Bistro Bijou

[unpredictablebijou]

RhymeSmith, I'm seriously considering stealing your poem for my sig line... what immense fun! Thank you.

Challenged, hm, to join in with the already lovely hobnobbing going on in the bistro today, let me first offer this lovely menu item.

And a brand new survey, with a reminder that many of the inciting exstiflements like previous surveys and leg-humping at the bistro are handily bookmarked in the first post.

Bistro Survey for late February:

Ever had a crush on a cartoon character?

What's the first sign of spring in your area?

Are you more, or less, debauched now than you were ten years ago?

What's your absolute favorite poem by someone other than yourself?

If you could own a famous work of art, what would it be? (bonus: write an ekphrastic about it and revive that fabulous thread)

welcome and happy friday!

bj

 

[The_Fool]

Hey Bijou Baby,

Turn up the heat already. I am tired of this cold and drinking way too much whiskey...

 

[Shankara20]

Bistro Survey for late February:

Ever had a crush on a cartoon character?

yes

shall we discuss why I now keep the DVD of that movie in my porn collection


I will address the other questions in my own sweet time

 

[Homburg]

Oooh. Ok, smacked bottoms are a theme for me today then. Thanks for the inspiration!

Always, always, always the theme for the day for me.

's on fire for your latest 5 in 5, PG, even through my ugly mood.

*swoon*

-------------------

And a brand new survey, with a reminder that many of the inciting exstiflements like previous surveys and leg-humping at the bistro are handily bookmarked in the first post.

Bistro Survey for late February:

Ever had a crush on a cartoon character?

No, but I have found a few attractive.

What's the first sign of spring in your area?

Horny sailors getting into bar brawls.

Are you more, or less, debauched now than you were ten years ago?

More. Oh, my, more.

What's your absolute favorite poem by someone other than yourself?

"Ozymandias" by Shelley. I tend to keep it in the back of my mind for those moments when my ego grows too collosal.

"Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!" is probably the finest guiding image I know of for someone like myself.


If you could own a famous work of art, what would it be? (bonus: write an ekphrastic about it and revive that fabulous thread)

"Danaide" by Rodin.

 

[unpredictablebijou]

Hey Bijou Baby,

Turn up the heat already. I am tired of this cold and drinking way too much whiskey...

I went out and did a sunny-weather dance yesterday and a bunch of eggbeaters fell from the sky. Gotta check my sources.

Meanwhile, I've installed a gorgeous woodstove in the bistro. Bring yer whiskey over and park yer candy right next to me and we'll keep each other warm till winter breaks.

yes

shall we discuss why I now keep the DVD of that movie in my porn collection


I will address the other questions in my own sweet time

Never really thought about the elastic superheroes that way till now. My my, that does offer some interesting possibilities.

I want vivid details on your debauchery answer...

Always, always, always the theme for the day for me.

's on fire for your latest 5 in 5, PG, even through my ugly mood.

*swoon*
.

Think beating someone's ass would cheer you up? *bending over to pick something up off the floor*

pauvre! don't let the bastards get you down, baby. And get well!

bj

 

[RhymeSmith]

RhymeSmith, I'm seriously considering stealing your poem for my sig line... what immense fun! Thank you.

Please... be my guest!

... let me first offer this lovely menu item.

Mischievous, dangerous, and lovely. Looks good enough to eat!

Bistro Survey for late February:

Ever had a crush on a cartoon character?

As a youngster, I was infatuated with Tinkerbelle. Later on (MUCH later on) Jessica Rabbit got my attention.​

What's the first sign of spring in your area?

Excessive bird shit on my ragtop.​

Are you more, or less, debauched now than you were ten years ago?

Sadly, much less.​

What's your absolute favorite poem by someone other than yourself?

"If---," by Kipling.​

If you could own a famous work of art, what would it be?

I'm partial to marble sculpture, and there are so many pieces I love, that my choice is difficult and time-dependent. Right now, if I could, I would like to have the statue of Undine that currently resides in the High Museum of Atlanta - sorry, I don't remember the artist's name. Next week, it could be something else!​

(bonus: write an ekphrastic about it and revive that fabulous thread)

Damn, Beej! First you make me look up a word, and then you want me to think. I'm a sick man!​

Happy Friday to you, too.

