Cocoa Butter and Strawberries: Florence Diary

Zehra, too much Danielle Steel back in ``those`` days? ;))

It`s good nevertheless. Are you going to be the desi Barbara Cartland? or the next Jackie (or was it Judith) Collins?

Did I miss any names?

I enjoyed the sensuality in this poem very much.
The writing style is also worthy of note.
But like (maybe) some older folks here on CHOWK, I
prefer my strawberries with whipped cream.
But then again whipped cream is sweeter than cocoa butter and does not aid in tanning but the possibilities.........

Ras

Zehra,

This is soooo .... kewwlllll. No...... HOTTTTTT! I mean... ummm.... warm(ing), passionate, sad. And sweet.

I once wrote a poem pretty much in the same vein (tho doubltess far inferior in those little things that make a poem good poetry). Anyways, didn`t send it in for a couple of reasons, one being it probably would conjure up distasteful images in readers` minds. :-)

Anyways, good to see you again here. I always did enjoy your poetry,though I never took the op to say so.

regards, PM



Shandy, What`s this?!!! You`re liking this stuff?? Isn`t this the kind of mushy sentimentality that you claim ordinarily makes you wanna puke? Uh-uh, Arif, maybe a forthnightly trip to Kinara (is that place still open?) is called for. :-)

``SELF-DEPRIVATION``

The word ``self-deprivation`` is the key to understand the writer`s state of mind. She has brilliantly associated and romanticized the food items with the sensuality and erotic aspect of love or a love long lost. It is quite obvious that she is currently on a strict diet regimen probably with Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers. She has consummately described the claustrophobic environment of her room which is actually a simile that represents the bunged state of her mind. The open window in her room is a metaphor for a connection or a life-line to the outside world. The window represents hope- the hope that gives her confidence that she is strong- strong enough to pick up the phone and call ``Pizza, Pizza`` for a delivery.

pizza pizza...


how can ANYONE spend a summer in italy, that too florence, food capital of the world, and NOT have pizza there..
that would be self depraved as far as im concerned.....
food is a sensuous pleasure that too many people miss out on..heaven for me is a big grocery store. to fully understand, watch for `water like chocolate`..no meal will ever be the same.

:)

PM: where ya been? i can just imagine the uproar if you were to send something like this in...i think its still too much sex for some chowkwalay to handle...and this is my censored version...

seriosuly however, it was the whole mood and feeling of one of the most romantic cities in this world...i think i may send in another diary, one that is less peroccupied with just a mood and trying to capture it..i didnt think there was as much a sexual component to this as so many people picked up on...sensual, evocative but not really a trashy romance novel...it takes so little for some people though :)

rizvi.

Multi-layered, sensual and sad...I loved it. Have to read it a few more times I think.

``...We may never, never meet again

on the bumpy road to love.

Still I`ll always keep the memory of

the way you...``

* *sigh * *

Zehra:

Visiting ``Chowk`` after a long holiday - didn`t know where to start. Your piece caught my attention. Being a food-worshipper, what attracted me to your piece was the title.

Cocoa butter and strawberries didn`t quite taste right at first but now I won`t have my strawberries any other way!

I like the way you wrote the poem. Very sensuous and passionate. I admire you for sharing such personal feelings with us.

I loved:

``The scents and flavors

[cocoa butter and strawberries]

fit in my suitcase

between my laundry and books.``

``Cappuccino smiles`` was beautiful as well but for some reason I get the impression I`ve come across it before. Maybe I`ve read the poem too many times. :)

Aanyway, thank you for sharing a delicious treat!

Each one of my senses is grateful for this delight.

-Lubna

PM...finally...was beginning to worry you`d gone and done something silly like getting a job. my email is still the same, do drop a line so i can reply, lots of juicy stuff to tell.
and, coming to the juicy zehra poem, mushy sentimentality for the sake of mushy sentimentality i still can`t stand. but mushy sentimentality for erotic reasons...that i look forward to. i`m actually thinking of becoming a romance novelist..

The sweet pain of seperation and the joyous memory of union make a powerful and mind numbing combination. You`ve done a great job expressing a lot more than your words actually say.

[``...Black eyes, black hair and bronzed skin
met cocoa butter and
long,
lean preciseness.
Sliding and Meeting
One in the Other.
Exhausted and refreshed...``]

Elegently veiled, yet expressive!!! This is straight from the heart, rooted firmly in memory. You couldn`t possibly be faking it.

Looks like the two month Italian experience was a real heart throber!! What better place in Europe for lovers to meet?

...SR

slink #24, ``i`m actually thinking of becoming a romance novelist..``

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...

well...

alright...whatever keeps your juices flowing...

OOPS, I didn`t mean it that way..plzz...don`t get me wrong...

sorry

scout

I enjoy reading your stream of conscience writing. My favorite lines were:

``Ours was a brown world

in the middle of pure White

shining Christianity

living,

half dead

on legends of 500 years past.``

Brought back some of my memories of Italy as well! Never went to Florence though. Maybe next time... Travelled with the family so my recollections are decidely more tame than yours... :)

One question: Would you not find your... ummm... friend`s enthusiasm for viewing David just a tad bit unsettling??

Fozia

scout...

hmmmmm...

SR :

you can call me nieve if you would like, but I am going to assume that Ms. F. Zehra Rizvi is in fact ``faking it``

zehra, you shoud think twice in the future before putting a piece like this on the internet, because you never whose eyes it will come across...

slink...

hunh?

Ahem! Ahem!

slink, i totally think you should...

SR: thank you...it does mean a lot coming from you :)

lubna: strawberries only with cream darling, i was talking more of the scent of cocoa butter...like that cream from the body shop kinda thing...warm woodsy kinda scent..

ali5000...you sound like you are giving me some sort of veiled threat :) i have people come up to me randomly and say, hey are you that zehra on chowk? i think its wonderful that so many people are able to access mine and other peoples work at the click of a button. and no, i wouldnt put this piece up if i wanetd to keep it hidden and to myself..if you are going to write, expect a: to get heavily criticized and b: to be naked to the rest of the world. no faking involved. thanks for the unsolicited concern though..im quite all right with millions of known and unknown eyes taking a look at this work..

rizvi