Poem of the Day: 149th Chorus by Jack Kerouac

I keep falling in love

with my mother,
I dont want to hurt her
-of all people to hurt.

Every time I see her
she's grown older
But her uniform always
amazes me
For its Dutch simplicity
And the doll she is,
The doll-like way
she stands
Bowlegged in my dreams,
Waiting to serve me.

And I am only an Apache
Smoking Hashi
In old Cabashy
By the lamp.       

 

I don't want to hurt her - of all people to hurt. I've noticed lately that people have been confiding in me. Things that they will not tell anyone else - their fears and sorrows. I just sit there in silence and listen with my eyes wide open. I can't help but feel honored that they trust me. I love people. I once heard that in Islam, a smile is considered charity. Whenever I meet someone's eyes, I try to smile at them. You never know what that one person is going through, and a simple, sincere smile can change their whole day, the way they see themselves, the way they see life. Oh, I love people. I wish I could take every person and every little animal in my arms and just take care of them forever. This is why I feel like nursing is the perfect career for me. Not only can I help people physically, but spiritually and mentally as well.

 

Let's all try to be compassionate! Even to the tiny little bug walking across the floor. Don't kill him or thoughtlessly step on him, but bend down and carry him outside where he can live.

 

And, please, smile at everyone you make eye contact with! It is such a powerful thing. You have the power to change someone's life.

Poem of the Day: Inward by Inara Cedrins

The driver works the wheel all night, toward Dharamashala,
past the blue-faced gods in their shrines among the trees,
between banks so steep it is like being in a cave
with mounds of prehistoric pottery at intervals.
Your hands, your lips. The soft white wool of my shawl
wound over us both in that tantalizing journey
toward each other. We enter a still space
as if the Himalayas were gauze and had parted
to let us in, as from the bus station
the silent streets we follow steeply up
lead under the lightning sky to the hotel, where they tinker
with the hot water heater but finally leave us alone.
You spit on your hand before entering me, saying
this first time will be fast, it will not be slow. I know this.
Afterword, the monkeys thumping over the tin roof,
the calm in your eyes that are the color of tender ferns
that grow beside streams flowing icy
from the highest mountains.

Ever since I first read this poem in Words Overflown by Stars (Creative Writing Instruction and Insight from the Vermont College MFA Program), it has stuck with me. To me, this is the very definition of a love poem. Love is felt, not spoken, at the end, looking into his eyes. I can feel everything.

i'm a plum, wearing peplum

I am madly in love with peplum tops. They are extremely figure-flattering. They are structured, so they can disguise any tummy insecurities. They direct the eyes up and down. And they are feminine - enhancing any and all curves that you have. One of my favorite, confidence-enhancing, go-to outfits is a simple peplum top, a pair of shorts or skinny jeans, and some wedges. I think I will try a business-like peplum dress one day, with the peplum all the way around like below. I'm not a fan of peplum only on the sides - they remind me of big, droopy pockets.

 

 Peplum [noun]: a flared ruffle which is attached to the waist or hips, etc. of a clothing garment.  This word is derived from the Greek word peplos, which means 'shawl.'



These were very popular in the 1940's and in the 80's. I am SO happy that they came back in style! Aren't they beautiful? They almost remind me of Disney-esque ballgowns, except on a top. I had never even heard of peplum until it hit the runways and streets last spring, and at first at I was slightly horrified. But I have come to adore it.

 

Why was I horrified at first? Because. Because of this:

(Oh dear.)

 

But they really can be classy and beautiful. And so feminine, ahhh!

(Topshop, Thakoon)

I am drooling over that ivory Thakoon top. It's like an elegant wedding dress, yet it's casual enough to wear anytime you feel like it.

 

(Forever 21 striped peplum top, American Eagle shorts, Forever 21 bracelet and antler ring, H&M ankle boots)

Photographs by Holly Lis.

 

PS. I do have one more peplum top, my favorite one that I have yet to find! I want to get it up here asap.

 

How do you feel about peplum? Are you happy that this trend came back?