Three Poems by Laurel Blossom
After the Explosion
All the water mains burst
Forth, singing
The rats ran
Everywhere, squealing in
Rhyme, and the cockroaches
Tweeted to their neighbors while
Heaven turned itself into Hell on
Earth. From where the sky had been
Each star bored into the ground like an
X-ray so that the
Ploughed fields were pockmarked with
Lozenges of lead, none could smell the
Ozone that sparked from electrical
Systems gone haywire, while
In the meantime, the purple pot stood
On the window sill, holding the
Nasturtiums.
(Because of how)
(Because of how / the quick / become the dead.)
Patrick Donnelly
(Because of how
quick the quick
become the dead.)
(Because of how
dead the quick
become.)
(Because of how
quick the dead
become
unbecoming.)
Now is the Winter of Our Discontent
But then, Miss Priss, when you and I have given up
Ambition and our claws, we’ll sit around all day
Indoors, purring and pouting. As for the world abroad,
Let them have their dogs, their kingdoms and their horses.
Laurel Blossom is the author of two book-length narrative prose poems, Degrees of Latitude and Longevity. Books of lyric poetry include Wednesday: New and Selected Poems, The Papers Said, What’s Wrong, and a chapbook, Any Minute. Laurel served as Poet Laureate of Edgefield SC, 2015-17. She lives in Los Angeles.
Laurel, I love you. You are a genius. I have my dogs but I have no kingdom or horses! Congratulations.
Hi darling Tricia – I love you too! Dogs are better than kingdoms and horses! xo
Love!
Hi Lulah! Hope all’s well with you! Where are you and what are you all up to? Send news! xo
Thanks, Kath! Come back to see us again soon! xo
Hi Lulah! Not sure if this message went through the first time. So glad to hear from you. Where are you and what are you up to? Send news. xo
Great, Lol!
Hi Kath! Somehow I think I did this before but here goes – thanks for your message. Come see us again soon!
Great, Lol! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Kath – not sure if first message went through. Thanks for responding. Hope all is well with you and Ray. Come back to see us soon. xo
I love em!
You’re the best!
No Suzanne! YOU’re the best! Thank you so much for posting the poems to the Edgefield Advertiser! xo
Keep it up! Loved all three, but mostly the one who wrote them!
Hi darlin’! Thanks for the encouragement! You are the best and I love you MORE and MORE! xo
Hi Bobby! Not sure if my first message went through. Isn’t it great of Suzanne to have put this link up on the Advertiser website? So grateful. And for you too – I love you MORE and MORE! xo
I love you more!!!! xo
Laurel, wonderful thoughtful poems.Congratulations! I can identify with “giving up ambition” Miss you on the East Coast.
Hi Libby! Thanks for responding. I miss you all too! Give Carol a hug for me! Isn’t it exciting about her house? xo
HI Libby! I miss you all too! Maybe I’ll get back there one day soon. Who knows?
Laurel. wonderful thoughtful poems. Miss you on the East Coast.
Laurel: Always an edginess that settles into what’s what comes through your pen, off your tongue and out of your thoughts. You always show us we have not yet begun to speak.
Hi Sean – can I quote you? Bless your heart! xo
Terrific. Smiled as the barb hit.
Hi Nancy – just found these, didn’t know they were posted. So sweet of you to respond. Thank you. xo
Love the poems, Laurel! I am waiting “to sit around all day”. Meanwhile, I read lovely poetry thanks to you!
Thanks, Marie! xo
Great work Laurel/ i really love BECAUSE OF HOW
Thanks, Malaika! Good luck with the cottage! I’m awaiting an invitation! xo
Too many memorable lines to mention only one.
Marvelous poems.
Thanks, Ellen. Looking forward to seeing you when you get back! xo
Congratulations on doing your work and doing your work well. It’s exciting and soothing to the soul.
Thanks, Susie. We must make a date. xo
You are correct-what a birthday present! Great to read your poetry again. Thanks.
Love to you and Charlie. Hope all’s well. You must be thrilled to have the Orchestra at the Miller. Hope it brings people to the Symphony and to downtown. xo
Wonderful, I love the brevity and response to our time.
Hi Louise! Thanks for responding. Always love to hear from my FANS! xo
I love the play with language, and the wry tone of voice. These are original and beautiful and strange yet familiar all at once.
Thanks Patty. So glad to hear from you. Hope all is well. Are you writing yourself and where can I find you? Have been to NYC only once in the last two years, hope to get there more often, would love to see you! xo
[…] To see and read these poems, go to the link provided. http://losangelesreview.org/three-poems-laurel-blossom/ […]
Your work rattles me! It jars me from my purring and pouting. I like that. Thank you.
Hi Nathalie! Thanks! Hope to see you soon. xo
Congratulations, Laurel. These are really great. Without art like this there can be no progress.
Thank you, John!
All three, very different poems, are full of enormous heart behind each word. Wonderful.
Hi Susan! Thanks! I’m so glad we’re friends! YOU are full of enormous heart! xo
Laurel dear, It’s inspiring to see you haven’t lost your gift of surprising us. Thanks for always offering that unexpected word or image. Keep overflowing with your unique creativity…. With love….p.
Congratulations, Laurel.
The Nasturtiums that abide at the end of ‘After the Explosion’ are symbolically
priceless.
The dark wit in the others is unforgettable.
Thanks for sending.
Blessings, Nick
Laurel,
I know about giving up ambition and love the purple pot of nasturtiums on the window sill. I see red and orange, like Mother and Ma grew.
You open heart places ….
And I miss you,
Elizabeth