Truth or Dare (poeTry)

by amica paige



Truth or Dare
Aren't you scared?
What have you had to bear
that you refuse to bare?
You've been warned not to swear
but you didn't stop to care
Now, off--you have to peel
the mask that you wear
and your assumed identity--
you must completely tear!

Nervous?
Are you tugging yet at your hair?
Take a heave!--a breath of fresh air!
--is good, for you really are so rare!
Ignore their glares and stares
So grand really are your wares
when you dare for truth and bare
all that you've had to bear...
Of what should you be scared?
--when, in Truth, nothing's spared.

It's Time (poeTry)

by amica paige

It's time to let go

It's time to say no

It's time to depart

from what's crippled your heart

It's time for healing

So get a move-on

Keep walking away,

away from the poison

Keep walking ahead

to a new direction

Keep walking steady

with your head held up

Open your eyes and

Look towards the sky

the darkness passes

as with everything else here

So be at peace now
Keep the light close by
Protect your heart
and learn to let go.

The Mir'r Sees You (poeTry)

by amica paige



Who do you see
when you look in the mir'r?

Do you see the voices?

To them - do you listen?
Do you crave to serve them

and be all that they want?

It's a shame. It's a real shame.
For the mir'r sees you

and all that you could be

all wrapped up in fear

and held hostage by voices

who's trampled your child.

DIRT on hypocrisy

by amica paige

"DJ!" Finish showering! Hot water's expensive especially in the winter!" Peg reminds her sometimes absentminded six year old. Moments later, she hops in the shower to relax under its warmth and mulls over her day. This goes on for nearly an hour.

DIRT on consistent inconsistency

by amica paige



Peg dials Ted's office. She immediately hangs up after the first ring. Meanwhile, Ted is clicking away commands on the keyboard, face fixated on the computer screen, when his attention is interrupted by the one-ring call. This signals Ted to return Peg's call. They've long since conducted their calls this way after realizing that it's more economical for them to talk, regardless of the length of their conversation, if Ted initiates the call, because of their pay-per-minute plan with the phone company. Ted knows what to do after hearing the signal. He makes an E.T. and phones home. Peg picks up. From the time she dialed Ted's work number to picking up the receiver when he called back, three seconds must have elapsed. Ted's speed dial ensures this.

Peg mumbles, "Hey. I had just finished folding the clothes. DJ's asleep. By the way, I hadn't told you earlier that when we were at BK, he suggested that I get a whopper for myself since he was having a burger."

"OK, I'll read between the lines," replies Ted.

"Are you getting something for yourself?" asks Peg.

"Hell yeah."

"What are you getting?"

"A chicken sandwich."

"But I had a whopper," protests Peg.

"I'd like to share a chicken sandwich with you," reasons Ted smoothly.

"You'll buy two?" Peg asks expectantly.

"Uh-huh."

"And a whopper?" Peg asks, hopeful.

"And a whopper," approves Ted.

"Teddy, this is so difficult. How am I ever going to slim down. I haven't managed so far and 2005 is ending. It's tough without a partner. I need a partner for moral support," laments Peggy.

Ted sympathizes, "You do need a partner. We're just gonna have to start watching what we eat."

"So we'll cap it tonight?" asks Peg, feeling quite encouraged.

"Yeah," Ted reassures her further.

"Alright. I'll be in the shower shortly, so you don't need to call before you head out," Peg reminds Ted.

"Okay. Bye, Peggy."

Peg returns the receiver. She feels yet again a tinge of hope about her health. It's the same feeling of encouragement she's usually had the many nights they would cap their binges with fast food.

Peg showers and looks forward to her coffee time with Ted after their meal together, when they'd talk about their day's events.

Sushi?

Nope, these figures laid on the table aren't mannequins. They're real people just like us-yes, you and me, but models, of course. I came across the article about this scene on The Urban Recluse, another writer's blog, which is as interesting as a box of chocolate, or feel free to replace the chocolate with anyone of your other obsessions, because we all have our special favorites.

Anyway, as I commented on the article, this only proves once again that there's no end in man's genius and creativity. And this is only a morsel on the tip of the iceberg of man's brilliance. We haven't seen anything yet; there's undoubtedly more behind the curtains, or in the closet. But we will behold all of man's brilliance, in time. We will, because we are a progressive class and we're the highest order. And we'll always find ways to economize. Forget dinnerware, tables, clothing-especially clothing, it's hard enough to keep up with the rising cost of everything nowadays. Save your money for rice and gas; rice is currently being rationed as it is and gas is just ridiculous. Rice is more vital, especially for sushi. Hopefully, one day we won't need gas. That's what our feet are for. It would be like Eden's paradise again. There's no doubt we'll get to that state in time. That would be when our refined culture fully fuses with our primitive nature. It's the ultimate liberation of the self, when we finally refuse to separate our human traits apart and accept them all as our one, true selves. It's perfect freedom. This is real ART we're dealing with and discretion has no place in it. It's as raw and real as life can ever get, like real sushi. However--yes, there's a pause here, because what follows is extremely important--however, there'd always be a place for shoes. We have got to have our shoes. It's one thneed the lorax can't deny our society. Shoes are made for walking, remember? Modern and primitive in total union, it's utopia. The onceler has to keep making this great thneed. We need our shoes. And soap. We need to continue producing soap. Soap is good thneed. It's among our basic necessities. Shoes and Soap. No, Shoes, Soap, and Sushi. Now, that would be a great topic for me to write about, if it hasn't already been covered by another great mind.

