~Mussels and Figs~

He wanted to serve me

Riesling with fresh mussels

scented with citrus and saffron

Craved to see me slide the fork

between my lips and lick

the salt with my tongue

but I

I had been seeking sweeter pleasures

of caramel and chocolate covered figs

from the land of shifting sands

heat and liquid gold

and all

All the while my eyes drinking in

the way his ink-stained fingers

moved while liberating another verse

a vein slightly pulsing on the surface

of his well-lived hands

but as

as his eyes lifted to seek mine

and I felt the need to crush my soul

against the sharp edge of his thigh

I knew the abundance I sought

when I listened to the desert wind

was to be found in his touch

Comments: 35

JOHN BECK Jan 12, 2013, 2:49pm UTC

Michelle, you have such a unique gift in your use of metaphor, such as in "I felt the need to crush my soul
against the sharp edge of his thigh".
I wonder about the use of "for" following "sought".

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 12, 2013, 2:52pm UTC

So glad you liked it. You are right about "for". Removed it from my original copy.

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Len Maxwell Jan 12, 2013, 4:22pm UTC

Quite an intriguing format and an interesting story.

Featured on the Wall of Poetry on The Triple Name Club.

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 12, 2013, 4:34pm UTC

Thank you so much Len and thank you for the feature!

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A. F. Stewart Jan 12, 2013, 4:23pm UTC

A rich and haunting poem, wonderfully written as usual.

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 12, 2013, 4:34pm UTC

You are so kind, Anita. Thank you!

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Brian Benson Jan 12, 2013, 4:26pm UTC

highly toxic, amazingly beautiful, and the beat goes on...B

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 12, 2013, 4:35pm UTC

Love elixir....smile.

My muse was stirred today.

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stephen berwaldt Jan 12, 2013, 5:13pm UTC

This is beautiful, Michele... Food is an amazing aphrodisiac...

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 12, 2013, 5:46pm UTC

Thanks Stephen and I agree.

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David W. Jan 12, 2013, 5:45pm UTC

A sensual delight.

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 12, 2013, 5:46pm UTC

Thank you, David.

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Vj McMullan Jan 12, 2013, 7:34pm UTC

Curious where you get your ideas.

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 12, 2013, 11:50pm UTC

That is a very difficult to question to answer. I guess the close I can answer is "everywhere", Vj.

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Chris Brockman Jan 12, 2013, 8:42pm UTC

This is so sensuous. I'll be he was happy as a clam to serve you.

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 12, 2013, 11:50pm UTC

Chris,

You literally made me giggle. Thank you, friend, for your comment.

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Kathryn Flynn Jan 12, 2013, 11:25pm UTC

I like this a lot, Mich!

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 12, 2013, 11:51pm UTC

I'm so glad, Kathryn. :)

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Kool Boy Jan 12, 2013, 11:53pm UTC

nice
thanks for sharing :)

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Bernard C. Jan 13, 2013, 7:16am UTC

Beautifully put - exotic and mysterious

Thank you for sharing and submitting to
The Surreal Circus.

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 13, 2013, 9:10am UTC

Thank you.

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Magi the magical poet is flowing with the wind Jan 13, 2013, 7:52am UTC

An intriguing mix of vivid imagery conjuring much more than the words presented. Top notch as always.

JOHN BECK Jan 13, 2013, 7:59am UTC

Well said, Magi.

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 13, 2013, 9:11am UTC

Thank you to my two brothers (smile).

Magi the magical poet is flowing with the wind Jan 13, 2013, 4:02pm UTC

I'll be as bold as to speak for John as well as myself - our pleasure, dear friend.

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 13, 2013, 4:16pm UTC

Big smile over here!

Magi the magical poet is flowing with the wind Jan 13, 2013, 9:06pm UTC

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elizabeth evans Jan 13, 2013, 9:00am UTC

I'm always amazed by the imagery you create in my mind as I read your poems. The use of certain words like "saffron" "Caramel and chocolate covered figs" conjure up sensuous sensations in the reader.

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 13, 2013, 9:11am UTC

Thanks, bob. I was reading a recipe and it sparked this poem. :)

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Ann Marcaida Jan 13, 2013, 12:58pm UTC

So gorgeous! There's nothing better than finding that your lover possesses what you have been craving all along.

Thanks for sharing with Gather's Luminous Writers and Artists. Featured and tweeted.

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 13, 2013, 2:26pm UTC

So glad you enjoyed the poem and thank you for the feature and tweet (I haven't seen anyone new come to the page via the tweets, though. Not sure how that works?)

Ann Marcaida Jan 13, 2013, 2:41pm UTC

Tweets typically show in page views-- especially as Gather is not currently allowing new members.

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 13, 2013, 2:53pm UTC

Ah...that makes sense. :)

Ann Marcaida Jan 13, 2013, 3:11pm UTC

Most tweeps want to read the poem then move on, and/or retweet if they like it. The best honor for Twitter users (in my opinion) is to have your work picked up in one of the Twitter periodicals.

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 13, 2013, 3:16pm UTC

I will have to take your word on that, but I'll never know if I make the periodicals or not, as I don't Tweet and don't plan to ever Tweet. :)

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~Mussels and Figs~

10 people recommend this post

Comments: 35

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