Dec. 9th, 2011

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (neutral)
The following poems from the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl are currently available. They may be sponsored via PayPal -- there's a permanent donation button on my LiveJournal profile page -- or you can write to me and discuss other methods.


"Chamomile and Honeycrack" -- 124 lines, $62
Your prompt about holiday dishes in Path of the Paladins turned into the free-verse poem "Chamomile and Honeycrack." It's a big jump forward in time, because it has Shahana and Ari celebrating the winter solstice, but I think it's okay to release now because it's not likely to mess up any other continuity.

"The Chocolate Goddess" -- 26 lines, $15 SOLD
Your prompt about exercise and chocolate reminded me of many other images of power and beauty, which got me thinking about women; and of darkness as something positive, which brought in ethnic awareness. So "The Chocolate Goddess" is about finding strength through beauty, and balancing pleasure with effort while constructing the temple of the body. It's written in free verse.

"The Curse of Titania's Table" -- 32 lines, $15
The prompt about "chocolate food product" led to "The Curse of Titania's Table." Written in unrhymed quatrains, this poem explains the origins of junk food.

"Delicious Differences" -- 28 lines, $15 SOLD
Stephen Laird left me a backchannel prompt for "coconut," which grew into "Delicious Differences," a free-verse poem about chocolate's relationship with both coconut and peanut.

"The Evolution of Perception" -- 16 lines, $10
From the prompt about progression, I got "The Evolution of Perception." Written in free-verse quatrains, it extols the virtues of various brands of chocolate.

"The Fountainhead of the Wisdom of Food" -- 35 lines, $15
The prompt about "chocolate fountains" combined with what [info]janetmiles said about the morality of food. "The Fountainhead of the Wisdom of Food" is a free-verse poem about eating, ethics, insight, and the cyclic nature of life.

"Fruitless" -- 16 lines, $10 SOLD
From [info]aldersprig's elsewhere comment about a cherry on a sundae, I got "Fruitless," a free-verse poem about realizing that a relationship is not what it was thought to be.

"Haunted Gatherers" -- 15 lines, $10
The prompt about inedible ingredients led to a comparison of historic and modern food acquisition in the free-verse poem "Haunted Gatherers."

"The Leaning of Life" -- 9 lines, $5
The idea of food as obligation led to "The Leaning of Life," which discusses why creatures really exist.

"The Luckpot" -- 33 lines, $15
I combined "potlucks" and "food as a gift" with prompts from several other folks to get "The Luckpot." Written in unrhymed tercets, this poem explores many ways in which food connects people.

"Pat's Place" -- 35 lines, $15 SOLD
Your prompt about communal cooking inspired the free-verse poem "Pat's Place" about the kitchen in the Teferact where Schrodinger's Heroes eat. It's a cozy little piece of home in what can otherwise be a cool and clinical environment.

"Pigeon Soup" -- 72 lines, $36 SOLD
I combined your "healing soup" prompt with something that [info]marina_bonomi said some time ago about Italian folk healing, and [info]aldersprig's prompts about food as comfort and tradition. The result is "Pigeon Soup," a free-verse poem about Fiorenza the Wisewoman. What happens when the traditional remedy for colds isn't working as well as it usually does?

"Savour" -- 41 lines, $20 SOLD
The prompt about "umami" led to the free-verse poem "Savour," which describes the subjective and objective aspects of the fifth flavour.

"A Shopper's Problem" -- 20 lines, $10 SOLD
This line about ingredients inspired a double-rhymed ballad, "A Shopper's Problem," about searching a supermarket for foods that might actually be edible.

"Speechflesh" -- 36 lines, $15 SOLD
From the prompt about feeding body and soul, I got the free-verse poem "Speechflesh," which lays out parallels between what we eat, what we believe, and how they affect us.

"Sundrops" -- 10 lines, $5
The prompt "lemon drops" led to the free-verse poem "Sundrops," which compares sunlight to lemons.

"This Bittersweet Weed" -- 74 lines, $37
From various prompts about the captivating effects of chocolate, I got the free-verse poem "This Bittersweet Weed." Aliens arrive on Earth and fall in love with chocolate. Then they start noticing its intoxicating effects, and break into arguments over what to do about that. Earth's future winds up resting in, shall we say, some rather unexpected hands.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
The following poems from the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl are currently available. They may be sponsored via PayPal -- there's a permanent donation button on my LiveJournal profile page -- or you can write to me and discuss other methods.


"Chamomile and Honeycrack" -- 124 lines, $62
Your prompt about holiday dishes in Path of the Paladins turned into the free-verse poem "Chamomile and Honeycrack." It's a big jump forward in time, because it has Shahana and Ari celebrating the winter solstice, but I think it's okay to release now because it's not likely to mess up any other continuity.

"The Chocolate Goddess" -- 26 lines, $15 SOLD
Your prompt about exercise and chocolate reminded me of many other images of power and beauty, which got me thinking about women; and of darkness as something positive, which brought in ethnic awareness. So "The Chocolate Goddess" is about finding strength through beauty, and balancing pleasure with effort while constructing the temple of the body. It's written in free verse.

"The Curse of Titania's Table" -- 32 lines, $15
The prompt about "chocolate food product" led to "The Curse of Titania's Table." Written in unrhymed quatrains, this poem explains the origins of junk food.

"Delicious Differences" -- 28 lines, $15 SOLD
Stephen Laird left me a backchannel prompt for "coconut," which grew into "Delicious Differences," a free-verse poem about chocolate's relationship with both coconut and peanut.

"The Evolution of Perception" -- 16 lines, $10
From the prompt about progression, I got "The Evolution of Perception." Written in free-verse quatrains, it extols the virtues of various brands of chocolate.

"The Fountainhead of the Wisdom of Food" -- 35 lines, $15
The prompt about "chocolate fountains" combined with what [info]janetmiles said about the morality of food. "The Fountainhead of the Wisdom of Food" is a free-verse poem about eating, ethics, insight, and the cyclic nature of life.

"Fruitless" -- 16 lines, $10 SOLD
From [info]aldersprig's elsewhere comment about a cherry on a sundae, I got "Fruitless," a free-verse poem about realizing that a relationship is not what it was thought to be.

"Haunted Gatherers" -- 15 lines, $10
The prompt about inedible ingredients led to a comparison of historic and modern food acquisition in the free-verse poem "Haunted Gatherers."

