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Notes About The Poem

Written for the contest " blue cheese and old pickles" sponsored by Craig Cornish

Melanin Melancholy

The spices release their scent to ease my heart,
numb ~ yet tracing glasses brimming with tears,
aching for a touch of chamomile wisps,
beneath a sky that reeks of regrets
and words unspoken ~ too afraid to rephrase,
   like smoke incensed with sulfur,
   like blue cheese and old pickles,
tickling the curves of this melanin melancholy,
urging these fingers to purge forgotten rhymes,
as if there is no ingredient for healing,
when loneliness creeps like a slow poison…

But must I thaw the ice within cups of compassion,
infused with clovers of peace,
when I am a mere reflection of your mistakes,
a table adorned with plates of bitter weeds,
listening to the sagas of the rain and sun?
They taste not my pulse of patience,
as I remain, the feeler of phasing appetizers,
rotting in ruins ~ objectified and rejected,
by the twisted tongue of vanity and silence…

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Craig Cornish

Date: 4/3/2025 12:43:00 PM

Yes, isn't life such that our most memorable sense is olfactory...there is a vulnerable and seductive passion that tempts our famished desires here...we need not see, nor touch, nor taste or feel...when it all has been digested too many times before--this is a magical dinner!

Ink Empress
Date: 4/4/2025 12:12:00 PM

It is truly an honor to receive your comment dear craigsz, and to see that youv thought of my poem as magical and something worthy of accolades mean alot. Sometimes i just take a long breath , calm the adjectives within my mind and just weave emotions subtly for your contests, and i actually love how iv learned through that practice to be more concise. So thank you! I am truly grateful for the inspiration and placement sincerely

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 4/3/2025 5:43:00 AM

when I am a mere reflection of your mistakes, a table adorned with plates of bitter weeds, listening to the sagas of the rain and sun…Congrats, IE, on your first place win!

thriveni c mysore

Date: 4/3/2025 4:07:00 AM

Bliss dear! Congratulations on your win dear poet. Cheers!!!

Suzette Richards

Date: 4/3/2025 2:02:00 AM

A metaphor fest to be savoured, line for line. Loved it! Congrats on your 1st place win, Ink. :)

Duke Beaufort

Date: 3/30/2025 9:41:00 AM

IE, I find this an interesting depiction of the life of a poet and person. The first verse sets a stage of being alone with a mood of depression. The second seems to place blame for it. So, this is a pretty rough taste sampling!! Fun to read and of course....I hope you are well and smiling! You did really well integrating the title and content with the pickles and cheese. Not a combo I would likely relish or be willing to invest in....shows your versitility!!

Lin Lane

Date: 3/27/2025 3:34:00 AM

A twisted tongue of vanity never deserves the ear of one who is falsely blamed. Silence served with the blue cheese and whine is all they get.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 3/26/2025 10:18:00 PM

I like this s lot. It's tightened up and everything goes so well together. Even getting that yucky cheese and pickles into it. Great title too, Ink.

William HAYNES

Date: 3/25/2025 5:03:00 PM

A powerful piece infused with metaphor I am not schooled in english or poetry but i enjoyed your poem

Victor Buhagiar

Date: 3/25/2025 12:08:00 AM

Heartache an solitude intermingle in great emotions in this poem. "loneliness creeping like a slow poison" hit me hard as I know you suffer a lot, still great metaphoric us throughout.

Justin Bordner

Date: 3/22/2025 6:25:00 PM

This poem reminds me that everything we are aware of in this world, whether momentary or long lasting has something to teach us about ourselves. Also, a very real way to live beyond blame, regret, rage, shame, etcetera, is to understand the very nature and motives of things in our lives, including, our own nature, the reasoning and feelings behind our beliefs, values, and motives. You have the desire to be autodidactic Poetess, the daring yes...J.A.B.