 

[champagne1982]

Bistro Survey for late February:

Ever had a crush on a cartoon character?
http://starsmedia.ign.com/stars/image/article/824/824776/hero-showdown-batman-vs-iron-man-20071003035548564-000.jpg

What's the first sign of spring in your area?
The usual suspects, robins; distinct absence of thinsulate and toques and quite frequently, babies.

Are you more, or less, debauched now than you were ten years ago?
I'd tell you but then I'd have to :caning: spank you.

What's your absolute favorite poem by someone other than yourself?

Art as Flirtation and Surrender by Jalal ad-Din Rumi

In your light I learn how to love.
In your beauty, how to make poems.
You dance inside my chest,
where no one sees you,
but sometimes I do,
and that sight becomes this art.​

If you could own a famous work of art, what would it be? (bonus: write an ekphrastic about it and revive that fabulous thread)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/champagne1982/Franklin_Carmichaeal_Autumn_in_The_.jpg

Autumn In The Northland

escarpment birch orange oak
fall encroaches faster than decay
boreal forest saying goodnight
to woodsmoked day and hello
to aurora borealis to blow kisses
against their outstretched limbs​

 

[Guest]

..............

 

[PandoraGlitters]

Ever had a crush on a cartoon character?
I haven't yet had a crush on a cartoon, but if I did it would be Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law.

What's the first sign of spring in your area?
Bikinis in the stores and ads for Spring Break destinations in the Travel Agent's window.

Are you more, or less, debauched now than you were ten years ago?
I am a smarter debauched: no pictoral or video evidence. Actually, to be honest, I'm not terribly debauched. Maybe that's why the characters in my writing are.

What's your absolute favorite poem by someone other than yourself?
Probably Marilyn Hacker's Villanelle for DGB, but I couldn't find a really good version of that to link to that wasn't inappropriately bolded or with the wrong line breaks. So instead, I'll link to this other Marilyn Hacker poem that is really cool in this anti-poem kind of way.

If you could own a famous work of art, what would it be?
Right now it would be some romantic Rodin. I'd have to move my furniture out to make room for it, but that's ok. I'd lay blankets at its base and sleep there.

 

[Homburg]

Think beating someone's ass would cheer you up? *bending over to pick something up off the floor*

pauvre! don't let the bastards get you down, baby. And get well!

bj

If you did that somewhere in reach of me, yes, it would cheer me up.

Suspending my gal inverted a little while ago helped too. I'll post pics later.

If you could own a famous work of art, what would it be?
Right now it would be some romantic Rodin. I'd have to move my furniture out to make room for it, but that's ok. I'd lay blankets at its base and sleep there.

That is my second choice. Rodin.

 

[Tzara]

Ever had a crush on a cartoon character?
Do we here mean "cartoon" (as in animated)
http://www.cartoondollemporium.com/dollmakers/dollz193/dollz1.gif
or as "comics"
http://www.jayfife.com/images/art/rogue%20pinup.jpg
I liked Shakara's pick. Holly Hunter voice, nice thighs. Good combo.

What's the first sign of spring in your area?
Jamison, who is somewhere 'round me, said: crocuses. And Spring Training games on the radio. (Congratulations, Dave Niehaus.)

Are you more, or less, debauched now than you were ten years ago?
When younger, I was debauched, or bedauched. I forget.

I am now officially old enough to be a roué .

What's your absolute favorite poem by someone other than yourself?
Homburg's pick, "Ozymandias," is a good pick. I have to, though, pick something from The Man, Kenneth Koch. Like this.

My favorite? Well, no. But it's online. Guy was a genius.

If you could own a famous work of art, what would it be?
A particularly hard question. I love contemporary art, so there are lotsa things there I would swipe: Johns, Rauschenberg, Kline, Warhol, Lichtenstein, yadda, yadda.

But if I had one painting to pick, it might be this.

Poem on it:

To a Lady at Her Virginal

You stand there, under Eros,
Hands on keys as if to play
Gibbons or Farnaby
For my sole amusement.

I will tell you, Elizabeth,
It is the slope of your gown,
Your wrists, those sleeves,
The off-slant light in the room

That make why I have come to propose.
Now where is your father?
Those baseboard tiles are elegant
And the floor is very clean.

