Saturday 23 April 2011

T is for ... ??? (and I'm terribly sorry)

Thanks to all who dropped by yesterday! The answer to yesterday's post was, SELFISHNESS.

I'm so tired ... I'm dying to start writing normal posts again. I've got ideas swishing round in my head and no time to draft them! How about you? Are you feeling the challenge a little like a sore muscle?

Don't get me wrong. This is a wonderful challenge, and Arlee Bird a wonderful bloke. I'm not putting the challenge down at all. I'm putting myself down for feeling overwhelmed and out of control. I'm so close to taking the last week of the challenge off and not completing it. But I will push through. Even if my posts are a little shorter than usual or I copy and past already existing work into here. *wipes brow*

I also want to apologize for not being much of a commenter. This month has been crazy busy for me and I'm putting my spare time into WRITING these things as it is. I hope you understand and don't think I'm being a lazy fart. I also usually reply to comments individually by email, but again I, Just. Can't. So please accept my humble apologies and have a wonderful Easter!!!

If you are new to this blog please read the note in the header above this post so you know what to do! Thanks!

So here's today's entry. PS: this poem is one of the poems in my forthcoming poetry collection TWISTED VELVET CHAINS (this is a Goodreads link, would love if you added it to your TBR list! :o)

Gothic Neanderthal


I listen
Will it ever end?
Her gentle, velvety voice
mimicking childish sobs
amidst animal grunts

Head under pillow
Camping in Africa
on a space ship in Galactica;
an unseen witness to murder
in an abandoned
graffiti-coloured crime district

I cradle my teddy bear,
close to my chest,
covered head to toe
in my feathery nest.

I stroke it
whisper
You’re not alone
I’m here. Shh, don’t cry
Fingers in ears
so hard
it hurts
to avert
my ache—her cries—his
screeching—the insufferable thunderous thump
through thin floor

I climb out of bed,
creep down the hall,
peer through the crack
of the kitchen door.

Grey netting hangs
from naked papery breasts,
dark purple tulle
fastened round her waist
black smudges
smeared ’cross her face.
patterned like lace
wet stringy hair
sticks
to her brow
her neck
wet cotton
sweat
toxic breath
menstruation blood
the onion soup we ate for lunch—
I dry-wretch

It stops—silence
Her arms hover in the air.
Twisted grace, fit for a coffin

Did it die?

No.

Daddy strokes her like the cat
she nods—
whispers and purrs

Behind her come chants
Push, push! Push, push!
It begins again;
She screams—
note shrill against the beat
droning voices of back-up men

Gothic Neanderthal giving birth
Giving life
To song

So, can you guess the emotion/feeling/state of mind (a noun) depicted in this piece that begins with the letter ‘T’? Please nip over to Nicole's blog to read her interpretation of our T-prompt word. Here’s the link!



 

28 comments:

  1. Oh wow, Jessica! Gothic Neanderthal is fantastic in poetry form. So much more powerful than as flash fiction. Bravo! Loved this!!

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  2. Your poetry is amazing. I'm adding your book to my Goodreads!

    My guess is terror.

    Have a very happy Easter, Jessica!!!

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  3. It has been a little time consuming. I don't think I could have worked a theme for the whole alphabet, that would have been too restrictive for me. A few of you did a theme and I have been wondering now that we are almost done how it has been for you. Would you do a theme again?

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  4. I actually don't think I'll even participate again. It was fine the first year as I was new to blogging and it really gave me boost in the right direction, but now it's just too much work. Next year I think I'll take an April hiatus if the challenge is happening again ... :-/

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  5. I understand. I'm ready to get back to regular postings. the ideas are piling up. And Jessica, we all go through times where life is busy and we can't comment as much. No one holds it against you. At least I never do. :) Have a great weekend.

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  6. I understand. I'm ready to get back to regular postings. the ideas are piling up. And Jessica, we all go through times where life is busy and we can't comment as much. No one holds it against you. At least I never do. :) Have a great weekend.

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  7. I agree it's terror or torture.

    I have a few blogging subjects I want to create when this A-Z thing is over. I like the challenge but it has been challenging.

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  8. I enjoy the challenge though this year there was so many entries, it exceeded the expectations I thought,

    Today.s word
    Terrified.

