poetry

Pound Slam Kansas City

Last night I attended the POUND SLAM, Kansas City’s poetry competition for our national team.   After months of competitions 15 Kansas City poets were left standing and it was time to whittle down the team to 5.  Hard hitting, emotionally high pitched, and frequently humorous poet after poet presented us with a thought provoking look at our city and what separates us from the state line to Troost, dividing Kansas Ctiy into multiple worlds, this group of young poets are more proof of the amazing talent you can find here in our own home town. On more than one occasion I was moved to tears other times I found myself laughing and yet at other times anger pressed against my chest screaming to get out.  

When the words had settled and the results were in Jeanette Powers, Ezhno Martín, Dylan Kingsley, Keith L. Bohannon & Angela Roulette were chosen as the official team members.   A lot of hours of paperwork, rehearsals, heart and soul went into making of this amazing event.   I am so grateful that Slammaster Jen Harris invited me and that I had the good sense to take along friends to enjoy this amazing evening.

If you are a lover of words check out what is going on around the city and attend a Slam.   You may even find that you want to stand at the mic and let it rip.

Slammaster Jen Harris wowed the crowd with her poem and performance.

Once Upon a Time

Fragment III 

Neo-Platonic decrees

we communicate with

the Divine through Love.

In the eye of Venus

the breath of sea breezes

dances on my skin and

the delicate sounds of

waves caressing the shore,

fills my ears.

I kneel and pay homage

to this angelic face,

immersed in the spirit of Love.

            17 August 1994

             Upon seeing Botticelli’s Birth of Venus 

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Once upon a time I sat writing in my journal, a poetry of sorts, while hiding from the Florentine sun on the patio of the Hotel Rivoli.  It was a magical time.

The Lucky One

I always knew

you would erase me first

but I never thought

it would be this way

out of your control

     you were always the star

     the rest of us bit players

     in your private movie

     doing your bidding

where will your mind take you

when it is only you

inside your head?

will I be a shadow

or nothing at all

something that never was?

Are you the lucky one

Having forgotten

what once was

     dessert hikes

     cliff climbing

     skiing meadows

Bruce and Bob long dead

am I the only one

holding memories

     summers by the pool

     candle lit gourmet dinners

     fresh squeezed orange juice

     the bedside breakfast tray?

perhaps you are

the lucky one

                        Elaine Mills

                        9-3-2012

                     image

                                                    Perfect Heart © Elaine Mills

                      image 

                                 Broken Heart Elaine Mills © Elaine Mills                     

                      image

                                                  Healing Heart © Elaine Mills

www.elainemills.com

For JP upon receiving – Elaine’s Tape

Listening

Track after track

To steal a phrase

Watercolor memories

Of a million

Or maybe

Just forty years ago

Not fair

Not fair of you

To dare

Stir the bottom

Of my heart

Buried emotions

Flailing to the surface

Not fair

Low blow

Wouldn’t act

Couldn’t act

Afraid or incapable?

Reserved or guarded

Or just terrified

Of it being too much

A pot boiling over

A heart bursting

Souls merging

Not fair

Not fair of you

To dare

Stir the bottom

Of my heart

Still listening

Track after track

To steal a phrase

Watercolor memories

Of a million

Or maybe

Just forty years ago

                              Elaine Mills

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Moon Rise for JP 

Coyote and Me

Coyote and Me

Rising above indigo mountains

November’s dessert moon

Casts shadows, lights paths

Through red rock canyons

Bathing me in purity

Coyote sitting on a high rock

Releases throaty moans

Howling into the void

     I howl back

     He howls again

Coyote and me,

     Howling

     Howling

     Howling

                                       Elaine Mills

                                      November sometime in the late 70’s The Valley of                                       Fire in Southern Nevada

www.elainemills.com

Absolution

made my peace with God

that sunday morning

while the golden sea

showed it’s’ calm smooth temperament

i watched your nude

aristocratic hips

in the early morning shadows

my heart swelled with joy

the beauty of it all

absolution had been granted

sinners don’t have such mornings

                                Elaine Mills     

                                Fall, 1972 

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www.elainemills.com

Afternoon Temptation

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Afternoon Temptation

Sitting in close proximity

to her subject

This warm July afternoon

The seductive scent of

summer permeating the studio

Tempting lush rosy curves

rising into golden cleavage

Mouth watering in anticipation

of sucking the sweet sticky flesh

between her hungry lips

Juice dripping from her chin

On to the paint stained shirt

The Sweet Dream Peach

gave her all, both

subject and substance

No more to be painted

only remembered

in the poorly

rendered painting.

                     E. L. Mills

                    7/11/2014

www.elainemills.com