Shagged in the back of a shotgun shack
at night by moonlight
peeping past curtains of burlap sack
such a sore sight
surrounded by fields of green
willing as she'd been
tho' torn
she surely wasn't about to be seen
with a child out of wedlock born
so with a bun in the oven
she had her Dad invite he
who did the dirty deed
and plant the seed
the Father-to-be
down south way out on the steading
to shape up show up and in the end
attend a shotgun wedding
In burlap did he laugh,
the huskiness of mirth
to occupy the dearth
of sound. A photograph
beside the paragraph;
her testament of worth.
In satin does she weep,
cold buttons in her lap.
The invocations tap
an estuary deep.
Like flutterings in sleep
they flood the aching gap.
She penned his epitaph:
In Burlap Did He Laugh.
3/26/18
Needle by needle
The tunes for the fiddle
Press by press
The pink caress
The up and down
The silky gown
Sideways too
The silky hue
The muslin sheen
The fluid violin
The orange sun
With love spun
The slippery satin
The tender teens
The roof grows crack
The burlap sack
Coarse daytime
The internal rhyme
The needles of strife
The burlap life
The people ragtag
The burlap bag
The filigree of labour
The burlap savour
The blue attachment
For the natural scent
The crafting and decor
Burlap we look for
The hugs and kisses
The blue berry bushes
The burlap screen
No harsh wind
The happy times
For the shrubs and the vines
Though poles apart
Both close to our hearts
Burlap and satin
The brown and the green
From the knife and the blade
Towards the burlap shed
From the market din
Towards the songs of satin
Burlap and satin
The stories umpteen
________________________________
March 26, 2018
Burlap and Satin - Poetry Contest
Sponsored by : Anthony Slausen
On the porch, clouds covering the sun
Memories flood like spring rain
Remembering those times long ago
Of burlap times and pain
There was no hope for satin gowns
Calico was my dress
Then times were harder that one year
Adults were really stressed
Daddy bought the animal feed
In sacks of printed cloth
Mama got enough matching bags
Untouched by dreaded moth
Two skirts were made by a seamstress
Some shirts from bleached flour sacks
There was no nudity at our home
In work mom did not slack
We knew nothing of satin cloth
Survival our weak mode
God blessed my father's efforts
When new skirts were sewed
Written: March 24, 2018
I’m awake by 6:00.
While stars shimmer
I jostle my husband
Who sleeps soundly
Upon dampened sheets.
Tom is burlap
While I am satin.
Wishing myself out
Of my cartoon pajamas
I struggle lifting his
Aged body from his bed.
My back aches
While I dress Tom
Thinking of those satin
Tahitian nights and
Playful lagoon floating
Over conch shells
With my handsome
Burlap man.
Slideshow memories
Of Satin and Burlap
Times stamped in my
Young 70-year old mind.
A blind date
sprung on two unwary victims.
He turned up early in suit and tie
obviously uncomfortable with
a situation beyond his comfort zone.
She showed up on time
dressed in an elegant clean cut dress
wearing high heels and
a subtle touch of perfume,
oozing confidence, yet
carrying herself with class.
An introductory handshake,
soft and coarse, gentle and firm,
set the ball rolling.
Over dinner he unwound
falling for her smooth soft voice
and witty sense of humour.
Later they danced, striking a balance
between grace and slight awkwardness
merging with ease when slow music played.
Reluctantly the date came to an end,
but not before plans were made to meet again.
Who could have guessed that
burlap would compliment satin so well!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Contest: Burlap and Satin
Sponsor: Anthony Slausen
© 22nd March 2018
Burlap and satin went to the dance
It was held at the old Fisher Barn
Burlap wore a fine Gunny sack
Adorned with a drawstring of yarn
Satin sported a shimmery weave
Trimmed with buttons of gold
The glossy attire was flawless
And was quite a sight to behold
Burlap took satin by the hand
And together they started to dance
When a stray strand of jute, caught satin’s suit
Burlap did not stand a chance.
Apologies followed
But the damage was done
Satins glossy ensemble
Had a permanent run.
