Friday, August 19, 2011

It's My Birthday... and a Poem to Share

It's my birthday today and I resurrected some pictures from my past to share with you. Hope you enjoy! You'll have to excuse the dorky glasses; it was the 80s. Hehehe...









I also have a poem to share. I've never been one to take a subject literally. In college we were given the word "baby" and asked to write a poem. I wrote about a romantic relationship and a guy who called her "baby". Today, I am sharing a poem about cake, but not a birthday cake. This is from my graduate portfolio that got me into the Creative Writing Graduate program at UWM-Milwaukee in the late 90s. I've since changed direction and write more fiction than poetry now. If you like this entry, you might check out The Weekend Creation Blog Hop going on now.

Cake Walk

his heart has been rusted shut and she has been
trying to pry it open for fourteen years
with her words pushing against the rusty hinges
but he has never budged not even a chink
to let her in and share his bold blue thoughts
she thought that marriage would be
fresh and crisp like laundry off her mother's clothesline
and when she wrapped herself in its breezy shroud
she would be safe and comforted
but like a fine cake she has served him well
always presenting their marriage to family
friends and co-workers as a sweet confectionery
swirl of grand rosettes and she has never told them
that it is cold and lonely to share a bed with a stranger
and that she wants to smash his old rusted heart
and scatter the tiny paper-thin flakes
they would float like ash from a fire
and she wouldn't enter his chambers
even if his stubborn door magically opened
because his hinges would always
creak out reminders of the past

As always, happy writing and happy reading to all!

12 comments:

Li said...

Har har har my sister had glasses like those :-)))

Happy birthday to you, (be glad I'm not singing it) and many more.

I see you're writing more fiction, if you're interested I'm teaming up with 2 other writers for a blogfest coming in October. We haven't finalized it yet, but the linky should go up in Sept - hope to see you!

Erin O'Riordan said...

Happy birthday. I like your photo with the green dress and the daisies, and I like the poem, too.

AO said...

hi Nora! HAPPIEST birthday! thanks for sharing the pictures and poem. have a wonderful one! c",)

Nora B. Peevy said...

Thank you for the warm wishes. Yesterday was great. My wonderful husband bought me a first edition signed hardcover of Neil Gaiman's Stardust for my collection. He always knows the perfect gift.

@Li -- I am interested to know the details about your blogfest.

-Nora

shah wharton said...

Oh Nora - Hope you are having a fabulous birthday! You photos are lovely and far less emabarressing then mine of the same era - PERMS!! And yes, I have black thick frames glasses aka Ronnie Corbett! Nice - not; D

This is a tragedy in poetic form and I really felt for the lady. I never married the two guys who were unfaithful to me - thank heaven - but it hurts so bad.

Thanks for linking up and putting it up there in your post. Big grin ;D

Shah .X

SilentObserver said...

This place is really wonderful, and the childhood pics are superb and ha, the door glass one is really nice lol, i am following. keep us inform
thanks for sharing

Nora B. Peevy said...

Thank you, SilentObserver. I enjoy my writing and sharing it with others.

-Nora

Margaret said...

a first edition signed hardcover of Neil Gaiman's Stardust for my collection

WOW. My oldest son loves him and now I do too! Happy Birthday. Hope to see you again at Weekend Creation Blog Hop! :)

and a powerful poem... and sadly, often true.

Nora B. Peevy said...

Margaret,

Thank you for the compliment. Yes, I will be participating in the blog hop again this weekend.

SilentObserver said...

Thanks Nora, I shared it at my google+ page.
Keep writing

Anonymous said...

Hi, thanks for visiting Strawberry Jam, :)
You have a great blog! Keep move on! ;)

Nora B. Peevy said...

Thanks! I am joining your blog hop because I like to share what I WANT to share. Your blog hop looks fab and I will be there this week. I also have included your hop image linked in my right column here.