Porcelain Boy (poeTry)

by amica paige



He's a porcelain boy
so fragile and free
'til i polished him dearly

The Word (poeTry)

by amica paige



I had it right here
at the tip of my tongue
But it slipped away ere
I'd even begun

Quite Alright (poeTry)

by amica paige



I'm quite alright
til I'm next to you
Then I start looking
at what you do

Work (poeTry)

by amica paige



What do we work so hard for?
The attention we long for?
So what of rejection?
Do we get dejected
for not feeling accepted
that we endlessly engage
in great exertion
simply for
a fifteen minute retention
of our flighty attention
for each other?

So what of Art?

I don’t do art. I breathe art. It’s my fuel, my coffee, my life. It’s evident in everything I do and everything I am. It’s in the way I dress and in the way I wrap gifts. It’s all over my home, in the basket of candles and the cart of books—of Poe, Hawthorne, Willems, and Seuss; and Emily, Rowling, Carlin, and Clarke; of Beatrix, Burton, Southworth, and Charles ; and Steve, Kevin, Moliere, and Anne among others. It's in my ice bucket, occupied not by cubes of ice but paint brushes, and in my red kettle plant pot. It just can’t be contained by canvases bound by frames, when it starts to simmer in and seep out of my head, as I see the colors around me take shape to form words and pictures, poems and stories, rhymes and reason, and seasons. And, the images get so vivid that they flow onto everything I touch. Am I an artist? For as long as the sky is blue in the morning’s light until the last leaf of the last tree fall on the ground.

Earth Day, Community Date

April just passed. However, and despite my thousand and one preoccupations, I still have to talk about our 2008 and 5th Earth Day celebration here at Hudson County, NJ--check out the link here and on the side, labeled "Hudson's Home" under the heading Earth On You if you care for more info. Anyway, it was a really beautiful day at Liberty State Park, by the Hudson River and overlooking Manhattan's skyline. The event hosted various activities. It was kicked off by the adult race, which I sorely missed by a few minutes, and the fun run for the kids soon after; luckily, my son with the black shirt and red pants in the picture was able to participate. There were music for all, al fresco; children's games both outdoors and indoors at the ferry terminal; and tons of giveaways, including school supplies, toys, plants, information on numerous social and earth conscious organizations of course, and food galore!-from bagels to donuts, bananas, oranges, drinks, and even 100 calorie snacks--a Nabisco promotion, which I think is very clever of them to advertise that day. I'd definitely have to remember to skip breakfast next year because I can catch it there with loads of other treats, after participating in the early run.

This is definitely one event I've looked forward to every year since it started. It reminds me a lot of the cultural festivals held every year in the mall in Washington D.C., a few of which are the Taste of D.C., which I just found out,while writing this bit and wanting to link the event's site, to not have only been temporarily suspended, but unfortunately terminated...makes me wonder about the budget on events like this for the community...hmm..., the Smithsonian Craft Show, and the Cherry Blossom Festival. Anyway, let me get back to Earth Day. This event is truly enjoyable and informative. One thing though, I just wonder how much stuff is procured from China for freebies, like the chip bag clips or the letter openers, with Jersey City's mayor's name on them, for this event. I hope it's not an excessive amount of stuff...I mean wouldn't that defeat the purpose of the event in a way? I better end it here before my thoughts steer me elsewhere. I do love the baby blue toothbrushes and the herbs. And my son loves the owls, the oversize, sponge golf balls, and the pencils. And of course, my husband loves the food and makes sure he doesn't litter.

Excellence (poeTry)

by amica paige



Guidance I lacked
when I was growing up
Everyone was busy
as I watch them grow up
My grades were great
They were happy to hear
But nobody knew of
my heart that melted in fear
Did anyone asked?
Was anyone concerned--
as I cried myself
to sleep in bed?

Then, I forgot
I forgot for a long time
until my heart bled
and eventually died.

How's it going? (poeTry)

by amica paige



Mostly, it's just like paper cuts.

Annoying, little nuisances.

Occasionally, it's your entire body

bruised tenderly

by everlasting puss.

I Kid You Not (poeTry)

by amica paige



Who am I kidding?Certainly not myself.

You? Definitely not.

You who'd fall for
anything you hear
and live by
the next person's standards,
especially if
they make your eyes glimmer
with blind admiration,
as they prance about
in their glittered clothes
while you watch in the distance
in obscurity.