patchouli promises

the subtle scent of patchouli
returns me to languid summer days
reminding me of the ways
the sun shimmered
through my hair.

my bright red chevy (bella)
held pieces of passion
in her brazen cherry paint.
she hugged those curves
the way i held the world.

the sounds of the grateful dead
wafted through camellia-essenced air…

and i found pieces of my soul there.

there in that delicate delirium between
woman
and child
(that beautiful balance between
latent
and wild)

bob marley and phish
were my drugs of preference
(i was high on the essence
and heat of the sun)
as it bounced off bella
and reminded me
(i am still so young).

that ibanez guitar
(so beautiful and blue)
taught my fingers how to feel
and my heart how to hear
-the music in my soul-
was so authentic and clear.

if i could return to those
hazy, lazy
liquid summer days...
i would taste the deliciousness
of my lovely, naive smile.

and i could believe in
the sunshine
for just... a little... while.

Reviews

[The Language of Birds]

Hello Kara,

Great poem!

I love the alliteration of the title, and I can smell it too. What a perfect point of entry.

In fact, this poem is packed with sensory detail. You have fully engaged me in this fantastic piece from beginning to end. You are also able to tread away from an overly sentimental wistfulness for the innocent past. Instead, this poem matches you in your desire (mentioned in your bio) It is as true as your blue Ibanez guitar.

Way to go.

Jim C-D

[Inmate 72866]

I like the name of your car. The poem has a sweetness that is refreshing (especially in my mind these days). Your words have elegance and class. I enjoyed this very much.

[~crazy Beautiful~]

it took me back to the old days, patchituli reminds me of my ex fiance, and the fun times we had driving off to endlessness
i related to alot of this one, i loved it

[Johnny]

oh my God i know how that is... (how that was)

if i didnt blow it years ago..and if I went along with my peers and the pressure that came with it perhaps i would have still been very close to what i think you are describing here~`


i want to be innocent again and play piano to little attentive creatures that would listen and listen in to 15, 20 minute Chopin works that i could offer up ...right now.///that would be special for me

[they never taught us those things in school....
for how could they.....
there were never available text books on the subject.....

nevertheless....hope is in the air...
i feel it because i already know it...
i run from it @ times but it runs faster & catches up with me...like im sure it does with a lot of people ___


take care for now

[Rosa Sophia]

WOW. Are you my twin? Only, my car is named Midge, and it's green. And my guitar is an SLB pro. Blue.

Such beautiful words. I like how you describe the summer days as "liquid." The last few stanzas are my favorites. And I couldn't help but adore the part where you mention the guitar.

(I wish it were summer...)

Rosy

[Griznard]

Amazing poem. I really like the flow of it. Your imagery helped me to see everything. You have a talent with words. I am still young, but I can still compare this to memories I have. Thank you for bringing back good times. Thank you, and keep writing.

[Adam Greenfield]

This completely reminds of the days in between the times the Grateful Dead would come to town and my friend Jessica and I would drive around in her brown Thunderbird listening to the Dead. And everything felt right. This is how your poem made me feel. Like those days when everything just felt right. Thank you.

[78%H2O]

Very well spoken. Beautifully conjures images of hot, country summer-of-love days and nostalgia. Much love for the fifth and last stanzas, the last in particular. It just feels so... perfect. So many good lines in this one.

[[untitled]]

Well this is beautiful to say the least. I have one question How in god's name can you pull off the Grateful dead with a schlock-rocking Ibanez, I own two they are my babies sorta. Well I enjoyed this, it made me happy which is hard to do - it is clear concise and has so many meaningful things I can relate to... Cheers

[Alisa Js]

incredible... honestly... *sigh*