"The Leaning of Life" -- 9 lines, $5
The idea of food as obligation led to "The Leaning of Life," which discusses why creatures really exist.

"The Luckpot" -- 33 lines, $15
I combined "potlucks" and "food as a gift" with prompts from several other folks to get "The Luckpot." Written in unrhymed tercets, this poem explores many ways in which food connects people.

"Pat's Place" -- 35 lines, $15 SOLD
Your prompt about communal cooking inspired the free-verse poem "Pat's Place" about the kitchen in the Teferact where Schrodinger's Heroes eat. It's a cozy little piece of home in what can otherwise be a cool and clinical environment.

"Pigeon Soup" -- 72 lines, $36 SOLD
I combined your "healing soup" prompt with something that [info]marina_bonomi said some time ago about Italian folk healing, and [info]aldersprig's prompts about food as comfort and tradition. The result is "Pigeon Soup," a free-verse poem about Fiorenza the Wisewoman. What happens when the traditional remedy for colds isn't working as well as it usually does?

"Savour" -- 41 lines, $20 SOLD
The prompt about "umami" led to the free-verse poem "Savour," which describes the subjective and objective aspects of the fifth flavour.

"A Shopper's Problem" -- 20 lines, $10 SOLD
This line about ingredients inspired a double-rhymed ballad, "A Shopper's Problem," about searching a supermarket for foods that might actually be edible.

"Speechflesh" -- 36 lines, $15 SOLD
From the prompt about feeding body and soul, I got the free-verse poem "Speechflesh," which lays out parallels between what we eat, what we believe, and how they affect us.

"Sundrops" -- 10 lines, $5
The prompt "lemon drops" led to the free-verse poem "Sundrops," which compares sunlight to lemons.

"This Bittersweet Weed" -- 74 lines, $37
From various prompts about the captivating effects of chocolate, I got the free-verse poem "This Bittersweet Weed." Aliens arrive on Earth and fall in love with chocolate. Then they start noticing its intoxicating effects, and break into arguments over what to do about that. Earth's future winds up resting in, shall we say, some rather unexpected hands.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
The following poems from the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl are currently available. They may be sponsored via PayPal -- there's a permanent donation button on my LiveJournal profile page -- or you can write to me and discuss other methods.


"Chamomile and Honeycrack" -- 124 lines, $62
Your prompt about holiday dishes in Path of the Paladins turned into the free-verse poem "Chamomile and Honeycrack." It's a big jump forward in time, because it has Shahana and Ari celebrating the winter solstice, but I think it's okay to release now because it's not likely to mess up any other continuity.

"The Chocolate Goddess" -- 26 lines, $15 SOLD
Your prompt about exercise and chocolate reminded me of many other images of power and beauty, which got me thinking about women; and of darkness as something positive, which brought in ethnic awareness. So "The Chocolate Goddess" is about finding strength through beauty, and balancing pleasure with effort while constructing the temple of the body. It's written in free verse.

"The Curse of Titania's Table" -- 32 lines, $15
The prompt about "chocolate food product" led to "The Curse of Titania's Table." Written in unrhymed quatrains, this poem explains the origins of junk food.

"Delicious Differences" -- 28 lines, $15 SOLD
Stephen Laird left me a backchannel prompt for "coconut," which grew into "Delicious Differences," a free-verse poem about chocolate's relationship with both coconut and peanut.

"The Evolution of Perception" -- 16 lines, $10
From the prompt about progression, I got "The Evolution of Perception." Written in free-verse quatrains, it extols the virtues of various brands of chocolate.

"The Fountainhead of the Wisdom of Food" -- 35 lines, $15
The prompt about "chocolate fountains" combined with what [info]janetmiles said about the morality of food. "The Fountainhead of the Wisdom of Food" is a free-verse poem about eating, ethics, insight, and the cyclic nature of life.

"Fruitless" -- 16 lines, $10 SOLD
From [info]aldersprig's elsewhere comment about a cherry on a sundae, I got "Fruitless," a free-verse poem about realizing that a relationship is not what it was thought to be.

"Haunted Gatherers" -- 15 lines, $10
The prompt about inedible ingredients led to a comparison of historic and modern food acquisition in the free-verse poem "Haunted Gatherers."

"The Leaning of Life" -- 9 lines, $5
The idea of food as obligation led to "The Leaning of Life," which discusses why creatures really exist.

"The Luckpot" -- 33 lines, $15
I combined "potlucks" and "food as a gift" with prompts from several other folks to get "The Luckpot." Written in unrhymed tercets, this poem explores many ways in which food connects people.

"Pat's Place" -- 35 lines, $15 SOLD
Your prompt about communal cooking inspired the free-verse poem "Pat's Place" about the kitchen in the Teferact where Schrodinger's Heroes eat. It's a cozy little piece of home in what can otherwise be a cool and clinical environment.

"Pigeon Soup" -- 72 lines, $36 SOLD
I combined your "healing soup" prompt with something that [info]marina_bonomi said some time ago about Italian folk healing, and [info]aldersprig's prompts about food as comfort and tradition. The result is "Pigeon Soup," a free-verse poem about Fiorenza the Wisewoman. What happens when the traditional remedy for colds isn't working as well as it usually does?

"Savour" -- 41 lines, $20 SOLD
The prompt about "umami" led to the free-verse poem "Savour," which describes the subjective and objective aspects of the fifth flavour.

"A Shopper's Problem" -- 20 lines, $10 SOLD
This line about ingredients inspired a double-rhymed ballad, "A Shopper's Problem," about searching a supermarket for foods that might actually be edible.

"Speechflesh" -- 36 lines, $15 SOLD
From the prompt about feeding body and soul, I got the free-verse poem "Speechflesh," which lays out parallels between what we eat, what we believe, and how they affect us.

"Sundrops" -- 10 lines, $5
The prompt "lemon drops" led to the free-verse poem "Sundrops," which compares sunlight to lemons.

"This Bittersweet Weed" -- 74 lines, $37
From various prompts about the captivating effects of chocolate, I got the free-verse poem "This Bittersweet Weed." Aliens arrive on Earth and fall in love with chocolate. Then they start noticing its intoxicating effects, and break into arguments over what to do about that. Earth's future winds up resting in, shall we say, some rather unexpected hands.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
The following poems from the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl are currently available. They may be sponsored via PayPal -- there's a permanent donation button on my LiveJournal profile page -- or you can write to me and discuss other methods.


