Manuela Cardiga's Blog, page 56

EVENING PERFUMED BY JASMIN

My friend sits
By a lamp
Battered
By velvet moths

Soft panting moths
Crying to die
Aching to lie
In Fire's embrace

Oh stop!
That kiss
Those scarlet lips
The devouring deep
Burns your wings
Steals from you flight
In heated hunger
And burning spite

MC

PAWNING PEARL Part 14

When Simon woke at seven to go down to the Polite Pawn Shop, Pearl had already set the table for breakfast, with a big pot of tea just as he liked it, and a stack of golden buttered toast to go with it."Good morning Pearl."

"Good morning Mr Thambisa."

Simon frowned. "Mr. Thambissa? Thought...you would call me Simon now?"

Pearl pressed her lips primly together. "Mr. Thambisa, I am your maid. Let us not forget that, Sir, and a good respectable maid knows her place."

"I see." Simon found himself flushing with embarrassment, "If it is because of last night...Pearl, I..."

"Last ni-ni-night?" Pearl stuttered, "what do you mean?"

"When i embraced you. Forgive me Pearl, I was not taking advantage...Never think that. I...respect you."

"Si- Mr. Thambisa, if I recollect, I embraced YOU. I know you have no intentions towards me as a woman, Sir. None."

"That's right!" cried Simon emphatically, "None what-so-ever! And never will!"

A wave of disappointment crashed over Pearl. "Of course not, Sir. Nor do I see you as a man." she bravely pushed on, "I don't want you thinking I will be seeking to take advantage, or get above my place. Because of the children, Sir."

"No, indeed not Pearl!"

"In fact, Sir I wanted to tell you, tomorrow I ant to go to the Children's Home, to see what I can find out; and get Isaiah's and Thali's papers, so we can enrol them in the school? And I asked Mrs Marcovish of 5 D to have them over, so they won't be alone."

"Very good Pearl, yes, very good plan." Simon Thambisa was fascinated by the tea swirling in his cup. "And Pearl, thank you. For the comfort, for your friendship, and for bringing these children into my life."

"Sir, it is I who must thank you. You have given me a new life." Pearl bit her lips.

Simon Thamsisa lifted his head and smiled. "We are lucky Pearl, you and I. I think these children have given us a new life."

And you Pearl, he thought to himself, you...I must find a way to make you look at me as a man, so I can make YOU my new life.

Manuela Cardiga
TO BE CONTINUED

MERCY, CRIED THE MUSHROOM TO THE VEGAN LEADING IT TO ITS DOOM

Oh have mercy
Mercy on these
Pigs, and cows and sheep

Oh have mercy
On these we slaughter,
Quarter fillet and devour

Oh have mercy
On the fish we filch
From watery paradise

Oh have mercy
On the fowl and feathery beasts
That we serve at our feasts

Oh let us garnish
Our plates with
Acceptable treats
Of vegetable provenience
Like peas and beets
And spinach and things
That wont tarnish
Our little souls
With murderous
Dreams of...

FILLET MIGNON
(Sweet meat
Sauteed
In salty butter
just covered
in Pepper sauce
made with cream;
an absolute dream
of animal protein)

Go on,
Go ahead,
Have a scream!
I'm a carnivore
It's vegetables
I adore.

Imagine as I do
Lives of sentience
In slow flesh
Prescience in green
Delicate tendrils
Soaking in a dream
Of star fire
Free-falling shower
from the distant sun.

Tell me,
What vegetable thoughts
Might run in slow sap
Centuries of histories
Of fluttering leaves
Aching with desire
Sun and sweet wind.

Do you cry
When a green-bean dies
That you might deny
You kill to eat?

Tell me do you only feed on death,
Do you only regret or think it a sin
When what you eat has breath?

All we eat has life
All that has life eats life
Fire feeds fire
Yet only we desire
To deny, only we aspire
To the pious lie

"To live
I take no life."

MC

PAWNING PEARL Part 13

The next morning Pearl got up early, and leaving the children and Simon fast asleep, and went upstairs to flat 5 D, where Mrs Markovish lived.

