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Friday, May 28, 2010

Stray Eros

Aphrodite's kid
could've handled this
if eons ago
he hadn't wandered off
pining for his precious Psyche.

Where that leaves you and me
today is exploring
the grocery store aisles.

Oysters, sure.

Dark chocolate,
even if it's not.

Saffron would,
at minimum,
put my nose in the mood
for some
hay-scented rolling.

Celery? Really,
it doesn't do much for me,
but whatever
floats your dote, dear.

Treats unsacked, we may grasp
that the chemical boost's
no ha-ha joke
but romantic love could be
based on such practical tricks
to keep our DNA churning.



This poem is written for Big Tent Poetry's Week 4 Prompt, taking the aphrodisiac as its subject matter. It's always struck me as strange that someone would need an assist from food to get in the mood, because if you're not motivated by love then truly what's the point (except procreation).

16 comments:

Unknown said...

I would say procreation is often the last thought and simple lust is the driving factor where aphrodisiacs are concerned. 'What's love got to do with it?'!! :0)

Rallentanda said...

I would say Derrick was right.He would know because he is a baritone!

vivienne blake said...

The prompt this week has produced a remarkable variety of interpretations, and this on is terrific: it's about real life.

human being said...

ha! churning...

so you know how to obtain the fifth essence, mr. alchemist... eh?

this is so lovely!

i loved the way you jumped from psycherosology to groceries... as the analogy between the two(love and preparing food) is perfect...




me too think Derrick's point is so right...

Tumblewords: said...

floats your dote, dear - this piece is extraordinarily fun!

Anonymous said...

I like "whatever floats your dote", (never noticed celery having any benefits beyond its crunch, though), and hay-scented rolling from saffron is a nice progression

Kay said...

Celery just gets between your teeth! I love this and... your sentiments, exactly! ~Kay

Linda Goin said...

"pining for his precious Psyche" had me from the beginning. Myth at the grocery store. How absurd and fun. Thanks!

Deb said...

I do enjoy a cynical turn. Well done!

Paul Oakley said...

Francis,

I love your title's pun, the way you base the poem in the failure of myth and triumph of evolution trick(l)ing in(to) grocery (a)isles. Nicely achieved!

Anonymous said...

you're right! that's essentially what the research said: that aphrodisiacs trick our bodies. fabulous way to say it. i like the transition: "where that leaves you and me"

flaubert said...

Francis love this and is that not so true! Could food actually do that?
Pamela

brenda w said...

Ha ha! Derrick and Rallentanda.
Francis-I love pining for his precious Psyche. You play with multiple levels of meaning throughout Stray Eros. Well done.

Anonymous said...

I like your interpretation of this week's prompt; reality does it for me every time!

http://thelaughinghousewife.wordpress.com

Francis Scudellari said...

@Derrick True, but if you need to borrow that lustful feeling from veggies, it seems to me there may deeper issues at work.

@Rall I don't know if I qualify as a baritone, but I try to stay down in the lower registers where it's safe.

@viv Well, it's a fictionalized real life. Being unattached a trip to such a grocery store would be fruitless for me. Eros didn't just stray, he fled :).

@hb My alchemy only retains its potency in the poetic sphere. Off the page the potions seem to fizzle.

@tumblewords Thanks... it was fun to write.

@briarcat I'm not a fan of celery, no matter what effects it may have.

@Kay It's only tolerable when dipped in a nice blue cheese dressing.

@Linda Absurdity is my comfort zone.

@Deb ... and I've got an ample supply of cynicism

@Paul The title pun came first, and set the mood for the poem.

@Carolee I'm glad to know that science backs this up :)

@Pamela food's never done much for me, it has much more to do with the qualities of the person in question.

@Brenda Thanks... the romantic sphere is generally not my poetic strong suit

@tlh Me too!

Cynthia Short said...

There was something subliminal in this that made me feel a bit sad...maybe how the couple are struggling to find something to keep their fires burning for each other...I like what you did with this!