MM's IBPC Selections for July Competition, No Poll Required Options

[Psyche]

Hi Lori, hi All!

I would like to nom Marc's poem, "A Mall in Bangkok" for the July IBPC. After careful reading and consideration, I've come to appreciate this piece highly. A style not usual here at MM, more's the pity!

Hugs to all, & best wishes to you Steve, I read about your troubles & joys but haven't answered due to various problems. I admire your optimistic attitude in the midst of your anger! Congrats!

Syl***


At a Mall in Bangkok, based on Allen Ginsberg's A Supermarket in California by Marc-André Germain


What fancy I entertain of you tonight, Nan, for I rummaged through swarming sidewalks under rose and azure neons with a heartache, ever sentient, scanning the dim sum shops.
In my desolation, and shopping for memories, I investigated unfashionable malls, dreaming of your lamentations.
What mobile phones and what umbrellas! Clans of friends shopping at night! Boys between the skirt racks, misses in the arcade! -- and you, Mr. Director, what were you doing down by the pawn shop?
I saw you, Nan, alone, alluring crestfallen mistress, sauntering among the trinket vendors and eyeing the foreigners walking by.
I heard you address each one of them: Hey you! Where you go? Where you from? Do you speak Thai? Do you have girlfriend?
I carved my way through flashy stacks of bags and shoes stalking you, and stalked in turn in my imagination by an immigration officer.
We traipsed around the subway station together in our solitude and fancies tasting plum puddings, possessing a specimen of every accessible sweet, and never entering the station.

Where are we going, Nan? The station closes in half-an-hour. Which way do your glass shoes point tonight?
( I reach for your photo, the one you gave me not so long ago, and feel both guilty and liable…)
Will we ramble all night through noisy and noisome streets? Placards adding noise to noise, lights out in the shops and flats, we’ll both feel lonely.

Will we meander dreaming of a perfect love and a perfect future past the driveways of family duplexes?
You knew that I could never provide that for you, and catching my reflection in a scooter mirror, now I can own that too. Long after you will have moved into these quarters, I’ll be traipsing around the subway station, a ghost of you followed by a ghost of me.

[Cleo_Serapis]

Thanks Syl!

Permission PM has been sent.

[Cleo_Serapis]

I'd liketo nominate Sylvia's poem, Bereavement for the IBPC this month. This s a stunning poem, filled with much emotion, that makes one think of remembrance in a new light; of all the little things - those "habits" of/from our life/lives than one can miss so very much. A somber but poignant piece!

Good luck with this one.
~Cleo



Bereavement by Sylvia Maclagan


I’m used to loss itself;
it’s trivial things that smart, wear out my heart:
orphaned mug on kitchen shelf,
terrace table grown too long,
and by its side a wooden chair, vacant.
Without end, they caution strong,
shadowing me in endless pageant.

I disregard remorse for churlish word,
fixed angry looks... Oh misplaced books!
Or grief for tenderness demurred
through life’s uncertain lane.
It’s the scrutiny of minor things in winter
depths, an enduring bane
by which my heart grows fainter.


This post has been edited by Cleo_Serapis: Jun 28 09, 07:06

Reason for edit: Revised version posted

[Guest_ohsteve_*]

I would second this Lori, I would also second Sylvia's nom of Marks poem.
Steve

[Psyche]

Thank you for very much for the nom, Lori!

I've just made a couple of tweaks. Will you take charge from here? Minor ones.

Hugs,
Syl***

[Cleo_Serapis]

Got it Syl - best of luck!!!!!!