for The Whirl
Sometimes, when I drink almost too much wine,
but never quite enough
I view hamburger soup like it is a gift from the goddess—
sacred and blessed with little hot pepper demons
added to spice up the broth that the devil swims through.
With elaborate intention, he burns holes in my throat
and makes me want to scream “Holy Shit” right out loud
in the middle of red burning river of esophageal spasms—
indigenous to this damned old body’s caverns
with its spirits that demand luscious spicy food,
all the while loathing its later rising summit.
I eat it in ritual cycles with generic pink ranitidine
intended to soothe the acid that corrodes my gullet
pink pills nullify acid like Pepto Bismol without the chalk
I wash them down with a second glass of pinot noir
and a string of ideas cultured on this screen
using words lined with significance
a condiment to my spirit flagged soup
spicy soul food
feeding my psyche
humbled and enriched with a fine glass of wine
pouring through these words I know you’ll read
on Sunday at The Whirl.
Brenda Warren 2012
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It amazes me that a group of good writers continues to grow and gather at The Sunday Whirl. You all inspire me to keep writing every week. Writing every day in April was a challenge. But it’s The Sunday Whirl that kept me writing once a week, every week, for a year, April 2011-April 2012, and that feels good. We’ll keep plugging along every week at The Whirl. A dozen or so words can inspire great writing. Several Wordlers accomplish that each week. Thank you for being my writing community. You all rock!
undercaws 
I’m not much for wine, but I love me some spicy food! Very nicely wordled 🙂
LikeLike
I LOVE your word choices from this one! And I also love SPICY food – although I don’t pay for it quite so dearly – just the delicious pain of a burning mouth – easily soothed by a dollop of sour cream, or a quick swallow of cold milk!
This was a great Wordle, and I tried once again to kill two birds with one stone. not sure I killed either one, but I had fun!
http://paulatohlinecalhoun1951.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/a-bit-of-a-challenge-monday-joy/
LikeLike
Thank you, Paula. I liked your piece, too. You killed those birds beautifully. 😉
LikeLike
Heat and spice – great combo!
LikeLike
Absolutely!
LikeLike
Brenda, I love the immediacy of this. It seems to unfold as you are thinking. Wine for the spirit and food for the soul. And spicy too – for which we need soothing. So many delightful things going on in this poem. I love “words lined with significance”!
Richard
LikeLike
Thank you Richard, I appreciate your visit. Spicy, yes….life and food, both.
LikeLike
Ok hand over the wine… oh never mind- can I just join you? I am not one who does much spice or drinking but it might be worth it just to see what words came out. Holy SHiT that’s one hot bit of writing! Have a great week Brenda!
LikeLike
Thank you, Teri. I’m raising a cyber glass in your general direction. Cheers!
LikeLike
Spicy soul food, yay! I had fun imbibing the spirit of this, Brenda.
LikeLike
Ha! Thank you Irene.
LikeLike
I used to make chili that was a lot like your hamburger soup sounds. I loved it, but can no longer digest it without lasting affects. This was a really fun read, especially the “Holy Shit!” I have been known to say the same and it made me laugh out loud. You do good work and it shows. Thanks Brenda,
Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2012/05/13/reflection/
LikeLike
Thank you, Elizabeth. Yup…my hamburger soup is similar to chili. Not so many beans, but mmmm. mmm… I dread the day my body says to slow down on the spicy. It’s coming, I can feel it. 😉
LikeLike
Oh, Brenda, this made me laugh out loud. Pinot and spicy food is a great combo. I have had my share of nightmares for eating spicy tacos too close to bedtime 🙂 You are too funny lady!
Pamela
Happy Mother’s Day!
LikeLike
Thank you, Pamela. I’m glad I got you laughing…. these things just happen. LOL
LikeLike
Neat source for the words this week. I like how you took it to something totally different — hot food!
LikeLike
I wasn’t sure where I was going until I sat down to eat. hee hee…
LikeLike
You always surprise me with what you write. Today was no exception. I look forward to day all week. I’m so glad I found you and The Sunday Whirl.
LikeLike
Thank you, Cheryl. I’m glad you found us, too.
LikeLike
Is this an advertisement for The Sunday Whirl? If so, it’s rippin’ good! 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, thank you. 🙂
LikeLike
What a joy! I laughed out loud! You reminded me of the time I made chili for my sons when they were younger…mind you I’m not a great cook. They asked me what was in it besides the ground beef…my reply, “Look at the empty cans that still line the kitchen counter!” …hmm I could add some hot pepper flakes… maybe not as many as you. 🙂
LikeLike
They add spice, there’s no question. Mmm mmmm… Thanks for your comments, Jules..and for writing with us every week.
LikeLike
Margo steered me in the ‘write’ direction at her site of prompts! It is my pleasure to read all the wonderful interpretations of the same list of words!
LikeLike
ah, love me some wine, but it is the beer that makes me want spicy. 🙂
LikeLike
That works, too, Mark, but I’ll eat spicy with anything. A good friend makes a mean home brew, alas my bottles are empty. 😉
LikeLike
I SO enjoy the Whirl as a new addition to my weekly “musts” thank you, for putting it together, always such thought-provoking words!
This part made me laugh:
” he burns holes in my throat
and makes me want to scream “Holy Shit” right out loud
in the middle of red burning river of esophageal spasms—”
I could see the victim just writhing with the heat!! Lol
LikeLike
Thank you, Hannah. I’m glad you are writing with us. We keep growing, and as they say at We Write Poems, more participants makes richer soup…..or something like that. 🙂
LikeLike
They do say something like that and it is so true!! Thank you so much, Brenda, for the warm welcome! 🙂
LikeLike
Love the metaphor throughout this, Brenda. Happy Mothers Day!
LikeLike
Thanks Laurie….hope you have a great day today.
LikeLike
Wine goes well with wordle words, I think! Sometimes that’s what it takes to get the creative juices flowing! Cheers!! Hamburger soup doesn’t sound bad. I might substitute ground turkey. LOL. Happy Mother’s Day, Brenda!
LikeLike
Thanks, Mary. Happy Mother’s Day to you, too. I love a good soup, just about any time.
LikeLike
Having fun, are you? I grinned all the way through, imagining you as you wrote this. More Pinot? 🙂
LikeLike
It’s coffee this morning, Margo. 😉 And yes, it was a fun write. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and grins.
LikeLike
LOL Talk about self punishment! This really made me smile. Some excellent lines, I agree about ‘hot pepper demons and the devil swims through.
Very witty, clever and fun read, Brenda.
LikeLike
Thanks Bren, I appreciate your kind words. Glad the poem made you smile. Without spice food is, well, bland. LOL
LikeLike
I. too, have a great and abiding love for Pinot! And “hamburger soup like a gift from the goddess” is an awesome line, and concept!!!! I also love “spices up the broth the devil swims through.” Your use of the words is fun and fresh and clever! Had to look up ranititdine, although I suspected it’s meaning.
Happy Mother’s Day and happy Sunday!
LikeLike
Thank you, Marianne. I’d love to share a glass of Pinot with you, one day. 🙂
Happy Mother’s Day to you, too.
LikeLike
I hope your tum survives intact! You have written an intensely flavoursome wordle poem.
LikeLike
Thanks, Viv.
LikeLike