Cut off my nose, despite my face And stuff carnations to not smell the garbage burning.
My eyes popped out, replaced by Amethysts They make me more observant, beyong the periferal.
The noodle in my skull, keeps growing vines with morning glories, miguelitos, and grapes. People like to pick at my brain.
Implant two more pairs of arms so I can finish all I need to do without calling for help.
Amputate my feet as to make them stop aching. I'll keep them safe in a sandbox. Letting droplets of sea tickle my toes.
Send me to heaven with a good pair of Eagle wings. They'll alleviate the muscle spasms. And I'll fly to Europe.
Finally, make me skinny... I'm not fat nor ugly, liking how I look. But I feel pretty heavy.
Being alive is killing me How soon will I die again?
I have to schedule a party with some friends. They're tired and stressed. With their heads chopped off, they'll gripe less. Pull out our lungs, we'll smoke forever. While you're at it, slash our guts out. We'll feast and drink to our ends' desires!
"copete", "copete" te metiste en el soquete llegaste a mi casa con agua llene tu taza con baño y espuma al salir la luna cortando tu pelusa parecias medusa te pintaba verde y azul contento estabas tu "where were you?" aullabas cuando regresaba corrias ladrando con tu osito verde jugando dormias en mi cama y la llenabas de lana tu sacabas a mi papa a caminar pero yo te paseaba a rodear papitas comias de McDonald's, y sonreias te pusiste malito senti haber cometido un delito cinco años en la casa parecias de pelusa y masa mi angel del cielo te enterraron en el suelo mi perrito cariñoso siempre veo tu foto... sonriendo con tu oso.
Chevalterre Nabil 23 agosto 08
Un trio de perros
"pow-pow" y "aza" acostaditos bajo el kiosko Y no les hables... que se alborotan! Uno chilla, otro mea uno huye el otro te escucha uno destroza el otro se rinde uno morenito el otro blanquito los dos hermanos gemelos opuestos complices peludos juguetones y peleoneros ... pero luego pobrecito "penny" grandote y bonito dulce y gentil solito en el rincon? nepas! hablale y veras que se cree chiquito tambien brincando... revolcandose mientras los dos chiquillos se trepan sobre el grandote consintiendose de tus cariños.
Chevalterre Nabil 23 agosto 08
About "ducky"
There we were, under the scorching Arizona sun. My dad and I, hand in hand. I was four, maybe five. My brothers beside us. Dad pointed and asked us to pick. The first one I saw of a litter of five. Focused I was on nothing else around. That little German Shepard, like me: dark and brown. There are pictures of me and my buddy. I named him "ducky". I don't know why, but we were a match. Growing -- slender and long. Nine years we had him in the family, until parvo hit. But I won't dare get into that... don't dare taint his memory. Ducky!
Chevalterre Nabil 23 Aug. 08
"duque II"
There he was, an adorable creature. Light colored German Shepard. It's one of the family's favored breeds. In my teens I was, on weekends crossing the border. As I've mentioned before, this I did for a living. To do hotel and motel laundry in my grandparents' backyard "lavanderia" with our family friend, Miguel. In the morning, I cleaned the house. I especially enjoyed the cheap, little dog statues integrated with the immediate family portraits. All of grandma's dogs were family too. She loved naming them "duque" or "duquina", as to call them duke or dutchess. Though dutchess is "duquesa". Anywho, "duque" the second, or was he the third, would accompany me... After I'd cleaned, we'd have a long lunch break. I'd practice my recorder just to play something. The organ was broken, and I'd started a trend of leaving the violin at home. And as I was playing in the middle bedroom, Grandma calls me over to the kitchen. I heard the dog making a strange noise. He wasn't in pain. No. He was accompanying me. A fun little show. While Grandpa and Miguel delivered Saturday's laundry and brought in Sunday's before I'd go in to wash: The "'duque' and Karla show" would go on for our one-lady audience. Me on my recorder, and the dog on vocals.
on 28 June '08, writer/poet Chuck Taylor presented at Tumblewords Project, writing workshop. His theme was based on the heart chakra.
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"Breathing Crystalized" - Chevalterre Nabil
Why is it so hard to breathe? Why do I feel this pain? It is only in my mind a feeling not quite sane.
You see how well I am I sound and look well But deep down inside my crystal green heart did swell.
I carry a bag with things I like sometimes I forget the cigarettes and match to stike.
When and why I smoke I do not know. But it is like an incense letting the bad out-flow.
Sometimes I don't need the actual substance but I imagine it and air comes in great abundance.
art animation: Emerald Heart (this is the crystal green heart mentioned in the poem.)
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Untiltled: - Chevalterre Nabil
I lean on his chest he embraces me warm and soft he feels All is calm all is serene
Suddenly, this annoying ticking makes my neck stiff and back ache.
tick-tick-tick-tick Is that your watch? He doesn't answer...
