Thought bubbles must be punctured gently,
deflated with a fine molecular needle.
-/-
She lets me do the shopping at the markets,
the hens are in my charge, I sweep the floors,
but I’m a prisoner in her house.
On the crooked kitchen shelving, potions bright,
alluring clues, magic herbs and condiments.
To prepare Bahian fish, she says.
Her eyes are jungle camouflage, her tidal laughter
breaks in waves when nothing is amusing,
mysteries are woven in her hair.
The witch blows thirteen rainbowed bubbles
that float and drift and cocoa pop with words—
gringo louco
crazy gringo thinks too much
everything is always
as it is
From a trumpet tree, I saw three parakeets
take flight—
an omen, clear as feathers.
Before the edge of night,
I’ll take a coach, I’ll break her spell,
return to my reliable southern past.
In the lab, with telescopes and microscopes,
I’ll watch the nano-city growing,
proto people, apartment stacks,
linear streets and buses,
to work and back in reciprocal commutation.
I’ll never miss a beat of life in miniature, never notice
my imprisonment.
But here, beyond the urban masquerade,
wisps of clouds will race to catch the sun,
the frogs will croak their serenade
to distant samba drums,
the blushing moon will sink in Lake Serene,
its broken light for fireflies
to chase, and on the shore
the witch of Itapuã in white
will wait beneath the palms.
~/~
On second thoughts, all things considered,
someone has to feed the chooks.
I think I’ll stay with her tonight.
background
taking liberties with physics and geography
For any witch/warlock interested in Brazilian spell casting, macumba or candomblé, the outfit is key, here are some examples. Legal disclosure: I have no connection with Mercado Livre and haven’t received a promotional payment from them, although I wouldn’t complain if I did.
artwork
lost shorelines
Very fine, Steve. I enjoyed this much, as always.
Thanks Frank. I enjoyed writing it too, something light.
Oh, you take me to such a magic land. A land so far away from my neatly stacked Tupperware.
Thank you BG, and I say stack that Tupperware. Who knows what might happen if you don’t? Magic is everywhere, not just in Itapuã 🙂 .
As always, a beautifully intriguing poem which stokes the fires of imagination. Thank you.
You’re very welcome. I enjoy writing about Latin America, not that I see my time there with rose glasses, but I prefer the light side of the poetry force if I can manage it.
That was great! I could really see it–feel it. Magic! 🙂
Ha ha, magical Itapuã, thank you :star:
🙂
I LOVE your magic way with words 😁
“Her eyes are jungle camouflage…” That paragraph especially. Wow. But as usual, it’s all wonderful!
Thank Vanessa. When I was very young I was terrified of witches, storybooks with Hansel and Gretel and so on, but later on I found I was quite fond of them 😀 .
Yes, I agree, I mean, some of those stories really are an inexplicable choice for children imho.
But this is such a great piece! (regardless of where one lies on the “like” spectrum of such things, I just love your creativity. Obviously haha)
Reblogged this on say no to clowns and commented:
Steve weaving his usual and unique magic.
Thanks so much Vanessa 😎 no autographs please haha.
Well, except for the one you’ll put in your beautiful book, right? 😊
In the alternate reality that appears when I put on my sunnies, there is a long queue at Gleebooks and I am signing away. It is not my book: I’m a hologram employed by the author .
I’m curious what brand sunglasses?
I got them from a movie theatre. They’re labelled IMAX 3D but I don’t recommend them, they make everything look kind of weird.
hahaha
you mean the people at Gleebooks look weird?
Everything’s weird with the glasses on, like 6D, two worlds superimposed. It’s handy at Gleebooks, twice as many books to browse, although half of them are in a sort of mirror language. I sometimes wonder what it would be like if I wore two pairs of 3D glasses. But people stare enough already.
haha do they Steve? Is that because you are really a hologram? oh wait, that is only with the glasses on…I need a cup of tea. 🙂
which reminds me, what does pinot taste like in 6D? Is that a thing?
Going from 3D to 6D doubles the alcohol content in most drinks, so stronger taste. This is all starting to sound very reasonable to me, which is a bad sign, hologram or not. I’d better call it a night before I write something silly hahaha …
lol.