Sunday, February 7, 2016

More, Please--By Laura M. Kaminski--United States

More, Please

poem with a line from “Mornings in Cudahy, California” in Ruben Quesada’s
book Next Extinct Mammal, Greenhouse Review Press, 2011

Cedar roars in the belly of the woodstove
holding a spitting argument with gusts
of wind that echo, endless, up and down
the metal pipe.

In truth, the house is warm enough, but
I continue to add more fuel to the fire,
perch hunched over on the hearthstone
with my book, gargoyle bundled in a poncho
craving radiant heat –

I need to find some way to pour more
warmth into the heart of me, drink a soul-full
of hot cocoa. I shiver again, turn back
a page and read:

“…light melted over the barrio
of burnt adobe where every Maria and Jesus ran
loose dodging cool sprays from serpent hoses
on hot Sunday afternoons…”

Ahh…yes. Just right. Keep pouring…

Laura M. Kaminski grew up in northern Nigeria, went to school in New Orleans, and currently lives in rural Missouri. She is an Associate Editor at Right Hand Pointing, and writes poetry in both English and Hausa.  Her most recent poetry collection is Dance Here (Origami Books, an imprint of Parrésia Publishers Ltd in Lagos, Nigeria). More about her poetry can be found at arkofidentity.wordpress.com

8 comments:

  1. Oh, yes, this one is fine! And I say this as a lover of hot cocoa ... but even if I weren't, I'd be applauding this poem.

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  2. love this! what a contrast of beginning and end and mixing it together!

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  3. How heartwarming this poem is, Laura! I love it! You paint a lovely scene which eliminates wintery cold. ~ Regards // paul

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  4. Hello Laura. I enjoyed your poem. It was a fresh mix of something classical and historical, which lit my poetic imagination. Thank you so much for sharing and continued blessings!

    -MJ (www.tgbtgpublictions.com)

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  5. Wonderful piece, thanks for sharing!

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  6. Your imagery animates your poem throughout. Such a pleasure to read you again.

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  7. Oh, my! I was away from my computer for a day, and have returned to a sea of kind words! Thank you, all of you, so very much, for reading and commenting! - Laura

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