An old scribble


Lipstick

         for Carol and Neva

She lines her lips with gloss,
coral lambdas leaning towards her lady
lover all these forty years.
Long years
of loneliness and isolation wrought with tears
from being bruised by those who tried to blame her,
frame her with those cold harsh names:
dyke, queer.
Fear aimed to shame two women,
two who hugged each other through the night,
not just by day.

Her lover's lips are moist and eager.
Her coral lips respond.

© Kåre Enga 2007 [163.547]

Edited slightly again. Ratable/reviewable at: "Lipstick" 

Re-sketching it out:

This poem was based on Carol's comment that she was a lipstick lesbian. She and Neva had been together over 40 years when I wrote it. Times had changed, but they were still careful. Neva had dementia and at 83 her health was failing. They were also very poor and options were few.

Neva's obituary: http://www2.ljworld.com/obits/2009/dec/30/neva-blair/

Neva was very sweet. Carol? Crusty! But... very protective of Neva.This picture used for her obit shows her radiance:



I spoke to Carol today. Their song, kd lang's cover of "The air that I breathe":



Me and Mine:

Café Allegro has been around awhile in the University District of Seattle, Washington. Tucked behind a bookstore in an alleyway, it is well-known and crowded.

I was surprised though when someone walked up to me and said they knew me. Yep. The Missoula connection! So chatted with Margi (hard g) and then with Cornelia and Daniella.

Seattle was dreary, but I did get to see Mt. Ranier. And the day was mild and not drippy. Took photos of campus, a covered scooter I'd love to own, University Avenue and flowers... yes, pansies and camellias were in bloom. Rain comes in tonight.

Well, that was yesterday. Today, Cynthia dragged me out to the Hitching Post Cafe which has very good biscuits-and-gravy and moist ab-fab cornbread. Tomorrow the owners are off to Brasilia, Brasil. In the mean time Cynthia beat me in Scrabble in a close game.

Tomorrow? I dunno. Need to check bus schedules, make phone calls, decide... I want to go to California.

Washington: 46º and damp outside Monroe at 5 p.m.

41 degrees and moonlit in Monroe at 8 p.m.

Western Washington is green in ways that Montana isn't. The ferns, the moss, even the grass. Pines we have in both places.

Quiet day. My sister went camping with her husband and granddaughter to Forks... think "Twilight".

I was left with the chickens and the dogs.

Cynthia did come over and drag me into town. We'll go to Seattle tomorrow possibly.

Took notes; took photos; visited with family. Bobby bought me a Greek coffee and I already had my crab cakes and krumkake.

Anniversary of the tsunami, December 26, 2004.

Article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/08599194998200 My poem: "Speak soft my name"  Speak soft my name Whisper in a hush: … tsu … tsu … tsu … My first name‘s but a breath, salty, ancient, from the depths, exhaled from what‘s been built up in the core, where once Earth bore what She could not contain forever. In a gasp, … na … na … na … my middle name‘s released: upward to the sky, inward in a giant gulp, onward in a race to greet the shore. In awe, repeat what you fear most! … me … me … me … As unaware you wait my awesome thrust, my curve that curls at sandy shore, my wave that skyward soars magnificent, my grab that drags all to my bosom in the end. So few the hours that I spend, but ... Oh, what moments I have lived! I’ve cleansed the Earth, returning all to muddy clay. Whisper soft my name: tsu … na … mi. Say a little prayer: tsu … na … mi. Within my watery grave: tsu … na … mi. Sleep. My thirst is quenched. © Kåre Enga 2 januar 2005. Video (not for the faint of heart):

It's a sin to kill a mockingbird... I'm at Atticus in downtown Spokane. Sunny, 28º. Got a coffee. Needed one. I only got 4 hours rest last night; walked ½ hour to the bus station; got there at 7:45 a.m. I am so not a morning person.

I get this urge to clean when I go away. Okay... so I didn't vacuum! My neighbor Lavinia gave me a wake-up call as she had to be up for work anyway. So kind. I made sure Sophie got comfortable on my bed before I left. She likes it better there than the chair; I'm sure.

I took pictures of Idaho... Could post, but transferring pics takes effort and time. Maybe tomorrow.

Anyhoo... bus leaves at 4 p.m. and I get to my sister's at 9:20. Shoot me now! "Shoot all the blue jays you want... but... it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."

COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU!

Me.

Yep. I bought a Discovery Pass from Greyhound. It's good from December 26th - February 24th.

I hear there's a party in Chi-town on Feb. 20th.

