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Six Olives On a Skewer In Empty Glass

how clever a peck on the cheek, a kiss on the head
a hug with a boa constriction for the parents i love.

how cruel this fate of social isolation, to stunt the breath
of this illusion, that i might have them more and more times.

the kiss off of a mother’s day and all things pretty and wrinkled.
a jolly show of faces — did i once think the actors could slink

through a small or large screen. we haggle with time, dressing
up in effects, wrapping backgrounds, like furs, around caricatures

of ourselves — astronauts, cross-dressers, punk. my mom
holds a very dry martini — six olives on a skewer in empty glass.

we kin do amuse one another and the claustrophobic togetherness
where a normal situation would have us wandering, appetizering,

sidewinder-chitchatting, fobbing the keys of a remote control,
checking seconds and minutes for appropriateness of slipping

out the door — that of course, for bored spouses, who love
the in and out of screen time and beg to screen all holidays this way

while a bored housewife wants for the drive that spurs one on
toward childhood — a link between life and death, playful

joy of trinkets and melodious voices soothed by the setting years;
the wrinkle of time sells all anger, judgment, unkindness —

the baggage that weighs down elephants, the infantile crawl
of bondage. Now the rocking of Brumbies, snail’s pace of sunset

grace of a gray nest, cascading shoulders, ears out of tune
but pure-gold’s love — the plinking strings of a plentitude heart.

Mom and Dad cheer with glistening glasses, their merry martinis
marvel at their wealth — one olive, three olivettes grin at them.

5/11/2020
Non-rhyming couplets

Copyright © | Year Posted 2020




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Date: 5/14/2020 1:44:00 AM
This by herself is terrific Kim. "we haggle with time, dressing up in effects, wrapping backgrounds, like furs, around caricatures of ourselves — astronauts, cross-dressers, punk. " Wow!
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/14/2020 6:19:00 AM
Thanks, dear friend!
Date: 5/13/2020 12:05:00 PM
Normality or " a new kind of normality' will return - life after Covid- 19 will be hard Having said that, what an awesome poem you have penned Kim. Kudos. Blessings, Jennifer.
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/13/2020 12:44:00 PM
Thank you, Jennifer!
Date: 5/12/2020 3:57:00 AM
It's hard for us all at the moment but good times will come again, as Victor says countries easing the lockdown are seeing new infections. We have to take it slowly, hang in there. Tom
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/12/2020 6:42:00 AM
For sure
Date: 5/11/2020 11:51:00 AM
This made me both smile and feel melancholic at the same time. Well penned dear Kim, I pray that soon we will find our normalcy again, until then, I send you heart blessings.
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/11/2020 2:48:00 PM
We all long for normalcy! Thank you! Heart blessings your way, sweet Pixie! xo
Date: 5/11/2020 11:10:00 AM
Things have changed...Must admit never saw it coming... Your memories are nicely expressed, with olives and martinis
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/11/2020 2:49:00 PM
My parents have certain drinks. On mom’s birthday, a Manhattan :)

Book: Reflection on the Important Things