"Chamomile and Honeycrack" -- 124 lines, $62
Your prompt about holiday dishes in Path of the Paladins turned into the free-verse poem "Chamomile and Honeycrack." It's a big jump forward in time, because it has Shahana and Ari celebrating the winter solstice, but I think it's okay to release now because it's not likely to mess up any other continuity.

"The Chocolate Goddess" -- 26 lines, $15 SOLD
Your prompt about exercise and chocolate reminded me of many other images of power and beauty, which got me thinking about women; and of darkness as something positive, which brought in ethnic awareness. So "The Chocolate Goddess" is about finding strength through beauty, and balancing pleasure with effort while constructing the temple of the body. It's written in free verse.

"The Curse of Titania's Table" -- 32 lines, $15
The prompt about "chocolate food product" led to "The Curse of Titania's Table." Written in unrhymed quatrains, this poem explains the origins of junk food.

"Delicious Differences" -- 28 lines, $15 SOLD
Stephen Laird left me a backchannel prompt for "coconut," which grew into "Delicious Differences," a free-verse poem about chocolate's relationship with both coconut and peanut.

"The Evolution of Perception" -- 16 lines, $10
From the prompt about progression, I got "The Evolution of Perception." Written in free-verse quatrains, it extols the virtues of various brands of chocolate.

"The Fountainhead of the Wisdom of Food" -- 35 lines, $15
The prompt about "chocolate fountains" combined with what [info]janetmiles said about the morality of food. "The Fountainhead of the Wisdom of Food" is a free-verse poem about eating, ethics, insight, and the cyclic nature of life.

"Fruitless" -- 16 lines, $10 SOLD
From [info]aldersprig's elsewhere comment about a cherry on a sundae, I got "Fruitless," a free-verse poem about realizing that a relationship is not what it was thought to be.

"Haunted Gatherers" -- 15 lines, $10
The prompt about inedible ingredients led to a comparison of historic and modern food acquisition in the free-verse poem "Haunted Gatherers."

"The Leaning of Life" -- 9 lines, $5
The idea of food as obligation led to "The Leaning of Life," which discusses why creatures really exist.

"The Luckpot" -- 33 lines, $15
I combined "potlucks" and "food as a gift" with prompts from several other folks to get "The Luckpot." Written in unrhymed tercets, this poem explores many ways in which food connects people.

"Pat's Place" -- 35 lines, $15 SOLD
Your prompt about communal cooking inspired the free-verse poem "Pat's Place" about the kitchen in the Teferact where Schrodinger's Heroes eat. It's a cozy little piece of home in what can otherwise be a cool and clinical environment.

"Pigeon Soup" -- 72 lines, $36 SOLD
I combined your "healing soup" prompt with something that [info]marina_bonomi said some time ago about Italian folk healing, and [info]aldersprig's prompts about food as comfort and tradition. The result is "Pigeon Soup," a free-verse poem about Fiorenza the Wisewoman. What happens when the traditional remedy for colds isn't working as well as it usually does?

"Savour" -- 41 lines, $20 SOLD
The prompt about "umami" led to the free-verse poem "Savour," which describes the subjective and objective aspects of the fifth flavour.

"A Shopper's Problem" -- 20 lines, $10 SOLD
This line about ingredients inspired a double-rhymed ballad, "A Shopper's Problem," about searching a supermarket for foods that might actually be edible.

"Speechflesh" -- 36 lines, $15 SOLD
From the prompt about feeding body and soul, I got the free-verse poem "Speechflesh," which lays out parallels between what we eat, what we believe, and how they affect us.

"Sundrops" -- 10 lines, $5
The prompt "lemon drops" led to the free-verse poem "Sundrops," which compares sunlight to lemons.

"This Bittersweet Weed" -- 74 lines, $37
From various prompts about the captivating effects of chocolate, I got the free-verse poem "This Bittersweet Weed." Aliens arrive on Earth and fall in love with chocolate. Then they start noticing its intoxicating effects, and break into arguments over what to do about that. Earth's future winds up resting in, shall we say, some rather unexpected hands.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
I just got my comp copy of Communities  #153 "Permaculture" Winter 2011, with my article "Permaculture on Low to No Budget."  There are actually a couple of my photographs included with the article, one of a butterfly and one of some coneflowers. 
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
I just got my comp copy of Communities  #153 "Permaculture" Winter 2011, with my article "Permaculture on Low to No Budget."  There are actually a couple of my photographs included with the article, one of a butterfly and one of some coneflowers. 
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
I just got my comp copy of Communities  #153 "Permaculture" Winter 2011, with my article "Permaculture on Low to No Budget."  There are actually a couple of my photographs included with the article, one of a butterfly and one of some coneflowers. 
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
I just got my comp copy of Communities  #153 "Permaculture" Winter 2011, with my article "Permaculture on Low to No Budget."  There are actually a couple of my photographs included with the article, one of a butterfly and one of some coneflowers. 
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
Read about fossil eyeballs and what they say about an ancient predator. 

Now imagine if it were bigger, on an alien planet, and coming right at you.  Eeee...!
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
Read about fossil eyeballs and what they say about an ancient predator. 

Now imagine if it were bigger, on an alien planet, and coming right at you.  Eeee...!
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
Read about fossil eyeballs and what they say about an ancient predator. 

Now imagine if it were bigger, on an alien planet, and coming right at you.  Eeee...!
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
Read about fossil eyeballs and what they say about an ancient predator. 

Now imagine if it were bigger, on an alien planet, and coming right at you.  Eeee...!
ysabetwordsmith: (Fiorenza)

This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by prompts from [livejournal.com profile] moonwolf1988, [livejournal.com profile] aldersprig, and a previous conversation with [livejournal.com profile] marina_bonomi about traditional Italian livestock and related customs.  It has been sponsored by [livejournal.com profile] marina_bonomi

I was intrigued to learn that in Italy, the equivalent of chicken soup is pigeon soup.  So when a prompt came in for the use of soup for healing, I immediately thought of that.  I managed to find a decent recipe for pigeon soup online, though bear in mind that ingredients would vary with local availability, custom, and -- if the cook is a competent herbalist -- the symptoms at hand.  And yes, even culinary herbs have a surprising amount of medicinal properties, so the ones in the poem do match up.  

