Tuesday, July 5, 2011

summer





















At daybreak
when the curtain rises

the yellow soprano
double-dip diva

hips the stage
all glitter-gold glitz

belts her biggest aria
sizzling coloratura

bellows white-hot
high as a blowtorch  

the crowd takes note
here comes trouble

today is going to be
a scorcher



Tess Kincaid
July 2011






Thank you, R.A.D. Stainforth for this amazing reading.  Check out his excellent blog, Black Dogs.


Have a safe and happy July 4th, my friends. x

image:  Wheat Field with Rising Sun, Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

88 comments:

  1. Sweltering and lovely
    definition of a summer day!

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  2. The image of the opera singer to illustrate the bursting forth of a summer's day is breathtaking. I especially love the 'double dip diva'. Great work. Happy Fourth of July. I hope the sun bursts forth later today as this poem has done.

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  3. Happy 4th to you, too. And this is a sexy, scorching poem --

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  4. Nice poem Tess! there is not a more perfect time for the hottest of summer days than after the wettest spring from rainiest winter.

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  5. A wonderful marriage of image, idea and metaphor. Thanks for a rousing dawn.

    Best wishes, Isabel

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  6. Vincent painted his picture a little further south than here, but it feels much the same.

    Hot stuff Willow. Happy 4th.

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  7. Interesting language,
    as always.
    "The yellow soprano
    double-dip diva,"
    is perhaps a
    Meadowlark.

    That painting is wonderful!

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  8. thanks for the fireworks --hope you and yours have a wonderful 4th of July!! c

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  9. I hope you'll find a nice shady spot and a cool breeze!
    Happy Fourth of July, Willow,
    Merisi

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  10. Happy 4th!
    Love the combination of your words and the Van Gogh, and, for once, it's going to be a scorcher here today too!

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  11. Yep...heat bugs at high noon here too.

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  12. I love this - it is just gorgeous!

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  13. Mmmm. Love this... I think last week was my first Magpie I missed in ... well, since I started. Summer has kept me hoppin' with the kids, but I HAVE to find tim for this one! Happy 4th.

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  14. I love how you weave your words. Enjoy your weekend, Tess ~

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  15. Tess, I just love this - and so fitting for the day here in Northern CA. Happy Independence Day to you and yours!

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  16. effecting metaphor. i am sweating already! but i love to sweat. LOL.
    have a festive and fun 4th.

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  18. ...your words are luscious and alluring... we're currently having our rainy season here...(:

    Keep safe!

    ~Kelvin

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  19. This is nothin but a delight, Tess. :-)

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  20. A scorcher of a poem. I can feel the heat from the canvas and your powerful summer day.

    Hank

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  21. pure perfection - both poem and painting vibrant and glittering!!!

    thanks for the reading!

    happy holiday!

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  22. I have a history of love for Mr VanGogh -- wonderful print -- barbara

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  23. Hot, hot, hot!

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  24. Yes! Same here, Tess. Time to match the sultry mood with loose linen clothes ~ few ~ and tall, icy drinks.

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  25. bellows white-hot
    high as a blowtorch

    Pass the suncream...

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  26. the crowd takes note
    here comes trouble

    today is going to be
    a scorcher


    powerful ending, love the twists,

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  27. Love it ... Happy 4 July too!

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  28. And a scorcher it is too! Happy 4th. of July to you.

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  29. love that yellow soprano! Happy 4th!

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  30. Ah yes.
    Here, too.
    Wishing you a most Happy 4th, in spite of the heat.

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  31. Here's come trouble, all right! I'm a sun-dodger. You caught that burning feeling wonderfully!

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  32. Really like it! *smile*

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  33. Amazing, the opening of a summer's day - perfect with prompt!

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  34. Yes, the coloratura soprano, the Sun Diva. Self centred ego, uncontrollable. Bringer of life and trouble indeed.
    May the end of this 4th of July bring you satisfaction!

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  35. Summer sings, and singes, in this one.

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  36. Terrific image! Just like a hot summer day.

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  37. WOW! (That Hedgewitch comment above--GooooD!)

    LOVE the painting (of COURSE!!!).
    Also, I love 'scorchers' so long as the A/C is operating, and the the expected daily balloon-burst of the afternoon sky takes place.

    Guess I just "want it ALL"?--grin!

    This continues to be a "HOT" blog

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  38. Damn, you are like something
    inexorable, presenting us with
    this blow torch operatic stunner
    before many of us have risen
    to our dawn. I wondered if the
    magpie would fly today, and lo
    and embrace wonder, it has;
    but I can not leap into the air
    currents until tomorrow, for
    friends and family are calling
    and I must respond.

