Today’s poetic prompt from dVerse 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.
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.
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!
Well, ha, I just see that my comments posted. Whew. Nice to meet you here at dVerse. Hope to see you again!
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).
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.
Thanks so much C.C. I appreciate your kind comment! Looking forward to reading yours as well!
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!
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. 🙂
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.
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!
This is very true. There are some snarky folk out there but they do not count. 🙂
Sure don’t! 😉
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.
I’m glad you liked them Gabriella! Thanks for reading and visiting!
great detailing of the ups and downs that make you, you 🙂 let’s if this one disappears, I have a good feeling it won’t. smiles.
Thanks Anthony! I love that poetry can help us see the beauty in our challenges. 😉
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…
I will! Thank you so much! Yes! We are all! 🙂
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.
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!
“Woe and wonder” wow I just love this. i am happy to have found your blog
I am happy too! I love reading your work as well.
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..:)
You have said a mouthful here. Very true. Thanks so much for your insight!
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.
I am smiling widely now because Bukowski is one of my influences. Day is made! Thank you!
This was such a pleasure to read. My fave lines: the bumper car to forever, and I am from woe and wonder (me, too!)
Thanks so much Sherry!
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.
Thank you Bjorn! I like to experiment with colors in my writing. Glad to know you noticed!
love the contrasts in thisl From unborn to alive…you caught that and everything in between.
Thank you kindly Bryan!
Gorgeous work!
“I am world
And heaven
And hell”
This is a great take on the prompt 🙂
Thank you Prajakta! I appreciate your visits!
“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!!
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! 😉
asking complex questions is a good thing – and often there’s no easy answer – from unborn to alive – i like
Thank you Claudia! We learn the most from having to answer difficult questions.
i really liked the end because of how much it contrasted with the rest. i like contrast. 🙂
My Brain is a Cheap Gadget That Spins
Me too! Thanks Zongrik!
Very sharp lines here. I think you have much wisdom. Enjoyed reading this.
Thank you Myrna! I hope that I have retained some useful wisdom from my experiences!
Such creative imagery–I couldn’t single out a favorite. Lovely.
Thank you kindly Vbholmes!
every woman I have known has surprised, vexed and or amazed me with her complexity. This was fun.
I have had the same experience. Women are amazing in their complexity! Thank you!
I enjoyed every single line of this piece. Captivating! 🙂
I’m glad! Thank you kindly! 😉