POEM: Members

there were days when I was all 'tongue in cheek'

and I thought my behavior was cute - even sweet
I didn't care about whether I was discreet
and had no regard for anyone on the streets
because their truth wasn't mine to keep
and while their hearts were cold - my tea was steeped
callous, you may call me, but my ego was heaped
hoarded and hopped up on conceit
and I didn't understand the meal - which was my feet
even after I ate both of them ... I didn't creep
since I was well-bosomed and smiled up with the elites
those whose cash flow stacked balance sheets
me - a little silly rabbit - bad habit
with no looking, fast-talking, and with bleeps
rise - fast, fall - hard
and even lard can't soften the dough
so that's when I called on the Lord to soften the blow
because all is good when you're in the show
but when tongue-in-cheek becomes the norm
tongue and teeth will fall out and cause harm

© Linette Rabsatt

You may smile because of the title of this poem; however, members is a biblical reference to parts of the body. I started this piece thinking about a local saying, "Tongue and Teeth Fall out." Who hasn't bitten their tongue before? We also like to describe sassy or flamboyant people as "tongue in cheek" or "cheeky."  I also added the cliche about the feet because it plays well with the other body parts found in the mouth or those that, unfortunately, end up there.

Poem: A Sample of My Simple Humanity

sweet scents stimulate my senses 

awakening all ambits of my aura

making me mellow as the melodies
penetrate my pores as they pour the
literature of love, life, and longing
evoking and erupting every extension of my existence
a sample of my simple humanity

© Linette Rabsatt

Here is my first blog post for 2024! I was not sure what I was going to write about. I had thought about highlighting one of my favorite reggae artists and had the music lined up to play. However, I put a little more effort into my garden.

I sat today to prepare a correspondence but ended up writing the first line of this poem. Then, I thought about how I would use the alliteration throughout. I started with the letter 's' and then decided to create an acrostic poem. Choosing the acrostic word was the other challenge. I considered using the word 'sap' but changed it to 'sample.'

This poem was an unplanned burst of inspiration. I want to maintain the same level of writing in 2024. I also want to perform more regularly at online poetry events.

I encourage everyone to 'invest in what grows you.' Your job title, family status and memberships do not define you. Our actions, role model behavior and inspiration are what define us.