I
want to search your depths
and find veils
and smoke,
that will vanish at last in flame.
and find veils
and smoke,
that will vanish at last in flame.
--from
Eve's Discourse, by Carilda Oliver Labra
Dormant
after
first frost,
gypsy
lips,
volcanic
to
your molten touch, erupt--
ignite
the slumbering zest,
exotic
scent,
hidden
in white ginger flame,
burns
us up
and
leaves
to
ash
the
petal nest
of
our broken names.
We'll
sleep like murderers
who've saved themselves
by bonding together in incomparable blossoming.
who've saved themselves
by bonding together in incomparable blossoming.
--from
Eve's Discourse, by Carilda Oliver Labra
©
2015 Jennifer Wagner
For
the Sunday Mini-challenge at Imaginary Garden with Real Toads. Grace
offered us the work of Cuban poet Carilda Oliver Labra for
inspiration.
Mariposa
is the national flower of Cuba (white ginger lily, “butterfly”).
those last 2 lines....
ReplyDeletethe petal nest
of our broken names.
dang.
Ah exactly those lines that Brain says for sure made me gasp... Better than the inspired poem IMHO
ReplyDeleteGypsy lips, volcanic and that ending the petal nest of our broken names -
ReplyDeleteWow!
Thanks for participating Jennifer and wishing you happy weekend ~
That is hot!
ReplyDeleteinteresting use of collaborative verses; Thanks for dropping in to read mine
ReplyDeletemuch love
i'm torn between sadness and hope
ReplyDeleteThe petal nest of our broken names is a lovely combination of beginnings and disruptions--very cool. Thanks! K. (Manicddaily)
ReplyDeleteThis poem takes the torch from Labra and runs with it in a way that is both faithful to the heart while wholly unique in the expression. A conflagration within a small, tidy space that is angelic in its smoke. A "white ginger flame" is both hot and aromatic -- touch of Eros, indeed. Very fine work.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Jennifer.
ReplyDeleteI love the senses you write to hear, the smells and delicate orderings that are the light we read each other by, and the passions that both burn and give light in turn. Your quotes from Labra bookend the poem perfectly.
ReplyDelete'here' not hear--sorry.
ReplyDeleteYou had me at gypsy lips and the ending-ka-pow~
ReplyDeleteLove yours
@>----------------
Wow! This is exquisite. The final stanza blew me away!
ReplyDeletebookend quotes with a poem that is powerful! Love it.
ReplyDeleteWooooh, I love this poem, it just sounds so great!
ReplyDelete"burns us up
ReplyDeleteand leaves
to ash
the petal nest
of our broken names."…. gorgeous!
I seem to be in agreement with the others about my favorite lines. This is simply beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI agree as well about the favorite lines. Wow, a lot of zing in your poem.
ReplyDeleteWonderful writing! You've captured the passionate contrasts of the original piece in this, Jennifer.
ReplyDeleteJust gorgeous Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteevery match leaves ashes, doesn't it? stellar ~
ReplyDelete