long hot summer night

hush now,

wild thing

have you ever been to electric lady land?

gypsy eyes, bold as love

machine gun fire burning desire—

hear my train a-comin’, lover man

let me move you

  

© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

Jimi Hendrix @ The Rock, photo © 2013 Jennifer Wagner

I recently visited a restaurant that had this likeness of Jimi Hendrix painted on the wall near our table (and titles to many of his songs on the seating).  Jimi is a Seattle icon, though I won’t say role model, ha…however, he was a brilliantly talented guitarist.  I crafted this poem (and title) from titles of songs he wrote, recorded or performed.

Songs:

Bold As Love

Burning Desire

Fire

Gypsy Eyes

Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)

Hear My Train A-Comin’

Hush Now

Let Me Move You

Long Hot Summer Night

Lover Man

Machine Gun

Wild Thing

Pinwheel

I don’t miss raindrops;

they’ve had their day.

I don’t miss March,

April, or even May;

especially when I see

the sweat

trickling down your back

and hope you

pick me

to throw into your sack.

© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

For two prompts.  Margaret Bednar at Imaginary Garden with Real Toads wants us to drip with heat…err summer.  This gorgeous photo is hers.  If you’ve gotta have more go here.  You won’t regret it!  And Peggy Goetz wants us to Feel the Heat in ten lines or less at Poetry Jam.  She’s an excellent photographer as well.  Go here to see more.  Happy summer!

Twinkling in the Midnight Blue(s)

That flicker in the

spaces between quivered breaths

calls to me on quilted nights.

Like stars collected

in a jar of lidless hopes,

each dark sky births want of you.

© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

This is my attempt at a Sedoka for dVerse Form for All:  The Princess’ Poem to her Secret Love.  Poet and host Samuel Peralta has invited us to try this rare form of unrhymed Japanese poetry consisting of two tercets with a scheme of 5-7-7 and 5-7-7 syllables.

Balm (A Butterfly Cinquain)

Photo © 2013 Jennifer Wagner

Speak soft-

petaled twilight

against my shoulders, tanned

and salty, from a day rippling

with sun.

Envelop me, with your mouth, cool

with mint and cucumber,

our purpling kiss,

perfumed.

© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

For dVerse OpenLinkNight

That Night in Cabo

Flies tried to stay cool, too

in the sweltering fisheye view

of Mariscos Mazatlan.

A little girl, a bloodshot hibiscus in her hair,

young men, brown shouldered in thin white tanks, and

the humming Spanish vernacular

making me tone deaf

with ringing, pounding

against my—

I don’t know what I felt more

the heat between my thighs

or your stare,

affecting nonchalance,

sipping ice water

sprinkled with a lime

meant for two.

Copyright © 2013 Jennifer Wagner

Linking up to dVerse Poets Pub for OpenLinkNight!