Bow to the Queen of Slime, the Queen of Filth, the Queen of Putrescence. Boo. Boo. Rubbish. Filth. Slime. Muck. Boo. Boo. Boo.
Your play, Charlie.
El Rio de los Remedios
In the squirming midst of la Gran Ciudad (mass of raza) lies the river (and I say "lies" because that's what she is . . . named by the devil himself -- for he calls things what they are not) and she oozes every kind of remedy that no one ever wanted - a remedy for health - a remedy for progress - a remedy for solidarity - a remedy for hope
Then came the new Narcissus (so much better than last year's model . . . loved by all and freshly heralded -- dreams awash with progress and salvation) to rest on her bleeding banks to stare into her putrid past to tell her he was different from the long line of liars who laughed upstream. But as he gazed into her fetid, semi-solid mirror, he saw his predecessors.
He saw what they were but she told him what they were not. He saw what he was but she told him what he was,
naught.
And he loved her lies.
So, with a deep breath and a wily smile, he pitched forward into her corruption and slipped below the murky surface.
Author's Note: El Rio de los Remedios (The River of Remedies) is a drainage canal of waste water (read "open sewage") that flows through the northern part of Mexico City. This poem is about no one in particular -- only the sad march of corrupt officials that the country has endured.
Want to review or comment on this poem?
Need a FREE Reader Membership?
Reviews of "El Rio de los Remedios: Scrabble War X"
This is hardscrabble poetry with a twist. It had me thinking about the Snake River and that medicine woman who tried to save your soul as long as there was money coming.
Ron
Reviewed by William Cryer (Reader)
Reviewed on December 13, 2007
A triumph, more startling than most that came before. If only I had an ounce of your wizardry. And I'll pocket your gleaming token with a smile and the hopes of many a fond romp through those most exalted groves--Poetry, the true Jardin de las Delicias. Ahi guarde mi alma y ahi nos veremos.
Reviewed by blue soplain (Reader)
Reviewed on December 13, 2007
what?? where is William going?
but. . what a glorious spiral of symbolism. ..
all the secrety goodness of storytelling myred by the muck, all the underbelly dark privies. ..
yet something in this [maybe its my sinister side], especially as the words traipsed through my head, made me smile infinitely. . .nothing like a good beheading. ..a strange tangent that is traversing both classical and modern lines. ..clever balancing act. .
superbly conceived.
huzzah~
Funny that Charlie should mention William Cryer. This poem was written partly as a tribute to him, as he is in his last bit of time here in our den. Godspeed, sire. Godspeed.
And PS, Charlie . . . you spelled truly wrong. Can I challenge? hehehe
Trully, your intellect is dizzying. To love that you are nothing, and so desire a plunge into hellish, fetid water? You, my dear, are brilliant.
This reminds me a lot of William (the) Cryer's poetry-- all that fantasy mixed with vivid color and mysterious, ethereal atmosphere.
I really love your asides here-- it makes me feel like you're letting me in on a great secret. And I also love the sense I get reading this and pre-knowing the outcome-- the want to holler a warning out to prince Narcissus, but alas, "his emptiness consumed him." And you end with "the murky surface"-- not a bad line either, so thank you. Take care. BTW: Ogress episode continues as a commentary to Ted Bossis' latest poem. (It's a kissing book) --Charlie
From the land of the milked and honeyed here’s a few political faux pas and a bit of attitude exposed to the harsh light of a Canadian who actually has their own opinion.
This is a political treatise that deals with the China issue from a completely new perspective. Disparaging as he may sound, from page to page, toward "the old system" and the Communist Party's various wiles, the author demonstrates his mysteriously
This is a political treatise that deals with the China issue from a completely new perspective. Disparaging as he may sound, from page to page, toward "the old system" and the Communist Party's various wiles, the author demonstrates his mysteriously
I love the imagery and asides in this piece.
Cryssa
Ron
but. . what a glorious spiral of symbolism. ..
all the secrety goodness of storytelling myred by the muck, all the underbelly dark privies. ..
yet something in this [maybe its my sinister side], especially as the words traipsed through my head, made me smile infinitely. . .nothing like a good beheading. ..a strange tangent that is traversing both classical and modern lines. ..clever balancing act. .
superbly conceived.
huzzah~
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
And PS, Charlie . . . you spelled truly wrong. Can I challenge? hehehe
This reminds me a lot of William (the) Cryer's poetry-- all that fantasy mixed with vivid color and mysterious, ethereal atmosphere.
I really love your asides here-- it makes me feel like you're letting me in on a great secret. And I also love the sense I get reading this and pre-knowing the outcome-- the want to holler a warning out to prince Narcissus, but alas, "his emptiness consumed him." And you end with "the murky surface"-- not a bad line either, so thank you. Take care. BTW: Ogress episode continues as a commentary to Ted Bossis' latest poem. (It's a kissing book) --Charlie