Poetry and Potpourri ....... September 24, 2003

9-24-2003 | JustAmy, Mama_Bear, St.Louie1

[JustAmy]

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The Poetry Branch has been in limbo since the prior hostess left FreeRepublic April 15th 2003. We've since learned that said hostess has lost her posting privilege. That being the case, and Jim Robinson having given his ok, I wanted to renew the thread.

FreeRepublic is blessed with many fine poets, and we look forward to seeing their poems posted on FR once again. There were many non-poet FReepers who visited the Poetry Branch for the camaraderie; we hope they will return.

I would like to invite everyone to visit and relax at Poetry and Potpourri. Hopefully you will renew old acquaintances for chatting, sharing jokes, telling stories, posting cartoons, etc. Everyone needs a place to escape from the everyday news, make Poetry and Potpourri that place.

...................

The Belvedere's Guardian Wolf ~
the always charming, lovable, huggable,
LouieWolf.

[Jen]

My pencil is getting itchy...

Oh goodie! I'm supposed to be calling a client. But I think I need a nap first.

[Jen]

How funny Amy. I 'talk' that way too. hahahaha

[Darksheare]

Oh, you'll be around.
Don't worry about that.
It's a slow and almost seductive but not so subtle change in the form of the poetry you write.
Could be worse, you could end up writing almost the same kind of gothic style stuff I write.

[Jen]

LJ - here is your bread crumb so you can find me and the gang today. Come on over and share some poetry or a joke or whatever.

[Jen]

I haven't written poetry in decades, but perhaps I'll write some more if so inspired. You gonna share some of your verse with us sometime?

[MistyCA]

Yes! Come on by, Larry!

[Darksheare]

Mine is more on the depressing side.
I'll try to find the LEAST depressing of it.
My sis compares my writing to Edgar Allen Poe, which is funny since I say the same for some of her stuff.

It's usually freeverse, but doesn't always conform to accepted formats.
I'm digging through what I have on hand and see what I'll find.

[Billie]

Billie, thanks for taking time out of your busy day to come by with those kind words.

Amy, I love this thread and I plan to visit every day! You are doing such a fantastic job reviving the interest in the poetry thread. :) There are many poets out there who seem happy to have found it, and looks like many have settled in for the potpourri part, too. :)

[Darksheare]

Inspired by a line in Tori Amos' song "Spark"
The line that started it: "Selling my soul to the ice cream assassin."

What it wrought:

The Icecream Assassin,
The man with the sweetest smile
and the coldest heart.
He has many colors and flavors
to pick from.
But they all come with a price.

[Pippin]

"HOMELAND"

Pippin: 09/24/03

This is dedicated to President Bush and to the people who died on sept. 11th 2001

Also to out troops

Oh, God, Why me?

Why my country and her people?

I feel so alone

Isolated

I have few friends.

Then a voice gently whispered in my ear

"All is well"

said He

Know, my child, that with you I'll ever be

A gentle breeze I felt upon my face

My fears it gently erased.

I saw the towers tall and strong come crashing down

My heart sank in my chest

Is this the end I asked

waiting for what's next.

Then that voice came back to me and whispered, My child, Never fear

with you I am near.

I saw my President standing tall and brave saying " We will not fail"

I saw the Fire fighter saying "All is clear"

I saw the soldier proud and strong saying "I'll run my foe into the ground.

My God said, "All is well"

America, America!

My homeland fair!

You are still proud!

You are still free!

Well, it's not exactly a poem but it comes from the heart and it's not quite finished.

But it's telling of fear and hope and faith in God and love for the USA!

[dansangel]

Great job, Pippin. That one is truly from the heart!

[Pippin]

Thanks, Dansy!

[JustAmy]

That is great!!!! (((( Pippin ))))

Thanks for sharing with us.

[okimhere]

looks like something we should serve this afternoon

mmmmm.....mmmmm....YUM! Save a slice for me. Looks so good! I bought a Louisiana Crunch cake by Entenmann's yesterday, and it looks a lot like this Paradise Cake but baked in a bundt pan. It's too good to be true, but home-baked is always best.

[JustAmy]

... Barm Brack

Similar breads, using a fruity yeast dough, are made in other parts of Britain. Scotland has its Selkirk bannock and Wales has bara brith, which means speckled bread, a reference to the fruit in the mixture. In Ireland, barm brack was traditionally eaten at Hallowe'en.

Makes 1 large loaf

Fresh yeast - 15g (½ oz), or 1½ tsp dried and a pinch of sugar
Warm water - 300 ml (½ pint)
Butter - 25g (1 oz)
Strong white flour - 450g (1 lb)
Caster sugar - 4 tbsp
Ground ginger - ½ tsp
Freshly grated nutmeg
Sultanas - 175g (6 oz)
Currants - 175g (6 oz)
Chopped candied peel - 50g (2 oz)

METHOD

Blend the fresh yeast with the warm water. If using dried yeast, sprinkle it into the warm water with the pinch of sugar and leave in a warm place for 15 minutes, until frothy.

Rub the butter into the flour, then stir in half of the sugar, the ginger and nutmeg to taste. Stir in the fruit and peel and mix well together. Make a well in the centre and stir in the yeast liquid.

Beat well together until the dough leaves the sides of the bowl clean. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead well for about 10 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Place in a clean bowl. Cover with a clean tea towel and leave in a warm place for about 1 hour, until doubled in size.

Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead lightly. Shape the dough into a large round or oval and place on a greased baking sheet. Cover and leave in a warm place for about 30 minutes, until doubled in size.

Bake at 230 °C / 450 °F / Gas 8 for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 200 °C / 400 °F / Gas 6 and bake for a further 20-30 minutes, until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Dissolve the remaining sugar in 1 tablespoon hot water and brush over the loaf to glaze. Return to the oven for 2-3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.


You may want to make this for Halloween this year. Notice that I said You.

[MistyCA]

The Ice Cream assassin. Now, that´s something that provokes strange thoughts. Interesting subject actually. It would be interesting to see what kinds of interpretations different people might have for that.

[Billie]

Hi, Jen. What a regal poem, colors and all! :)

[JustAmy]

Do you think it's obvious that I've discovered a new recipe site? LOL

[Billie]

Bless you, Pippin, for this moving verse straight from your heart. :)

[Darksheare]

I'm not sure.
But the response, if it is seen at all, may be odd in and of itself.
Could be worse, it could be this one freshly posted somewhere else but written three years ago:

Comatose

*Heart monitor beeping, respirator hiss, fade in*

I wander under the Shadows
seperated from the Light
Drifting memories on
a wispy dreamscape sky
I'm haunted by visions of
her gently smiling
Face
Days and days we say
"We see no change"
drifting in the haze
of a moth's tranquility
but it's lost inside of me
Existence jealousy
Further down the path unstoppable
a passenger inside the mind
Things to see are so unreal
But the things I want are
Far behind
Days and days we say
"We see no change"
drifting in the haze
of a moth's tranquility
but it's lost inside of me
Existence jealousy
Like a mouse inside a maze
wandering and dazed
an amatuer's preamble to
a pointless chain of thought
I'm haunted by a vision
of a door to my cage

*Heart monitor beeping, respirator hiss, fade out*