Dinner Bell

Collaboration with Zahra the Mysterious! ;) captcha "pejorism" go figure right!?

To love or to kill

is always the question

murmured at the table.

tell us a story you unsuspecting guest,

pass on the dessert, pass a smile,

 

Father, a large man of 50 yrs., use to

his ways and means. A controller extrematus, he

polishes his place at the head with his elbows;

red meat juices dripping render tallow wax.

Twelve others sit round the cherry wood 

in candle light.

 

Tale after tale, they know. 

(except one)

His stuttering collapses into hints;

The shivering of his hand signals all

and though both your hands are on the table,

they know something is there that you hide.

 

Mother sits across, quietly present in grace.

Her movement environmentally protected

like swans and albatross fly;

respect and obedience persists at the door.

There are ten children, maybe more.

 

(Mother watches his stuttering fingers)

 

She wears a chary smile,

it goes well with her tight hair...

she tells them a story too!

It's about a rabbit, perhaps...

no one knows for sure.

 

You listen, until the questions clank

like a dinner bell in the background yet loud.

(Do we pray for an answer, or for the lack of one)?

 

 

Shaking appearances denies

deluding a family of quills and

the tale is up ... darts loosed and barbs

begin the journey inward ... always inward.

working into the real meat.

A collaboration

Zahra and E.

03/16/2017

Author's Note

Reviews

[Benita-Staebell M - Kin..]

You both did an amazing job very Melancholic and happy here very powerful piece and a lot of character very clever.

Nice it's been ages since I've
Collaborated with any poet or poetess
for that matter.


Shaking appearances denies
deluding a family of quills and
the tale is up ...

[Einstein Noodle]

working with Zahra is such a treat for me ..i am pretty open to collabs if you ever feel the call my friend ;) actually am working with my younger son on either a play or short story ... neither of us have done such things so it should be interesting .. thank you for taking time Benita .. very much appreciate it :) hopefully the many avenues for thought sparked some inspiration for you and any who read this ... its a bit on the oblique side ;)
E.

[Benita-Staebell M - KindredPoet]

Ah you mean the words in the poem being slanted nice enjoy that with your son I don't do plays only short stories but when you want to collaborate with me let me. You're welcome my friend 😊

[KWP]

Oh wow - well done you two - a great tale in these words.

I am sure all of us can relate to the large dinner table scenario, dealing with parents who we think we know, but we never really know anyone do we? No matter the stories, no matter how many tales, or mother's kind words and soothing - no, we never really know anyone 100%. It's the inner workings that sometimes filter out, good, bad or otherwise ...

Kids sit patient, hoping to be excused without any extra courses delivered by way of emotion.

Really fabulous - well done to both of you X

[Einstein Noodle]

yes yes and yes ..you hit all the right spots KW! glad you liked it ... i can just see your dinner table!! loaded with color and unique culinary dishes ...repleat with spicy spicy! ;)) thanks for visiting dear friend .. top o' the mahrnin' to ya!
E.

[SleeplessVolcano]

aaahhh....Most honorable Einstein....what a gem to pull me out of the shadows.....

Those dialogues around the dinner table are priceless. My dad is now old enough that he does not know that he is telling the same joke for the zillionth time.....getting easier each time to laugh as heartily as I did when I heard it the first time...:) Those journeys inward, into our memories, into those moments spent with loved ones remain priceless.

Thanks for this trip down memory lane.....

[Einstein Noodle]

hey Volcano!! thank you so much for taking time ..and i love your impressions .. the dinner table was the rule at our home ..one did not miss the meals ..nor be late (heaven forbid) i am smiling over the stories ... God bless you for the laughter each time ;) thanks so much for reading and your review sir ..makes me day!
E.

[MsJewel]

Your descriptions are so real, I felt as though I watched this scene unfold. A great collaboration from two very talented poets. :) Julie

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks for reading and reviewing Ms. Jewel ... that you were drawn in is very gratifying ... and encouraging .. thank you very much!
E.

[Drowning In Reality]

Wow... I need to reread this a few times. Fine work.