I freak out and yell, "What's going on?!"
He plays with my mind and plays with my heart
the robot under his skin As I see the war scars like a zipper used to close up the suit
tick-ticK-tiCK-tICK-TICK
I leave him... he tried to have unprotected sex.
Well, at least my Heart goes, "Lub-Dub"...
I don't date machines!
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Later, during the Tumblewords presentation, Chuck asked us to remember or create some catch-phrases... this is what I came up with:
1. At least my heart doesn't tick. - CN 2. Your heart's a ticking time bomb. - CN 3. If you do not empathize, you have no heart. - CN 4. The heart of an amphibean has drowned the heart of a mammal. - CN
Do stop the red radio at the top of this page first...
Three new poems, and my favorite classic song encorporated to accompany as you read. (in my three favorite versions of "Rose Garden"
First Port Visit, July 1998
Pulling into port.
Melendez (the other Carla) calls 'em "russianos". She's from L.A. She's excited to see Russians
1st day, port visit.
Brody was lucky During the locally famous baritone's concert she was kissed by another singer Unluckily, later she was bit by a gypsy's monkey at the plaza.
Had dinner with the Lesbian-Gay bunch paid six dollars for clean bottled water while I intervene in with the violin accompanied on piano. And our waitress is off making out with the other waitress we can hear their moans and giggles.
I watch the Chicano boys become more drunk than the Russkies
And pretty boy Mendivil took me to his dry-stock shack to show off his tongue piercing. I walked off to go to sleep. Some girl saw us stepping out, the stupidest rumor that broke him up with the worst gossip... two years later. Never date the gossip from New Mexico!
N. E. w-a-y-s...
2nd day, port visit
Wore my best black Indian dress at a picnic COMREL (community relations) event mingle with my friends I was at my smallest, size 12 and bust almost bursting out of the dress.
3rd day Last day of port visit...
4th of July, 1998 in Vladivastok Sunset's 10 at night mile-long walk on the beach... south end's cold he snuck some fresh apples... from the galley north end's hot
buy a quick coke and burger with cucumbers and carrots as fix-ins chill and watch the "babushka" sun-bathers in their 50's with their grandkids check out all the hot boys take pictures with them in trios.
your shipmate and you dressed in whites trying to keep away from the 12-year old gypsy girl
be watchful of your uniform items they'll be traded in for zippos learn some lingo "yaponski konfiete" That's Japanese candy to drive the middle-finger-flipping kids away Yell at them "niet!" but it only brings more of them.
Hideout and at the pizzeria there is no pizza, nor is the toilet clean drink some vodka as the last of the RM's and new IT's arm restle later the lying Vlad sitting by the boom box we listen to Julio Iglesias' "Nostalgie" a local favorite he lies about his travels to China... why would he lie? after all, it's just across the bay.
tag-along later with your shipmate, Becker while he looks for his love, Olga As the sun goes down we have an hour left of Liberty he finds her they makeout at the beach parking lot and I make small talk with some boys as we all watch the "fiereverke" and the fireworks spark between Olga and Becker and the town-drunk, (he's been drinking since 5 a.m.) attacks us I got spit in my eye... while one of the boys insults Mexico for being known for it's drugs and he still insults the U.S. it's a fair opinion.
After all, he's happy unhappy to be Russian. Our ship's command has invaded for a few days. And the town of Vladivastok has turned on its power and "fiereverke" just for us.
The U.S. Navy.
American Stereotype
I'm sitting patiently
in my Pacific-Asian influenced outfit
carrying a woven tote.
I forgot to put on my eye makeup
and I'm waiting for the next song
It's karaoke night
and I want to sing
a little blue grass
and later some punk rock
but before I get called
the cutest guy comes up and asks
"Eres Mexicana? yo soy Mexiquense!"
I answer, "No, yo soy de aqui."
He pushes the compliment that I look SO Mexican.
I humbly thank him and blush a little.
I like my features.
Then he asks...
"Eres CATOLICA?"
"te ves muy bonita"
I think... "what's this fool talking about?"
I ask in reply,
"QUE?! Ya no te entiendo."
And I cross my arms, trying to look past him.
Then with his smile still attached to his cheeks,
he explains, he's Mexican and Catholic.
I ease up, kiss him gently on the lips
and thank him for the acquaintance.
In silence, as to not hurt his feelings,
I shout...
"Soy orgullosa de ser Americana, Estado-unidense!
en este pais puedo escoger mi forma de ser
especialmente ser espiritual y no religiosa."
In translation, and please don't get lost...
I'm proud to be an American.
