Jim discovered a folder of my old poetry, mostly written before we married. I was delighted and thought I would share.
This picture is of "Moms" whom I lived with in a very roughly made house on stilts, during my Peace Corps stint in Costa Rica. The poem "Vine Don't Need No Quarter" is written in her voice. Moms came from Barbados and spoke a broken English Patois. She never said these words, but I don't think she would have disagreed.
The second poem "Eternal Rose" was written for my friend Donna who was viciously attacked by her ex-husband. She refused to die, instead she thrived, she continues to spread infectious smiles and joy.
VINE DON'T NEED NO QUARTER (Oct. 1987)
"Listen to me girl. Once womans didn't chase no quarter like an ol organ monkey. Men is such silly things, an you modern womans got yo'selves wound round 'em, every which way. Schoolin, playin, romancin, workin. Give dat struggle a rest. Look at yo head, look like an 'ol hounds nose. Mens is different and you gots to leave 'em as such. Why you want him to think inta your head, and finga your soul? You breakin up God's plan, and swallowin dat man whole. No wonders you got de rotten stomach. Woman meant ta be strong, de vine dat hold it own. You gone crazy chasen da leaf, forgettin you de vine. Hang tight to dem chillens, grow thich and push up. You pull you man up too. Vine don't need no quarter."
ETERNAL ROSE (September 1988)
Amazon woman
more handsome than brave
your dusty armor
carcass of battles lost
orphans a loving spirit, weaned
from girlish laughter
and penny dreams
Life bellows, rams
and charges
uncalled
unyielding
Drawing maiden bow
and arrow true.
Eternal Rose
Woman born
Warrior made
thorned for battle
grown for love
This picture is of "Moms" whom I lived with in a very roughly made house on stilts, during my Peace Corps stint in Costa Rica. The poem "Vine Don't Need No Quarter" is written in her voice. Moms came from Barbados and spoke a broken English Patois. She never said these words, but I don't think she would have disagreed.
The second poem "Eternal Rose" was written for my friend Donna who was viciously attacked by her ex-husband. She refused to die, instead she thrived, she continues to spread infectious smiles and joy.
VINE DON'T NEED NO QUARTER (Oct. 1987)
"Listen to me girl. Once womans didn't chase no quarter like an ol organ monkey. Men is such silly things, an you modern womans got yo'selves wound round 'em, every which way. Schoolin, playin, romancin, workin. Give dat struggle a rest. Look at yo head, look like an 'ol hounds nose. Mens is different and you gots to leave 'em as such. Why you want him to think inta your head, and finga your soul? You breakin up God's plan, and swallowin dat man whole. No wonders you got de rotten stomach. Woman meant ta be strong, de vine dat hold it own. You gone crazy chasen da leaf, forgettin you de vine. Hang tight to dem chillens, grow thich and push up. You pull you man up too. Vine don't need no quarter."
ETERNAL ROSE (September 1988)
Amazon woman
more handsome than brave
your dusty armor
carcass of battles lost
orphans a loving spirit, weaned
from girlish laughter
and penny dreams
Life bellows, rams
and charges
uncalled
unyielding
Drawing maiden bow
and arrow true.
Eternal Rose
Woman born
Warrior made
thorned for battle
grown for love