Grandmothers I Have Collected: I

On a sunlight-heavy street
she leans brazil nut fingers
down to her wrinkled ankles
adjusting elephant skin tights

she is caught in a freeze frame
by an errant shaft of sun
that catches a dark shadow
just there on her calf

this spotlight reveals
hidden edges and pastel colors
the bruise dissolves into
a faded tattoo

on an eighty-five year old woman's calf

And my mind is off and racing
even while I hide my gaze
behind the glare and dark lenses
there is a story I must hear

mistress of the burlesque
or darling of the circus ring

How did that needle come
to worship glowing brown skin?
lost bet, lover's promise
blood sister's dare?

In my favourite daydream
she comes by it naturally
polynesian baby on the move
tradition rolling off her

like waves off an ancient shoreline

I hold this memory of
unexpected rebellion
twisted flicks of ink
and replay it on eyelids

when I need to see something beautiful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~AEW~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Bag, the Addict

Why is it that so many people struggle with child-proof caps on medicine bottles, and yet the inside of my messenger bag can open them and dump all of the contents into said bag?

And why does my messenger bag do that anyway? To spite me? Is it getting a migraine by association? Has it somehow acquired a kicky drug habit?

The worst part is it opens my bottle of vitamins, then opens the capsules, so I reach into the bag, and...voilá! Magic vitamin dust!

Actually, the worst part is right now, when I have a migraine, and it's hidden all of the lovely, life-reaffirming half-white, half-green migraine meds in the ample folds of its black lining.

There will be a reckoning, some day, messenger bag...I will replace you! Your nifty vertical line of three outside pockets had all merged into one by ripping through the lining, anyway.

Some replacements I'm eyeing:
(But, before we get into that, try searching for "messenger bag" on google images. Amazing!)
Soviet Bag
This, in blue.
Alas, I don't like the yellow.

Sigh. I really want a black messenger bag with enough pocketses to make compartments, with maybe a small design somewhere.

Temporary Soundtrack: "I Turn My Camera On" by Spoon.
Quote Trapped in My Head: "...for days and days on end...put yourself, put yourself in my place." - from "The Way You Are" by 46bliss.
What I Learned Today: See the post.

Slainte!

Say you missed me...I know you did!

We are back in town and almost back in action. Woohoo!

Temporary Soundtrack: Sad, Sad Love
Quote Trapped in My Head: "There'll be dancing at the end of the world. Youse'll be happy then." - Dubliner
What I Learned Today: Dr. Who won some serious BAFTA creds. Score!

Craic!

Heading off to Ireland & Scotland for two weeks with Emblem! Don't miss me too terribly while I'm gone, children.

Shout-outs are due to Alex (Happy Birthday in a week!), 3am (formerly known as Pezzo - see, I gave you a new name), and you crazy person who I thought was my college roommate but was so very, very, wrong. Sigh.

Temporary Soundtrack: Too hectic...
Quote Trapped in My Head: "Rrrrrrrrrrendering."
What I Learned Today: Assumptions are BAD. No, really. BAD. No, no!

one two three four we can do it forever more

I really think
that you and me, baby
could take over the world
I'll get the boys
and, well, the girls
you can hold their hands
pick up their pieces
convince them
I'll be back someday
charge them overtime for
love in the off-hours

We will be the grandest
of conquerers by seduction
tyranny through heartbreak
my endless supply of pheromones
your surprisingly charming vulgarity
I knock them down
you set them up again
Ready for the nuclear fallout
or maybe just sex

Our lack of trust
will save us from disaster
we both know neither one
can feel deeply
so we will never fall in love,
let the other one down
by turning plasticene and steel human
you are a steel rod wrapped in cotton
I, a silk dress carved from marble

both look soft and sweet
enough to set a trap

~~~~~~~~~AEW~~~~~~~~~~