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A
Poisonous
Poem

A poem by Barbara A. Taylor

Daytura by Tom Romero
"DAYTURA" copyright 2006 by TOM ROMERO

I sob. I smile. I suffocate.

As a poet I will stick to free form, go with the flow. I am sick of stress and unstressed
syllables, bold and weak in print, loud or soft in sound. If there are any others out there
who feel this same repressive way I ask you to please call, come, kvetch with me. But
why complain, when Mother Nature bestows on us this perfect day sublime, her horizons
wide and blue? These sacred rocks, majestic, tower in golden lights. The Fiddlewoods
are blooming. Sweet scents choke the air. Mandarins, in profusion hang, like fairy lights
on Christmas trees. Black crows caw and kookaburras' noisy cackles reach crescendos—
then mystical magic stillness in a sunset haze, slips gently into night. A distant
mopoke calls sweet dreams. Sleep tight.

perfumed scents
angels' trumpets—daytura
intoxication

Copyright 2006 by Barbara A. Taylor

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Barbara A. TaylorBarbara writes:
"A Poisonous Poem" is about the stresses involved in writing metrical poetry. It's challenging work. But then there is the beauty of nature all around, and although the perfume comes from the poisonous Daytura, (aka Angels' Trumpets), it brings me the utmost joy.

Each day demands that I write and that my fingers touch and feel the earth. Barbara A. Taylor writes prose and poetry, and is a regular at Live Poets' Poetry Slam evenings. The natural environment, politics, peace and women are the main themes. Her poems have been in print, on local, community, national, and Internet radio, and various literary e-zines including flashquake, triplopia and thylazine. Barbara writes from the sub-tropical Rainbow Region of New South Wales, Australia, where inspiration, peace, and freedom to create come from the serenity and beauty of this special area. Samples of her diverse poetry with audio are at: batsword.tripod.com, and she can be reached via email at: bats69@bigpond.net.au.

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