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"
