Gayle (Bodhirose)is leaving dversepoets to attend to her gorgeous granddaughters. She will be missed by everyone. Gayle has been a new friend, but one of the kindest poets (and wittiest) I have met. Gayle, please be in contact when you can, you will be sorely missed by me and others. (and you know who!)
Jane
This second edition of “A Seasoning of Lust” was just published on Amazon.com in mid December, 2016. I want to thank, again, Nick Nicholson in Australia, for the work he did on this new edition. The cover, the formatting, and his beautiful photographs in this edition make the book beautiful. Amazon as publisher did wonderful work for this book.
Lady Nyo
—
O Absalom,
Ensnared by long hair in the
Boughs of an oak,
Pierced through the heart three times–
The shimmer of life fading.
I,
Pulled into mysteries
So abandoned by love
Now given over to lust
Charged with stolen rapture
Dizzy as a drunken dervish-
One hand upward to Heaven
One hand spilling to Earth
Skirts stiffened with sins hard as stone
Corrupted over a life time and now–
Flayed on an unending mandala.
Mystery of Life,
Unstoppable desire,
O beautiful Absalom,
We float upon a divine river
Entangled in the reeds of human wanting.
This is our nature,
This our calling while
Flesh answers flesh.
What quarter be given when the heart is
Overwhelmed by passion’s excess?
Lie still–
Let the waters cleanse our loins,
Mud of the banks soothe our wounds,
Our blood mingle with the floating grasses,
Our hearts sink beneath the surface.
Let the rivers of Babylon
Carry us away.
—
Jane Kohut-Bartels
Copyrighted, 2016
Tags: "A Seasoning of Lust", Abalsom, Amazon.com, Bibical figure, dversepoetspub, Gayle (Bodhirose), poetry
Lady Nyo's Weblog 
March 9, 2017 at 9:18 pm
I ought to know who Absalom is, but I don’t. One of the advantages of a Catholic education, it doesn’t do the Bible. I love the opening stanza though. Makes me think of a Greek myth or even William Rufus.
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March 9, 2017 at 9:21 pm
Love this… it’s like a chant to passion, and there is something in a name that make it even stronger.
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March 9, 2017 at 10:44 pm
Thank you so very much for your kind words for me, Jane. We will stay in touch…we know where/how to find each other. 🙂
I marvel at how you can write in such “biblical” terms when you personally have turned away from organized religions (much like me). You are a superb writer. I know when writer’s come from the heart because I am most moved when they do. Lovely!
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March 9, 2017 at 10:45 pm
Thank you, Bjorn. Yes, a chant to passion. Problem is …I passed it around to a nun, a female rabbi, and a 90 year old woman who were definitely the worst ones to show it too LOL! Live and learn.
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March 9, 2017 at 10:50 pm
Thank you, Gayle! I have stayed away from origanized religions for over 40 years because of the issue of power and control….by inferior folk over me. My writings, my paintings, everything I did for those years came under the ignorant and shallow scrutiny of family members (and others….) who thought my work, especially my writings were ‘something of the Devil.” LOL! Since I didn’t believe in the Devil…etc….I could ignore that, but it made me very islolated from family gatherings, dinners, etc. I was definitely the blacksheep of the family…just for what I created. Jesus. Well, I remember having to do some little research on Absalom, and I don’t know why, but the words: “let the Rivers of Babylon carry us away” is straight Linda Ronstadt. LOL! For some reason, those words meant something higher (or deeper) than that song. Yes, Gayle….we will keep in contact. You are a rare bird that I want to fly around with. Hugs!!!
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March 9, 2017 at 10:54 pm
lol! I had that early Catholic education where I was hit by a smelly nun and I kicked her in the shins. probably the only ‘rebellion’ I did in my childhood. And yes, we didn’t do the Bible. LOL! I wonder why?? Was that Protestant territory??? Well, anyway, I didn’t know who Absalom was either. I love Greek myths and consider that a compliment! Thank you, Jane. I am going to write you this week sometime. As you are a novelist, I want your opinion on something. And I know you are the right place to go. Thank you, again. Hugs!
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March 10, 2017 at 2:45 am
Very passionate, filled with honesty and nod to the rivers of Babylon ~ And I love the title too ~
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March 10, 2017 at 3:37 am
How wonderfully sensuous! Sorry you are leaving.
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March 10, 2017 at 9:50 am
Nice to share my ignorance with someone else 🙂 Catholics have the Gospels but don’t take much notice of them either. They have THE PRIEST and he’s the Big Boss. (got your mail).
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March 10, 2017 at 3:47 pm
I looked up Absalom on Wikipedia to get the story. I like the comparison you made between the “I”, which can be generalized to all of us, and Absalom and the resolution in the last stanza with the cleansing waters. I think we are all entangled in the “reeds of human wanting”. Some of us, temporarily, appear as losers and get those cleansing waters more freely. I liked the line “Flayed on an unending mandala”.
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March 10, 2017 at 5:18 pm
Thanks, Frank. Yes, we are all entangled in the ‘reeds of human wanting’. This is our human nature.
Thank you so much for reading and your insightful comment.