Their dance quickly ended
Burlap was not Satins ilk
Burlap tangoed with Hemp
Satin went home with silk.
The moral of the story
And a material fact
Not all fabrics blend
Despite how they act
3/21/2018
Kickin’ ass farm chores in floral print dress
Lipstick is sticky and hair’s all a mess
Binder twine blisters that tuck a loose tress
Crankin’ old Allis but with mom’s finesse
And these things that happened
Like burlap and satin
Fertile fields plowin’ and dust in excess
Barley seeds planted with such fine caress
Rakin’ up hay for the bales of success
Dreamin’ up memories is such a bless.
And these things that happened
Like burlap and satin
Askin’ for little and wanting some less
Catholic girl says no to sometimes yes
Maybe sought more than we dare to confess
Born to be tender with some rough, I guess.
And these things that happened
Like burlap and satin
Written: 3/21/18
Contest: Burlap and Satin
Host: Anthony Slausen
Loud, rowdy, coarse,
a bit rough around the edges,
more likely to say “Shut Up!”
than “Quiet Please.”
Jeans, well worn,
faded by harsh winds,
and searing sun.
face to match.
The “gods?”
diabolical match makers.
Soft spoken, silky smooth,
edges buffed,
hushed a room
on entering.
Tailored,
off the rack,
draped on artistic
magnificence,
smiling……that…
smile.
©3/21/2018
submitted too – Burlap and Satin – Poetry Contest
sponsor – Anthony Slausen
Children of today
have no clue as to the games we played.
Hand me downs of clothes and shoes
were unknown to face book news.
Yet, we were safe and happy,
alright, that sounds sappy.
Back then you saved for something new
afraid your friends might see thru you.
The dresses and the shoes
came from family members true.
Burlap bags, mats and sacks renewed
rekindled seams and flaps, bamboo?
A lesson here from time gone by
when rich and poor never vied
for silky, satin, well hewn fashion dress
simplicity was a labored test.
The days of burlap and satin mixes
are no longer for the poor, but now the riches.
Considered a debonair through and through
I got used to the most expensive hotels.
And I was catered to and pampered, that's true,
oft dinning on steaks and oysters on half shells.
But I fell in love with the country in you,
and before I knew it, I heard wedding bells;
moved to the homestead, and watched the pigs fatten,
a combination of burlap and satin.
(Rispetto)
Mar.16, 2018
Bluegrass wedding barn
dressed in burlap and satin
young couple fiddling
I was Burlap, you were Satin
your smooth against my rough,
you diamond, 'gainst my red hot coal
was never quite enough.
You tulip in the April sun
fair lady of the field
me cactus, thick skinned, dominant
how easily you yield.
You fought till you had little left,
you tore so easily,
Burlap, Satin, no warp or weft
were ever meant to be.
February 11th 2018
For contest 'Burlap and Satin', sponsor Anthony Slausen
There she was back at her after-school job
Stashing away all she could for college
Always in her scruffy jeans and soiled blouse
Peeling potatoes from a burlap bag
Every weekend missing out on outings
Her friends often came to the restaurant
From the back she heard them carrying on
She peeled potatoes from a burlap bag
Asked to the prom by a handsome senior
Decked in high heels and a dress of satin
Looking fab with her future bright ahead
Accrued day dreams of future and college
Forgotten, t’was furthest thing from her mind
Not one thought to potatoes from burlap
AP: Honorable Mention 2020
Bequeathed between two golden sheets
Undine dims the light in candle’s ululation
Reposed she rescues dusky husky groans
Low and behold her mountain quivers
Among the valley’s heezed pleasures’ height
Pure nubile hessian rugs unfold a magic matching ride
Alleviated sorrow levitates small lusty deaths
Nirvana nestles breezes sweet surrender
Dharma shivers solemnly four noble truths
Serenity and Serendipity shine Sex and Senses
At altitude of fiery fabric one drape of Burlan
Transposes skin on skin much more than satin
In love she trusts when smooth vibrations
Nurse naked native nights engulfed in sated touch
10th March 2018 ACROSTIC
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