O to be a poet!
What must I do?
Need special rhymes
I pursue…
perhaps elegant forms
transcending more common,
like Midas touch
words golden~ a poet’s Mammon!
O when will an artist get honored
due – afford even a stove without a hand
operated flue; companion after companion
in wraps, out the door, shouting,
a chilling~ I love you...but I’m Through!
Unable to fill her stomach enough
with elegant phrases, with grand sketches
on pages, while her less
enamored friends render their prosperous
soulmates lavish praises: hooked up with
lawyers and doctors, learned researchers,
doing battle with nature’s debilitating curses --
politicians…? O Well, no one’s perfect
while everyone agreeing, the dedicated
artist, is such a well-intentioned, thoughtful bloke
the irate landlord shaking his head, again bemoaning
I know...late with the rent, still broke….
A rainy Sunday afternoon
Cold and gray, yet I'm immune
For sitting here right next to me
Natural beauty in human form
A roaring fire, a cup of tea
In woolen socks, my heart is warm
There's no place else I'd rather be
Blissfully oblivious to any storm
A rainy Sunday afternoon
Cold and gray, yet I'm immune
On the stove a pot of sauce
On the counter a bottle of wine
Mere words escape, I'm at a loss
One cannot explain, much less define
A rainy Sunday afternoon
Cold and gray, yet I'm immune
The table is set, I'll pour the Bordeaux
The meatballs are ready, they told me so
Mimi McFudge was her name, and she wanted a tree
that would really make her Christmas glow
so, she cut one herself and decked it from head to toe
but when it started prancing with bells and whistles too
it began to talk like a chatterbox, it knew just what to do!
When bedtime rolled around it yawned, " Please shut the lights"
Articulate and bright it hummed all day and slept all night
Every day at noon he gave Mimi a little nudge
feed me feed me I'm hungry, then he'd shake and jiggle
but he never budged ...
It went on for quite some time first the fruit then the nuts
he even dared to ask for pouding and cold cuts.
What she didn't realize was that a squirrel was living there
and that the food wasn't just disappearing in thin air.
It was being chomped, buffed & eaten by a bushy tailed spry one
who loved to eat and photoshoot, he couldn't be undone
so when Santa came sliding down the chimney
he quickly took a snapshot then whispered, " Santa, its me "
La Boheme Series Haiku — Mimi Dies
songs call love ~
bread with wine beg warmth ~
too late come some chances granted
——————————————————————
————
(c)sally young eslinger 6/2022
Thanks be to God
With hugs, dear Puccini
Mimi ni mweusi- na nimepata- Nilipata haki ya kuishi I'm BLACK and I've got a right to live part 2
Mimi ni mweusi, na nimepata. Nilipata haki ya kuishi
I'm BLACK, and I've got.
I got a right to live.
I got a right to live.
I got a lot to give.
To these Ununited States.
To whom most peoples are misrepresentative.
Mimi ni mweusi, na nimepata. Nilipata haki ya kuishi
I got a right to be heard.
I'm less than an Angel.
And I am more than a mere bird.
Mimi ni mweusi, na nimepata. Nilipata haki ya kuishi
I'm BLACK, and I've got
I've got
I got a right to live.
I got a right to live.
I got a lot to give.
To these citizens of this world and to my Lord,Jesus
He whose forgiven both you, me and us
I've got
I've got
I got a right to live.
I'm BLACK, and I've got
I've got
I got a right to live.
Mimi ni mweusi, na nimepata. Nilipata haki ya kuishi
7/13/20
written words by James Edward Lee Sr. © 2020
Mimi ninastahili-I AM WORTHY
Mimi ninastahili
kwanini unaniangalia
Mimi ndiye
Sijakufanya chochote
Mimi ndiye
Kwa hivyo kupendeza,
bado unaniogopa
Angalia ndani yako mwenyewe
Mimi ninastahili
why you look at me
I am He
Mimi ninastahili
I've done nothing to you
I am He
Mimi ninastahili
So endearing,
yet still you're fearing me
Look inside yourself
Mimi ninastahili
I Am worthy
7/10/20
written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2020 ©
Of childhood, a little story,
Mimi, fluffy dog, toy glory,
She lost an eye, tail wagged off,
Rubbed fur, not so toff,
But so well loved, I say,
Wish I still had her today!
The quintessence of womanhood, Mimi Sue makes me drool.
Exquisite, an angel, a champion of femininity, my jewel.
A peach, a beauty, a gem, my ideal mate.
I smiled at my brother, he had at last met his fate.
I expected to see Rita Hayworth get out of his car.
