Tuesday, September 16, 2014

"Overload"


Overload

Tucked away amongst tombs and palaces I wander,

become one with exotic and frenetic.
Inhale lentil soup,
sesame-covered peanuts,
dried apricots piled nine feet high,
figs, snails, pumpkin seeds, dates,
splashing fountains, citrus trees, mosaics,

and fetid disguised with sprigs of mint.

Resist goat head, brains,
and snake charming vendors
from stall number eight,
dodge overloaded donkey carts,
duck into labyrinths of textiles, herbs,
metal work, silk and leather.

Brand my skin with henna

as musical notes ride swirling dust,
follow scents of warm flatbread, honey,
and fresh squeezed juice of orange,
loose myself in filtered light, unnavigable souks,
dead-ending in spicy reds, golds, browns,
rustic oranges, tropical greens, pulsating blues.

Unmindful if I ever find my way back.

by Margaret Bednar, updated September 16, 2104


This is for "dVerse Poetics - Travel Poetry" - I updated a poem I wrote over two years ago about Morocco - or kind of.  About the only experience of Disney World I DID enjoy was Epcot.  I think I spent the most time in Morocco.  

24 comments:

brudberg said...

A bazaar what a wonderful experience (even the Disney version ...) I have never been on a market like that.. but one thing I always enjoy are the markets...

Mary said...

Oh, I do think that one of the joys of traveling is tasting the foods! I do enjoy some of the 'exotic' foods served in various places....but I,too, would draw the line at goat heads! Sometimes it is cool to be captured by the music, isn't it? I can imagine the magic of Moroccan music!

Gabriella said...

I have not been to Morocco but I have been to Tunisia and the souks were very interesting places to get lost in. And at the hotel the food was good>

Claudia said...

smiles... you took me right there... even though it was disney i def. smelled the spices of that foreign country...would love to visit there one day

Unknown said...

Morocco... this piece is so descriptive, I felt like I'd hopped on a plane... smiles. And Henna is so gorgeous to me. yes yes...

Anonymous said...

I could see and smell, almost taste all those wonderful things - lovely write.

Grace said...

I recall this poem, smiles ~ I think its cool to get lost in those exotic scents and colors ~ Morocco is one of those countries in my bucket list ~

Glenn Buttkus said...

With our poet's imagination, we do/can/must travel the globe in movies, photos, theme parks. If you one day find yourself in Morocco, looking across the Strait of Gibraltar at Portugal & Spain, you will have deju vu moments. The first time I traveled to NYC, I knew the landmarks from the 100 movies I have seen filmed there; cool response to the prompt.

Michael said...

Excellent the way you have created such vivid images of your visit Margaret. Well done I could feel the atmosphere you developed in your poem.

Anonymous said...

Margaret, your language is as colorful as the beautiful picture that starts your post. Your words brought Morocco to all my senses and I'm still reveling in the sensation.

janet

Wolfsrosebud said...

definately an unusual place... loved that first photo

Heidi said...

What a wonderful overload. I am kind of hungry now, although, I too, will pass on the goat brains.

Anonymous said...

"Fetid disguised with sprigs of mint"... what a powerful image that portrays! Morocco is another place that I would love to experience some day!

Sumana Roy said...

lovely Fair of sight, sound and aroma.. an enjoyable journey here :)

Anonymous said...

so many places to go, and you make this sound so exotic and interesting!

Unknown said...

Wonderful use of words - great sounds, especially when read aloud! I enjoyed this very much.

rallentanda said...

Very exotic...charged with fragrant spices and scents. Enjoyed this.!

vivinfrance said...

You make me want to go there (Morocco, not Epcott)

Anonymous said...

Your poem filled my senses - the scents, the colors, the heat in the air, the crowd, and then the fresh squeezed orange juice - so refreshing and beautiful!

Sherry Blue Sky said...

If I were in a Morrocan market, even if it was in Disney World, I would not mind ever coming out too!

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Moroccan. Sigh.

Sreeja said...

beautiful pics and a befitting poem....enjoyed.....

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, enticing descriptions, especially since you were in Disney's Morocco, not North Africa's. Well written.

Anonymous said...

this does remind me of the time I spent in Morocco, those long years ago. ~