Mrs Markovish was the whitest woman Pearl had ever seen. Her skin was a milky transparent white, fine as a bride’s veil, and through it she could glimpse the delicate tracery of pale blue veins. Mrs Markovish’s. hair was gossamer pale and fine, her eyes a milky gray. She was pale, pale…

When Pearl had first met her in the hallway she had thought her cold as a ghost, frightening in her frailty, but her smile had been incandescent, warm. She had invited Pearl for tea at her home. 5 D was an odd place indeed. The walls were completely covered with framed photographs, and news paper cuttings from all over the world. The pictures had only one subject: a slender blonde gracefully posed on ice skates; receiving flowers, medals or silver cups. Mrs Markovish. Slender, lovely, graceful and always with that same incandescent smile; and young, achingly young.

Peal pressed the buzzer and waited for the sound of Mrs Markovish’s high heels. The door opened on the chain and an eye peered out.

“Pearl! Come in!” A fumble and the chain fell, the door flew open and Pearl found herself in a perfumed embrace.

Pearl followed her through into the lounge. "Sit my dear, and tell me, what brings you here so early?"

"Oh! I am sorry! I did not think! You were sleep?"

"No, Pearl! I am old, my dear, I sleep very little! But sit! Sit!"

Peal sat obediently, straight-backed on the edge of a huge Chesterfield sofa upholstered in bottle-green velvet.

"Mrs Marcovish, I need your help, Madam. With the children."

Pearl nervously pleated the dress over her thighs. "I must go to look for the Children's Home they came from, to get their papers so they can go to school. I looked in the Internet, they must have transfer papers, and identity papers or the school wont take and I have no-where to leave them. I don't want them to be alone." She swallowed, and proceeded bravely, "Madam, I would ask of you if you could look after them tomorrow?"

"Of course Pear, bring them up." The magical smile transformed her again. "It will be fun! I will make pancakes, and tell them stories from the old days."

Pearl recalled some of the stories Mrs Markovish had told her...
"Madam, of course...Stories about the skating, yes?"

Mrs Markovich giggled. It was a strange sound to issue from an old mouth. It was the naughty giggle of a young girl gossipping about a boy who wanted to go "too far"...
"Oh Pearl! You are such a prude! I bet you have been living with that absolute hunk of chocolate for two months and haven't taken one little bite!"

Pearl drew her shoulders back and levelled on Mrs Markovish the flinty gaze that so petrified Simon. "I am a respectable woman, Madam. I do not bite

Mrs Markovich giggled again, "Oh I do! Did..." she sighed, "But its been a long, long time..."

"Besides, Mr Thambisa is a very kind, respectful man. A respectable man."

"Respectful! My men were never respectful, or respectable...They were wild...I was too, until I married Mr Markovish (God save his soul)." Mrs Markovish added piously."Let me tell you Pearl, life is too short, so go ahead and bite! He is a delicious thing, too. He looks a bit like that Seal singer. Oh that body!"

"Mrs Markovish!" Cried Pearl scandalised.

"What? I'm old, girl, not blind! Or dead."

"We are friends. He has a kind, soft heart! Why just last night, he was so shocked by the children's suffering, he cried and threw up."

"He threw up?" Mrs Markovish shuddered fastidiously, "Ouch!"

Pearl was indignant "He is a sensitive man, a good man."

"Yes, yes...So did you comfort him? Hold his hand?" Mrs Markovish winked a mischievous smile.

"No, I embraced him. Respectfully."

"Well I hope you wiped his mouth first."

"Well, no! I didn't think about that at all. He was in pain."

"Oh my God! Pearl, honey, you are in love!"


Manuela Cardiga

TO BE CONTINUED

BETTY BOTTER BATTERED BRIDE

I love my love
and my love loves me
Betty Botter
better best

I love my love
and my love beats me
Betty Botter
batter beast

I love my love
And my love must die
Betty Botter
Bitter bite

I love my love
And I killed him goodbye
Buried him deep
Told a sly lie

A Policeman came
To arrest me
Says I'm a killer
Can't be free

Sir - I cry-
I loved my love
And my love loved me
Betty Botter
Batter beast

I called my Mother
She said to me
It does not matter
It's a private thing

I dialed the number
An officer came
He wrote it down
He took my name

He issued a writ
Gave a stern warning
It did not help,
Sir, not one bit,

One day I knew
You would not care
Unless he slew
So what to do?