The blue velvet on that chair
Near me is lush and thick.
No, I love how you play,
Elizabeth. Continue. Please.​

 

[UnderYourSpell]

I've spent an extremely exciting night/early morn in A & E at the local hospital .. the other half had something violently disagree with his system and his tongue swelled up to masssive proportions eventually got to bed about 4 am so excuse me if I am braindead at the moment. Oh for the days when I wouldnt dream of coming home till around 5am grabbed a couple of hours shut eye went to work and did it all over again the next night

 

[Angeline]

RhymeSmith, I'm seriously considering stealing your poem for my sig line... what immense fun! Thank you.

Challenged, hm, to join in with the already lovely hobnobbing going on in the bistro today, let me first offer this lovely menu item.

And a brand new survey, with a reminder that many of the inciting exstiflements like previous surveys and leg-humping at the bistro are handily bookmarked in the first post.

Bistro Survey for late February:

Ever had a crush on a cartoon character?

What's the first sign of spring in your area?

Are you more, or less, debauched now than you were ten years ago?

What's your absolute favorite poem by someone other than yourself?

If you could own a famous work of art, what would it be? (bonus: write an ekphrastic about it and revive that fabulous thread)

welcome and happy friday!

bj

Ever had a crush on a cartoon character?

Hmmm. I dunno about a crush, but I've always been rather fond of Clyde Crashcup.

http://www.tvofyourlife.com/images/alvinshowclyde02.jpg

What's the first sign of spring in your area?

Mud. Spring in Maine is preceded by mud season when the snow melts and the frost heaves. So romantic.

Are you more, or less, debauched now than you were ten years ago?

Much more, a much happier poet chick for it. Thank you, ee, for the loving debauchery.

What's your absolute favorite poem by someone other than yourself?

Probably Yeats' The Wild Swans at Coole

If you could own a famous work of art, what would it be?

A stained glass mural by Chagall. Watching the play of light through those extraordinarily vivid colors would be an endless source of fascination (and meditation) for me.

 

[unpredictablebijou]

Oh what a lovely mellow Saturday.

Continuing the Successive Happy News theme, nice things are already happening today. May they generalize to everyone on the board.

Think for a change I'll take my own survey.

Ever had a crush on a cartoon character?
http://members.aol.com/essobmcc/brakbook/tees/s-brak.gif


What's the first sign of spring in your area?

Driving home after dark, along my country road, I notice that the stock barns are lit late into the night. Horses, cows and sheep are being born right now, and the windows of the buildings glow all night, gold light spilling out onto the snow outside.


Are you more, or less, debauched now than you were ten years ago?
O way, way more. The alcohol content has been mostly replaced by kink, but it's still a lot higher in general.

What's your absolute favorite poem by someone other than yourself?
This one:
The good-Morrow

I wonder by my troth, what thou and I
Did, till we lov'd? Were we not wean'd till then,
But suck'd on country pleasures, childishly?
Or snorted we in the seven sleepers' den?
'Twas so; but this, all pleasures fancies be.
If ever any beauty I did see,
Which I desir'd, and got, 'twas but a dream of thee.

And now good morrow to our waking souls,
Which watch not one another out of fear;
For love, all love of other sights controls,
And makes one little room, an everywhere.
Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone,
Let maps to other, worlds on worlds have shown,
Let us possess one world, each hath one, and is one.

My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears,
And true plain hearts do in the faces rest;
Where can we find two better hemispheres,
Without sharp north, without declining west?
Whatever dies, was not mix'd equally;
If our two loves be one, or, thou and I
Love so alike, that none do slacken, none can die.

John Donne


If you could own a famous work of art, what would it be?

I think Michelangelo's Dying Slave would go nicely in the bedroom.

If I wrote a poem about it, though, I might ruin my reputation.

On the menu today: Forbidden Feasting.

Stuff that's bad for you. Stuff you weren't allowed to have as a child. Stuff that's forbidden, that gets you scolded. Stuff you're allergic to and can only eat in its virtual form. Stuff that your doctor told you to quit eating.

