2 Poems

So once again coming back to me being a literary prude, these are two poems I wrote a couple years ago. I think I like them pretty well. The intent was for them to be sensual and evoke sensuality (or sexy thoughts, if you will) in the reader.

But generally, sensuality/sexuality don't really play much of a part (if any part at all) in my writing. I think it's very difficult to be sensual without being overtly, ridiculously, amateurishly sexual, which (in writing, anyway) is a very bad thing. I think it's even more difficult in prose rather than poetry. I laugh (hysterically, I assure you) when I read things I wrote in high school which described kissing scenes and more, even though I had never experienced any of it. It's obviously harder to describe something you have no knowledge of! But now that I'm older and do have experience, it's still hard.

You don't want to write porn (at least I don't, anyway) and you don't want to sound childish and inexperienced. So what do you do? I'm not sure. And then if you can master it, you still have to find the right balance. If you're not writing erotica or romance novels, you have to be sure that the sexuality isn't excessive or gratuitous. Again, a difficult thing to decide how much is too much, and which scenes are vital to (or at least give a little depth to) the big picture.

But enough of that. On to some poetry:

To Love Her

In the orchard, acres to be
harvested. Trees still green, branches
laden, bowed with weighted
fruits firm to a gentle touch - fragrant
down of a peach pressed
against a pointed nose; grip
tightens. Taut plums await
pillaging thumbs and teeth; serpents
seduce with forbidden fruits; salacious
ripe apples fit perfectly into a curve
of palm, lifted to waiting
lips eager for the experience.

Body Conscious

Heat radiates from
fingertips, soft, stirring
the hairs on an arm.
Lips brush tender flesh,
whisper over a gentle curve
of neck, shoulder, rounded
hip. Hot breath speaks of imminent
ecstasy, a small shiver
a shudder tickles and tantalizes,
and her back arches, creates a
small hollow - a perfect
fit for the solid
warmth of his hand.

Me, a Prude?

So, I'm always looking for ways to be a better writer. I'm always seeking to improve myself and my craft. I was reading some poetry and short stories the other day by people who are actually published in reputable literary journals and magazines. The proverbial "they" say that's the best way to figure which journals/mags are the best fit for your own personal work. Makes sense. I think it's also a good way to see how other writers write, and how what they do can help me improve my own work.

So, the point of this is that as I was reading one story that I particularly liked, I came to realize something.

I think I may be a prude! Not me as a person, literally, but in my writing sometimes. I don't use too many curse words, and when I do, I use the safe ones. Hell. Damn. Stuff like that. I can't even remember the last time I dropped the f-bomb in a short story or a poem. I don't really even say it that often (although I did write an interesting bit about how much I liked the word back in high school...maybe I should dig that out). And I've never used the c-word. You know, the one that is a derogatory term for a woman's.... ah, you know it. See, I can't even write it to discuss it! I don't like that word. I scold my husband whenever he uses it.

But that doesn't mean a character can't use it! That doesn't mean I can't use it in my writing to convey a point!

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to go around writing stuff with a bunch of swear words in it or anything like that. But these kinds of words can serve a real purpose in writing, whether they convey a character's personality, set a mood or theme, or invoke some kind of response from the reader.

When I read over the stuff I've written in the past, it sometimes seems so..... I don't know. Maybe too much like me. I want to have my own personal style and voice, but maybe it's getting in the way? I think my writing can be very politically correct sometimes. Which, I guess I'd have to truthfully say, is exactly how I can be sometimes. I don't want to be un-PC, but I don't want that to interfere with a good story, either.

I think I need to take more risks. In my writing, that is. Although more risk-taking in my own personal life may translate onto paper, too. We'll see. I'll have to work on this one.

Introduction to Jello

Welcome to my blog. I plan to fill it with lots of my writing, because that is what I love to do. I also love fashion design, music, DIY projects, and lots of other things, but writing will probably be the main focus of this blog. But before I get started..... a little background.....

Jello

Aside from being a clever (or not) nickname given to me in high school, jello is a fun little food.

Jiggly. Wiggly. Sweet. Squishy.

But jello is so much more. We can learn some serious life lessons from jello. Seriously. Let me tell you a little about my life's philosophy that I gleaned from that silly little snack.

What is it that I love about jello? Let me count the ways.... I mean.... I'll tell you.

1. It's versatile and goes with the flow. You can put it in a cup. Or a big bowl. Or some funny shaped molds. Even some fancy champagne flutes. And that's only the half of it. You don't even have to eat it if you don't want to. Jello wrestling, anyone?
2. Talk about variety! Cherry, lime, strawberry, all kinds of flavors. Mix and match for your own crazy concoctions. There's bound to be something for everyone.
3. It's not a diva! You can add your own input and jello just gets even better. A dollop of whipped cream. Stash some pineapple chunks or grapes in there. Pop a diamond ring in your girlfriend's jello and see what happens. The sky is the limit, folks.

Seriously, I could go on and on. But I'll spare you. The bottom line is this:

You can do whatever you want to jello and chances are, it'll still be awesome. Not because it's red jello or green jello, not because it's shaped like a star or served in a fancy glass, and not because you put some fruit or a diamond ring in it. It'll still rock because that's what jello does. That's what jello is.

Jello is fabulous. Jello is a rockstar. Jello is just fine on its own and doesn't need your fancy serving bowl or diamond ring filler.

That's what we need to learn from jello. That we're all rockstars in our own right.

Spiked hair, tattoos, piercings. Or not.

Three-piece suit, perfect coif, designer shoes. Or not.

You can look like Farmer Ted one day, a hardcore punk rocker the next day, and a Wall Street broker the day after that.

As long as you live knowing that who you are - not what you look like, what you do, what you eat or don't eat, who you love, or whatever - is what makes you an amazing person, then you have learned the jello lesson.