ExpandRead more... )

ysabetwordsmith: (Fiorenza)

This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by prompts from [livejournal.com profile] moonwolf1988, [livejournal.com profile] aldersprig, and a previous conversation with [livejournal.com profile] marina_bonomi about traditional Italian livestock and related customs.  It has been sponsored by [livejournal.com profile] marina_bonomi

I was intrigued to learn that in Italy, the equivalent of chicken soup is pigeon soup.  So when a prompt came in for the use of soup for healing, I immediately thought of that.  I managed to find a decent recipe for pigeon soup online, though bear in mind that ingredients would vary with local availability, custom, and -- if the cook is a competent herbalist -- the symptoms at hand.  And yes, even culinary herbs have a surprising amount of medicinal properties, so the ones in the poem do match up.  

ExpandRead more... )

ysabetwordsmith: (Fiorenza)

This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by prompts from [livejournal.com profile] moonwolf1988, [livejournal.com profile] aldersprig, and a previous conversation with [livejournal.com profile] marina_bonomi about traditional Italian livestock and related customs.  It has been sponsored by [livejournal.com profile] marina_bonomi

I was intrigued to learn that in Italy, the equivalent of chicken soup is pigeon soup.  So when a prompt came in for the use of soup for healing, I immediately thought of that.  I managed to find a decent recipe for pigeon soup online, though bear in mind that ingredients would vary with local availability, custom, and -- if the cook is a competent herbalist -- the symptoms at hand.  And yes, even culinary herbs have a surprising amount of medicinal properties, so the ones in the poem do match up.  

ExpandRead more... )

ysabetwordsmith: (Fiorenza)

This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by prompts from [livejournal.com profile] moonwolf1988, [livejournal.com profile] aldersprig, and a previous conversation with [livejournal.com profile] marina_bonomi about traditional Italian livestock and related customs.  It has been sponsored by [livejournal.com profile] marina_bonomi

I was intrigued to learn that in Italy, the equivalent of chicken soup is pigeon soup.  So when a prompt came in for the use of soup for healing, I immediately thought of that.  I managed to find a decent recipe for pigeon soup online, though bear in mind that ingredients would vary with local availability, custom, and -- if the cook is a competent herbalist -- the symptoms at hand.  And yes, even culinary herbs have a surprising amount of medicinal properties, so the ones in the poem do match up.  

ExpandRead more... )

ysabetwordsmith: (monster house)
I've added another verse to "Beggars' Night" courtesy of [livejournal.com profile] rix_scaedu. You can unlock more verses by linking to a specific poem or to the unsold poetry list.
ysabetwordsmith: (monster house)
I've added another verse to "Beggars' Night" courtesy of [livejournal.com profile] rix_scaedu. You can unlock more verses by linking to a specific poem or to the unsold poetry list.
ysabetwordsmith: (monster house)
I've added another verse to "Beggars' Night" courtesy of [livejournal.com profile] rix_scaedu. You can unlock more verses by linking to a specific poem or to the unsold poetry list.
ysabetwordsmith: (monster house)
I've added another verse to "Beggars' Night" courtesy of [livejournal.com profile] rix_scaedu. You can unlock more verses by linking to a specific poem or to the unsold poetry list.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
For no particular reason, today I was looking at the LiveJournal userhead and noticed that its face is pale in color.  There's a strong tendency to make the default of a stylized human look vaguely European in coloring.  I find that annoying.  LiveJournal does get partial credit for having customizable userheads available, but those cost money.  So if you're some other color than peach and want a representative userhead, you have to pay for that.

I'd like to see a company run by brown people put out all their standard stuff in brown, and see how many fair-skinned people bitch.

On the bright side, some stuff online is really flexible.  When I made my Yahoo avatar, which I use for userpics on Facebook and elsewhere, I think there were at least five or six different skin tones to choose from, plus various shapes of face and eyes.  Body types, not so much.  Hair colors and styles out the wazoo.  They even had a few options for disabled folks.  So it's possible to make a rather close match by combining the right features.  I liked that.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
For no particular reason, today I was looking at the LiveJournal userhead and noticed that its face is pale in color.  There's a strong tendency to make the default of a stylized human look vaguely European in coloring.  I find that annoying.  LiveJournal does get partial credit for having customizable userheads available, but those cost money.  So if you're some other color than peach and want a representative userhead, you have to pay for that.

I'd like to see a company run by brown people put out all their standard stuff in brown, and see how many fair-skinned people bitch.

On the bright side, some stuff online is really flexible.  When I made my Yahoo avatar, which I use for userpics on Facebook and elsewhere, I think there were at least five or six different skin tones to choose from, plus various shapes of face and eyes.  Body types, not so much.  Hair colors and styles out the wazoo.  They even had a few options for disabled folks.  So it's possible to make a rather close match by combining the right features.  I liked that.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
For no particular reason, today I was looking at the LiveJournal userhead and noticed that its face is pale in color.  There's a strong tendency to make the default of a stylized human look vaguely European in coloring.  I find that annoying.  LiveJournal does get partial credit for having customizable userheads available, but those cost money.  So if you're some other color than peach and want a representative userhead, you have to pay for that.

I'd like to see a company run by brown people put out all their standard stuff in brown, and see how many fair-skinned people bitch.

On the bright side, some stuff online is really flexible.  When I made my Yahoo avatar, which I use for userpics on Facebook and elsewhere, I think there were at least five or six different skin tones to choose from, plus various shapes of face and eyes.  Body types, not so much.  Hair colors and styles out the wazoo.  They even had a few options for disabled folks.  So it's possible to make a rather close match by combining the right features.  I liked that.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
For no particular reason, today I was looking at the LiveJournal userhead and noticed that its face is pale in color.  There's a strong tendency to make the default of a stylized human look vaguely European in coloring.  I find that annoying.  LiveJournal does get partial credit for having customizable userheads available, but those cost money.  So if you're some other color than peach and want a representative userhead, you have to pay for that.

I'd like to see a company run by brown people put out all their standard stuff in brown, and see how many fair-skinned people bitch.

