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Voice

 Sharing today with The Sunday Muse #219. 


Blow the story over me, the last one, the first one;
there's mustard and olive loaf sandwich left
and the day isn't as hot as it will be. 
Bless the day in Philadelphia when she moved,
before the ballet recital, after the record
when the wind was high as summer.
She'll always blaspheme Texas, it's the hell
that took her silk for denim, took her 
balance for kids and hurricanes.
Bless yourself when you sneeze, snotty thing
all I'm telling you, under fairy skirts,
what dance you're named after.
Bored on the grass of this new park? Think--
I could be famous, and you could be
meeting a queen of guitar screams.
Believe those come with tutu and crinoline?
Let me pull that fey illusion, quick,
don't leave bandages on belief too long.
Belly up to the table and lean close. Texas ain't
the good court. It's too scarlet prideful
and every string here shrieks.
But really--queens get to scream when they will.
Loud as you can, girl. Take these shades.
Tell'em who gave you them. Yell.

Spending the weekend hovering over a story and feeling as if sadness is the warm wind flying me too high to reach the page. It's not a specific thing...just a mid-summer slump that's sent me back to the pages of favorite books and new stories, in the mood for haunted houses to lure my own spooks out.

-- Chrissa

Comments

  1. Carrie BurttJuly 17, 2022 at 5:23 AM

    Writers must spread the word like condiments. This is a poem that speaks, whispers, and yells my friend. This Texas summer has been brutal, stay cool as best you can. I have a feeling my next light bill is going to be brutal too!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. qbitJuly 17, 2022 at 1:43 PM

    I really like this poem. "Blowing the story over me" like a much-needed breeze and spreading the ideas like seeds. And this: "Bless yourself when you sneeze, snotty thing" - fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
  3. FireblossomJuly 17, 2022 at 3:16 PM

    Maybe she will find a way to merge the two selves?

    ReplyDelete
  4. kaykualaJuly 17, 2022 at 9:57 PM

    It has been just as hot and just 'as brutal' over here in the tropics. Climate change is slowly showing its mark and it is not that welcomed. Beautiful write Chrissa!

    Hank

    ReplyDelete
  5. HelenJuly 18, 2022 at 2:12 PM

    Chrissa, this is outstanding. I honestly do not believe you are capable of 'slumping' ~ ever.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Susie ClevengerJuly 21, 2022 at 9:40 AM

    I love this whole poem." But really--queens get to scream when they will.
    Loud as you can, girl. Take these shades. Tell'em who gave you them. Yell." Your ending makes me permission to let go and yell. I so need to.

    ReplyDelete

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