Thursday, October 19, 2006

Poetry Thursday

Uncomfortable poetry.

Writing about my family, particularily my dad, has always been uncomfortable for me. Coming from a strict British household where the world "love" was rarely said, but often showed, it was difficult for me to show my dad how much I love him. Even worse was seeing him cry for the first time ever when he dropped me off for my first day of university.

This is one of the first poems I ever wrote where I was able to break down those walls and show him how much I do care for him. I'm just not sure if he's ever read it, or if he would ever feel comfortable reading it...

Daddy's girl

Every morning,
he tames her hair
into two ribboned pigtails.

In the evenings,
pink fuzzy creature,
flurry of fat legs
and shiny Mary Janes
races down the pravement
to greet him home.

His china doll,
he likes to say
sitting tickled in summer grasses.

The day he drops
her off at university,
she knows he can cry.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Saturday morning yoga class

The studio is dimly lit this morning, from the windows at the end of a low-ceilinged room. All around, mats are unrolled with a “thwack” as students wander in, dotting the floor in rubber rectangles of grey, blue, and pink. To my side, a man in too-tight bicycle shorts (the kind that used to be fashionable in the eighties) and a blue tank top practices yoga poses. The skin on his spindly arms is stretched taught across muscles that are remarkably well developed for someone so skinny. Rolling onto his back, he raises his legs to the ceiling, arms propping his back up. His neck now tightly bucked into his chest, I hear him exhale, mouth closed. Crossing his legs, he lowers them into a reversed lotus position, bald head gleaming in the light of the window behind us. Inhales, exhales. Raises his legs, and lowers them to the ground. Beside him, a cluster of women stands around a mat, clutching water bottles and trading stories about their husbands and children. Other students lie in the relaxation pose, stretch or practice balances.

Diagonally across from me, an old Chinese woman, wearing a paisley blue sweater and light blue pyjama-like pants, has walked in. Every so often, she rubs her hair frantically and shakes her head with a twitch. Her breathing is sharp and shallow and she gulps air in like a grounded fish while clutching her chest as though she’s having a heart attack. As I watch her with growing concern, a man who I take to be her husband walks in and unrolls his mat next to hers, completely ignoring her erratic behaviour. She takes a drink from her water bottle, and mutters something to him in Mandarin. Beside them, another couple practices a pose and compare notes on how best to execute it.

Just then, another man walks in, burgundy yoga mat slung over his shoulder, tied at both ends with a white strap. His black hair is peppered with grey, and reminds me of a young Einstein in its manic unkemptness. Although he’s tried to tame it by pulling it back in a tiny ponytail, the sides still spray out from his head on either side like a poodle. Crossing the floor to the front of the room, his flip flops make light flapping sounds against the wooden floor. A black YMCA tank top marks him as the instructor, and as usual, his white boxers show through. For someone who is supposed to be a yoga master, he looks remarkably tired, and sports a five-o’clock shadow even though it’s early morning. As he weaves his way between clusters of students, he greets individuals with a nod and a low hello. Throughout the room, groups dissipate and people stand at the front of their mats, waiting in anticipation. The chatter dissolves into a low murmur. The instructor opens his mouth, and out croaks the voice of a Russian Kermit the Frog. We are invited to stand at the front of our mats, feet parallel, arms hanging down. Breathing in, we bring our hands to prayer position. Yoga class begins.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Simply because I should post something...

Haven't been feeling too inspired through PT or SS lately, but I figured I should probably post something, so here goes: a meme pinched from Orange Blossom Goddess's blog:

1. FIRST NAME? Christine

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Not my first name. But my middle name, Dorothy, comes from my grandmother on my dad's side, because we shared the same birthday. I only met her when I was a baby, because she passed away the day before my second birthday (the day my brother was born), but she is a legend in my family - she sounds like she was a wonderful, strong woman.

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? I'm not really sure, actually. It's been a while!

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Well, it's mine...Full of personality and quirkiness! So, although it's not neat, I like it.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Prosciuto or Kelbasa.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes, because I'd understand my quirky sense of humour and crack me up :P

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Yes. It's striped pink and brown - my two favorite colours, although I don't write in it often.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? I think so :P

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Never. I have a huge fear of heights (which made me a terrible gymnast, but there you go...).

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Reese Peanut Butter Cereal (when I do have cereal - it's a treat).

DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Depends..If I'm tired or have to dash to the loo, no...

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes, both physically and emotionally.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Um...that's tough. Chocolate chip cookie dough, or something with toffee in it - Ben and Jerry's or Hagen Dasz (is that how you spell that?)

14. SHOE SIZE? 6 1/2 (heels), 7 (flats), 8 (runners)

15. FAVORITE COLOR? Right now, I'm in a brown phase, but I like pink too.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My knack for getting all worked up about nothing sometimes.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My parents and brother.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO POST THIS MEME ON THEIR OWN BLOGS? Sure, if they want to...

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? No shoes. Pink velour jogging pants (it's Saturday, after all, and see 15).

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Two chocolate chip-pecan-toffee cookies from Tim's (it's Saturday, after all).

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The stove cooling off after boiling potatoes for gnocci, and She's All That on City TV (it is Saturday...).

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Pink or brown. Or maybe marble of both!

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Cologne on a man's neck...

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My boyo :)


25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU'RE ATTRACTED TO? Eyes, lips.

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? I took it from Orange Blossom Goddess. She's pretty cool :)

27. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE DRINK? Red wine.

28. FAVORITE SPORT? Tennis (to play. I don't have the attention span to watch it).

29. EYE COLOUR? Depends on my mood...Green or brown (haven't figured out what coincides with what).

30. HAT SIZE? Um...I dunno, small?

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No, but I wear glasses and contacts would come in handy when boyo's around :P

32. FAVORITE FOOD? Fondue, four-cheese pizza (at the Reservoir Lounge).

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? Both.

34. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Pink (ok to be fair, not EVERYTHING I wear is pink :P)

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Spring or fall.

36. HUGS OR KISSES? Both.

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Cheesecake, ice cream, chocolate...

38. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? The Undomestic Goddess, Anna Karenina (not sure if I'll ever finish that one...)

39. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Trackpad. Don't have a mouse.

40. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? What Not to Wear and something else I don't remember.

41. FAVORITE SOUNDS? wind in the leaves, water running over pebbles or on the belly of my canoe

42. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Depends on my mood. Both are cool.

43. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Japan

44. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I'm fairly "bendy" and pretty good at yoga...

45. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? North York, Ontario, Canada

46. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? How many times do you have to ask that question? See above.

47. NEWEST THING YOU'VE TRIED? Port with blue cheese and walnuts. Yummy! Thanks boyo!

48. WHAT ONE THING WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT YOURSELF? To worry less.

49. WHO DID YOU LAST SEND A LETTER OR CARD TO? Um...I sent a thank you note to a photographer at work who donated us some images...

50. WHERE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT IN THE WORLD IF MONEY WAS NO OBJECT? Spain, Italy, Greece, Australia, Costa Rica...

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Sunday Scribblings: Skin

Skin...

Wow...I've been away from this for far too long. I hate the verbal constipation!

Getting to know you

we've only met twice
but already,
I want to write about your skin
skin that I've only just touched
only just smelled
explored furtively
stolen kisses
hands grazing hands
fingers sneaking in between the buttons on your shirt
with our second kiss goodbye

but my mind has already
traced the scar you told me about
above your heart
a constellation among fine chest-hairs
waiting for the day I do know you well enough
to know you through your skin