On the bright side, some stuff online is really flexible.  When I made my Yahoo avatar, which I use for userpics on Facebook and elsewhere, I think there were at least five or six different skin tones to choose from, plus various shapes of face and eyes.  Body types, not so much.  Hair colors and styles out the wazoo.  They even had a few options for disabled folks.  So it's possible to make a rather close match by combining the right features.  I liked that.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from [livejournal.com profile] idhren24.  It was sponsored by [livejournal.com profile] the_vulture


The Chocolate Goddess


Her skin is the color of cocoa,
smooth and sleek and sweet.
She sees herself
in the sumptuous curves
of Yemaya and Oshun,
in the rippling limbs
of Parvati and Lakshmi,
in the dark wild curls
of Aphrodite and Artemis.

When she dances,
her flashing feet span the continents.
When the runs,
her powerful legs pound
against the pavement,
steady as a beating drum.

She believes in
all things in moderation,
including moderation --
for her body is her temple
and her goddesses
love both exertion and indulgence.

She dances, she runs,
and her heart soars heavenward.
She breaks apart the chocolate goddess
on her altar and it melts in her mouth,
the sweet dark milk of paradise.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from [livejournal.com profile] idhren24.  It was sponsored by [livejournal.com profile] the_vulture


The Chocolate Goddess


Her skin is the color of cocoa,
smooth and sleek and sweet.
She sees herself
in the sumptuous curves
of Yemaya and Oshun,
in the rippling limbs
of Parvati and Lakshmi,
in the dark wild curls
of Aphrodite and Artemis.

When she dances,
her flashing feet span the continents.
When the runs,
her powerful legs pound
against the pavement,
steady as a beating drum.

She believes in
all things in moderation,
including moderation --
for her body is her temple
and her goddesses
love both exertion and indulgence.

She dances, she runs,
and her heart soars heavenward.
She breaks apart the chocolate goddess
on her altar and it melts in her mouth,
the sweet dark milk of paradise.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from [livejournal.com profile] idhren24.  It was sponsored by [livejournal.com profile] the_vulture


The Chocolate Goddess


Her skin is the color of cocoa,
smooth and sleek and sweet.
She sees herself
in the sumptuous curves
of Yemaya and Oshun,
in the rippling limbs
of Parvati and Lakshmi,
in the dark wild curls
of Aphrodite and Artemis.

When she dances,
her flashing feet span the continents.
When the runs,
her powerful legs pound
against the pavement,
steady as a beating drum.

She believes in
all things in moderation,
including moderation --
for her body is her temple
and her goddesses
love both exertion and indulgence.

She dances, she runs,
and her heart soars heavenward.
She breaks apart the chocolate goddess
on her altar and it melts in her mouth,
the sweet dark milk of paradise.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from [livejournal.com profile] idhren24.  It was sponsored by [livejournal.com profile] the_vulture


The Chocolate Goddess


Her skin is the color of cocoa,
smooth and sleek and sweet.
She sees herself
in the sumptuous curves
of Yemaya and Oshun,
in the rippling limbs
of Parvati and Lakshmi,
in the dark wild curls
of Aphrodite and Artemis.

When she dances,
her flashing feet span the continents.
When the runs,
her powerful legs pound
against the pavement,
steady as a beating drum.

She believes in
all things in moderation,
including moderation --
for her body is her temple
and her goddesses
love both exertion and indulgence.

She dances, she runs,
and her heart soars heavenward.
She breaks apart the chocolate goddess
on her altar and it melts in her mouth,
the sweet dark milk of paradise.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from Stephen Laird and sponsored by Anthony Barrette.


Delicious Differences


Chocolate is
decisively biaffectionate.

It combines lusciously
with the queen of candy, coconut,
sweet brown sheath
over smooth creamy center,
so mouthwatering and so mellow.

It blends scrumptiously
with the king of candy, peanut,
little chunks of savory crunch
surrounded by sleek slabs,
such invigorating contrast.

Chocolate and coconut,
or coconut flakes,
or coco butter;
chocolate and peanut,
or peanut butter,
or chocolate chips in peanut cookies;

these two combinations
are equally sublime
even though they are nothing alike.

If you were wondering
how that sort of attraction could work
elsewhere in life,
that's how:

it is nothing more nor less
than an appreciation of
delicious differences.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from Stephen Laird and sponsored by Anthony Barrette.


Delicious Differences


Chocolate is
decisively biaffectionate.

It combines lusciously
with the queen of candy, coconut,
sweet brown sheath
over smooth creamy center,
so mouthwatering and so mellow.

It blends scrumptiously
with the king of candy, peanut,
little chunks of savory crunch
surrounded by sleek slabs,
such invigorating contrast.

Chocolate and coconut,
or coconut flakes,
or coco butter;
chocolate and peanut,
or peanut butter,
or chocolate chips in peanut cookies;

these two combinations
are equally sublime
even though they are nothing alike.

If you were wondering
how that sort of attraction could work
elsewhere in life,
that's how:

it is nothing more nor less
than an appreciation of
delicious differences.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from Stephen Laird and sponsored by Anthony Barrette.


Delicious Differences


Chocolate is
decisively biaffectionate.

It combines lusciously
with the queen of candy, coconut,
sweet brown sheath
over smooth creamy center,
so mouthwatering and so mellow.

It blends scrumptiously
with the king of candy, peanut,
little chunks of savory crunch
surrounded by sleek slabs,
such invigorating contrast.

Chocolate and coconut,
or coconut flakes,
or coco butter;
chocolate and peanut,
or peanut butter,
or chocolate chips in peanut cookies;

these two combinations
are equally sublime
even though they are nothing alike.

If you were wondering
how that sort of attraction could work
elsewhere in life,
that's how:

it is nothing more nor less
than an appreciation of
delicious differences.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from Stephen Laird and sponsored by Anthony Barrette.


Delicious Differences


Chocolate is
decisively biaffectionate.

It combines lusciously
with the queen of candy, coconut,
sweet brown sheath
over smooth creamy center,
so mouthwatering and so mellow.

It blends scrumptiously
with the king of candy, peanut,
little chunks of savory crunch
surrounded by sleek slabs,
such invigorating contrast.

Chocolate and coconut,
or coconut flakes,
or coco butter;
chocolate and peanut,
or peanut butter,
or chocolate chips in peanut cookies;

these two combinations
are equally sublime
even though they are nothing alike.

