It's a Wrap

it's a wrap 

frankincense, cedar, myrrh and 

linens with

tincture of anger

Mercurochrome teeth to clean with

salmagundi of blame and defense

like rancid flax and floss

spiteful salt skin scrubbing

its like ...................... grass blade finger cut , 

paper  thin-sliced meat .......and

incubated

coming to roost ........ digging to root

eggs of malcontent

murdering heart and soul

               another heated spoonful 

                                                    bite down         

brown dope

..............................................brown paper bag

a suicide.                      a

murder suicide

of the heart 

and soul.

but  don't mind me;

................................i don't know my neighbor

i barely know myself.

E.

 01/20/2020

Author's Note

Reviews

[DIVYA]

Such vivid imagery, dear E. The mercurochrome teeth we bare, the salt we scrub on bleeding wounds, grass blade finger cuts and the eggs of malcontent and mal-intent we lay in them and watch those maggots of death hatch and spurt through.

Do we do all this to things and people most precious? Yes, we do. Are we so evil and vile...perhaps yes or perhaps no...Perhaps, as you said, we are just lost....

I enjoyed and loved this read.

[Einstein Noodle]

you certainly captured the mood and intent Divya .. i appreciate the depth and sensitivity in your review .. thanks so much for taking time

[DIVYA]

It’s always a pleasure, dear E. Loved this write. 🤗

[Unspoken poet]

such vivid imagery here, sad write. very well written

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks for taking time choosen! and thank you for the FR .. which i wholeheartedly accept .. i will try to keep up with your stuff .. as best i can .. i subscribe, check RRs read whats current .. and sometimes will come looking for you .. thanks again for letting me know you thoughts ..peace and love
E.

[Ruth]

I am left with jaw ajar in amazement, the imagery and pristine unfolding of this is brilliant. So many lives we know nothing about but know of, the uniformed street with uniformed houses conceal myriad tragedies and yet the masses turn to anything but wanting to get involved. This is excellent E!

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you Ruth .. for your insightful and sensitive reading of this ... i appreciate you reviewing .. for taking the time ...

[Sami Khalil]

If this powerful poem is not about our current virus mayhem, I would have taken it as a lesson and snapshot of the Middle East. The wars, hatreds, wraps as favourite sandwiches, the cedars of Lebanon. It can also apply to the struggles of the black citizens in America to gain full rights and such but with a heavy cost. Either way sir, you are a master at precise but enigmatic concepts which draws us in to think deeper and wider. Take good care and enjoy the Ozarks...

[Einstein Noodle]

no...it is pre-virus .. but mayhem for sure ;) love your openness to various interpretations, Sami! you are a "thinking man" for sure ... am enjoying each moment at my age and situation .. our little snapshots of the Ozarks more than overflow .. each and every one of those moments .. i am very fortunate indeed .. and grateful for sure .. health and happiness always sir ... and solid ground through the turmoil!
E.

[Sami Khalil]

You deserve it and you are welcome. Keep the blessings coming as God has blessed you sir.

[Dave Brown]

I certainly relate to the don't know my neighbor confession
The current conditions will surely exasperate that scenario

[Einstein Noodle]

how true how true Dave ... but we are on the recovery road right!? :)
thanks so much for taking time and letting me know ... helps a lot
E.

[Betty Hermelee]

To me, a very sad comment on the world as we know it. More intimately it is more about anger, loss of hope, perhaps homelessness and fear. Your writing is much more deep and obtuse for me to grasp, but I'm doing the best I can. I'm much more realistic with my images. I welcome you to be a friend. Fondly, Betty

[Einstein Noodle]

:) obtuse?? well .. i do suppose it can be annoying to try and tie loose flying images into a bow of some kind .. but i love you for trying ... much of what i write is abstract ... to create a certain sense that people can take what they can from ... there is anger .. and pain ... a certain deception and self destroying behaviors ... and perhaps a pinch of hypocrisy we all share to some degree ;) ... thank you for the new friendship Betty .. i will try to keep up with your posts as best i can .. love and peace!
E.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thanks, I guess there's no right or wrong critique. Each has his/her own perspective. Thank for being a freind, Betty

[Einstein Noodle]

yes ... i also give classic forms a go now and again .. keeps one foot on the ground so to speak ;)

[Rania M]

Hello Mr. Noodle,
I find certain lines in this poem so remarkable in their consistency with the recent times. Eggs of malcontent coming to roost. The pandemic man brought upon himself.
I don’t know my neighbor and I barely know myself. Feels unreal. All the distrust and uncertainty of these times. I often wonder who can I trust? And fear even my own shadow could betray me.
Thanks for this imaginative and lovely post.
Keep safe!
Love
~ Rania

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you for taking time Rania .. and for sharing your thoughts on the poem ... i love how you brought it into our present day situation ... so much unknown and fear, like you say .. and great mistrust ... especially fueled by the horrible political climate ... its such a shame at a time when working together and trust are a must .. personal responsibility for our common sense actions will win the day ... its just going to take time :( you be well dear friend ... we can roam freely ... right here at the Cafe' ;)))
E.