$499... ouchy... But:

Missoula-Monroe WA (where my sister nests) $106 RT (21 days in advance) or $198 RT (last minute)
Missoula-Des Moines IA (where Mandy runs around) $194-$374
Missoula-Rochester MN (where Susan and Thomas reside) $176-$338
Missoula-Tulsa OK (ah... Oklahoma...) $214-$412

Well one can see how 3 trips (WA-IA/MN-OK) would cost $514 to $984. And would be even more expensive if I broke the trip into parts.

By-the-way... Bozeman is on the way east, Teresa! Get of the bus at 2:55 p.m. and hop back on at 8:35 p.m. Bismarck is doable going west, Andra: arrive at 5 a.m. and leave at 5 p.m. Makes for long days, but hey! Western South Dakota is on the routes to many places, SummerLyn, but only has one bus each direction daily , still...

Some cities are hubs, like Denver, Kansas City, Oakland (I think I figured out something for getting to Eureka, Anabel). Some routes are real easy, like Emporia-DesMoines and Lawrence-Tulsa and... well, you get the gist. I could be on the road again. Shoot me now!

My first trip to Missoula (ever) was a get off the bus at 8 a.m. and back on 9 p.m. 13 hours to look at the mountains, stop in at the market, go to a football game. It was September 22, 2007. I moved here in July, 2008.

Lo, how a rose ere blooming:



Thou:

I wrote to Come Fly with Me--Kiter who seemed a bit stressed:

Well, if I were visiting, I'd suggest we go take a walk and see what we could see... after-all the wintry landscape in Montana is all snowy mountains and not much else. Any wildlife? We have very few birds here and the big animals avoid the city unless it is bitter and they are desperate. Any cardinals? None here.

Then I'd suggest we go back and make cookies (or not... eating them will do just fine ) I just had a cup of coffee, but I wouldn't mind some tea... if just for the aroma. I could bring some Evening in Missoula (wonderful mix!) or the bergamot of Earl Grey will do. Then again, I'm a tad stressed, although after the walk I might not be... have any chamomile?

And we could play rummy or gin... but I warn you... I take no prisoners!

I miss sitting at friend's kitchen tables... sipping something, playing something, talking about something and making memories.

Me and Mine:

Wednesday: Pork for lunch, sushi for din-din and ramen noodles for midnight snack... ack.

Gilliam showed me how close coffee shops are to the Amtrak/Greyhound Station in Spokane. Very doable for a 4 hour layover.

Thursday: Managed to buy bus ticket, package off to friend. Bought julekake and stollen to take to my sister's.

Went to a meeting that wasn't; so, I called my sister to warn her I'm coming (leave 8 a.m. arrive 9:20 p.m.); got call from Robin in Kansas (he called me by "mistake" ).

Friday: I'm thinking... cabbage and sausage today. I'll need to drink up the milk and check the fridge. I have lots of cleaning to do as well.

Montana: 19º and sunshine in downtown Missoula at noon.

I'm changing my blog around soon. Blogville has changed and fewer people are actually reading and commenting. Back in the day, Partyof5 or Sheila or Tor would have an entry with 30 comments. Our dear goofball Zach can only muster 10 and he's funny! Me? I'm not funny, so don't ask...

So, I may go back to multiple blogs and divide my writing up by theme as I can't just write about me and I have too many scattered interests. It may be easier for me later to find rants versus nature walks versus poems versus mundane living. The eclectic blog approach is not working, so time to try something else. One idea is to go off-site with certain types of blog entries. I may even have to go the way of FaceBook... ouch.

These blogs then would be housed here, open for perusal here, but copy-pasted elsewhere as well. One blog or folder may serve as a portal to all the other blogs. I tried it before with no success, but I'm desperate. Any thoughts?

Other writers say...

Langston Hughes:



Thou:

Entries worth reading:

Special Kay "The ghost of Christmas past" 
Sliding Otter "Conversations with Calliope- Peace on Earth" 

Also, Mavis Moog interview of Ken Rhodes who died this week:

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Me and Mine:

Nothing to report. When the highlight of the day is eating ei julekake med ein kaffi there's nothing to report. Eg liker julekake.

No word yet as to when I hit the road... but it better be soon!

Montana: 33º and light snow in downtown Missoula at midnight.

57,823
 

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I blogged 49 days straight... November was a "blue" month. Everyone should have one of those! May I emphasize ONE?

Anyhoo... I'll be missing a few days this winter due to travel, life and boredom. I may go back to rotating blogs or using this blog to link. Blogville is Dullsville at the moment and my energy needs to go elsewhere.