If you were wondering
how that sort of attraction could work
elsewhere in life,
that's how:

it is nothing more nor less
than an appreciation of
delicious differences.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a comment from [livejournal.com profile] aldersprig and sponsored by Anthony Barrette.


Fruitless


One day she was sitting
in an ice cream parlour
with her fiancé,
her future laid out before her
like a dessert buffet.

She lifted the cherry
from the top of her chocolate sundae,
all dripping with whipped cream,
and offered it to him.

He refused.

In that moment she knew
that her engagement would bear no fruit,
that their love was slowly shriveling
like the stem of a picked cherry,

and it left a bitterness in her mouth
as sharp as the aftertaste of saccharine.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a comment from [livejournal.com profile] aldersprig and sponsored by Anthony Barrette.


Fruitless


One day she was sitting
in an ice cream parlour
with her fiancé,
her future laid out before her
like a dessert buffet.

She lifted the cherry
from the top of her chocolate sundae,
all dripping with whipped cream,
and offered it to him.

He refused.

In that moment she knew
that her engagement would bear no fruit,
that their love was slowly shriveling
like the stem of a picked cherry,

and it left a bitterness in her mouth
as sharp as the aftertaste of saccharine.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a comment from [livejournal.com profile] aldersprig and sponsored by Anthony Barrette.


Fruitless


One day she was sitting
in an ice cream parlour
with her fiancé,
her future laid out before her
like a dessert buffet.

She lifted the cherry
from the top of her chocolate sundae,
all dripping with whipped cream,
and offered it to him.

He refused.

In that moment she knew
that her engagement would bear no fruit,
that their love was slowly shriveling
like the stem of a picked cherry,

and it left a bitterness in her mouth
as sharp as the aftertaste of saccharine.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a comment from [livejournal.com profile] aldersprig and sponsored by Anthony Barrette.


Fruitless


One day she was sitting
in an ice cream parlour
with her fiancé,
her future laid out before her
like a dessert buffet.

She lifted the cherry
from the top of her chocolate sundae,
all dripping with whipped cream,
and offered it to him.

He refused.

In that moment she knew
that her engagement would bear no fruit,
that their love was slowly shriveling
like the stem of a picked cherry,

and it left a bitterness in her mouth
as sharp as the aftertaste of saccharine.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came from the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a comment from [livejournal.com profile] aldersprig -- actually part of a discussion on the challenges of finding food that is genuinely edible, a complaint voiced by several audience members.  It has been sponsored by Anthony Barrette.  By the way, if you're really having this problem and want this solution, winter is a great time to search for a Community Supported Agriculture project near you; this is their signup season.


A Shopper's Problem


I go to the grocery and sigh;
this problem gets worse every week.
The products are piled up high
but still I can't find what I seek.

Upon every carton and can
in labels and garbles galore
are substances not known to man --
and they've taken over the store.

I want foods that I recognize,
ingredients I can pronounce,
not gunk that will water my eyes
and chemicals canned by the ounce.

I need things that once were alive,
that I could find growing outside;
I'm sure that I couldn't survive
on frankenfoods dished up with pride.

I hardly know what I could eat
or what's sure to do me some harm --
so screw it!  I'll vote with my feet
and shop for my food at a farm.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came from the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a comment from [livejournal.com profile] aldersprig -- actually part of a discussion on the challenges of finding food that is genuinely edible, a complaint voiced by several audience members.  It has been sponsored by Anthony Barrette.  By the way, if you're really having this problem and want this solution, winter is a great time to search for a Community Supported Agriculture project near you; this is their signup season.


A Shopper's Problem


I go to the grocery and sigh;
this problem gets worse every week.
The products are piled up high
but still I can't find what I seek.

Upon every carton and can
in labels and garbles galore
are substances not known to man --
and they've taken over the store.

I want foods that I recognize,
ingredients I can pronounce,
not gunk that will water my eyes
and chemicals canned by the ounce.

I need things that once were alive,
that I could find growing outside;
I'm sure that I couldn't survive
on frankenfoods dished up with pride.

I hardly know what I could eat
or what's sure to do me some harm --
so screw it!  I'll vote with my feet
and shop for my food at a farm.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came from the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a comment from [livejournal.com profile] aldersprig -- actually part of a discussion on the challenges of finding food that is genuinely edible, a complaint voiced by several audience members.  It has been sponsored by Anthony Barrette.  By the way, if you're really having this problem and want this solution, winter is a great time to search for a Community Supported Agriculture project near you; this is their signup season.


A Shopper's Problem


I go to the grocery and sigh;
this problem gets worse every week.
The products are piled up high
but still I can't find what I seek.

Upon every carton and can
in labels and garbles galore
are substances not known to man --
and they've taken over the store.

I want foods that I recognize,
ingredients I can pronounce,
not gunk that will water my eyes
and chemicals canned by the ounce.

I need things that once were alive,
that I could find growing outside;
I'm sure that I couldn't survive
on frankenfoods dished up with pride.

I hardly know what I could eat
or what's sure to do me some harm --
so screw it!  I'll vote with my feet
and shop for my food at a farm.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came from the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a comment from [livejournal.com profile] aldersprig -- actually part of a discussion on the challenges of finding food that is genuinely edible, a complaint voiced by several audience members.  It has been sponsored by Anthony Barrette.  By the way, if you're really having this problem and want this solution, winter is a great time to search for a Community Supported Agriculture project near you; this is their signup season.


A Shopper's Problem


I go to the grocery and sigh;
this problem gets worse every week.
The products are piled up high
but still I can't find what I seek.

Upon every carton and can
in labels and garbles galore
are substances not known to man --
and they've taken over the store.

I want foods that I recognize,
ingredients I can pronounce,
not gunk that will water my eyes
and chemicals canned by the ounce.

I need things that once were alive,
that I could find growing outside;
I'm sure that I couldn't survive
on frankenfoods dished up with pride.

I hardly know what I could eat
or what's sure to do me some harm --
so screw it!  I'll vote with my feet
and shop for my food at a farm.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
This poem came from the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from [livejournal.com profile] idhren24. It was sponsored by Shirley Barrette. "Pat's Place" is based on the apocryphal television show Schrodinger's Heroes. Visit the menu page for more about that project.


Pat's Place



Alex and Ash have their offices,
and Bailey has his workshop,
but the kitchen is Pat's place.

