“Did it taste the same?” (Poem, “52 Makeup” Week 8)

Last updated on: March 1, 2017 at 1:47 am by Tom Swiss

“Did it taste the same?” (Poem, “52 Makeup” Week 8) 2017-03-01T01:47:52-04:00 Tom Swiss

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Zelda’s Inferno is an informal poetry workshop group founded by my friend Robin Gunkel many years ago. When meet (which these days is a random occurrence) we do a writing exercise, the idea of which is not necessarily to create a finished poem but to put words on the page. (I came up with our motto: “If you have words on the page, you win.”) Sometimes those words develop into a full poem, sometimes the have the seed of one, and sometimes they just add to the compost pile that will fertilize other creative work.

At this Sunday’s meeting, the exercise was to write a poem that made some reference to synesthesia. The first three lines here were the conversation across the table as we sat down to write.

Did it taste the same?

that’s the LSD workshop
I’ve done this exercise before
Did it taste the same?

Is this a word I see before me
Stabbing sharp
Sounding like a bright light

The scent of the alarm
The sound of a hot pepper
The taste of a pencil-point breaking

Some people see God
Some hear voices of the divine
Why does no one taste the Mystery?

(Was the doctrine of transubstantiation a failed attempt at this?)

Did it taste the same?
I’ve done this exercise before

Previous Post

February 23, 2017

A New Job, Fatherly Advice, and the Lottery

Next Post

March 2, 2017 March Blooms, Antisemitism, And Seven Pillars Of Wisdom

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 2017 52 Makeup 2020 52 Makeup Always Roaming With A Hungry Heart Art Because I Could Not Stop For Death Caught On Video COVID-19 Culture Discordianism Ethics, Virtue, and Right Living History Magic(k), Ritual, and Mysticism My Blogging Life and Times Philosophy Podcast Poetry Random Wednesdays Religion & Politics Seasonal Musings Techno-Pagan Theology Uncategorized Warrior Path Zen

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 March 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 December 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 June 2022 April 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who built the first temple for God?

Select your answer to see how you score.

David Moses Solomon Pilate