Which means I'll still be here far-too-much!

Oh... and as for travel... if I am in your neck-of-the-woods who wants to go for lunch or coffee? In other words... who wants my number!

Other writers say...

Steven Herrick reads a children's poem:



Thou:

Comment to Tom Dirsa : But Americans don't like "blood, sweat, and tears". Unless that's the new twinkly Twilight song sung by twinkie Brittany Spears.

Spoke to Mandy last night. We all need a vacation.

Scarlett reports that Nada is on a cruise... wish I were.

Me and Mine:

"I saw mommy spanking Santa Claus" was the name of the cabaret I went to at the Crystal Saturday night. It included traditional songs and parodies like "Ho, ho, fucking ho!" sung by an elf, a reindeer and Mrs. Claus... none of them amused by you-know-who. The show was wonderful and lasted almost 2 hours. Best $7 I've spent in a long time. These young folks have edgy talent; Cameron has an incredible melts-like-butter voice.

Other than that... I've washed linens and blankets. I also bought bubblebath, scented soap, bath oils as presents. I even uncovered my cluttered couch! Not an overly productive weekend, but...

Still .

Montana: 36º and light grey in downtown Missoula at 1 p.m. with a stray ray of sunshine or two.

Today's scribble

Becoming two

As a bird builds a nest: ice clings to plum; cold blossoms where he can no longer keep you locked within his heart, must let your name leave the womb of his mouth, a newborn calf's tongue rasping salt off raw wounds, calm brown eyes becoming pools he dares not fall into... again. What a fool! To think he could keep you where he needs you the most, a pacemaker without which his pen pumps fresh cow dung, new compost.

         one melody
         becoming two:
         robin, worm

© Kåre Enga [166.340] 2009-12-18

Sketching it out:

I have no clue! There was a melody in my mind at the time, I suppose.

Other writers say...

SpokenVerse has done quite a few recordings of poets. Two of his readings:

Delmore Schwartz' poem "The Heavy Bear Who Goes With Me":



SpokenVerse reads Robert Lowell's "Skunk Hour":




Thou:

Being ill is one thing, not knowing what it is is worse. But, at least AL sounds a tad better . Maybe she's well enough I can tease her about the Anna's thins I bought... Originally from Stockholm, the one's I buy come from Alberta. Is there a conspiracy? Perhaps Tom Dirsa knows!

Me and Mine:

The rest of the story...

As she left, Penelope's green eyes begged me to pet her. Her soft mew said now would be a good time. That was after I had soaked in the tub after having cooked pork short ribs and beans, blowing bubbles the fragrance of rosemary and sage, relaxing while scrubbing my pants with a bar of Fels Naphtha.

She had fled from Apartment 4, snuck in my door, left her calling card on the bed. Ah... Penelope... next time I'll search before bathing.

"The Chrysanthemum and The Sword", Ruth Benedict's 1946 book on Japanese culture. Wonderful cultural insight.

Montana: 29º and grey in downtown Missoula at 10 a.m.

Villanova 23 - 21 Montana

Argh... foiled again.

I went to the Wilma where there were a few hundred fans. There was much to cheer about... except most of the second half... Szczur was awesome for Nova as expected. Oh well...

A gripe:

The headline Sports links at Yahoo on game day (my comment):

* FSU coach Fisher to earn $1.8M per year (money talks)
* Oklahoma DT McCoy to enter NFL draft (do I care?)
* Kelly retains Irish assistant Alford (this is news?)
* ECU lands ex-Boston College QB Davis (yawn)
* Okla. St.'s Robinson trying to heal fast (okay... but do they play today?)
* Report: Fiesta contributions suspect (more drama over money)
* Illinois names Koenning def. coordinator (yawn)
* Heels QB Paulus headed to William & Mary (of interest next season to BCS fans but not as important as THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!)

NOT ONE MENTION THAT THERE WAS A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!

It's as if Brittany Spears banged her toe, Beyonce got a new hairdo and oh ...by-the-way... the health care bill passed... ...and Nigeria just invaded Brazil, but no sweat...

Mind you, football is not that important (surely not as important as which Twilight star is banging who) but within the scope of the game when the drama surrounding the game (money, injuries, personnel merry-go-round) is more important than the actual game... something is wrong.

Makes me wonder whether the national, world, or local links are of any value either.

Enough!

I'll put a normal entry in on Sunday and tell you all about Penelope letting herself in and curling up on my bed while I was taking a bath... after Matt a couple weeks ago...

Montana: sad.