Unpronounceable. Unspellable.
But I learnt nevertheless.
With Sister Cecilia shrilling,
“Girls! we eat with our mouths closed!”
The last word trailing out in a long O,
thrilling
down our backs
as we pursed our mouths
obediently seated, one leg
tucked beneath the other.
You might remember
How fashionable it was
until just a few years ago,
when some women finally said: “Enough.
I just want to be good to myself
so fuck you all.” Ah yes!
I have said that mantra
to myself dozens and dozens of times.
It made me feel so good.
Afterwards, that heady feeling
remained stuck like a piece
of chewed bubble gum turned
into a wad of elastic cud.
You got to admit that it is jaw breaking.
And to think I practiced
so diligently! But worse was yet to come.
For finally,
as if it wasn’t bad enough already
to be in bed with this affliction
I’ve discovered that my muse too,
is pockmarked with the plague!
Rumjhum Biswas has been writing poetry almost since she learned to read and write. It was her way of getting back at the world. Now a sedate mom of two and wife of one she continues to write poetry and also fiction, because while poets remain poor some fiction writers do get rich and that gives her hope. Catch her blogging at http://rumjhumkbiswas.wordpress.com/.
loading...
15 Responses to “FLOCCINAUCINIHILIPILIFICATION • by Rumjhum Biswas”
Comments
« THE POULTRY SEXER • by Angel Zapata | Home | DISTANCE • by J.D. Di Lella »
April 20th, 2009 at 5:48 am
Poignant and so close to home for most of us. I gave it a five, Rumjhum.
April 20th, 2009 at 6:01 am
I loved this!
April 20th, 2009 at 6:09 am
Some poetry is so personal, the poet taking the risk of exposing a life’s experience, enabling readers to learn from life’s mistakes. The mistake of the poem’s speaker was obviously that in order to be good to herself she vowed, “so fuck you all,” followed by a down-turn in her life and even in the lives of her protective angels. From the Poet’s bio: “Some fiction writers do get rich.” This, fulfilled or not, would have been a wiser hope.
April 20th, 2009 at 9:34 am
A bit of rebellion is good for the soul.
–dj
April 20th, 2009 at 11:27 am
This is great!
April 20th, 2009 at 11:39 am
[...] http://www.everydaypoets.com/floccinaucinihilipilification-%e2%80%a2-by-rumjhum-biswas/ [...]
April 20th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
KC, thanks!
April 20th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Kathleen – and I love that!
April 20th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
DJ – I so agree!
April 20th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Amy – thanks!
April 20th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Roberta – thanks. I’ve noticed that you read each and every poem and story in EDF and EDP; really appreciate it. This particular poem is not personal in the autobiographical sense. Actually, I saw it as a humorous take on the situation that most women of my generation experienced at least here in India. Our mothers were totally self effacing, but we though not totally rebellious, understood our “rights” needs and desires enough to be articulate about it, though we didn’t break free. Also floccinaucinihilipilification is a jaw breaking mouthful isn’t it? I’d been toying with that word for a long time. Finally this poem happened.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:02 am
When I read the title, I was like, “I can’t pronouce this sh–,” but then your opening line allowed me to see I wasn’t alone. In all seriousness, I really loved it.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:39 am
rumjhum: I am aware that it is not yourself (the poet’s self,) that the poem describes. Thats why I worded the comment “a life’s experience,” using the indefinite article. I also checked your biography at the bottom of the story, and clearly it was not you.
“So fuck you all” is nowhere written as a right nor, as far as I know, anywhere considered one. The explanation of the title is entirely up to your discretion. We all wait with eager anticipation.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:08 am
Rumjhum, Nice, liked it very much
What a mouthful of a title
Very Rumjhumish I must say, lol.
fehmida
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Heh! Must catch up Fehmida, despite the Chennai summer!