TSM 171 — Matlalcueye


“Roots” 1943 by Frida Kahlo

Winged angel eyes
beam from a young crone’s face;
mute proclamation
that she’s planted. Her
grounded consciousness
reaches up and out, giant’s stalks to climb,
vines that stretch and root in once barren fields

Winged angel eyes
behold as forest rise
symphony of trees
temper arid breeze
See! Clouds come — it rains.
Verses fall and rise as desert recedes,
the crone wind blows and cracks are filled with seeds.

 

Matlalcueye means “owner of the green skirt”

What a wonderful image to write to!
Today’s offering is my first attempt at a Duodora form poem.

Carrie is today’s host of The Sunday Muse.

38 Comments Add yours

  1. RedCat's avatar RedCat says:

    This is beautiful! ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Helene, Frida is a wonderful inspiration, thank you <3

      Like

  2. Carrie V. H.'s avatar Carrie V. H. says:

    What a gorgeous form Lisa! A Duodora, I will have to try that one day! I love the symphony of trees in this and cracks filled with seeds. A lovely and deep poem Lisa!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Carrie, I saw someone use the form last week and thought that is one I want to try. You picked a perfect image to try it out on. Thank you!

      Like

  3. Beverly Crawford's avatar Beverly Crawford says:

    Interesting form, well done. Great sense of promise in the last stanza of the rain and seeds in the cracks!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Beverly. I’m trying to imagine how talented Frida was to be able to paint herself like this. She’s a real inspiration.

      Like

  4. Sherry Marr's avatar Sherry Marr says:

    Oh I LOVE that closing line!!!!!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      <3 Glad you connect with it, Sherry, thanks!

      Like

  5. fireblossom32's avatar fireblossom32 says:

    Love it, from the intriguing title to the sense of the poem, very nice.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you :)

      Like

  6. This is a beautiful interpretation of the painting Lisa. ☺️🌺

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Christine <3

      Like

  7. writingwhatnots's avatar writingwhatnots says:

    I always learn something new from you Lisa. A poetry form and a word – Matlalcueye. Such a creative interpretation – great writing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you and happy to help :)

      Liked by 1 person

  8. memadtwo's avatar memadtwo says:

    A wonderful response Jade. You made good use of both form and image. I love the way Frida so often gives herself roots and branches. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Kerfe. I haven’t paid that much attention to her paintings but good to know. I usually can’t get past her eyebrows. Thankfully she allowed me to see angel wings when I began the poem yesterday.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Portofino's avatar Portofino says:

        “mute proclamation
        that she’s planted.”
        Fitting, given the image.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

          :) I love the image, there is something very grounded about it, pun intended.

          Like

          1. Portofino's avatar Portofino says:

            Thank you! I’ve always enjoyed this place. B&W changes the vibe.

            Like

          2. Portofino's avatar Portofino says:

            Oops, wrong image!

            Liked by 1 person

          3. Portofino's avatar Portofino says:

            Definitely Kahlo’s image is grounded.

            Liked by 1 person

  9. qbit's avatar qbit says:

    “mute proclamation / that she’s planted.”!!! “Her / grounded consciousness / reaches up and out, / Giant’s stalks to climb,”!!! That is terrific! The whole thing, but wanted to call those out especially.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      q, I’m very happy it pleases you. Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. gillena's avatar gillena says:

    Always interesting to read a new poetry form
    Luv the phrase winged angel eyes

    Happy Sunday

    Much❤love

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Gillena, glad you enjoyed the form and the poem. Happy Sunday!

      Like

  11. hdwoonie23's avatar Helen Dehner says:

    Love how you saw vines / stalks there for the climb. Also I am inspired to try this form … “Crone” is one of my favorite words.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Helen. I also love the word crone. There is such magic and power in it.

      Like

  12. wyndolynne's avatar wyndolynne says:

    Love this! It feels very much like reading through a meditation and invites continued reading.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      :) Thank you for the wonderful comment. Glad you connected with it, Wyndolynne.

      Like

  13. Susie Clevenger's avatar Susie Clevenger says:

    Love this…It reads like a spirit psalm of praise for growing and turning her piece of earth green. Beautiful

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Susie. Matlacueye was a Mexican goddess and that was one of her tasks.

      Like

  14. Jim's avatar Jim says:

    You did well with the Duodora form, Ms. Lili. I would like to try one, now if I can just remember. I’ll save the link on my Galaxy S8 smart phone. When I copy a page it tells me the link to the article from which it came.
    The line, “giant’s stalks to climb” leads us to thinking of “Jack and the Beanstalk”, at least it does me. Maybe she’ll go there next, for sure you can have her go there.
    ..

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Jim. Hoping you do try the duodora form. I like that it has some rhyming, some short and long lines, and some repetition. Yes, the stalks are where you can climb :)

      Like

  15. judeitakali's avatar judeitakali says:

    Gorgeous poetry. I’d love to try this form.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you. I wish you would!

      Like

  16. Carol anne's avatar Carol anne says:

    this was so lovely Li :-)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Carol Anne :)

      Like

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