I loved my love
And I killed him dead
Stuck a knife
Into his head

I loved my love
I love my life
But I just won't be
His battered wife.

So take me away
For Judgement Day
What ever the cost
I'll gladly pay...

I loved my love
And he loved me
Now I'm in jail
At last I'm free.


MC

PAWNING PEARL Part 12

Simon walked back into the kitchen where a humming Pearl was drying and putting away the dishes,
He sat heavily at the table.
"Pearl."

She turned smiling, "Yes?" She stepped towards him at the sight of his face, the horror in his eyes.
"Mr- I mean, Simon, are you alright, Sir?"

"What did the children tell you about where they came from, Pearl? How they were living on the streets, sleeping on my doorstep?"

Pearl stared at him in confusion. "I...Well Isaiah said...He said he took care of Thali, that her mother had died, like his father. I think Isaiah's mother had ran out on them long ago, so when his father died Isaiah was alone."

"But where were they, Pearl?"

"On the street. That is what he said. They lived on the street, they begged. Some shopkeepers gave him food for cleaning, taking out trash. They scavenged."

"Where were they before that, Pearl, did you ask yourself that?"

"Simon? I don't understand..."

"Thali told me they were in a home. A Children's Home, and a couple took them."

"They were adopted?"

"It sounds like that."

"But...I don't understand!"

"They took them for ice cream one day, and went to the bathroom. They abandoned them, Pearl. Like dogs. They abandoned our children. Left them alone, two little ones in a shopping centre, in a place they did not know."

A nameless rage filled Simon's throat; a soundless scream, a terrible pain that burned his eyes dry. He was shaking, clenching his fists on the table. "I wish to kill them, Pearl. I wish to kill. I have never wished such a thing before."

The terrible agony unfolded his gut, and he lurched to the sink and spilled out his supper, vomiting horror and tears, sobbing out Pearl's lovely stew. And she was beside him. Pearl had arms around him, and Simon Thambisa turned to bury his face in her shoulder, and felt for the first time in his life the consolation of a beloved embrace.

MC

TO BE CONTINUED

In glamorous 18th Century Versailles someone is murdering...

In glamorous 18th Century Versailles someone is murdering the Court Jesters. Courtesan turned Detective Noelle de Jouissance is ordered by Louis XV to investigates the hidious crimes, and finds herself embroiled in the sex-mad Royal Family’s erotic secrets; her virginal sidekick - Desiree - is being pursued by the King's lecherous brother; the King is out to seduce the Queen and her Mistress, and the only clue to the killer's identity is a tattoo on his scrotum...Desireé Cronson and Manuela Cardiga's tongue-in-cheek take on the sexy shenanigans of Louis XV's sinful court. A deliciously raunchy Historical Romance!FIND OUT MORE HERE!AND HERE!EXCERPTDesireé sat obediently on the edge of a chaise-longue, clasping her hands modestly in her lap, the feathered mask ticking her cheeks and her nose.

“May I…?”

Startled she looked up to see a tired-looking young man in a magnificent purple damask coat and a powdered white wig. A plain back-satin mask accentuated his drawn features.

Desireé scuttled over to leave him as much room as possible. He sank down with a sigh.

“I’m so tired: roistering in the morning, rogering in the afternoon. Really, I must find some time to sleep.” He reached up and pulled off his wig which he dropped on the cushions between them, revealing unruly dark boyish curls, “and now these nightly balls! I have to service Mm. d’ O in half an hour, then that new Russian Countess at 12.30, and I promised Mou Sieur le Comte de Villiers I would accompany him to Paris for a little riotous rape…”

Desireé giggled: he was so droll! He glanced at her startled.

“You find it amusing? I have to work very hard - and I mean hard - to keep my reputation, you know. I sometimes wish I’d been less zealous at earning it, but when you’re young you think being the best cocks-man in Court is as good as being the heir to the Throne.”

“Oh I love Coc-au-Vin! Roast Capon, Chicken Fricaseé, Sister Stella always said I was a poultry fanatic!”