[Einstein Noodle]

ooo i hope you do ... i think there are a lot of avenues one might be drawn to ..let me know yours ;)
E.

[emmajoy]

A sad event here: gratefulness and wretchedness surely sitting together at the table. Times alter, status see-saws, clues display slow 'stuttering' changes in n to family's history.

The writing is exquisite, emotional, brilliant in its display, flowing amazingly as if both sides of a heart are truly one. That takes great care, skill and more.

(Not selecting specific lines for fear of causing a tiff!!!)

[Einstein Noodle]

no tiffing eh!? ;))) thank you for your thorough and sensitive review emma ... Zahra and i ahve worked on several projects of very different styles and subjects ..it has always been a pleasure and learning experience for me ...and honestly...i do feel as one with her when we write ..it is a very open write and change anything you want co-ordination ... i am glad that it comes through and very much appreciate your impressions .. thank you very much!
E.

[Einstein Noodle]

ps. tiffing is not a concern here ..you feel free ... always! it is a collab after all and shared good, bad and ugly ;)

[Butch Decatoria]

Very nice collaboration, like it. Thanks for sharing.

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks for reading Butch .. and letting us know what you think ... peace and joy!
E.

[wordman]

well my friend what time is dinner ?

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahahaha ...any time you pull in the drive sir! always something brewing ;) thanks for taking time wordman .. appreciate it
E.

[Valentine]

Getting into the real meat. Not the pot roast or rib eye. Family gatherings, now I will be missing those. Valentine

[Einstein Noodle]

"..missing them" ?? because you moved or something? or because the poem brought them to mind? either way.... thanks for stopping my friend ..we are getting to know one another a bit aren't we?! :))
E.

[LKBillips]

A delicious story, with lots of avenues for your mind to venture. Very cool.

[Einstein Noodle]

hey LK! so kind of you to visit and read ... yes!! lots of avenues for sure .. really appreciate your time taken to let us know what you think ...
E.

[Ken Simm.]

This is so rich. A superb portrait or couple of portraits.
This is a sumptuous feast of words that I can feed on for a long time. And I intend doing so.This is descriptive writing and story telling in poetry par excellence. I really really, did enjoy this scene you two have painted your portraits into.

[Einstein Noodle]

i'm tickled to death you enjoyed this one so Ken ...i take it as a real tribute .. we worked quite a while on it but even so it seemed to have its own story and direction .. thank you so much for your very encouraging review ... peace and joy ... and Happy St. Patty's Day to ya!! we're having corn beef and cabbage ... stop on over! there is plenty to go round! ;)))
E.

[Ken Simm.]

I am the one who gained from this as a reader. So I should be thanking you. I hope you had a great St Patricks day. This is when you should go up Crough Patrick in Mayo barefoot.

[Zahra]

Thank you Ken. THis review made my day :D

[Einstein Noodle]

yes Ken! that would be the place to be ...so much of St. Patrick's legacy focuses there ... it would be my dream come true to ever have the opportunity to visit ... we come from County Donegal which is not too far from Cruach Phádraig and Mayo County .. everytime you mention something ...I learn ...thank the Good Lord for google eh!?

[Ken Simm.]

Donegal is not too far as the crow flies but with all the sea loughs, (lochs in Scotland where I live) it sometimes takes half a day to get to somewhere you can see across the sea.
I've been to the West coast of Ireland many, many times. There are so many places north to south that are worth a visit or several. Mind you it is the same with my west coast of Scotland I live in the ancient celtic kingdom of Dalraida that included parts of Ireland as well. The Scots originated in Ireland. Now I'm being a teacher again, my apologies. Its worth googling St Columba however and I live very near his island of Iona.

[Ken Simm.]

You are more than welcome Zahra.

[Einstein Noodle]

yes sir ..i know the Highland origins ... my da's from Donegal and me ma's from the Highlands .. from many long years back ... we have Blair chronology from the Pilgrims trips ... and Barney came to America in the 1800s ... but i talk too much! ;)