by Cat Givens
Member since:
November 16, 2005

Hippie Church.... (sublime abandon challenge)

March 05, 2006 04:22 PM EST (Updated: March 05, 2006 04:51 PM EST)
views: 13 | rating: 9.9/10 (10 votes) | comments: 26
Blues guitar mingles with hot mama wailing
"Can't get next to you"

Stifling sweaty patchouli scented underground
Sweet smoke lingers caressing dancers
Who disappear into the groove

All move together in this musical melding
Of soul and body


Breathing in
Cosmic union

Workin that Mojo
On the killing floor

Riding magic carpets with
Sublime abandon
Fringe floats freely


Worship in the
Funky Church of Blues

 
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Comments: 26

jessie voigts Mar 5, 2006, 5:07pm EST
love this - esp disappear into the groove. wow! great writing. thanks!
Carl Neeld Mar 5, 2006, 5:16pm EST
Nice work, Cathy. I'm not usually a poetry person but I almost understood this one.

But will someone please define "mojo"?
Spencer T. Mar 5, 2006, 5:17pm EST
Harmonica wailing behind guitar
dancers on the floor slide
not knowing where they are
all on the magic blues ride.

Loving it, Cathy
Spencer T. Mar 5, 2006, 5:28pm EST
Carl, mojo is an old Afican word used to denote a spell, a specific groove, an aura. More than likely originated by medicine men for a tribe. As Cathy used it here I referred to her words "Sweet smoke lingers caressing dancers Who disappear into the groove". The sweet smoke caused the dancers to fade into the groove or mojo. Now, of course, I can't speak for the writer but I felt her groove right away. :) Her mojo was working damn good.
Cat Givens Mar 5, 2006, 5:35pm EST
mo·jo Pronunciation (mj)
n. pl. mo·jos or mo·joes
1. A magic charm or spell.
2. An amulet, often a small flannel bag containing one or more magic items, worn by adherents of hoodoo or voodoo.
3. Personal magnetism; charm.

But then, Carl, I adore Spencer's explanation.....
d g. Mar 5, 2006, 5:38pm EST
Mojo is as mojo does... Got it goin' on sistah! Church o' the music, rockin' blues.
Edward Nudelman Mar 5, 2006, 5:43pm EST
Wow... Cathy! This 2-word challenge really got your blood boiling, huh. Nice job.
Cat Givens Mar 5, 2006, 5:48pm EST
I'd been pondering the phrase when I slipped in a DVD of some friends of mine jamming in the Underground Theatre last summer. I remember it was so very hot, and the air in the Unerground stifling, but we were dancing and grooving and it was and etherial funk had us all moving together. So it was just a cool memory all around! (spent the rest of the time dancing outside, as there are speakers in the back of the place to carry the music from the stage}
Brandon S. Mar 5, 2006, 7:10pm EST
What a cool funky groove. Makes me wanted to go to the club. Very vivid stuff.
Carol Voigts Mar 5, 2006, 10:06pm EST
You got the scent right! patchouli-- I can sure smell this as well as hear it.
Lori Fankhauser Mar 5, 2006, 11:18pm EST
rock on
Bonnie L. Mar 6, 2006, 1:30am EST
Very nice!
Stephen Schneider Mar 6, 2006, 2:45am EST
Great job Cathy
Carolyn Madden Mar 6, 2006, 4:25am EST
lovely! reminded me of voodoo ceremonies I've read about.. very funky
Serina Matteson Mar 6, 2006, 5:17am EST
This is an awesome piece. You created such splendid imagery in my mind.
George Corneliussen Mar 6, 2006, 6:36am EST
Cathy,
One unbelievably long sustained note on an electric guitar says more than dozens of quick choppy notes.
Cheryl W. Mar 6, 2006, 7:54am EST
I loved it, Cathy......I want to go this church!
Tony Close Mar 6, 2006, 8:11am EST
Cathy, you certainly captured sublime abandon here. Nice post!
Cat Givens Mar 6, 2006, 8:26am EST
He he, you guys, it's just the great local music mixed with wonderful people. feeds my soul
Colleen Nielsen Mar 6, 2006, 10:24am EST
What a neat place to "worship"! Great writing!
Steve Cederakis Mar 6, 2006, 1:54pm EST
That's the chruch I attend the most.
Love the way this one bumps and flows..
Christopher C. Mar 6, 2006, 4:32pm EST
Funky Church of Blues, now that's a church I could join! Good gist of words!
Kathryn E. Mar 7, 2006, 10:49am EST
Cathy, I liked this a LOT. You and I share some of the same tastes!
Kim H Mar 12, 2006, 5:08pm EST
I remember disappearing into the groove many a night at The Underground and at some of the fests. I'm really missing it right now! Can't wait for warmer weather so I can get out my camping gear, hula hoop, and hippie skirts and head out to The Ledges!
Cat Givens Mar 12, 2006, 5:27pm EST
KIM!
We were probably there together this night.... It was Sandy-Mac's birthday!
How often we have gone to this church together, my dear, and I long to embrace you in the music again.... hurry up summer! (any Smilefest plans?)

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