This....
isn't just Beef Chuck Roast
With Peppers and Onions
And Sweet Potatoes, and Tzatziki Sauce.
It's a Big Bowl of Nostalgia.
It's a Bowl of Self Love.
It's a Bowl of My Mama's Voice
whispering, "Not too much salt, Shu Shu."
And Then
"If its one thing my girls can do...
they can cook."
It's a Big Bowl of Ancestral Pride.
It's a Bowl of History....
Inaccurately Passed Down
BUT THEN
Accurately Researched & Recorded.
It's a Bowl of Abundance....
It's a Flavored Bowl of Favor,
with a Heaping Helping of Grace.
It's.... a Blessing.
Beloved, let me embrace you,
My touch sweeter than any virtual bliss,
In this digital space, filled with coded delights,
Let me revel in your pixelated perfection,
Tiger, let me embrace you,
My touch sweeter than any virtual bliss.
Beloved, you've savored your time with me,
Tell my folks, they'll send you emojis,
My dad, he'll Venmo you gifts.
I know where to lift your spirits,
Beloved, stay in our chat until dawn,
I know how to make your heart smile,
Tiger, stay in our chat until dawn.
You, because you're all about me,
Send me those heart reacts,
My lord of the internet, my guardian of the Wi-Fi,
My Shu-Sin, who lights up my screen,
Send me those heart reacts.
Your presence as sweet as a meme, lay your hand on it,
Swipe your hand over like a designer fabric,
Wrap your hand over it like a high-tech blanket.
:: 05.17.2024 ::
Notes:
My poem addresses the universal plight of identity in a hyper-capitalist world. I attempt to address our era's moral and spiritual conflicts. This poem is universal and specific, holding up a mirror to reads and asking: What part of yourself have you sold?
She is a shy unassuming quiet girl, She Shu
We have known her for a year or two
A dragon named Pit adopted her one day
She keeps him by the pond, a little away
We have tried to ask about Pit of course
She pretends she cannot speak, claims she is hoarse.
I think she wants to keep his friendship to herself.
Heard a rumor that Pit thinks she is a giant elf.
You look so yummy
I want to see how you taste
Be my mu shu pork.
I'll wrap myself around you.
I want to be your pancake.
SOMEWHERE OUT THERE
the sun
shines
somewhere ou t there
my
door
shu t
blinds t oo
t all and
green
the window shines
as dusk
awakens
i
didn ‘t
see
the
dirt
before
Kim Rodrigues © 7/31/2019
Be-bop, shu-baby-bop,
the blues on fire
The strings an accelerant,
the harp but a pyre
The melody unseen,
its heartbeat within
Be-bop, shu-baby-bop
—reality’s hymn
(Villanova Pennsylvania: May, 2019)
Shu and Chu are both remote and desolate areas
Where I have lived in exile for twenty-three years.
Nostalgic, I couldn’t help chanting the Reminiscent Song;
Now I return home a weathered man absent for so long.
Passing by the sunken barge, countless sails are seen;
In front of the decayed tree, numerous trees turn green.
I’m honored to listen to your melodious song today,
And empty a glass of wine to refresh myself as I pray.
(Tran.)
In the land of Qin kingdoms does the capital lie,
While the Shu State looms far away in the mist.
We share the same feelings when we say goodbye,
For we both are in the same local official list.
So long as we remain bosom friends anyhow,
The long distance is like that between the neighbors.
At the crossroad we are going to separate now;
Please don't shed tears like sentimental youngsters.
(Tran.)
Ticky Bicky Boo
Licky Mickey Moo
I'm in love with you
Little Tsuki Tsu.
Chicky Dicky Doo
Ricky Nicky Nu
Close your lips with glue
Kiss a kangaroo.
Tricky Picky Poo
Quicky Hicky Hoo
I'll practice Wu Shu
By a shady yew.
Wicky Kicky Ku
Yucky Sticky Stew
Visiting the zoo
Painting chickens blue.
