Dear Readers,
This is my response to Bonus Wordle #2 by Mind Love Misery’s Menagerie. I went to a really dark place with this write. This is purely a fictional piece, I do not intend to offend anyone. This poem has some graphic themes, please look away if you are under aged.
Here are the words we were given (many words in different languages and a few english words that are not in standard dictionaries)
- Gnarler (via Yves) A little dog that by his barking alerts his people that there is a burglar inside the house.
- Chirping Merry (via Yves) Exhilarated with liquor.
- Jabber (via Yves) To talk thick and fast, sometimes to speak in a foreign tongue
- Gregorian Tree (via Yves) The gallows.
- Honey-peeler (via Yves) A person who manipulates through seduction. Honey-peel is the act of manipulation through seduction
- Lentamente (via Bastet) Italian for slowly.
- Muore (via Bastet) Italian for dies.
- Makisig (via Ladylee) Filipino for handsome.
- Malakas (via Ladylee) Filipino for powerful or strong.
- Lazulitopian (via J Lapis) “One who resides in a mental world of blue perfection; flourishing at optimal emotional, spiritual rest when surrounded, submerged in blue—all shades, all day and indigo night.”
- Moje Dziecko (via Pat) Polish for “My Baby”
- Nudnik (via Cressida) Yiddish for a pestering, nagging, or irritating person; a bore.
Few Italian words that are in the title of the poem and in the poem itself:
Morto – Dead
Vita e Morte – Life and death
(Hope those are right, I used google translate. Please excuse me if its not correct)
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When was the last time I heard it
“Moje Dziecko,” whispered
A gentle caress of my soft forehead
My mother, a pale ghost in a tattered nightgown
She tried so hard, but a frail body deceived her
Yellow hair falling out in clumps
Hollow eyes blinking back tears
My Nudnik of a “father” was of no help
Blamed her for her illness, blamed me for existing.
–
I close my eyes to make memories disappear
Poverty and hunger led my way after “father” left
I cringe at the mirror at my lack of dress for the night
Blue bustier, blue fish nets, blue eyes.. not much else
The customer is some sort of Lazulitopian freak show
Money means commands and instructions to follow.
–
They’re all different, but pretty much the same
Some just want to get in and out, so to speak
Guilty and squeamish, they can’t look at my face
Jabber endlessly about their hopeless lives (or wives)
Need to be chirping merry to get a decent rise.
–
So many sadists, I try to steer clear of those
Cigarette butts, handcuffs and things I hate to think of
They call me a honey-peeler,try to slap me around
The buzz of my taser usually calms them down
My Filipino colleague calls me Malakas
But there’s no other way to live this life.
–
Once, just once, there was a man
Makisig and intent, he would come by over and over
I told him to stop, showed him my scars to scare him
But he was unrelenting, his touch sent me spinning:
He used the word love.
–
The promises he made, I started to believe them
With time, I told him that my battered heart was his, forever.
Well, I didn’t see that gnarler again, not ever.
He was the third kind of client, little did stupid me know
The kind that wants to believe its real, like we have a chance
They’ll zip up and be gone when they’ve got you in their trance
–
My Polish, devout mother, I inherited her eyes and that was all
I’m sure she doesn’t look down at me from heaven any more
Only Hell’s Gregorian Tree awaits a whore like me
Under the weight of my sins, the noose tightening
Lentamente.. Muore.. Morto.
–
This is dark and very tragic but brilliantly written, with excellent pacing and a masterful and seamless use of the words
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Thank you Yves.. remember what we were talking about the other day, about poems taking a life of their own? This one sort of slipped out of my hands and became.. something. Scary.
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but also brilliant!
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You’re too kind 🙂
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Brilliant and moving. A great write using many languages and much effort. Well written. G:)
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Thank you so much G, good to see you again 🙂
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I agree with Yves–Brilliant and seamless, incredibly well done!
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Thank you so much for your reading and for your kind words, Jael :*
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You’re always most welcome 🙂
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wow, a tour de force definitely with a sharply define narrator. I can picture her. You worked in the foreign words so well that they feel natural and they flow. Through context, I could guess their meaning and that formed no impediment. It actually reinforced the gritty reality you conjure.
I really, really love how you structure this piece and the last stanza is a piece de resistance. It caps the whole narrative in jaw dropping perfection. Thanks for the link!
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Wow.. I’m so humbled by your words, Melinda (I actually have goosebumps) Thank you so much for reading. It was tough to write, but I’m glad it wasn’t a wasted effort. I need more readers like you! Mwah! 😀
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You’re very welcome. I need to follow you. Where is that follow button? Ah here it is. Your kind words are humbling. Thanks for providing me plenty to comment on 🙂
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Melinda! I have followed you as well. Looking forward to reading more from you in the future 🙂
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Lots more advent posts; one every day this week. I’m still working on Friday’s.
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Fantastic.. I’m excited to read them!
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Thank you; you’re kind words have made my night 🙂
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Aw you deserve it! And likewise!
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