A Brown Girl Comprised Of Unicorns

Unicorn-Google-Images

Today’s poetic prompt from dVerseΒ asks us to explore where we’re from. One rule, don’t focus on geographical facts. Here goes…

 

I consist of complex questions

Molded in lust and adventure

Painted with strokes of the unknown

Penciled in with inaccuracies

 

Stitched with fragmented rope

Strewn up against unfamiliar walls

Mopped up by drunks

Squeezed into cubes measured for another

 

Placed on a bumper car to forever

So I originated here and there

And over there too

I am world

And heaven

And hell

Blue sky over dry plains

Green fields

Orange outlines

Of a destination undetermined

 

I am from a magical unicorn’s womb

She appeared to me briefly

And drifted beautifully to her death

Leaving colors and me

Behind

 

I am from woe and wonder

Whispers and truth

From the tip and the tail

 

From unborn to alive

© 2015, TamekaMullins. All rights reserved.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Apr 28, 2015 | Posted by in Blog, dVerse, Poetry | 48 comments

Comments (48 Responses)

  1. Mary says:

    I just wrote a long comment and it disappeared, and I don’t have energy to recreate it. Sigh. But I will say that I really like the approach, which is a very unique one. I really liked the segment on ‘placed on a bumper car to forever.’ And I think we all may have aspects of heaven AND hell within us…at different times…if we look closely enough.

    • TamekaMullins says:

      Sorry about that Mary! I think updates were being made to the site from GoDaddy as some updates were being rolled out to us today. Thanks so much for visiting. My apologies again for the inconvenience of having to comment so many times!

      • Mary says:

        Well, ha, I just see that my comments posted. Whew. Nice to meet you here at dVerse. Hope to see you again!

  2. Mary says:

    Hi Tameka, I have just spent 15 minutes writing long comments twice, and they never posted. I will just say, trying to see if something posts, that I really like your poem and thank you for your participation and hope to see you again (and that my comments may sometime appear).

  3. C.C. says:

    This is exquisite, Tameka….so creatively descriptive, colorful pieces of your story artfully woven together with harsher lines of truth. Wow. Powerful. I love it.

    • TamekaMullins says:

      Thanks so much C.C. I appreciate your kind comment! Looking forward to reading yours as well!

  4. kanzensakura says:

    After reading the other comments, I hope mine don’t disappear! I am from woe and wonder…very nice. I think so many of us can relate to that!

    • TamekaMullins says:

      I had a little glitch over here, but I think it’s fixed now. Thanks so much. Yes, I think were are all whittled from woe and wonder. πŸ™‚

      • kanzensakura says:

        I truly believe based on all I have read so far, we are all distantly related cousins. And thank you for following my blog! I hope you will visit often and always feel welcomed. I love the thought of being from a unicorn. So much magic in that thought.

        • TamekaMullins says:

          What a wonderful thing to say! This is what I love about the writing community. When we share this way we show that there are way more connections than not! I do feel welcome on your site and will visit often!

  5. Gabriella says:

    There are really wonderful and striking lines and images in your poem. ‘I consist of complex questions’ and ‘I am from woe and wonder’ are my favorite.

    • TamekaMullins says:

      I’m glad you liked them Gabriella! Thanks for reading and visiting!

  6. great detailing of the ups and downs that make you, you πŸ™‚ let’s if this one disappears, I have a good feeling it won’t. smiles.

    • TamekaMullins says:

      Thanks Anthony! I love that poetry can help us see the beauty in our challenges. πŸ˜‰

  7. And I am world…
    and Heaven….
    and hell….

    Oh yes, yes you are young poet! Shout that from the rooftops! For you are also we, and we are you…

    • TamekaMullins says:

      I will! Thank you so much! Yes! We are all! πŸ™‚

      • Tameka, I just came across this incredibly wonderful poem and it reminded me of our conversation…. and your poem. I thought that you might enjoy this: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/before-i-leave-the-stage/

        Alice Walker has become one of my favorite poets ever. It’s not just because every piece of her poetry strikes a chord with me, nor even the perfection I finds in it. But the fact that her life has been so steeped in segregation, hatred, and pure social monstrosity. No where does she focus on those things. It’s as though she scrapes those things from her heel without a second thought while singing the most beautiful hymns…. choosing not to truly even acknowledge it while brushing it away…… Tameka I think you have tremendous potential as a poet and hope that you will enjoy this.

        • TamekaMullins says:

          Thanks so much for sharing this poem John. Alice Walker is one of my favorite writers. I think we all process pain and challenges differently and poetry is one of the great ways we can express ourselves and Alice has a lovely way of getting what’s inside of her out.

          Your words are very kind and I truly appreciate them. Have a wonderful weekend!

  8. Rose Red says:

    “Woe and wonder” wow I just love this. i am happy to have found your blog

  9. i do believe the stronger among us originate from all these challenges and more.. and truly the honesty of one’s challenges cannot be repeated too much for ones who truly understand the greatest lights come from the most challenging dark of life..:)

    • TamekaMullins says:

      You have said a mouthful here. Very true. Thanks so much for your insight!

  10. Glenn Buttkus says:

    Artful metaphors, lively imaginative word smithing, nice poetic verve, personal without revealing too much of your mystery. I like the lines /mopped up by drunks/squeezed into cubes measure for another/–that being very Bukowski.

    • TamekaMullins says:

      I am smiling widely now because Bukowski is one of my influences. Day is made! Thank you!

  11. This was such a pleasure to read. My fave lines: the bumper car to forever, and I am from woe and wonder (me, too!)

  12. What a wonderful image you have created here.. I had to read it over and over. So many wonderful phrases I am just amazed at your creativeness. The use of colors I liked a lot.

    • TamekaMullins says:

      Thank you Bjorn! I like to experiment with colors in my writing. Glad to know you noticed!

  13. Bryan Ens says:

    love the contrasts in thisl From unborn to alive…you caught that and everything in between.

  14. Prajakta says:

    Gorgeous work!
    “I am world
    And heaven
    And hell”
    This is a great take on the prompt πŸ™‚

  15. Sumana Roy says:

    “I am from a magical unicorn’s womb” and the words following that are so throat lumping..and in fact all the lines are my favorite…wowzers!!

    • TamekaMullins says:

      Thanks Sumana! Unicorns mean a lot to me. This is my first time using them in my own writing. I want to explore them more. I guess that is the Sagittarius in me! πŸ˜‰

  16. claudia says:

    asking complex questions is a good thing – and often there’s no easy answer – from unborn to alive – i like

    • TamekaMullins says:

      Thank you Claudia! We learn the most from having to answer difficult questions.

  17. zongrik says:

    i really liked the end because of how much it contrasted with the rest. i like contrast. πŸ™‚

    My Brain is a Cheap Gadget That Spins

  18. Myrna says:

    Very sharp lines here. I think you have much wisdom. Enjoyed reading this.

    • TamekaMullins says:

      Thank you Myrna! I hope that I have retained some useful wisdom from my experiences!

  19. vbholmes says:

    Such creative imagery–I couldn’t single out a favorite. Lovely.

  20. billgncs says:

    every woman I have known has surprised, vexed and or amazed me with her complexity. This was fun.

    • TamekaMullins says:

      I have had the same experience. Women are amazing in their complexity! Thank you!

  21. I enjoyed every single line of this piece. Captivating! πŸ™‚

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