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Red
He said my chi was unbalanced
Suggested I wear a red linen shawl
Around my waist - to keep my liver warm
Yoda of the herb world
Laughed at my expression
Admitted it sounded odd
But red always means heat, he explained
So I wore it, next to my kidneys
Like the scarlet woman
Wrapped in reminders of lust
I wore it for my gall bladder
For all hope of redemption
Then he heated me with Bamboo & Hoelen
Spiced me with Cinnamon
Peppered me with Peony
Seasoned so, he grilled me lightly
For three years, turning every quarter
Until my mouth grew apples
My skin sprouted olives
Peppers hung where my breasts had been.
Then he wrapped me in vine leaves
And buried me on the shore.
Warmed by the earth I waited - centuries
Until, I was born from my sand womb
Wriggling out in a gush of warm sea water
Naked but for the birthmark
A ring of red around my middle
All Poems © Karen O'Connor 2005 - No works can be redistrubted for public use without prior consent from the author
| about the book | [ excerpts from the book ] |
