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	<title>Nicole Tasker Woods &#187; Poetry</title>
	<atom:link href="http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/category/poetry/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com</link>
	<description>A portrait of my life</description>
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		<title>Goodbye</title>
		<link>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/3064/goodbye</link>
		<comments>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/3064/goodbye#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:05:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicki</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Poetry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/?p=3064</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Encino, I will miss you And our Holdover-Monday-fun. It is difficult to say goodbye When all is said and done. I remember my first day… You were all surprisingly nice. I reported to Joe Fasulo… He gave me the best advice. I can’t tell you how sad it makes me To leave you high and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Encino, I will miss you<br />
And our Holdover-Monday-fun.<br />
It is difficult to say goodbye<br />
When all is said and done.</p>
<p>I remember my first day…<br />
You were all surprisingly nice.<br />
I reported to Joe Fasulo…<br />
He gave me the best advice.</p>
<p>I can’t tell you how sad it makes me<br />
To leave you high and dry.<br />
How will you continue living?<br />
Cary will surely die!</p>
<p>I’ve learned so much from all of you<br />
And after four long years,<br />
I hope you won’t forget me<br />
Because that’s my biggest fear.</p>
<p>You’re like my second family<br />
And you’ve made every business day<br />
So much more enjoyable<br />
Than these simple words can say.</p>
<p>Of all the WB discounts<br />
That we can get through work,<br />
Being a part of the Encino team<br />
Was by far the greatest perk.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Copyright © 2011 N.E. Tasker</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ta Tas</title>
		<link>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/3026/ta-tas</link>
		<comments>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/3026/ta-tas#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Sep 2011 14:00:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicki</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baby]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poetry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/?p=3026</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My bosoms are billowy Like pillows for your sleepy head My mammaries are abundant Giving warm food for your grumbly tummy My knockers are aloft Creating a tepid valley for your baby face My funbags are squishy Like balloons, cushioning your fall My gazongas are engorged Reminding me they are really yours &#160; Copyright © [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My bosoms are billowy<br />
Like pillows for your sleepy head</p>
<p>My mammaries are abundant<br />
Giving warm food for your grumbly tummy</p>
<p>My knockers are aloft<br />
Creating a tepid valley for your baby face</p>
<p>My funbags are squishy<br />
Like balloons, cushioning your fall</p>
<p>My gazongas are engorged<br />
Reminding me they are really yours</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Copyright © 2011 N.E. Tasker</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Baby Boy</title>
		<link>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/2994/baby-boy</link>
		<comments>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/2994/baby-boy#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicki</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baby]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poetry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/?p=2994</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I love my baby Biscuits &#38; gravy He’s my baby boy &#160; I love Aidan When he is a-fadin’ He’s my sleepy boy &#160; I love my rugrat He is kinda fat He’s my chubby boy &#160; I love Aidan Everyday he’s changin’ He’s my growing boy &#160; I love my munchkin When he is [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I love my baby<br />
Biscuits &amp; gravy<br />
He’s my baby boy</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I love Aidan<br />
When he is a-fadin’<br />
He’s my sleepy boy</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I love my rugrat<br />
He is kinda fat<br />
He’s my chubby boy</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I love Aidan<br />
Everyday he’s changin’<br />
He’s my growing boy</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I love my munchkin<br />
When he is a-luncheon<br />
He’s my hungry boy</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I love my baby<br />
Biscuits &amp; gravy<br />
He’s my baby boy</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Copyright © 2011 N.E. Tasker</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Sleeping Aidan</title>
		<link>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/2990/sleeping-aidan</link>
		<comments>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/2990/sleeping-aidan#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 21 Aug 2011 17:38:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicki</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baby]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poetry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/?p=2990</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You’re curled up Into a ball Your bottom up in the air Face on my chest Squished into the sweetest Open-mouth smile All 11 pounds of you Are weighing on me heavily But I wouldn’t trade it for anything You twitch and squirm Sometimes you chuckle Eyes fluttering as you dream I never dreamed I [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You’re curled up</p>
<p>Into a ball</p>
<p>Your bottom up in the air</p>
<p>Face on my chest</p>
<p>Squished into the sweetest</p>
<p>Open-mouth smile</p>
<p>All 11 pounds of you</p>
<p>Are weighing on me heavily</p>
<p>But I wouldn’t trade it for anything</p>
<p>You twitch and squirm</p>
<p>Sometimes you chuckle</p>
<p>Eyes fluttering as you dream</p>
<p>I never dreamed</p>
<p>I could love anything</p>
<p>As small as you</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Copyright © 2011 N.E. Tasker</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Westminster Wish</title>
		<link>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/2614/westminster-wish</link>