“Fricaseé?” The young man peered intently at Desireé through the eye-holes of his mask; taking in the delicate satiny complexion, the rose-bud mouth, the wisps of silken un-powdered hair escaping her severe hair-do. His eyes lingered on the long neck, slid over the edge of the grey silk, took in the slender mounds of her young breasts.

“Who are you?”

Desireé smiled and extended one slender hand: “Desireé de Jouissance, at your service! I am Noelle’s cousin.”

The young man looked even more surprised.

“Noelle? The Noelle? I know Noelle quite well.”

“Oh how lovely!” Desireé smiled at him joyously, “Then we are already friends.”

She shook his hand firmly. “I have just arrived and was so afraid…but everyone is so friendly!”

“Yes…We are all very friendly. From where exactly did you arrive?”

“From St Cyr. I am going to take the veil, but the King’s Minister ordered me to place myself under my cousin’s guardianship for the season.” She leaned forward, her dark eyes shinning earnestly, “My calling, you see, is healing. Souls. I feel it most strongly.”

The young man looked absolutely fascinated.

“Healing souls? There are many wounded souls right here. Mine, for instance…I have this pain…Do you heal by the laying on of hands?”

“No. By prayer. I believe in the power of prayer.”

“The thought of you kneeling to pray is…delightful” The young man licked his lips in that disturbing way.

“Monsieur,” Noelle interrupted, dropping a graceful courtesy, “pray forgive my cousin, she means no disrespect. She is newly arrived at Court!”

The young man got to his feet waving a languid hand, “That’s quite alright, she was about to kneel to pray for my soul…You can come back for her later, my dear Noelle.”

“Sire, I beg you…” Noelle leaned forward and whispered earnestly in the young man’s ear. He stared at Desireé in astonished awe.

“How old are you, my dear?”

“Twenty, Sir.”

He gaped at her in disbelief.

“Twenty?” Noelle once again whispered in his ear.

“Oh very well, but you will make it up to me Noelle de Jouissance.”

Noelle dropped the young man another deep courtesy and dragged Desireé hastily away.

“I told you not to talk to anyone and I find you chatting up the most dangerous, debauched and dissipated roué in Europe.”

“He seemed very pleasant…and devout.”

“That is Jean, Duc de Orleans, the King’s brother.”

PAWNING PEARL Part 11

Simon was sitting with Pearl in the kitchen after dinner, nursing his tea, making it last, so she would stay a little longer, when Thali snuck into the kitchen, the doll under one arm, the book under the other.

"Thali" Said Pearl sternly, "You should be sleeping."

"I wanted Mr Simon to read to me."

Pearl frowned and opened her mouth to protest and Simon rushed in:

"Yes Pearl, I promised Thali. A bed-time story an a piggy-back ride." He looked at her with exactly the same pleading expression as Thali (had he but known it) "And you know we should always keep our word to children."

"Alright then, away with you both, while I wash the dishes."

Simon and Thali tripped down the corridor, and Thali clambered up onto the bed she shared with Pearl and pulled the blankets up to her chin.

Simon picked up the book, turned to page one, cleared his throat theatrically and proclaimed:

"Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories Told To Little Ones."

"What does that mean?"

"Rudyard Kipling is the writer's name."

"I mean, just so stories?"

Simon skimmed the first story and said "It means little ones hear the story and just go straight to bed without asking WHY WHERE WHEN. Because it Just IS. Its a JUST SO Don't ASK Anymore Questions Story book."

Thali stared at him suspiciously. "That is what it says?"

"Yes. It is the rule of this book. You hear the story and you go to sleep. You are not allowed any questions."

"I may have picked the wrong book."

"I like it. I like this rule. Let us begin: How The Elephant Got his Trunk..."

Thali lay in absolute silence while the Elephant's child got warmer and warmer and curiouser and curiouser, but never did a single question escape her mouth. She stared entranced when Simon manipulated the book and showed her the pop-ups, all in absolute silence. "And that my children, is how the elephant got his trunk!" Simon snapped the book shut and smiled.

"Very good story. I like it."

"Mr. Simon...I have a question? It's not about the book. Can I ask?"

"Yes Miss Thali, you can ask."

"Can I take the book with me when you go away ?"

