Your juxtaposition of baking bread and navigating a relationship is quite intriguing. It takes a certain skill to do this successfully. Congrats! I know you have many books in you 🙂
Damn that’s good. So much of the “poetry” on blogs is–well, it demands the quotation marks, so I almost didn’t click the link. Glad I did. This is the real stuff. Like the bread: wild yeast, a slow rise, a texture that can’t be faked.
Beautiful! I’m so glad you liked my blog so that I could find you and follow you. I have a major love for poetry, and I especially enjoyed this one. Congrats on the feature! I look forward to reading more of your work.
Congratulations 🙂
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Thank you, Richard.
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Welcome 🙂
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Congrats! “Bread” is incredibly lovely.
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Thank you for your kind words.
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Congratulations
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Thank you.
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Masterfully written, Robert. Love your use of the metaphor.Congrats on being featured!
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Thank you, Nadine. I’m fortunate to have been featured twice on Extract(s).
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It’s an amazing poem. Thanks for sharing! And congratulations…!
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Thank you. I’m pleased it resonates with you.
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Such a gorgeous poem – well deserved congratulations
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Thanks very much!
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I devoured it; now I will savour it.
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With a good cheese and a glass of hearty wine, I hope! And thank you, Mary.
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With a translation:
麵包
那年我們認識了恐懼的真意
我烘麵包時你搜索醫學網址。
你說:我要先離去才能到步
否則寧願受自覺的折磨 。先別
提及我們的協定。我的麵包需要
有蓋的烤盤,二十安麵粉,水,酵母,鹽
二十歲那年我熟諳
香腸作法,宰雞技巧,還有
你髮上的香氣是黎明的晚華。
那時我們是夜裏的主宰。現在我採集
野生的酵母,削鉛筆,記下要做的事
斟意大利酒,打算盤。 我答應了
你的要求。你說那算是個善舉。
胰腺培育激素
幫助消化。我切去我左手的
拇指尖,直至一年後的傷處
還覺麻木。 麵團揉成
球狀,放在上了油的盤中發酵一小時。
我們都愛吃陳年奶酪
但有不同枕頭的偏愛。 你愛
羽絨被, 迷兀鷲。
多年來我們相互依存
從沒研究所以。 切紋,
麵團上蓋後烘三十分鍾,
開蓋再烘十五。
揉麵團像呼吸:進
退,起,落。 烈光令你淚眼汪汪
因而我會使它變暗。你咽著
說:“跟我談談麵團的揉法”。
用你的手掌跟,按下
推前,逐步加力壓下
麵團會在你手下移動
幾分鐘內便會變化。
‘Bread’ by Robert Okaji
Translated into Chinese by Mary Tang
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A perfect ‘still life’
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Thank you!
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Congratulations! And it’s a lovely poem.
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Thanks, Joseph.
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Your juxtaposition of baking bread and navigating a relationship is quite intriguing. It takes a certain skill to do this successfully. Congrats! I know you have many books in you 🙂
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Thanks, Shery. I like to think I have at least one in me!
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Hmm…you may have more than you think!
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I’ll take them as they come. But yes, more would be better. 🙂
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Beautiful poem, thanks for sharing.
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Thanks for reading!
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Amazing poem! Congrats!!!!! ❤
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It’s good to hear from you, Lynda. Thanks very much!
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congratulations!
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Thank you!
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Wonderful, skillful, sensitive poem. Congrats!
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Thank you, Charlotte. Much appreciated!
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your best if you ask me.
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Thank you. I’m glad you think so.
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Reblogged this on CRONE WISDOM OR SENILE DEMENTIA?.
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Thanks for reblogging!
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That’s awesome.
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Thank you.
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Damn that’s good. So much of the “poetry” on blogs is–well, it demands the quotation marks, so I almost didn’t click the link. Glad I did. This is the real stuff. Like the bread: wild yeast, a slow rise, a texture that can’t be faked.
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Thank you, Ellen. This one “rested” for about 20 months. A slow rise, indeed!
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That’s how the best bread is made.
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Cooking has taught me the power of patience (and preparation)!
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Beautiful! I’m so glad you liked my blog so that I could find you and follow you. I have a major love for poetry, and I especially enjoyed this one. Congrats on the feature! I look forward to reading more of your work.
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Thanks very much. I’m going to have to grow garlic, if only to attempt your inspiring garlic scape pesto.
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That’s brilliant – well done!!
Best wishes
Opher
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You’re very kind. Thank you.
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Thank you for sharing your ‘Bread’ – also for reminding me of how it felt to knead bread and that kind of intimacy.
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You’re very welcome. And thanks for reading it! There is something intimate about kneading dough, isn’t there?
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Congratulations! It’s always nice to get a piece published somewhere. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
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Thank you, Connie!
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Congrats!
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Thank you.
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A belated but sincere congratulations. Beautiful imagery: kneading as breathing, it is so meditative and soothing.
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Thanks very much.
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What a beautiful poem and congratulations on the publication!
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Thank you, Mary. I’m very fortunate to have been published twice by Extract(s).
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Beautifully written. Congrats.
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Thank you!
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I love it!
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Thanks very much.
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