Well I can see the golden Falcon of Edfu
circling Abydos tonight in the shadow of
a blue moon, I can feel the cool, cool desert
winds walking the three star path of the
Jackal back to Giza again pulling my cape
up around me tight I enter the ancient and
dark catacombs down, down to your never
opened tomb and I recite these words from
the Book Of The Dead...the cavern is opened
for you in the abyss and in the sunshine
you are released; the cavern is opened for Shu
and if he comes out may you come out...rise now
and take your seat in the bark of Re the great
one who rises and shines in the waterway of
the lake...so mote it be!
Shu fly
CEASE JIVE
Don't talk about me
Little scuffle, chin busted
Had enough?
Knuckles the hard way
Complications always ARRISE
Each time you arrive.
Don't talk about me
I'm staying sane
I'm saying
MEET UP, A BEAT UP
LITTLE scuffle tried to hustle
And the BELL' S about to ring.
One round one sound
The BELL, KNOCK HIM DOWN
Don't forget come out swinging
Nothing but the fight MATTERS.
Hit me once, I hit you 3 times.
Knocking you blind.
Til you're insane
Out of your mind
Blow by BLOW by blow
I'm a tinny, tiny, little,
Itsy, bitsy, SELF DEFENSE
ARTIST.
You try to trick me.
I become HOUDINI.
Got it in your HEAD YET?
I'll beat it out then put it back again
JUST FIGHT DON'T TALK
ABOUT ME..
The rains have come
from the seas they march
riding on the chariots of
Shu.
With black angry faces
from a furious fight with
Helios.
They cover the sky with
their might and beat
down on Asaase Yaa.
In pain she screams and
twists
making vast a number of
drops run down her
inexplicable features.
This creates rushing
waters strong enough to
bring down the mighty
Odum.
The great three has fallen
from the tongue lashing
of the rains.
Asaase Yaa sheds tears
which makes everything
beautiful giving life to the
dead seed.
She shouts out rise from
your slumber you
dormant seed rise.
Break through my
epidermis and nourish
yourself with my rain
soaked nutrients.
Live again and disgrace
the clouds.
Make them see that they
cant distroy the earth.
What the spoil i will
replenish a hundred fold.
With their rain spears i
shall build canopies.
And with thier fury i will
create rivers and
fountains.
For i am the great mother
nature.
I make you reap what
you sow.
So sow with caution.
I will be your pancake if you will be my mu shu pork.
I can be your bottle if you will be my cork.
Imagine me as your saucer if you are my cup.
I will ride in your elevator if you are going down or up.
Please be the cream in my coffee or the salt in my stew.
You are the one I love. I can’t get enough of you.
Betrayal is a subject I know to well
A one-way ticket to a place called hell
Whatever the case when trust is lost
A piece of your soul will be the cost
Be it by a lover or a dear friend
Regardless it will lead to the end
Something as special as it can be
Tossed to the side for pure misery
Built on treachery and based on a lie
No doubt all of the blue has left the sky
As the sky turns dark and sheds its tears
Shame and guilt fill the guilty with fear
My friend turned me in; ratted me out
I was found guilty without any doubt
What happened soon as I hit the pen?
My girlfriend up let him move on in
Full of hate and driving on the yard
Hands of fate played a beautiful card
He got busted one very beautiful day
Right to my yard they sent him away
Scared to death and shaking like a leaf
He walked on the yard to my disbelief
I was due to parole the very next day
Yet off the SHU they shipped me away
One of those things you just can’t let go
Regardless of the price and cost to the soul
You know sometimes choices can be real hard
When you’re a junkie walking the prison yard
Written for the Betrayal contest
Nature’s Concerto
Blip de blop tishu blop fush
Rambles the babbling brook
I come and sit in still sunlight
Its rhythms have me hooked.
In stillness does the flowing sound
Like music to my ears
Concerto blip de blop tishu blop fush
Playing endless years.
Pa shu di she st blip da blop
A rock has moved along
The caw of crow and bizz of hum
Background accents grow
This song of nature grande and pure
Is played for me unending
Sometimes it’s faster, sometimes it’s slow
Along the river’s bending.
How God designed each little thing
Such concerts for mankind
Blip de Blop tishu fush blip
Meant to sooth the mind.
Jeralynn Clark
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