Friday, April 12, 2013

A-Z Challenge

For the A-Z challenge, we decided to post a new and original poem every day (yipes!)  Today, inspired by an old and dear friend, Juliet tackles the letter "K."



Kansas

You joke about Kansas.
With its meat-Jello and
Marshmallow relatives.

I see it differently.
Rolling plains, soft, tall grasses,
That brush the tips of my,
Fingers when I’m standing up.
Dug-in tenants committed to,
Dust-filled days of sweat, and labor,
Requiring muscles I’ve never even used.
Nights when crickets sing into a blue dark
Sky sprinkled with stars.
And yes, meat-Jello.
Sometimes even with cheese, or bits of too-sweet,
Too red, canned fruit.

Still, when you come back from each,
Teeth-grit trip,
You say it was, “lovely.”

That’s you to me.
Your center is clear resolve.
You once said, “When I feel unsure,
I ask myself, What is the right thing to do?
The answer always floats right up.”

To me, that sounded like Kansas.

©2013 Juliet Bond all rights reserved






30 comments:

  1. I don't know anything about Kansas but I love the poem!
    A month of Blog...


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  2. Meat-jello? Oh my word that's something this Italian girl from Jersey has NEVER heard of before.

    You paint a nice picture of Kansas!

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  3. I've been to Kansas. It's a wonderful poem. What is meat-jello? No, don't tell me.

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  4. Wonderful poem!
    I'm not sure meat-jellow sounds as wonderful though lol

    Like the new look ;)

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  5. Meat-jello....hmmmm :) I like how you ended this....great last stanza

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  6. I googled images of meat jello and...just Wow! Great poem, do you really like the taste of meat jello?

    Chontali Kirk
    chontalikirk.blogspot.com

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    1. Right? I've never eaten meat-jello but my friend Rian always talks about how her relatives in Kansas put both meat and cheese in their strawberry jello - sometimes grapes too...

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  7. Such a lovely poem that makes me think again about the state I've only driven through & never really taken time to enjoy.

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  8. Again and again I'm blown away by your fantastic poetry. Such unexpected little morsels of beauty. Thank you!!!!

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    1. Gosh, Kate. You are so fabulously good for my self esteem. I am blown away by your artwork!

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  9. I've never been to Kansas, but it sounds lovely.

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    1. I haven't been much either but my friend Rian goes every year.

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  10. Your poem tells me a lot about Kansas and your love for it. Nice.
    Jagoda from http://www.conflicttango.com

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  11. I really want to know what meat-jello is!
    While obviously about Kansas, to me this poem makes me feel the love we have for our homes, wherever they may be, warts and all. Great piece.

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    1. Thanks Julie. Here is a great link to a discussion about the hideousness that jello can be http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,164377,164406

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  12. "The answer always floats right up.”

    From someone who claims not to write poetry??? I am calling your bluff, Ms. Juliet. This is another fantastic one!

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    1. Thanks, love. It's really about Rian and not so much Kansas. She's an amazing friend and person. I wonder if that came across - or if it matters?

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  13. Kansas and no mention of Dorthy nor the cute lil dog. lol

    http://STFU4ABetterRelationship.WordPress.com

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  14. Meat jello. I gotta know more. Like now. :)
    What a lovely lovely blog!
    Nice to meet you...swinging by from A to Z.

    http://diaryofasquaretoothedgirl.blogspot.com/

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  15. My grandma an Oklahoman, made a meat jello thingy, it was gross. She also made mince meat pie with real pieces of meat in it. I have never been able to eat sweet meat.
    Katie atBankerchick Scratchings

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  16. Nice poem! I had not noticed you changed the look of the site. It's very nice! :)

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  17. I've never heard of meat Jello...is it anything like goetta? :)

    Left and Write

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  18. What a great poem! I've never hear of meat-Jello though. Now I'm curious. :)

    #atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com

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