[Rania M]

Oh yeah! A bit of virtual roaming seems the best way to go :)
In East Africa, it’s still business as usual but seems like my days outdoors may soon be numbered ;) Like many Norwegians here I often spend 9 hours in the sun. I’ll be go mad inside 4 walls sir!
You be well too and take care of yourself! ❤️

[Einstein Noodle]

oh my ... i am thinking of you dahlink! ... i think being outdoors is ok as long as one is feeling well and can stay a safer distance from others .. i am lucky and have not had to change my life style much .. i live about 8 miles from the nearest very small town .. in the Ozark forests of Arknasas .. am retired and rarely go into town anyway ... i am outdoors a lot with different projects ... pretty lucky i think ... maybe if you are stuck inside .. a new window will open for you :)))))))))))))))

[Rania M]

I love the solace forests offer. Lucky yous! We have plenty here too but not very safe to venture near them alone. I love the MasaiMara Reserve though.
As for me I’ll just write more poetry I guess ;)

[Einstein Noodle]

glad to hear that Rania .. i will try to keep up reading them ;)

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

A fragmented piece which allows the reader to run from one image to the next and back again, powerful and without fear, well done, good read.

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks for reading Thomas ... yeah ... pretty fragmented for sure ... tried to squeeze the imaging ... it is what it is i guess .. i really appreciate all you visits Sir Fitzgerald ... so many writers to read around here we do loose touch now and again ... thank you for taking time and for letting me know your thoughts .. peace and health!
E.

[.]

For some reason this poem had me thinking about the film "Falling Down"....with its metaphors for the decay of society in general; how all things are losing morality in the quagmire of daily excess and the ills that modern living seduces us with. For all the beauty that we surround ourselves with, we also have a natural propensity to seek out destructive pleasures that ruin our quality of life. Engage in such things and life becomes a downward spiral and we lose our sense of community and self. That is where your poem took me, dear E. Your abstract style makes one think deeper to understand the message you are trying to convey. Much appreciated! :))

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks so much again for your insightful eyes ... i do see the world heading downward ... only Faith in something Greater sustains our true selves says i ... we would all drop off if not for it ... so happy to have met you ... right here at the Cafe' ... and yes .. my "voice" is abstract but i give classic forms a go now and then to keep me grounded :)))
E.

[barleygirl]

This is a quirky mesmerizing stream of imagery leading to some surprising conclusions! For years I've been reading poetry like this & just hoping I can understand what it all stands for . . . what does it evoke in me? But this time, this poem made me want to learn to write like this. This was close enuf to my understanding where I don't feel intimidated by the abstractedness & I would love to be able tap such an uninhibited flow of sparkling ideas (if there is one in there! *wink! wink!*) . . . I really love the twist of devilment at the end (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Einstein Noodle]

you know Margie ... when you read my stuff like this one ..it so makes my day... i think we are all striving to find our "voice" or working to refine it ... glad the twist spoke to you .. its pretty important in the poem actually ... i think you have an incredible patch work "in there" dumplin! thanks for wrestling with my wacky ways ... love on ya! peace and joy all day long

[Pete]

a clever, menacing and disturbing write. guess i won't be moving to your neighborhood anytime soon. everyone has a breaking point - we don't really know what lurks and what we are capable of. at least there's no blood at the crime scene of a murdered heart and soul. sometimes we're better off not knowing. i like the way you "wrapped up" the write. just remember to lime the hole. reminds me of, ''Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.'' ... :)

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahahaha well ... don't be too afraid Pete! i lead our very successful neighborhood watch ... i know everyone around me and they are good solid people working together to keep that success ... yes .. no blood from a heart that is wounded .. only inside .. until the poet awakens eh!? sure like your thoughts of this one .. it is a bit dark no doubt ... best of the day to ya ... that's sound advice in your quotes sir ... not easy to do though ... an enemy is an enemy after all ;} thanks for taking time always Pete!
E.