Monday, January 29, 2007



Sacrifices – anna hood

Someone gave me earrings
made from the ears of cod.
Wires loop though holes
in my ears, tie me to you
your luminous discs old as salt
shiver beside my face.

I listen suspended
in water green as youth
Baffin Island cold
beside dead Vikings. Jellyfish
beautiful and brilliant streaming hair
ride the current, drift toward Canada.
You follow Neptune
into nets tricked by the sun’s
chill spite, your bodies shadowless
as they drag you through
the skin of the sea
onto splintery wooden decks
that glitter with scales of your kind
the blood roar of shovels
scraping you into the hold.

No one hears your last gentle breath.

The olive oil is hot, smells of Greece
or Italy. I add garlic,
black olives, diced tomatoes, dill.
Your firm white flesh, sizzles.
The sacrificial earrings
bend forward touch my cheek.














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16 Comments:

Blogger Roberta said...

I wish I could wear rainbow trout in my ears. The scales are so beautiful. Wouldn't that be just wonderful?!

You have me thinking of jewelry and my favorite fish!

Lovely Anna!

3:44 PM  
Blogger Suzan Abrams, email: suzanabrams@live.co.uk said...

Anna,
I love this touch of fantasy in your poem. So rich with colour and imagery and one of your most beautiful pieces yet.
Neptune is my favourite bit and then you come back to something just as exotic in real life which is the olive oil. :-)

5:04 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

No, no, after all that compassion and insight how could you eat the poor thing! Poor, beautiful, tragic cod.

Remarkable poem, Anna, again that hint of magical realism stirred up with some waspish satire.

Favourite line: the skin of the sea. Oh yes!

12:02 AM  
Blogger anna said...

Good morning ladies!

Roberta, yes rainbow trout are so beautiful. I went though a painting spell of fish and they were my favourite too. awfully tasty as well.

Susan, I'm glad you like this piece
Your responses always make my day.
When I get that novel published (HAH) I hope you'll to do the
review

chicken woman, your pretty red comb is blushing in empathy for the poor cod. It really is barbaric to eat any creature but at least the cod does have a fighting chance of staying free.
think of the poor - dare i say it -
chickens. EEK!!

thank you all for taking the time

6:22 AM  
Blogger Bernita said...

Trout have scales, Roberta?
None I ever met.
As Susan says, "rich with colour and imagery."
I liked the "sun's chill spite," particularly.

6:57 AM  
Blogger anna said...

Hey Bernita, it's funny you mention that image - the sun's chill spite I had that line in and out half a dozen times.
as for trout with scales maybe Roberta is referring to the human kind of trout.
Thanks as always for taking the time! :)

7:33 AM  
Blogger Saaleha said...

I love fish. How am I supposed to eat it now that you have brought it to me on a platter of poignance, magic and beauty?

12:11 PM  
Blogger anna said...

Eat your fish Saaleha, and enjoy
especially if served with poignancy magic and beauty!
lovely response - thank you

2:19 PM  
Blogger Jeff said...

Wonderful imagery, Anna. I enjoyed this.

3:30 PM  
Blogger apprentice said...

I'd go for mackerel myself, they have beautiful skins! Great piece.

3:54 PM  
Blogger Suzan Abrams, email: suzanabrams@live.co.uk said...

Paint me a pink fish, Anna.
I don't care, don't care...
Paint me a pretty pink fish!
I want a pretty pink fish.
tee-hee! hugs

1:50 AM  
Blogger anna said...

Jeff, thanks so much. lottsa luck for you on Sunday - Go Colts
er um Bears

anna I don't believe I have ever seen a mackerel. When you think of it most fish are very beautiful.

Susan, a pink fish - hmmm -
it could very well happen!

3:42 AM  
Blogger apprentice said...

Mackerel just out the water are beautifully patterned.

See here, but these are that fresh:

http://www.norpel.com/images/new%20brochure/Mackerel-Dscn1117.jpg

5:50 AM  
Blogger anna said...

Oof anna
the web address won't work.

but thanks! Now for sure I will have to hunt them down

5:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good Lord, another brilliant poem. You've mastered the art of unique perspective and description.

6:28 AM  
Blogger anna said...

Jason, my friend. you always know the right thing to say.
thank you so much!!

8:04 AM  

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