Mouth Sloppies
https://soundcloud.com/ratcityray/mouth-sloppies?ref=clipboard&p=i&c=1&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Music and artwork by Ray Clemens © 2021 Ray Clemens
PoemI by Glenda Clemens © 2021
Tip Toe
Quickly now
Look
Both ways
Ignore the horn
Jump
Higher
Jump
Higher
Ignore the horn
Grab the light
Race the light
Relax
Calm
Ignore the horn
Roll over
And over
Deep breath
Renewed
Ignore the horn
Creation
I am the grass
I cover all
I am the grass
Let me work
— Carl Sandburg
The green grass, Popo, was one of three sisters. Her sisters, Maleah the sea and Mystral the wind, were always near her thoughts. They lived apart yet were constantly in touch. Popo loved sleeping and talking to the creatures. Maleah was focused on the needs of creation. Mystral was smart but loved to tease.
Popo lay close to the dark, damp earth and inhaled the sweetness of their mother, Earth. Earth whispered in her ear, “Are you ready?”
“Let me lay a moment longer.” So, for eons she lay waiting for her sister the sea, Maleah, to beckon her first footstep.
Earth whispered again, “Daughter, you must rise and go to your sister. Together with Mystral, you will create what’s needed.”
Popo stretched her long, green arms up to the Sun and said, “I suppose it is time. Shall we give the power to the beings to come?”
“No. In time they will try to take it. For now, just being is enough for them.”
Popo stood to do her mother’s bidding. She trailed clumps of Earth with each step she took. Where she stepped, new paths were made. Beside the paths, creatures began to rise from her mother. Before long the sky above whirled with the song of Mystral, her sister, The Wind. Birds flew from her mouth as she sang her song. Her voice trailed across the sky.
Mystral sang to Popo, “Hurry to Maleah, she has risen from her mighty waters. Fishes and more are already there. You will knead the mud on her shores into the next beings with her blessing. You know how impatient she can be. Hurry. She won’t wait forever.”
Popo laughed and waved to her sister Mystral. “I won’t be late. I promise.”
She ran to the sea. On the banks of the mighty ocean, sat her sister Maleah, shimmering shades of cool blue and green, translucent, constantly in motion. She had no precise structure with creatures swimming through, within, and around her. She raised a small wave and said, “Welcome my sister. Are you prepared for your creation?”
Popo sat down beside her sister. “I’m ready. Is this the mud I’m to use?”
“Yes, then Mystral will breathe life into your creations.”
Popo sculpted two forms, one male and the other female. When they were perfect in every aspect, she motioned to Mystral to come and give them life.
Of the three sisters, Mystral was the most mischievous. Popo was the steadiest in all aspects, while Maleah loved dancing and swimming and being adored. Mystral though loved nothing more than adding little twists their mother never intended.
She wrapped her being around the two figures her sister had made. When she finished giving them life, Popo wakened them and told them, “Go forth Woman and Man. Earth is your garden. Lay together and make more people. Mother has deemed it so.”
Woman stood and motioned to Man to follow her. Together they walked hand-in-hand away from the sea. The three sisters sat on the shore watching the two beings leave. When the humans were no longer in sight, Mystral said, “This should be fun.”
Popo felt uneasy and asked, “What did you do, sister?”
“You’ll see. Just watch.”
Maleah said, “You did more than give them breath. What else did you give them?”
Mystral laughed and whispered, “I gave them knowledge and desire in equal measure.” Then she left her two sisters on the shore, gaping at her.
So, the beginning began. Popo walked from the shore and decided she needed a nice long nap. Maleah left the shore she would caress constantly. She decided she’d had enough of her foolish sister Mystral and her stuck-in-the-dirt sister Popo. She’d rather swim in all the seas on Earth.
Maleah swam.
Popo slept.
Mystral played.
