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Thursday, 26 May 2016

MAYDAY

I like painting my lips.
Nothing wild like purple,
or unexpected like green;

just your standard, average,
ordinary orange,
herald of summer dreams -

or a plump, pale pink
promise of innocence,
candy floss at Strawberry Fair

when school was out
and love
was ever in the air.

© Shaista Tayabali, 2016


Poetry prompt from dverse Poets Pub...

16 comments:

  1. Beautifully tender Shaista - warmed my spirit... Thank you

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    1. Thank you! I took the title from a word in Gerald Manley Hopkins' Spring poem 😊

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  2. Shaista, your poem begs to be read again and again. The imagery is warm and wonderful! You also captured my attention with Aung San Suu Kyi featured on your blog. I, too greatly admire her. Many of her relatives and friends are former students of mine. My heart beats soundly for the struggles and victories that she represents. Thank you for sharing! Jilly

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    1. Jilly that is such a lovely compliment, thank you!
      I would love to know more about your relationship to Aung San Suu Kyi's friends and relatives. Perhaps I can find more on your blog?

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  3. Love the colors in your poem, orange or pink ~ Makes me remember those innocent days, when love is in the air ~

    Grace

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  4. I absolutely adore the vivid colors and their significance in your verse :D
    Beautifully penned.

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  5. I really like this piece. The descriptions of the lipstick colors was wonderful.

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  6. Sweet! Love the colours woven in!

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  7. Lovely....as is the photo of you and the beautiful nieces!

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  8. A strikingly beautiful vignette, Shaista. Looking forward to reading more!

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  9. How tender! How happy!
    Thank you for bringing smiles and colours.
    Kenza.

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  10. I am kissing your sweet lips and the colorful words that float from them.....xoxo

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  11. I haven't thought about how much thought goes into the choice of color. Lovely to read.

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  12. "or a plump, pale pink
    promise of innocence,
    candy floss at Strawberry Fair"

    Particularly love this stanza :) One time, in my rebellious teens, I wore white lipstick. Thankfully we have no photos of that! :)

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