I’m still fresh off of a retreat for writers of color. Though I was the only writer there who writes both nonfiction and fiction, the conversations and activities still got my creative juices flowing. It also caused me to go back and revisit a lot of my old writing, and I stumbled across a final portfolio that I submitted for a poetry class in undergrad (a looooong time ago). There’s one poem that still makes me smile; it was intentionally written to be silly. When I decided last night to share this as today’s post, I also decided to declare today #WackyWednesday. Perhaps, there will be more wacky posts to follow. In the meantime, I present to you: “Marlitane.” (This piece begs to be read aloud!)
—
Marlitane
I saw the furly whirlywoop
run circles ’round the lollibag
When the zilly-zally borzikop
caused a great big popitag
The queelies in the forkiping
sang joyously of manizops
While the silly little keezelings
chant funny little purlypops
Ah, but the mournful little anitats
sit quietly ‘neath the Nomy tree
Contemplating jips and jats
While mensilfating stubbornly
Across the way stand the dandimikes
They’re such quipky little things
One prances ’round with flandytykes
while the others juggle kalings
Soon the sun will set on Marlitane
and all will put away their reebs
They’ll settle down for a long night’s zane
And the peepelops will start to meeb