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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.



48 responses to “Three Poems by Laurel Blossom”

  1. Tricia Price Glenn says:
    June 13, 2018 at 1:34 pm

    Laurel, I love you. You are a genius. I have my dogs but I have no kingdom or horses! Congratulations.

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:02 pm

      Hi darling Tricia – I love you too! Dogs are better than kingdoms and horses! xo

      Reply
  2. Lulah Devine says:
    June 13, 2018 at 2:06 pm

    Love!

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:03 pm

      Hi Lulah! Hope all’s well with you! Where are you and what are you all up to? Send news! xo

      Reply
      • Laurel Blossom says:
        June 19, 2018 at 4:04 pm

        Thanks, Kath! Come back to see us again soon! xo

        Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:23 pm

      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

      Reply
  3. Kathy Payne says:
    June 13, 2018 at 2:07 pm

    Great, Lol!

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:08 pm

      Hi Kath! Somehow I think I did this before but here goes – thanks for your message. Come see us again soon!

      Reply
  4. Kathy Payne says:
    June 13, 2018 at 2:07 pm

    Great, Lol! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:23 pm

      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

      Reply
  5. Suzanne says:
    June 13, 2018 at 3:06 pm

    I love em!

    You’re the best!

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:24 pm

      No Suzanne! YOU’re the best! Thank you so much for posting the poems to the Edgefield Advertiser! xo

      Reply
  6. chef bob says:
    June 14, 2018 at 5:10 am

    Keep it up! Loved all three, but mostly the one who wrote them!

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:09 pm

      Hi darlin’! Thanks for the encouragement! You are the best and I love you MORE and MORE! xo

      Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:26 pm

      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

      Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      July 12, 2018 at 10:52 am

      I love you more!!!! xo

      Reply
  7. Libby Bernardin says:
    June 14, 2018 at 6:40 am

    Laurel, wonderful thoughtful poems.Congratulations! I can identify with “giving up ambition” Miss you on the East Coast.

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:11 pm

      Hi Libby! Thanks for responding. I miss you all too! Give Carol a hug for me! Isn’t it exciting about her house? xo

      Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      July 12, 2018 at 10:53 am

      HI Libby! I miss you all too! Maybe I’ll get back there one day soon. Who knows?

      Reply
  8. Libby Bernardin says:
    June 14, 2018 at 6:41 am

    Laurel. wonderful thoughtful poems. Miss you on the East Coast.

    Reply
  9. Sean Sexton says:
    June 14, 2018 at 8:23 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:13 pm

      Hi Sean – can I quote you? Bless your heart! xo

      Reply
  10. Nancy in Augusta says:
    June 14, 2018 at 12:07 pm

    Terrific. Smiled as the barb hit.

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:14 pm

      Hi Nancy – just found these, didn’t know they were posted. So sweet of you to respond. Thank you. xo

      Reply
  11. Marie says:
    June 14, 2018 at 12:26 pm

    Love the poems, Laurel! I am waiting “to sit around all day”. Meanwhile, I read lovely poetry thanks to you!

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:14 pm

      Thanks, Marie! xo

      Reply
  12. Malaika says:
    June 14, 2018 at 3:15 pm

    Great work Laurel/ i really love BECAUSE OF HOW

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:15 pm

      Thanks, Malaika! Good luck with the cottage! I’m awaiting an invitation! xo

      Reply
  13. Ellen Hoffs says:
    June 14, 2018 at 6:32 pm

    Too many memorable lines to mention only one.
    Marvelous poems.

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:15 pm

      Thanks, Ellen. Looking forward to seeing you when you get back! xo

      Reply
  14. Susie in LA says:
    June 15, 2018 at 6:24 am

    Congratulations on doing your work and doing your work well. It’s exciting and soothing to the soul.

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:16 pm

      Thanks, Susie. We must make a date. xo

      Reply
  15. Pat moye says:
    June 15, 2018 at 9:05 am

    You are correct-what a birthday present! Great to read your poetry again. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:17 pm

      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

      Reply
  16. Louise Duncan says:
    June 16, 2018 at 3:21 pm

    Wonderful, I love the brevity and response to our time.

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:17 pm

      Hi Louise! Thanks for responding. Always love to hear from my FANS! xo

      Reply
  17. Patricia Markert says:
    June 17, 2018 at 5:54 pm

    I love the play with language, and the wry tone of voice. These are original and beautiful and strange yet familiar all at once.

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:18 pm

      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

      Reply
  18.  Laurel Blossom Continues to Publish – The Edgefield Advertiser says:
    June 18, 2018 at 4:58 pm

    […] To see and read these poems, go to the link provided. https://losangelesreview.org/three-poems-laurel-blossom/ […]

    Reply
  19. Nathalie says:
    June 19, 2018 at 9:58 am

    Your work rattles me! It jars me from my purring and pouting. I like that. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 19, 2018 at 4:20 pm

      Hi Nathalie! Thanks! Hope to see you soon. xo

      Reply
  20. John Blossom says:
    June 22, 2018 at 7:42 am

    Congratulations, Laurel. These are really great. Without art like this there can be no progress.

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      June 22, 2018 at 1:09 pm

      Thank you, John!

      Reply
  21. Susan Sindall says:
    June 23, 2018 at 11:39 am

    All three, very different poems, are full of enormous heart behind each word. Wonderful.

    Reply
    • Laurel Blossom says:
      July 12, 2018 at 10:56 am

      Hi Susan! Thanks! I’m so glad we’re friends! YOU are full of enormous heart! xo

      Reply
  22. Patricia Burroughs Kutay says:
    July 19, 2018 at 12:19 pm

    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.

    Reply
  23. Nicholas Johnson says:
    August 23, 2018 at 3:06 pm

    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

    Reply
  24. Elizabeth Peacock says:
    September 28, 2018 at 5:25 pm

    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

    Reply

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