Candy. Ice Cream. Juicy steak. Fried eggs. Chocolate. Circus peanuts. Cotton Candy. A third piece of someone else's birthday cake. For me it's grape juice, straight and uncut and as much as I want.

What'll ya have?

bj


bj

 

[champagne1982]

I want six, big, juicy Digby scallops. I can't eat them without spending a dangerous digestive moment or 300. I violently reject scallops as soon as they start pouring whatever toxic (to me) enzymes they hold into my system. It takes me longer to recover than it does to empty them out of me. Once the nausea passes, I get a headache, dizziness and a terrible somnolence. I can't help but want to sleep.

Thankfully, I discovered this by the 2nd time I ate the succulent little bivalve critters and thankfully, and oddly, it is only scallops that brings this on.

 

[PandoraGlitters]

Stuff that's bad for you. Stuff you weren't allowed to have as a child. Stuff that's forbidden, that gets you scolded. Stuff you're allergic to and can only eat in its virtual form. Stuff that your doctor told you to quit eating.

Candy. Ice Cream. Juicy steak. Fried eggs. Chocolate. Circus peanuts. Cotton Candy. A third piece of someone else's birthday cake. For me it's grape juice, straight and uncut and as much as I want.

What'll ya have?

bj


bj

pizza. whenever I think about it I hear Richard Simmons singing, to the tune of People, "People, people who eat pizza, have the highest cholesterol in the world!"

Once in a while, I make it myself, though. Then it is twice as good and not quite as greasy.

Beautiful description of signs of spring, by the way, Bijou.

 

[RhymeSmith]

On the menu today: Forbidden Feasting.

Stuff that's bad for you. Stuff you weren't allowed to have as a child. Stuff that's forbidden, that gets you scolded. Stuff you're allergic to and can only eat in its virtual form. Stuff that your doctor told you to quit eating.

Candy. Ice Cream. Juicy steak. Fried eggs. Chocolate. Circus peanuts. Cotton Candy. A third piece of someone else's birthday cake. For me it's grape juice, straight and uncut and as much as I want.

What'll ya have?

bj

Let's see... how about a big bowl of spinach dip, and instead of bread or crackers, I want a lot of fried pork skins with it... and a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup DQ Blizzard too - large!

 

[unpredictablebijou]

I am grooving so much lately on the idea of a virtual restaurant and what it offers.

This forbidden food thing is a good example. How can you give someone something imaginary and yet offer them real nourishment? By recognizing what everyone is truly hungry for: validation, attention, kindness, courtesy... In a non-tangible world like this, serving non-tangible food and intangible qualities like affection, there are truly tangible results. What a gorgeous mystery.

I'm away again for the day already - must go serve some real food to some people slightly more tangible but no more precious than those who visit here.

I'm so glad to see the ekphrastic thread reviving!

If no one's got an idea for a March poetry challenge, may I suggest we do reverdies for that? Perhaps in a week or so folks will start feeling more eager and welcoming energy about the turning season...

and Pandora: that lightswitch is such a scream, I really need to find one. You spose they still sell them?

bj

 

[Angeline]

Oh what a lovely mellow Saturday.

Continuing the Successive Happy News theme, nice things are already happening today. May they generalize to everyone on the board.

Think for a change I'll take my own survey.

Ever had a crush on a cartoon character?
http://members.aol.com/essobmcc/brakbook/tees/s-brak.gif


What's the first sign of spring in your area?

Driving home after dark, along my country road, I notice that the stock barns are lit late into the night. Horses, cows and sheep are being born right now, and the windows of the buildings glow all night, gold light spilling out onto the snow outside.


Are you more, or less, debauched now than you were ten years ago?
O way, way more. The alcohol content has been mostly replaced by kink, but it's still a lot higher in general.

What's your absolute favorite poem by someone other than yourself?
This one:
The good-Morrow

I wonder by my troth, what thou and I
Did, till we lov'd? Were we not wean'd till then,
But suck'd on country pleasures, childishly?
Or snorted we in the seven sleepers' den?
'Twas so; but this, all pleasures fancies be.
If ever any beauty I did see,
Which I desir'd, and got, 'twas but a dream of thee.

