-squid! I especially like the admission of doubt:
    "but all throughout the weedy & slimy journey
    i pine for my solitary rock bed & holes to curl into"
    and the turnaround it leads to, done with verve and backbone!
    Thank you for this, Grace.

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  15. Choices...we have them...sometimes, tragically there are those who make the wrong choice.

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  16. Such a fun read- crabby food, no backbone, sultry vamp!

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  17. The narrative is well told and gripping, the poem well constructed. Excellently done.

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  18. Thank you for the fun and uplifting distraction, Grace. A great tale! I love the phrase "bagful ass!"

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  19. Beautifully done, Grace! Choices make for a better living!

    Hank

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  20. She 's got a backbone! :) More of us humans need to learn to love ourselves for the way we are, not what the unrealistic dreams we put in our mind! Great imagery throughout.

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  21. ..odd lookin' doll... Grace this was terrific... with a great reference to the sea... i think, you are getting better & better each time i read you... adorable & i feel proud... smiles...

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  22. Love this short story! What an unique-looking doll!

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  23. Great story here! I agree that this should be a children's storybook!

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  24. Terrific, Grace!
    who says i got no backbone? ...
    Thanks for sharing your beautiful words all through the year.
    I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
    A hug,
    Dulcina

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  25. I'm a bit scared now, please hold me :)

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