It's a little piece of home
amidst all the lab-white
and industrial-stainless-steel
of the Teferact compound,
an island of warm brown wood
and terra-cotta tiles.

He can cook up wonders here,
though when he's not saving the world,
he's as likely to be out roaming
the Waxahachie farmer's market
in search of fresh-picked peppers
and bunches of cilantro.

The other members of the team
gravitate to the purring coffee machine
and Pat sweeps them off their feet
into the intricate dance of the kitchen,
entices them into dicing vegetables,
slicing fruit, kneading bread.

When things have gone horribly wrong
and the mess has been scraped up
and the fires are finally out,
there will be homemade cookies
and cold milk from the dairy down the road.

No matter how many times the universe
collapses on itself like a badly folded roadmap,
everyone still needs to eat,
and if anyone were to look around
this little country kitchen with scribbles on the fridge
and ask Pat why he does it,
when he could be out heroing all the time,
he would simply smile and say,

"This is what we're fighting for."
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
This poem came from the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from [livejournal.com profile] idhren24. It was sponsored by Shirley Barrette. "Pat's Place" is based on the apocryphal television show Schrodinger's Heroes. Visit the menu page for more about that project.


Pat's Place



Alex and Ash have their offices,
and Bailey has his workshop,
but the kitchen is Pat's place.

It's a little piece of home
amidst all the lab-white
and industrial-stainless-steel
of the Teferact compound,
an island of warm brown wood
and terra-cotta tiles.

He can cook up wonders here,
though when he's not saving the world,
he's as likely to be out roaming
the Waxahachie farmer's market
in search of fresh-picked peppers
and bunches of cilantro.

The other members of the team
gravitate to the purring coffee machine
and Pat sweeps them off their feet
into the intricate dance of the kitchen,
entices them into dicing vegetables,
slicing fruit, kneading bread.

When things have gone horribly wrong
and the mess has been scraped up
and the fires are finally out,
there will be homemade cookies
and cold milk from the dairy down the road.

No matter how many times the universe
collapses on itself like a badly folded roadmap,
everyone still needs to eat,
and if anyone were to look around
this little country kitchen with scribbles on the fridge
and ask Pat why he does it,
when he could be out heroing all the time,
he would simply smile and say,

"This is what we're fighting for."
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
This poem came from the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from [livejournal.com profile] idhren24. It was sponsored by Shirley Barrette. "Pat's Place" is based on the apocryphal television show Schrodinger's Heroes. Visit the menu page for more about that project.


Pat's Place



Alex and Ash have their offices,
and Bailey has his workshop,
but the kitchen is Pat's place.

It's a little piece of home
amidst all the lab-white
and industrial-stainless-steel
of the Teferact compound,
an island of warm brown wood
and terra-cotta tiles.

He can cook up wonders here,
though when he's not saving the world,
he's as likely to be out roaming
the Waxahachie farmer's market
in search of fresh-picked peppers
and bunches of cilantro.

The other members of the team
gravitate to the purring coffee machine
and Pat sweeps them off their feet
into the intricate dance of the kitchen,
entices them into dicing vegetables,
slicing fruit, kneading bread.

When things have gone horribly wrong
and the mess has been scraped up
and the fires are finally out,
there will be homemade cookies
and cold milk from the dairy down the road.

No matter how many times the universe
collapses on itself like a badly folded roadmap,
everyone still needs to eat,
and if anyone were to look around
this little country kitchen with scribbles on the fridge
and ask Pat why he does it,
when he could be out heroing all the time,
he would simply smile and say,

"This is what we're fighting for."
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
This poem came from the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from [livejournal.com profile] idhren24. It was sponsored by Shirley Barrette. "Pat's Place" is based on the apocryphal television show Schrodinger's Heroes. Visit the menu page for more about that project.


Pat's Place



Alex and Ash have their offices,
and Bailey has his workshop,
but the kitchen is Pat's place.

It's a little piece of home
amidst all the lab-white
and industrial-stainless-steel
of the Teferact compound,
an island of warm brown wood
and terra-cotta tiles.

He can cook up wonders here,
though when he's not saving the world,
he's as likely to be out roaming
the Waxahachie farmer's market
in search of fresh-picked peppers
and bunches of cilantro.

The other members of the team
gravitate to the purring coffee machine
and Pat sweeps them off their feet
into the intricate dance of the kitchen,
entices them into dicing vegetables,
slicing fruit, kneading bread.

When things have gone horribly wrong
and the mess has been scraped up
and the fires are finally out,
there will be homemade cookies
and cold milk from the dairy down the road.

No matter how many times the universe
collapses on itself like a badly folded roadmap,
everyone still needs to eat,
and if anyone were to look around
this little country kitchen with scribbles on the fridge
and ask Pat why he does it,
when he could be out heroing all the time,
he would simply smile and say,

"This is what we're fighting for."
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from [livejournal.com profile] siege and sponsored by Shirley Barrette.  Take a close look at the beginning of the poem: the title is a tongue-twister, which is something I very rarely use since poetry usually needs to be easily pronounced.  The first verse introduces the theme, and you can see why I've chosen to embody that in the title.


Speechflesh


It is difficult to speak of these things,
the body and the spirit
and how to feed them.
The tongue wants to tangle
and the mind veer away
to easier topics.

Yet these are the very things
which sustain us:
we are what we eat
and what we believe,
and these two are
often nearer than we realize.

Learn to listen to your bones,
not just your heart and your mind.
There is more to being alive
than merely feeling and thinking.
Hush.  Be still.  Trust your body
to tell you what it needs.

Learn to listen with your soul,
not just your ears and your wishes.
There is more to being than humanity
and some part of you remembers this.
Hush.  Be still.  That which is divine
will unfold itself within you.

Seek that which truly nourishes,
for the life that went into the food
is all that will ever come out of it.
Seek that which really fulfills, for
spiritual junk food is no better for the soul
than empty calories are for the body.

Open yourself: beyond the noise
is an eternity of meaningful silences.
Hear what is real and what is true.
Speak what is difficult yet worthwhile.
Explore that which is flesh, which is spirit.
Choose consciously what you will become.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from [livejournal.com profile] siege and sponsored by Shirley Barrette.  Take a close look at the beginning of the poem: the title is a tongue-twister, which is something I very rarely use since poetry usually needs to be easily pronounced.  The first verse introduces the theme, and you can see why I've chosen to embody that in the title.