My husband was thinking Jennifer Anniston, his favorite star.
Well at least he has gotten more mature my mother said.
As Mimi Sue extracted herself from his VW Bug, her hair flaming red.
For she was built like an oak, would fit in right away.
We greeted her warmly, that warm Sunday day.
At least he recognized real beauty this time stated Dad.
She was the most down-home, regular date he had ever had.
Mimi Sue was gentle, and kind, and natural empath.
She was accepting and loving, and had a great laugh.
She was a sorcerer, she had dazzled him, this regular dame.
He was ready to settle down, get married, stop playing all games.
Mimi Kanawa lives on
A sore thumb in the rain
Creditor she preferred
A debtor she stood like a trout to bait
Hunger swallowed her so
But death stung her not
Being a hard row to hoe.
Mimi Kanawa made a parting with the road
That was so well made
The price overtook her
Repeatedly on this road
Though nothing lasts forever
Her gaze will always reign
For from her timeless gaze
Nothing will erase
Until I tell this tale
Of a fate too true to be stale
Kuwakomboa Mimi bwana
Kuwakomboa Mimi Mungu
Redeem me Lord
Redeem me God
This is my sincere prayer, my prayer;
Hii ni maombi yangu ya dhati;
This is my, this is my sincere prayer;
Hii ni maombi yangu ya dhati;
Redeem me Lord
I need redemption Lord, save me
I need redemption Lord, save me
I need redemption Lord, save me
This is my sincere prayer
Come into my heart somewhere
Honor and trust in you
Is all that I need to do
I release myself unto you
Come see me Lord
Receive me so;
This is my sincere prayer
Come into my life always
Come see me Lord
Receive me so;
This is my sincere prayer
Come into my life always
Honor and trust in you;
Is all that I need to do
I release myself unto you
Kuwakomboa Mimi bwana
Kuwakomboa Mimi Mungu
Redeem me Lord
Redeem me God
08/23/17
written by James Edward Lee Sr. 2017
from anthology "Swahili Praise"
Tainted kisses,
silent misgivings,
frantic limbs and souls
struggling against a deep freeze,
always trying to reach
for some sort of safety
in the midst of
emotional squalor.
I remember you,
trying to cut the tie
with no clear cut ending,
that was a long time ago,
but for what it’s worth,
when I close my eyes,
I can still see,
your eyes,
searching mine,
for an answer
that could never be.
Sweet little Mimi ran, up and down,
Here and there round and round,
Pink color ribbons, lacy frock,
"Mamma, mamma see my doll,
She calls me mamma when she plays,
I hold her hands like you do always".
"Mamma, mamma see her sing,
The way you do when I sleep".
Sweet little mimi swaying about,
My little princess playing with her doll.
"Mamma, mamma hear me out
see me playing with my doll.
My doll is pretty, with rosy lips,
Just like me with dimple on her cheeks".
Sweet little mimi played all day,
Ran up and down with her doll everyday
A small study lamb,
a tea cup with sharpened lead pencils
(number two),
polished wooden panels:
walls dressed in masks
(African vodun mugs).
An old stone fireplace with
portrait of a colored girl
dancing above stained hardwood mantel.
Mimi, with a mind as dull as the room,
hung her thoughts out for scrutiny.
Shadows waltz in the faint glow,
and smell send eyes searching
and minds speculating
about the smudges on worn carpet.
From the door,
dark antique table stood smug,
on lion’s paws, in a corner to the left.
Grandfather clock with pendulum,
a tongue that utters time.
A gem tells of certainty,
and minds were compelled and led captives,
but Mimi and her tactless wit
could never fathom why gwampa run.
Grandfather ran when liberty summoned,
and this room expresses a life
that is far too deep for her to clutch.
your grandmother died
a few years back
the mean old witch
left you with a 'lil chunk of change
& lots of strings attached
you sista been "walking" dead for
what, like, 5 years now
Mom's are queen of denial
just like us all
maybe lessen the pain
not face what's in your face
and the beat goes on
the sadness in each of us
could fill every single void
so you say your family died
not true for all involved
you live you give you thrive
we are here now
closest ones around
not into competition
just want everyone to win
share the constant load
just don't break the dream
by going off to parts unknown
H/A/W got what it takes
to make it worth a fight
don't take away the boy's joy
life ain't perfect but it's real
please see us over here, still the same
you are always our girl
come back and share our world
this is a good as it gets
wield your power to our favor
please please dear dear
sweet beautiful child
Peace and love to you!
She left this world much the way she came in,
still kicking and screaming and conceived in sin.
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