		<comments>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/2614/westminster-wish#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 22 Jan 2011 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicki</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baby]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poetry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/?p=2614</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is hard to foresee a Christmas wish in early September when thoughts Are blocked by a cathedral’s gothic frame and flying buttresses. Dark clouds quickly gather to suffocate the sky, But we escape the pending rain and enter the abbey. Names, dates and poems still etched clearly in stone walls Render us speechless as [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It is hard to foresee a Christmas wish in early September when thoughts<br />
Are blocked by a cathedral’s gothic frame and flying buttresses.</p>
<p>Dark clouds quickly gather to suffocate the sky,<br />
But we escape the pending rain and enter the abbey.</p>
<p>Names, dates and poems still etched clearly in stone walls<br />
Render us speechless as we silently shuffle from room to room.</p>
<p>Before exiting the church, I donate a pound to the offering box;<br />
Pick up a candle and borrow the blaze from an already flickering flame.</p>
<p>Rain and wind sneak in from behind, wicks of fire shake in unison;<br />
I wish and I pray with eyes closed to be pregnant by Christmas.</p>
<p><em><span style="color: #999999;">Copyright © 2011 N.E. Tasker</span></em></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Frozen</title>
		<link>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/2610/frozen</link>
		<comments>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/2610/frozen#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:56:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicki</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Poetry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/?p=2610</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Nothing open, nothing closed Coming down the mountain Nothing falling, nothing rising Whipping through the air Nothing tumbling, nothing swaying Still&#8211;nothing moving Nothing strapped, nothing hanging Hold it down, thread it up Nothing broken at the joint Don&#8217;t grow up or strong or tall Nothing rushing, nothing soaring Through the stream or in the air [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Nothing open, nothing closed<br />
Coming down the mountain<br />
Nothing falling, nothing rising<br />
Whipping through the air<br />
Nothing tumbling, nothing swaying<br />
Still&#8211;nothing moving<br />
Nothing strapped, nothing hanging<br />
Hold it down, thread it up<br />
Nothing broken at the joint<br />
Don&#8217;t grow up or strong or tall<br />
Nothing rushing, nothing soaring<br />
Through the stream or in the air<br />
Nothing lost, nothing gained<br />
Have everything, want for nothing</p>
<p>Copyright © 2010 N.E. Tasker</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Brisk &amp; Icy</title>
		<link>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/2338/brisk-icy</link>
		<comments>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/2338/brisk-icy#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:00:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicki</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Poetry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/?p=2338</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[early morning jack-o-lanterns dissipate twinkle lights glow in the dark love waking up before the sun &#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-r-u-n-n-i-n-g&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;- music whispers in my ears nagging thoughts invade between broken lyrics &#8212;&#8211;r-u-n-n-i-n-g&#8212;&#8211; heel toe heel toe through my head ideas find shape brisk winds &#38; icy daydreams r-u-n-n-i-n-g Copyright © 2010 N.E. Tasker]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;">early morning</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">jack-o-lanterns dissipate</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">twinkle lights glow in the dark</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">love waking up before the sun</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-r-u-n-n-i-n-g&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">music whispers in my ears</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">nagging thoughts invade</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">between broken lyrics</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&#8212;&#8211;r-u-n-n-i-n-g&#8212;&#8211;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">heel toe heel toe</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">through my head</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">ideas find shape</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">brisk winds &amp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">icy daydreams</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">r-u-n-n-i-n-g</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">Copyright © 2010 N.E. Tasker</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Coming Home</title>
		<link>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/2552/coming-home-7</link>
		<comments>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/2552/coming-home-7#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:00:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicki</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Poetry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/?p=2552</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tonight, I will be taking a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to Manchester. Probably have a couple hours layover in a U.S. city along the way. I will be tired from trying (and failing) to get sleep on the plane. I will be smelly from walking around multiple airports over a span of 12 hours in [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Tonight, I will be taking a red-eye flight<br />
from Los Angeles to Manchester.<br />
Probably have a couple hours layover<br />
in a U.S. city along the way.<br />
I will be tired from trying (and failing)<br />
to get sleep on the plane.<br />
I will be smelly from walking<br />
around multiple airports<br />
over a span of 12 hours in the same clothes.<br />
I will be restless in an aisle seat, waiting<br />
for my planes to take off and land.<br />
I will be anxious in the stuffy shared air<br />
as my fellow passengers and I tap<br />
our fingers and our feet in anticipation.<br />
We will politely push and shove each other<br />
out of our way like cattle out of a cage.</p>
<p>I will wave my arm and hand in the air and<br />
smile at my mother when she comes<br />
to pick me up from the Manchester airport.<br />
I will hug her and smell her momma smell<br />
and let her arms wrap around my soul.<br />
In late August as we exit<br />
the air conditioned indoors,<br />
I will no doubt be smacked in the face<br />
by the thickest of humid air.<br />
My eyes will feast<br />
on the New Hampshire surroundings,<br />