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  39. "...belts her biggest aria
    sizzling coloratura..." I'm mopping my brow!

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  40. This is a cold-weather poet speaking - and I understand completely:-)

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  41. Excellent piece, and what a painting! Thanks for these, Tess.

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  42. The power of great music, the sizzle of a summer day ~ what an enchanting combo!

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  43. She's blowing hot air, that's for sure. I'm with you, I hate the heat of Summer.

    Fabulous prompt this week, Tess. : )

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  44. There are days like this..love the energy, imagery!

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  45. Hot times, summer in the city...and hot at Willow Manor, too! I love the whimsy and the images, Tess. (And thanks for weekly hosting Magpie. Van Gogh is one of my favorites!)

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  46. summer most definitely is a diva.... especially here is Texas. Bravo. Totally enjoyed it.

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  47. Nothing better than a glitter-gold glitz that blows hot! Beautiful piece.

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  48. Beautiful... and I love the ending!

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  49. So many great images here. :)

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  50. somebody bring me some water :)

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  51. I know you don't care much for summer, but you made me feel happy about MY favorite season with this poem! Sing it, hot diva, sing it!!

    Rick :)

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  52. what a strong and brilliant choice of words.... :)

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  53. I hate summer! Too damn hot for me!!! At least one good thing comes from it: a wonderful poem from you! When it gets up past 90, I just start to melt. And we have had a few 100 degree days with more to come. I guess it's a good time to stay inside, read a book or write poetry. Plenty of time to blog too.

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  54. Very apt words for today Tess, when it is very hot here too. Happy 4th of July.

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  55. Going to be a scorcher

    Such true words.

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  56. Awesome! I love the way you tied in music its so brilliant =)

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  57. Fabulous description of a midwestern July day!

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  58. Fabulous description of a midwestern July day!

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  59. Opera meets Van Gogh meets Mother Nature. Love it!
    Is our beloved fall here yet?

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  60. Oh the heat - you know that I complained all winter so I can't complain now (out loud anyway). Except that I think my poem is a bit of a complaint. Hmmm.

    I love this best:

    belts her biggest aria
    sizzling coloratura

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  61. ha...love the image of the lady singer...oh she belted out the heat here today...

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  62. Hi Tess

    I would love to talk to you about a much earlier blog of yours about an artist named Sara Carr.
    Please email me when you have a chance

    Thank you :)

    Jill

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  63. Jill, I would be happy to email you if you give me your address.

    tesscaid @ gmail

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  64. Classic Tess K. Word images you fall in love with, like a literary teenager.

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  65. Yes, I can sense the sizzle! Mind you, visualizing the sun as a big bosom-ed diva is probably not good for me in the long run.

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  66. steamy piece ....thank you for sharing

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  67. A new sun from an old painting, albeit masterpiece. I love it that you did not refer to Vangogh at all and let the painting define itself.

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  68. I should have known you would also love Van Gogh! of course.
    Just finished reading..again...Savage Beauty (Edna)

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  69. Kim, it's time for me to read Savage Beauty again. I haven't read it since I first got it years ago. Millay was an amazing woman and poet.

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  70. Thank you, everyone for your delightful comments. You sweet readers make sharing my poetry pure joy. x

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  71. Aahh... sizzling hot (in every possible way ;-)).. but refreshing nonetheless! Cheers to a brilliant summer!! :)

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  72. An absolute show-stopper.
    Each line was exquisite and exciting!

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  73. Perfect. A real "scorcher" of a poem. Love that diva sun. Brava!

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  74. This is great. The sun is so big and magnificent...love your words.

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  75. Great poem! She is a hottie for sure...
    I hope you had a good (and long) weekend!

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  76. Brilliant, the concept behind this. and some startling images - esp like the one of the blowtorch. All-in-all, impressive.

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  77. Dear Tess: Summer as a Soprano! An allegorical figure. Very impressive and imaginative and so hot hot hot...love the great word play!

    belts her biggest aria
    sizzling coloratura

    Now I will see the sun as an opera singer forever! Thanks! I need the music in my life! Great great great piece and so concise...Excellent!

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  78. Hi Magpie .. Everything has a song, even the weather. This was a sizzling poem..loved it!

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  79. That's throwing down some real Magpie! Excellent. Loved the energy! Love that summer day.

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  80. Delightful images, Tess. I love double-dip diva!

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  81. I can already feel the heat!
    Wonderful imagery.

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  82. I can already feel the heat!
    Wonderful imagery.

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)