I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I’ll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.
Today’s writing exercise focuses on Imagery of Taste. Vaughn encourages writers to focus on an aspect of taste in today’s writing and create bursts of flavor in the piece.
Family Grandiose Narcissist
don't worry
her day is coming
that taste of her own
elder abuse
neglect
someone else
in control
denying pain management
through cancer
like it was natural childbirth,
some feat of honor
that one
you know, the one
who didn't want to
"dope her mother up and let her die,"
as if living were a choice
who instead put her in a
chair over in the corner
and let her suffer~
she grew too weary to sit
whacked her face falling
on a coffee table corner
carried a blackened bruise
to the grave
(let me tell you: there are
things worse than dying
peacefully with dignity)
that one, yes
you know, the one who has
no regrets
because she thinks
only about
herself
never apologizes~
because mistakes? her? no way!
that one, yes
you know, the one
who excluded others' photos
from the family Powerpoint
making herself the slideshow queen
because she's the only one
that matters to herself
that one, yes
who was a second bride
at her son's wedding
causing the videographer
to quit at the last minute
(no video ever happened
and family who didn't go
along with her choice to
let her mother suffer?
no wedding for those
who'd saved the date)
that one, yes
she will have her own taste
her day is coming
don't worry
Common Threads 