Speechflesh


It is difficult to speak of these things,
the body and the spirit
and how to feed them.
The tongue wants to tangle
and the mind veer away
to easier topics.

Yet these are the very things
which sustain us:
we are what we eat
and what we believe,
and these two are
often nearer than we realize.

Learn to listen to your bones,
not just your heart and your mind.
There is more to being alive
than merely feeling and thinking.
Hush.  Be still.  Trust your body
to tell you what it needs.

Learn to listen with your soul,
not just your ears and your wishes.
There is more to being than humanity
and some part of you remembers this.
Hush.  Be still.  That which is divine
will unfold itself within you.

Seek that which truly nourishes,
for the life that went into the food
is all that will ever come out of it.
Seek that which really fulfills, for
spiritual junk food is no better for the soul
than empty calories are for the body.

Open yourself: beyond the noise
is an eternity of meaningful silences.
Hear what is real and what is true.
Speak what is difficult yet worthwhile.
Explore that which is flesh, which is spirit.
Choose consciously what you will become.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from [livejournal.com profile] siege and sponsored by Shirley Barrette.  Take a close look at the beginning of the poem: the title is a tongue-twister, which is something I very rarely use since poetry usually needs to be easily pronounced.  The first verse introduces the theme, and you can see why I've chosen to embody that in the title.


Speechflesh


It is difficult to speak of these things,
the body and the spirit
and how to feed them.
The tongue wants to tangle
and the mind veer away
to easier topics.

Yet these are the very things
which sustain us:
we are what we eat
and what we believe,
and these two are
often nearer than we realize.

Learn to listen to your bones,
not just your heart and your mind.
There is more to being alive
than merely feeling and thinking.
Hush.  Be still.  Trust your body
to tell you what it needs.

Learn to listen with your soul,
not just your ears and your wishes.
There is more to being than humanity
and some part of you remembers this.
Hush.  Be still.  That which is divine
will unfold itself within you.

Seek that which truly nourishes,
for the life that went into the food
is all that will ever come out of it.
Seek that which really fulfills, for
spiritual junk food is no better for the soul
than empty calories are for the body.

Open yourself: beyond the noise
is an eternity of meaningful silences.
Hear what is real and what is true.
Speak what is difficult yet worthwhile.
Explore that which is flesh, which is spirit.
Choose consciously what you will become.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
This poem came out of the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from [livejournal.com profile] siege and sponsored by Shirley Barrette.  Take a close look at the beginning of the poem: the title is a tongue-twister, which is something I very rarely use since poetry usually needs to be easily pronounced.  The first verse introduces the theme, and you can see why I've chosen to embody that in the title.


Speechflesh


It is difficult to speak of these things,
the body and the spirit
and how to feed them.
The tongue wants to tangle
and the mind veer away
to easier topics.

Yet these are the very things
which sustain us:
we are what we eat
and what we believe,
and these two are
often nearer than we realize.

Learn to listen to your bones,
not just your heart and your mind.
There is more to being alive
than merely feeling and thinking.
Hush.  Be still.  Trust your body
to tell you what it needs.

Learn to listen with your soul,
not just your ears and your wishes.
There is more to being than humanity
and some part of you remembers this.
Hush.  Be still.  That which is divine
will unfold itself within you.

Seek that which truly nourishes,
for the life that went into the food
is all that will ever come out of it.
Seek that which really fulfills, for
spiritual junk food is no better for the soul
than empty calories are for the body.

Open yourself: beyond the noise
is an eternity of meaningful silences.
Hear what is real and what is true.
Speak what is difficult yet worthwhile.
Explore that which is flesh, which is spirit.
Choose consciously what you will become.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came from the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from [livejournal.com profile] wyld_dandelyon.  It was sponsored by Shirley Barrette. 

Here I'm exhibiting one of my odd quirks: I feel that spelling influences the subtle connotations of some words.  I used the British spelling of "savour" and "flavour" in this poem, because I feel the extra "u" gives the words more breadth and weight and complexity.  Also, notice that one verse focuses on the scientific process of taste, using big fancy chemical words in a culinary context with a positive connotation -- rather than the negative connotation of food additives as in some other poems from this month's session.  Later lines reinforce the idea that kitchen chemistry can be a cool thing.  So poetry is good for exploring different aspects of an idea.

ExpandRead more... )

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came from the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from [livejournal.com profile] wyld_dandelyon.  It was sponsored by Shirley Barrette. 

Here I'm exhibiting one of my odd quirks: I feel that spelling influences the subtle connotations of some words.  I used the British spelling of "savour" and "flavour" in this poem, because I feel the extra "u" gives the words more breadth and weight and complexity.  Also, notice that one verse focuses on the scientific process of taste, using big fancy chemical words in a culinary context with a positive connotation -- rather than the negative connotation of food additives as in some other poems from this month's session.  Later lines reinforce the idea that kitchen chemistry can be a cool thing.  So poetry is good for exploring different aspects of an idea.

ExpandRead more... )

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came from the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from [livejournal.com profile] wyld_dandelyon.  It was sponsored by Shirley Barrette. 

Here I'm exhibiting one of my odd quirks: I feel that spelling influences the subtle connotations of some words.  I used the British spelling of "savour" and "flavour" in this poem, because I feel the extra "u" gives the words more breadth and weight and complexity.  Also, notice that one verse focuses on the scientific process of taste, using big fancy chemical words in a culinary context with a positive connotation -- rather than the negative connotation of food additives as in some other poems from this month's session.  Later lines reinforce the idea that kitchen chemistry can be a cool thing.  So poetry is good for exploring different aspects of an idea.

ExpandRead more... )

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)

This poem came from the December 6, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from [livejournal.com profile] wyld_dandelyon.  It was sponsored by Shirley Barrette. 

Here I'm exhibiting one of my odd quirks: I feel that spelling influences the subtle connotations of some words.  I used the British spelling of "savour" and "flavour" in this poem, because I feel the extra "u" gives the words more breadth and weight and complexity.  Also, notice that one verse focuses on the scientific process of taste, using big fancy chemical words in a culinary context with a positive connotation -- rather than the negative connotation of food additives as in some other poems from this month's session.  Later lines reinforce the idea that kitchen chemistry can be a cool thing.  So poetry is good for exploring different aspects of an idea.

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ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
ysabetwordsmith

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