petals rest in a small porcelain bowl,
their faded colors holding
the last warm whisper
of summer’s breath
like a prayer released
from the hush of a chapel
their fragrance drifts upward~
a sweetness rising
toward unseen grace.
I sense the Holy Spirit
moving through the softened petals,
turning what has fallen
into something still glowing.
potpourri—a symbol of how God gathers
the small, the broken, the dried~
and breathes a lingering fragrance
into them.
A symphony of spoons,
a poised poke of fork quartet prongs,
the clatter of knives
resounding, rebounding
in a chamber of diphthongs.
The boil and sizzle of oils,
crisping the chips, tempura and pakora to brown.
so biting the crust
makes the cracks ring out loud,
then softens to an ooze.
the slow chewing flows
into a sing-along song,
as the tongue savors the juicy flavors.
A slice of ripe lime, bright green
a gentle, slow pour of warm wine,
draws out two vowels to sound as one
as the mouth rounds on every morsel.
The steam sighs, rising up in spirals,
from the feast that hums and mumbles, low and strong.
Each bite a voice unfolding—
a choir of chew and tongue, sung
savoring the diphthongs
in each mouthful of potpourri chowder.
If the trees could bleed
and the flowers cry out in pain,
Death would not rest so peacefully
Nor life runs helter-skelter.
If the eye of the needle could see,
The fabric of mankind wouldn’t be
so soiled and threadbare.
If walls could tell its tales
The secrets of the past would unfold.
When the beauty
shuts her eyes in anguish,
Pain becomes beautiful…
And heart gets caught up in a rapture.
With my cupped hands
I drank the ocean
wave upon wave
and quenched the thirst
to my soul’s content
by and by.
~Contest: 1428
Sponsor: Brian Strand
Pointers..
All words appear
As pointers..
Pointing to that
Which is already
The pointing...
Colors
Are infinitely varied
They're seemingly
What's happening...
Travel
Often undertaken to
Find the new..
While the new
Is what seems happening...
It's language
Which may seem
To build the edges..
Nothing with
Impossible edges..
Perspectives
With no separation
Are the magic
Of the impossible...
Stories which
Are not empty
Are believed apparently
With desperation...
Nori Potpourri!
Pooh brightens by her smile,
All need Nori’s pearl white teeth,
Eye twinkle, greeting dimple,
An elegant yet humble style!
A spiritual treat,
More nutritious than food simple,
Your smile is fuel for a mile!
Warming hearts by friendly heat,
Shelter great, more than a mere temple,
Comforting Tom, Koneh & All as a tropic isle!
Laugh lines tastier than meat,
Brings joy ample,
Free! in Nori’s checkout aisle!
Potpourri..
If
You take a position
There arises a character
In a fable
Already complete...
A story
"Seen" as a story
May be a ticket
To the freedom
To enjoy all stories...
Appearance
The word which
May reveal
Separation as
Appearance...
What seems missing
Begins the story of
Laboring intensely
To find nothing
Which is never
Missing...
The brain story
With scientific precision
May seems to entrench
Separation's story...
A word
Creates the
World anew..
Creating poles
Dancing to
Their own tune...
Religion
Spirituality
Are busy with
Various expressions
Of what cannot
Be expressed...
A melding
Of two religions
into one..
Syncretism..
Another wording
Arrives to express
What cannot be
Expressed...
Saying too much
Is what happens
When words are
Used to express
Nothing at all...
cleaning out our place
drawers packed with potpourri~
zesty dregs of life
February 26, 2023
Gathering a huge bunch, of the most fragrant purple flowers,
I made purple petal potpourri, creating joy to last for hours.
I combined plum roses and lilacs, irises, lavender and others,
Like the colorful birds of summer, looking for their lovers!
Gay days were at last here, and I had found my great desire,
To create the dark exotic scents, like sweet incense on fire!
The potpourri was so fragrant, that it lasted all the summer;
And drifted away into autumn, after spreading all its wonders.
All ablaze those summer days,
And such sweet scented flowers!
Glorious gardens and sweet bouquets,
Summer madness in fragrant bowers!
Harvest the grapes and pour red wine;
Whispers of soft, sweet memories...
Burnished autumn days are so fine;
Wild winds scatter love's debris.
Before the sunrise, there was June,
And heady, drunken August;
Night birds sang to the moon,
Wanton fields blossomed lust.
This mellow season, blooms are faded;
No more the blues and brights.
Now the time when love is jaded;
Coming on, the lonely nights!
But, days of rapture soon come again,
And fury of garden and field!
And indigo nights and champagne-
Our fate is sealed!
I was once vivacious.
Now I walk with hunched back
And downcast eyes.
I was once outspoken.
Now uncertainty glues my mouth shut.
I was once a dancing daffodil.
Now I drag my feet just to leave the house.
Spring is leaving my eyes.
The blossoms in my heart
Are beginning to wither.
I pick up the fallen petals
To make a potpourri
Out of my midlife.
Potpourri, What Me Worry?
Have a Minute? In a Hurry?
Reflect, Few Knew 3rd Sept. 1964'ie,
Our World Unfurled, "Let There Be Nori!"
More Precisely, "Eleanor Anne",
7 of 7, Infinite "Can", Wonder Woman,
And Golly, The Mile Champion, She Ran!
By No Means Dumb, Nori Was the Sum,
Harry & Eleanor Enabled Dr. Schol's Alum,
Beat Drums! Blow Trumpets! 'Til Lips Numb!
Inherited Curls Red We All Adore,
Her Generosity & Humility Galore,
Spreading Joy In Each of Fifty-Four!
Nori Has a Secret, A Hydrogen Bomb,
A West Virginia Gentle Farm Boy, Some
Say is Her Loam, Vita-Mix, Topsoil Tom!
Husky, Kona, Loved but Exceedingly Furry,
North Conway is Where Tom & Nori,
Build Their Oasis Refuge From Hurry!
Nori, Count Your Life by Smiles Not Miles,
By Friends, Not Stipends, Not "Upends",
May You & Tom Together Enjoy Years,
Empty of Tears, Bills in Arrears & Fears!
I have known the temptation
of a train of impure thought,
and the tranquillity of virtue
that can’t be with lucre bought.
I’ve coveted riches not mine
with the stealth of impropriety,
and rejoiced in the righteousness
of a random act of charity.
I hide the stains of offenses
which the Ganges cannot rinse,
I’ve tasted the milk of goodness
and sniffed a potpourri of sins.
Potpourri
By: Tom Wright
7/16/03
God gave me Passion of Heart when discovering first love,
A prayer for Love and Peace as symbolized by His Dove.
I have the Confidence of an Oak, deep rooted and unbending,
I glimpsed the Joy of a Dragonfly ere midsummer's day ending.
I've the Enthusiasm of a Butterfly, as it nectars a flower,
and the Patience to accept Life, hour by hour.
Such fleeting smells
As fragrance blooms,
Cast lovely spells
In airy room.
Such is the way
As scents now swirl,
A fragrant say
Of floral twirls.
Such mellow mists
As perfume dash,
A sensuous gist
Of sexy flash.
Such poignant feel
As flavours drift,
Touch air that thrills
In charming sniff.
Such pleasures here
Concoct fine poise,
Beauty floods spheres
In scented voice.
Such myriad scope
As perfumes touch,
Sculpt happy hope
To heal so much.
Such lovely airs
Bring health and more,
In fragrant flair
Glimpse love galore.
Leon Enriquez
15 May 2017
Singapore
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