    Happy Easter Jessica.
    Yvonne,

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  9. Yes, a bit overwhelming with so many posts to read, couldn't keep up, so just settle for the reading! :0)

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  10. Terror my answer.

    I SO agree about the challenge. Although I did some beautiful flash fiction writing, it has taken me away from my editing which I really need to do.

    Like you I don't think I will do it next year. It's way too time consuming trying to keep up with new bloggers when I barely have enough time to visit my favs.

    Your poem is AMAZING, Jess. I can't wait to read more.

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  11. You're an amazing poet. :)

    Terror? Tortured?

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  12. Hugs!

    And the poem is fantastic. :)

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  13. Okay, I'm way excited about reading this.

    ALSO - I sat down and did all my A to Z posts at once. I kept them SHORT - for the most part.

    Aside from the amount of traffic and emails to catch up on, this month has been a pretty easy blogging month for me.

    BUT, I"m used to taking three-day weekends...
    I promised myself that I'll take a whole WEEK vacation from blogging when this is all done...

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  14. I'm so glad it's not just me. My biggest struggle is getting to other blogs too comment.

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  15. It's almost over girl. hang in there, I am too. I know how you feel and I keep counting the days. I'm adding you to my goodreads, yes.

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  16. I'm going with terrified over here. Because if I were a little girl witnessing that scene/sounds, I'd be terrified.

    But I was a spooky little kid.

    Good stuff. And you're almost done! :D <3

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  17. +JMJ+

    Terror?

    (Am I the only one who thinks it's kind of cute that you wrote about being tired on the day for T. ;-) LOL!)

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  18. Fantastic poem. :) Terror?

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  19. Guessing terrified here too. Yes, the challenge has been exhausted! I'm ok just keeping up with my own writing, but have been terrible about replying to comments and even more terrible about making it around to read everyone's pages. It's a lot of work! I'm sure everyone is in the same boat at this point, and certainly no one would fault you for not responding to all the comments as you normally would!

    Glad to hear you are not giving up on the last week though. When I do have a minute to make it over to read another blog, I come to this one first. Partially because it's always an easy comment for the way you set up the challenge, and partially because I think the writing is such great quality!

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  20. Aw, thank you Alana! I really appreciate that! :o) Have a great Easter!

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  21. I thought the word was going to be from your introduction, and was so pleased to be incredibly perceptive and realise that you're Tired ;)

    I'm looking forward to it being over. I hadn't realised how draining it would be, but it gave me the impetus to tackle a theme I was interested in. It's been tough and I wouldn't do a heavy theme again, it's too depressing. The best part has been finding new blogs, but so frustrating not to be able to get around as much as I'd have liked. Sue@JumpingAground (Alliteration & drabbles)
    Sue@traverselife(Workplace bullying)

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  23. I'm going say, torture~

    Your poem is very visual; I enjoyed the imagery and where it pushed the edge of reality~

    Happy Easter~

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  24. I hear you on the challenge. It's a wonderful opportunity and a great idea but I'm at the overwhelmed point. I think for next year I'll write all my posts ahead of time so I have more time during the month to visit other blogs. (Of course it doesn't help I have no idea what to do for the last weeks letters, the rest of the challenge I had at least some ideas).

    I'm to tired to guess at your T, but I enjoyed the poem.

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  25. I knew I'd love your poetry so it's no surprise this took my breath away!!!!

    As for the commenting and this whole month of chaos I'm with you... overwhelmed and nothing to ease the pain. I always love it though ;)

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  26. Oh, I think I also have to go for terrified.

    I agree, Jessica. This challenge has really taken a lot out of me. I think I'll be sticking to the sidelines next year myself. Not only can I barely keep up with commenting and visiting new blogs, but it's the end of the semester for me and I've been playing serious catch-up with everything. It all came at once. I'm glad I did it, especially since I missed it last year (I started blogging in May). But I think once is enough.

    *whew*

    Rosie
    East for Green Eyes

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  27. 'This month has been crazy busy for me and I'm putting my spare time into WRITING these things as it is. I hope you understand and don't think I'm being a lazy fart.'

    I'm with you there. But I have still really enjoyed this first time at the challenge. Keeping in mind the challenge part - inferring some tough times in there, somewhere.

    Could your T word be 'thin'?

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  28. Wow. Shiver me timbers.
    Super cool poem. (=

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