
Amaya is the host of dVerse today and has asked for a poetic offering on Mardi Gras. Amaya says:
Of course, if Mardi Gras/Carnival/Lent is not part of your culture then try to think of a festival time in opposition to a more contemplative, sober time experienced either collectively or on your own. As for form, you’re free to express yourself in any form you like but, upon my personal discovery of this being an entire Carnival season, a haibun might be especially fitting.
I let stream of consciousness run riot here. Please be warned it may be offensive to some readers.
I. Painted
from the clay banks of the euphrates
to the slick walls of horn city
hear now: the painting commences
infinite masked, costumed nesting dolls of
apollo slapping steeds with leather
and perseus dancing with medusa
be, then trumpet for a living dream
dare to wallow in mass hysteric
orgiastic stew, steep pansensually,
slip down the slick vortex into
paleolithic ecstasy, which is
the creamy nougat at the center
of the crunchy, nutty fanfare
that is Carnivale
*
II. Let’s play Carnivale
I’ll wear a mask of the empathic glorifier
You wear a mask of sincere worshipper
I’ll wear a raimant of stunning sensuality
You wear a velvet tank of tender rammer
I’ll feed you grapes and open my orifices
You drink rum and write the alphabet on me with your stylus
We’ll pour honey on ourselves and roll in beads
Immoral hooligans on steroids
Righteous observers of the season.

Nice lines: “the creamy nougat at the center
of the crunchy, nutty fanfare”
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:) thank you
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This does feel looser and more sensual than your usual pieces. There’s some lovely imagery, and I like the idea that people have always had the need to “let go” and celebrate carnival-style. The primeval urge to party!
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Thank you, Sarah. I decided to “let go” in my poems this time ;)
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The first stanza is so evocative with the:
‘infinite masked, costumed nesting dolls of
apollo slapping steeds with leather’
and the ‘orgiastic stew’, Jade. I especially like the metaphor of the creamy nougat nutty fanfare. I also like the different masks and costumes in the second stanza, as well as the hedonism of the lines:
‘You drink rum and write the alphabet on me with your stylus
We’ll pour honey on ourselves and roll in beads
Immoral hooligans on steroids’.
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Thank you for reading, Kim :)
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You really know how to party! I love the imagery in this. It’s all so good!
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THEY know how to party. ;) Glad you liked it Jane.
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I did :)
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Excellent write! And how I imagine the Gods would party, all or none, right?
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You got it. Thank you Linda!
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This is how a party should be, ecstatic and joyful… low all the dripping sweetness, works really well for passion
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Thank you, I tried to do it up right.
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Wow, so many good lines! I’m a fan of stream of consciousness (and so right for the subject matter) as you never know what transgressive thing is going to pop out, like tits on Bourbon Street!
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lol great observation, Amaya! I’d like to go down there sometime while mine are still pop-worthy…
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🍾
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The whole idea is to be someone else…and who knows what hidden parts of you may be discovered? (K)
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True. You just never know!
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