And now good morrow to our waking souls,
Which watch not one another out of fear;
For love, all love of other sights controls,
And makes one little room, an everywhere.
Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone,
Let maps to other, worlds on worlds have shown,
Let us possess one world, each hath one, and is one.

My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears,
And true plain hearts do in the faces rest;
Where can we find two better hemispheres,
Without sharp north, without declining west?
Whatever dies, was not mix'd equally;
If our two loves be one, or, thou and I
Love so alike, that none do slacken, none can die.

John Donne


If you could own a famous work of art, what would it be?

I think Michelangelo's Dying Slave would go nicely in the bedroom.

If I wrote a poem about it, though, I might ruin my reputation.

On the menu today: Forbidden Feasting.

Stuff that's bad for you. Stuff you weren't allowed to have as a child. Stuff that's forbidden, that gets you scolded. Stuff you're allergic to and can only eat in its virtual form. Stuff that your doctor told you to quit eating.

Candy. Ice Cream. Juicy steak. Fried eggs. Chocolate. Circus peanuts. Cotton Candy. A third piece of someone else's birthday cake. For me it's grape juice, straight and uncut and as much as I want.

What'll ya have?

bj


bj

You have a crush on Brak? Ahahahahahaha. Love it. Love Space Ghost Coast to Coast. My kids and I used to be absolutely addicted to that show. I personally love Zorak. An utterly evil space alien praying mantis! Wotta guy!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/de/Space_Ghost_Zorak.jpg

Look into those eyes!

 

[UnderYourSpell]

I'll have some proper English chips not what you call chips and not what you call French fries either but big chunky deep fried chips smothered in vinegar and salt and for me loads of mayo which I adore or failing that loads of mashed potato with butter followed by chocolate cheese cake smothered in chocolate sauce served with ameretto icecream

 

[Homburg]

I'll have some proper English chips not what you call chips and not what you call French fries either but big chunky deep fried chips smothered in vinegar and salt and for me loads of mayo which I adore or failing that loads of mashed potato with butter followed by chocolate cheese cake smothered in chocolate sauce served with ameretto icecream

Y'know, I would just about kill for a rindwurst and an order of pomme frites from the Schnell Imbasse down the street from where we lived in Erlensee, Germany. Sure, fries here are fine and dandy (even though I avoid them), but they aren't the same as a white paper plate rolled into a funnel shape full of piping hot pomme frites. And you flat can NOT get a good rindwurst around here. And what they call a bratwurst in these parts is shameful. Fortunately a VERY good friend of mine owns the best German restaurant in the world, and it happens to be 10 minutes from where I live. Yes, the best German restaurant in the world is not in Germany. Even he gripes about the fact that you can't get worthwhile wursts around here, but his schnitzel, spatzel, and kartoffel salat are to die for.

Chips though, ah, what I would not give to be 14 years old, sitting on the banks of the Avon river with my first girlfriend on a warm spring day in Stratford-upon-Avon sharing fish and chips bought from a street vendor with the last bits of shrapnel I had, just before the bus pulled out. Perfect moment.

It was the easiest thing in the world to fall in love with all of England while sitting on those quiet riverbanks with the spiritual successor to The Globe off to my right, quiet water ahead, and a lovely young girl with long brown hair and the softest eyes I'd ever seen to my left.

 

[RhymeSmith]

Dare I say it, Homburg? You have the soul of a poet...

...ummm...

 

[Homburg]

Dare I say it, Homburg? You have the soul of a poet...

...ummm...

People keep saying that. I can only balance it against the number of times I've been called a soulless bastard for whatever devious evil I'd just performed on my bottom du jour. It's tough to have the soul of a poet and be soulless at the same time.

Maybe I'm just borrowing the soul of a poet from some poor schmuck that wonders where his Voice goes occassionally.

 

[champagne1982]

People keep saying that. I can only balance it against the number of times I've been called a soulless bastard for whatever devious evil I'd just performed on my bottom du jour. It's tough to have the soul of a poet and be soulless at the same time.

Maybe I'm just borrowing the soul of a poet from some poor schmuck that wonders where his Voice goes occassionally.

neo? is that you in hommie's soul?

 

[PandoraGlitters]

neo? is that you in hommie's soul?

Hah!

You guys made me almost snort my coffee. Thanks. Now I'm awake.