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March 10, 2017 at 5:19 pm
LOL! Yeah, well…so it goes in the world of religion. Even pagans have bosses and they can be especially mean. LOL! Just answered your email. It was very helpful. Thanks, Jane
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March 10, 2017 at 5:21 pm
Hi Nan….NO! it is Gayle (Bodihrose) who is leaving, not I. She is a far better poet. I will miss her and will others. But thank you, Nan…for reading and commenting on this poem.
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March 10, 2017 at 5:22 pm
Thank you, Grace!
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March 10, 2017 at 6:41 pm
What a shame to have your family (and own mother) treat you like an outsider. Good for you for not believing in the Devil! I understand why “let the Rivers of Babylon carry us away” would resonate with you…and maybe Linda Ronstadt (I loved her back in the day)! We rare birds do need to stick together…thanks. Hugs!!
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March 10, 2017 at 7:00 pm
Yes we do! (need to stick together). And I used to love Ronstadt…way back then. Then I lost sight of her, but there were so many wonderful songs….Baez, too. Yes, let the rivers of Babylon carry us away…I think became a theme song for me. LOL! thank you, Gayle. I am so sorry you are leaving dverse but faced with those beautiful girls…I would make a beeline to them! LOL!
On another issue, my damn computer isn’t allowing me to access dverse blogs….most of them…and this has been going on all week. It’s a pain….and I hope people are patient. I really want to read their poems….but I keep getting this message about not being able to access these sites. I found out yesterday, and this is something Microsoft doesn’t tell …..tht many computers who are running Windows 10 don’t have the drivers to carry this. I am taking my laptop into a ‘fixer’ this weekend, because I suspect this is part of my problem here…. Cheers! Gayle.
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March 10, 2017 at 10:26 pm
I was a fan of a lot of the female artists, Heart, Pat Benatar, Joan Jett and Baez, Joni Mitchell and whoever else I can’t think of! My enthusiasm has dipped so low, it didn’t feel fair to the other team members. I’m sure I’ll pop in on occasion and share something…we’ll see. Sorry about your computer. When they don’t work it’s maddening. I’m sure it’ll be fixed and running well in no time. Cheers to you, Jane! xo
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March 10, 2017 at 10:33 pm
I liked all of those female singers….and Bonnie Raitt, love “Crazy Purple Pill” (I cant think of the singer or the proper titleof that album…..) Joan somebody…my mind is really slipping here today…and yesterday and probably tomorrow. I know that issue of enthusiasm. I’ve ended a novel and my dedicated reader and so much more….grammar editor, etc. feels ‘robbed’. He wants me to continue but right now,….I just can’t. I have at least 6 months of intensive research to do and 20,000 more words at least written to complete the novel. Ugh.
My energies are waning. I will miss you, but as you say …I know where you stay. LOL! You are starting another chapter in your life right now and I envy you so much. Such beautiful girls!
Hugs….xox
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March 10, 2017 at 10:44 pm
Oh yes, loved Bonnie Raitt too! The only Joan that came to mind is Joan Osbourne who sang “What If God Was One of Us”…I always loved that song. My mind slips a lot these days too…oh well. It must be especially hard to feel motivated when you have a project that needs to be finished but you just can’t…ugh is right! But please do send me an email or something if you feel like sharing anything at all. They are beautiful girls inside and out…love them so much. Thanks again, Jane. xo
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March 10, 2017 at 11:02 pm
OH Yes! Joan Osbourne….love her! and Melissa Etheridge. (might have the first name wrong..O) “What IF God Was One OF US!” My son, who had a wreck and we had to go to driver’s school …and we played that cd all the way back and held hands and sang that song! It was very healing for us. I love that whole album. I feel young and loose when I play it! LOL! I will send you emails….cause I like you very much and love sharing stuff with you. And your beautiful girls! I just had one stinky son, but we are best friends now. He’s 29 nad living in NC.
xoxo
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March 10, 2017 at 11:54 pm
“Just a slob like one of us…” That song really spoke to me too, cuz you know, we ARE all God! I like that it was so meaningful to you too…so cool, Jane. I love sharing with you too. I had no stinky sons just two great girls doing very well for themselves. Maybe one day your son will have a child and you can be a grandma too. I love it. xo
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March 11, 2017 at 3:24 pm
Yes, that song meant a lot to both of us….my son, me and you! And it kind of solidified my feelling (and my son’s) on organized religion. It’s a great song in any case. And yes, my son at 29 is only interested in restoring English sports cars….but at least he’s employed. No grand children on the radar yet. LOL!
Hugs!!!!!
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March 12, 2017 at 11:03 pm
Beautiful and sensual.
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March 12, 2017 at 11:21 pm
Thank you, Barry. One of my earliest poems, and far beyond my abilities then. And probably now. One of my favorites. Thank you for reading and your kind comment.
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March 12, 2019 at 6:04 pm
Frederick Goodloe
https://goo.gl/YNzows Gayle (Bodhirose)is leaving dversepoets to attend to her gorgeous granddaughters. She will be missed by everyone. Gayle has been a new friend, but one of the kindest poets (and wittiest) I have met. Gayle, please be in conta…
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