Sotto Poet

Date: 3/22/2025 1:08:00 PM

Dear poetess friend, your magnificent poem explores the intricacies of emotional suffering, loneliness, and the search for healing against a backdrop of regret and unspoken emotions. It also involves sensory experiences linked to memories and emotions, notably through the metaphors of spices and food, which represent both comfort and discomfort. The poem depicts the effort to reconcile one's identity with the weight of previous failures, both personal and relational. Your word choice is vivid and sensual, with images evoking smell, taste, and texture. Phrases like "spices unleash their aroma," "chamomile wisps," and "blue cheese and aged pickles" weave a complex tapestry of feelings that pique the reader's emotional interest. The use of opposites, such as "melanin sadness" and "cups of compassion," highlights the beauty of diversity while emphasizing the sorrow of isolation.

Valsa George

Date: 3/21/2025 10:05:00 PM

Dear Empress, your phrases like 'glasses brimming with tears', sky reeking of regrets, smoke incensed with sulfur, forgotten rhymes , melanin melancholy"... they all denote a life choked with sorrow. But you are not ready to be taken over by this depressing state. You are determined to oppose the slings and arrows of life and 'thaw the ice within cups of compassion.' Over the wounds, you are going to apply the balm of healing. Excellent!

Ink Empress
Date: 3/22/2025 4:58:00 AM

Thank you so much dear sweet valsa, empathetic soul, your comment touched my heart. Appreciate it so much

Nette Onclaud

Date: 3/21/2025 5:29:00 PM

ohhh, i enjoyed the languid impressions of loss and love subtly infused within your lines, ink... craig will savor this! huggs

Ink Empress
Date: 3/22/2025 4:55:00 AM

I hope so dear nette, thank you so very much for your kindness and support truly always a pleasure hearing from you

Daniel Henry Rodgers

Date: 3/21/2025 5:26:00 AM

Dear Empress, O' so full of emotions, creating loneliness, regret, and resilience into every line. Wonderful use of poetic tools. I know it is for a contest and I think the imagery of "blue cheese and old pickles" as metaphors for bitterness and melancholy is both unique and evocative. I like how you inked the ache of unresolved pain while hinting at the possibility of healing. This hints of a winner! Spring Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel

Ink Empress
Date: 3/22/2025 3:20:00 AM

Dear Daniel, thank you so very much for your kind and generous feedback as always! I am truly grateful for your kind support

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 3/21/2025 1:54:00 AM

- You are so skilled with metaphorical devices, Ink :) - (always have to read your poems several times:))) - Best wishes in the contest :) - Have a lovely weekend :) - hugs

Ink Empress
Date: 3/21/2025 2:19:00 AM

Its a personification of a table, which is a bit maybe strange and i dont think many would notice dear anne lise! I appreciate you so much.

Lioness Onpaper

Date: 3/21/2025 1:37:00 AM

tracing glasses brimming with tears, oh my that line! aching for a touch of chamomile wisps, the heaviness there .. absolutely stunning!!! blue cheese and old pickles, tickling the curves of this melanin melancholy,.. hahahaha urging these fingers to purge forgotten rhymes,damn it that is quite the pickle!! XD.. They taste not my pulse of patience, ooo love that! objectified and rejected, by the twisted tongue of vanity and silence…the sense of strength in that line is amazing!!! Love it papi..

Ink Empress
Date: 3/22/2025 3:19:00 AM

Awwn papi thank you always for reading and leaving your thoughts on my poems im grateful

Joe Dimino

Date: 3/20/2025 5:46:00 PM

"tickling the curves of this melanin melancholy, urging these fingers to purge forgotten rhymes, as if there is no ingredient for healing," -- Love that! Yep, if and when we seek to be made whole, by someone else, or something outside of ourselves, we will always be left feeling unfulfilled, truly unexplored as a total being. Great, honest write!

Ink Empress
Date: 3/22/2025 3:19:00 AM

Thank you so much for reading so sincerely and leaving your thoughts on the poem here, grateful always for your kind and generous support

John Lawless

Date: 3/20/2025 11:45:00 AM

this poem contains and intimate depth that increases as I ponder its metaphoric melanin mystery. It shall be faved for that reason...masterfully written

Ink Empress
Date: 3/22/2025 2:47:00 AM

It is truly an honour always to receive your support! Thank you so very much truly always! And to receive a fave from you too. Grateful i am dear john. Sending you light always