taking in all the lush greenery<br />
as we drive towards Northwood.<br />
I will delight in seeing<br />
my childhood home in the distance.<br />
We will swiftly approach the outdoor cage<br />
enclosing a Black Lab and<br />
larger-than-life-horse-sized-Chesapeake Bay retriever.<br />
Their tails will wag and<br />
their barks will bite the air.<br />
Hopefully silence will fill the air<br />
as I exit the car and approach the pups<br />
while calling their names.</p>
<p>I will lug my suitcases from the trunk of the car<br />
to the guest room inside.<br />
My bedroom upstairs<br />
will be calling my name as I climb the stairs.<br />
Pink carpet will embrace my feet<br />
when I reach the end of the hallway.<br />
Printed pink hearts and plaid wallpaper<br />
will close in around me.<br />
I will flop on my bed and hear the creaks<br />
I have memorized over the years<br />
from sleeping and tossing and turning.<br />
My arms will open and fall to the side.<br />
My eyes will be blinded by the clang and clatter<br />
of cluttered walls and desks,<br />
bureaus and vanities, closets and shelves.</p>
<p>Inside my childhood room, my closet<br />
is still full of my old clothes<br />
and my mom’s new outfits.<br />
My bureau’s drawers still hide<br />
socks and jeans, pajamas and tank-tops.<br />
I will pull my the stool out<br />
from underneath the vanity.<br />
I will sit and look into the mirror<br />
at my pink surroundings.<br />
I will remember when and where<br />
I got every single trinket and picture<br />
now dressing my walls.</p>
<p>Most of the Elvis memorabilia I collected<br />
all of my life has already been shipped<br />
to my home in California.<br />
I will still take a gander and try to find<br />
something I can bring back with me.<br />
I will prepare a care package for myself,<br />
carefully wrapping figurines and ornaments.<br />
Sitting Indian-style on the floor,<br />
I will sort through my bookshelf.<br />
Removing invaluable pieces of literature<br />
that I need on my bookshelf in California.<br />
I will locate French-to-English dictionaries<br />
to bring on our European vacation.<br />
I will undoubtedly pause to flip<br />
through photo albums, sparking memories<br />
I thought were long gone.</p>
<p>I will kneel in front of the desk<br />
in my childhood room, sliding open drawers<br />
and exploring cubby holes.<br />
Finding things I thought<br />
I would never need, but saved anyway.<br />
Thinking now that I have a use<br />
for these long lost treasures.<br />
I will reach underneath my bed<br />
and pull out clear containers.<br />
They are full of nick-nacks and diaries,<br />
photographs and stuffed animals,<br />
erasers and note pads.<br />
I will try to obey my mother<br />
and find some things to get rid of,<br />
but probably fail and put everything<br />
back in its place.</p>
<p style="text-align: right;">
<p style="text-align: right;">Copyright © 2010 N.E. Tasker</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Light &amp; Red</title>
		<link>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/2558/light-red</link>
		<comments>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/2558/light-red#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:00:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicki</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Poetry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/?p=2558</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Warm sun Like rain on my face Arms open Collecting yellow rays Skin burning red Hair bleaching white So far away Hardly spitting distance One day closer Six minutes late Hug a girlfriend Love her sisterly Containers and lids Grasp and salvage Seal leftover smooches Dwell on them later Not over it when There is [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Warm sun<br />
Like rain on my face</p>
<p>Arms open<br />
Collecting yellow rays</p>
<p>Skin burning red<br />
Hair bleaching white</p>
<p>So far away<br />
Hardly spitting distance</p>
<p>One day closer<br />
Six minutes late</p>
<p>Hug a girlfriend<br />
Love her sisterly</p>
<p>Containers and lids<br />
Grasp and salvage</p>
<p>Seal leftover smooches<br />
Dwell on them later</p>
<p>Not over it when<br />
There is nothing left over</p>
<p>Punch sponge<br />
Permeate the deck</p>
<p>Mop up and sop up<br />
Bucket and broom</p>
<p>Let it rain<br />
In the light and day</p>
<p>Bleed blue<br />
Blood red geraniums</p>
<p>Rickrack and lace<br />
Tie it in a bow</p>
<p style="text-align: right;">Copyright © 2010 N.E. Tasker</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Coming Home</title>
		<link>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/2485/coming-home-6</link>
		<comments>http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/blog/2485/coming-home-6#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:00:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nicki</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Poetry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://nicoletaskerwoods.com/?p=2485</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I will kneel in front of the desk in my childhood room, sliding open drawers and exploring cubby holes. Finding things I thought I would never need, but saved anyway. Thinking now that I have a use for these long lost treasures. I will reach underneath my bed and pull out clear containers. They are [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center; line-height: 14.25pt;" align="center"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I will kneel in front of the desk in my childhood room, sliding open drawers and exploring cubby holes.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center; line-height: 14.25pt;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Georgia; color: black;">Finding things I thought I would never need, but saved anyway.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center; line-height: 14.25pt;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Georgia; color: black;">Thinking now that I have a use for these long lost treasures.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center; line-height: 14.25pt;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Georgia; color: black;">I will reach underneath my bed and pull out clear containers.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center; line-height: 14.25pt;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Georgia; color: black;">They are full of nick-nacks and diaries, photographs and stuffed animals, erasers and note pads.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center; line-height: 14.25pt;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Georgia; color: black;">I will try to obey my mother and find some things to get rid of, but probably fail and put everything back in its place.</span></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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