"Go away?" Simon stared down at the tiny face i consternation. "I am not going away."

"Oh! It's alright Mr Simon! I won't be sad. It is not easy for people to care for children like Isaiah and me. Nice people try, and you and Pearl are nice."

"Nice people. Nice people tried to take care of you and Isaiah?"

"Yes. Nice people.They came to the children's house where we lived and they took us home. But I think something went wrong, and one day we went for ice cream, and they went to the bathroom and they never came back."

"They never came back"

Thali wriggled deeper into the bed. "Nope, we sat there for a long time Then the lady had to close the shop. So we left."

Horror overcame Simon Thambisa. He leaned over the tiny girl on the bed.

"Thali, I am not sending you away,and I am not leaving you anywhere. This is your home, this is your bed. I am not leaving you, Thali, no-one is leaving you or Isaiah alone ever, ever again."

He sat and held her hand (he had to kiss the doll goodnight) until she fell asleep. He walked past the kitchen where Pearl was clacking dishes and cutlery to her heart's content, and stopped at the door to his lounge.

There was Isaiah, fast asleep on the couch, the football tucked under his arm, and the bright green brand-new tackies still on his feet. Tomorrow he would order furniture for the middle room, for his children's room. He would go to his lawyer. He would make them safe. He would make his family safe.

LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI

TUM TUM
Beat the
DRUM DRUM
Dance for
FUN FUN
Break and
RUN RUN

I took a chance
(Yea)
Had no romance
(Yea)
A babe, a glance
(Yea)

TUM TUM
Beat the
DRUM DRUM
Dance for
FUN FUN
Break and
RUN RUN

She was so fine
(Yea)
Wish she were mine
Yea
That evil smile
(Yea)
She blew my mind
(Yea)

TUM TUM
Beat the
DRUM DRUM
Dance for
FUN FUN
Break and
RUN RUN

I had no cash
(Yea)
So I was trash
(Yeah)
I got no flash
(Yea)
No style no dash~
(Yea)

TUM TUM
Beat the
DRUM DRUM
Dance for
FUN FUN
Break and
RUN RUN

So I walked in
(Yea)
To a place of sin
(Yea)
Said with a grin
(Yea)

Your money
Or your life
Gimme the cash
I spare your wife…

TUM TUM
Beat the
DRUM DRUM
Dance for
FUN FUN
Break and
RUN RUN

The bullet sped
(Yea)
Right through his head
(Yea)
The fucker bled
(Yea)
Now I’ll be dead
(Yea)

Strapped to that chair
And she don’t care
She’ll paint her lips
And fluff her hair…

TUM TUM
Beat the
DRUM DRUM
Dance for
FUN FUN
Break and
RUN RUN

Babe don’t be cruel
(Yea)
To the next fool
(Yea)
Your money-tool
(Yea)
Who thinks you cool
(Yeah)

It was you that should have died
It was you who led and lied
And I stood on my male pride
(I cried I cried I cried)
Tonight I died...

Dead for a woman
In my bed,
Lightning flowing
Through my head,
So brother…

TUM TUM
Beat the
DRUM DRUM
Dance for
FUN FUN
Break and
RUN RUN

Or La Belle Dame Sans Merci
She'll fool you, like she fooled me.




MC

GOLDEN BOYS AND SILKEN TOYS

When to dinner
Party of three
“Darling! How are you?”
Bored as can be.
And there was this man
At the table next to me
Late sixties tucked
And trimmed
All the fat sucked off
And slimmed,
Smiling and smarming
For all he was worth
To a lovely girl
So young and so sweet
Fresh, untouched;
Like a golden peach-
But wise enough to life
To shyly reach
To touch his cheek
To look vaguely silly
But bright enough
To teach…

What a wise little Peach!
Succulent and sweet
Playing the game
Like a pro,
And from pitying her,
I pitied him.

Here he was,
Wading in a dream
That she loved him-
It wasn’t all scheme
Built on a little blue pill
And a flash of the green…

I wonder though
When he ate his Peach,
When she arched
Beneath him
In her perfect play
And screamed,
When that golden flesh
Devoured him;
Did he for a minute
Catch a glimpse
Of a bony grin
On a writhing body
Without skin?

MC