Classic American cars and Traditional burger joints
So... they gave the 'Cute as a Button' "VW" a little German accent on its' new television commercial and someone voiced "racism" due to its past 'Hitler revenge'. The poor new buggy, I think was mistreated. After all, it's the hottest little ride in all of Mexico.
So it's not such an American classic to some (hard to drive through the Franklin Mountains during June winds)...
But ya sure gotta love riding in and drivin up to a burger joint, and have a:
Chico's Tacos burger with your double-cheese tacos in your 'Aristocratic' "Lincoln Continental" while listening to Radio La Chusma
Get a ten-burger pack for the whole chusma de chamacos from the Original Hamburger Stand in your 'French' "Pontiac Parisienne
Cruise on up to Scenic drive with your date and 'Animal Magnetism' of a 70's "Ford Mustang", "Mercury Cougar", "Corvette Stingray", "Plymouth Barracuda" (and I just can't make up my mind cause they're all so hot!) well just cruise on up there after the BBQ burger with your Familia
Take a lunch break at Sonic in your 'Wall Street Power Broker' cherry red 1967 "Pontiac Executive"
I can see my Chilango neighbors in their 'Don't-Mess-With-Me' "Lamborgini Diablo heading to pick a massive stack at Carl's Junior (where, BTW they can use their pesos!)
Did you ever make some noise in a 'Vroom! Vroom!' "Triumph Spitfire" or "Pontiac Gran Prix" on your way through Wendy's?
Were you a 'Good Citizen' enough to take the "Honda Civic", "Acura Integra", "Plymouth Reliant" to Burger King?
Role play with your blind date... in your 'Secret Agent' "Dodge Stealth", "Dodge Shadow", or sexy "RollsRoyce Phantom" and get dumped as she discovers you're cheap by ordering from the dollar menu at McDonald's!
watcha! your neighbor with the little box-like Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear Heading to Jack-in-the-Box...
Some fantastic cars and your mouth's watering?...
quieres ir? for a Kahuna burger before karaoke at the Briar Patch on a Sunday afternoon...
Some come on already pick up this White Eagle on your 'Bird of Prey' My ultimate favorite: a 1956, snow white "Ford Thunderbird"
see their magical secret garden, cone and sphere - shaped trees Pet a tiger feed a banana to the sleepy monkey shop for stones stone chips stone murals while arguing with a mccaw mccaw's as tired as the monkey... ride a painting elephant. quite a talented and educated elephant i wonder if they'll do the same for Thai children Instead you find them, her dancing not necessarily at the poles but deffinitely as a teibolera pulling razors followed by entrails while she runs backstage the family medic checks her out all's well so you can drink the milk she just drank a moment ago exit and be greeted by another child blonde with round eyes the child of the owner from Europe challenging legitimate locals who run honest tailorshops and vast wonderous markets of cloths, demon masks, insence, and fruit don't enjoy your beer without a child hitting on you you say no she turns to your date she says no she invites you both together walk out enjoy the markets don't eat the roaches but do buy clothing brand name cheaper than the retail price I like that other shirt the vendor tells me "but it's for a man" I thought it was a blouse what does that say about me? we head around the corner drink some Starbucks and eat roasted sweet elote off the street or... head to the KFC watch the Filipino boys hold hands as they order... an older Euro rich fella escorting another child as she tells her story to raise money for Mother and Father and her little brothers' education the future merchant? go back for another beer seems calmer I saw my shipmate eat another child out at the bar... no wonder he won't return my work pen... wake at day have some noodles with egg on top Thai food, not your El Paso, Northeast corner stuff go relax get a $2.00 massage while your shipmate heads to the backroom for a soapie getting lathered, lathered she... he ... glides on him front and back as your masseuse rubs in the wrong ointment making you scream it burns! it burns... Do your eyes burn yet? Dear King Jackson Brown didn't teach you? you haven't seen enough? My cocain cousin wanted to visit your land he never made it he's stuck in his drug rut of Hell Paso
And the clowning poet with the marks on his cheaks always asks me What's an El Pasoan doing overseas in Asia? And what's a Sailor who's been to Thailand, doing in El Paso?
Answer that for yourself, mate. Bon soir.
.... tour check-off list: Visit the Golden Buddha watch the Thai cholitos kick box live in the street ride the boat on the River Kwai dirty water, no good for drinking watch houses on stilts with shrines at the entrances and the kid use a dirt mound for a toilet feed bread to the catfish near the surface Get measured for a silk dress buy a chero shirt with the rooster embroider run into an Chicano vato stylin like you on the dance floor near midnight, Cinderella liberty hunting down your buddy while she's in the motel humpin her boy toy unprepared to see the Captain tomorrow morning get laid, by a girl with pretty yellow flowers and get passed by your own shipmates who didn't recognize you cause you blend in well morenita with long black hair wearing the sarong and woven hat
Yes, darling, It's quite a good day to visit Thailand.
