destined to melt
between mosque and market—
cobble-sore feet, sizzling
döner-grill heat
we drape treasure shops
breathless, swept tea-tide
of scarf hawkers, sea-glare
then from prayer call
to thunder crack, sky blacks—
brief deluge on fountain square
unwilts us, rejoicing like tulips
Graceful Press Poetry 
Colorful walk through Istambul thanks to this beautiful poem, I especially like the final comparison, if I remember well, the “tulip period” is a historic era during the Ottoman Empire… inspiring, as usual! thank you Jennifer 🙂
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I did do a little reading on tulips. I didn’t know (before) that they were so strongly associated with Turkey & the Ottoman Empire. The things you learn through poetry. 🙂
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In one word you gave me a complete picture of the relief at the end of the poem: tulips. Bright color, the flower perking up and opening to the rain. Very deft writing.
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Oh, thanks! I’m glad it worked. (I struggled a bit with the right flower to go to.)
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Love this. You brought Istanbul alive for me again. Although I visited in a cold March, and it rained the whole of the last day so I can’t relate to un-wilting in quite the same way, but I could see you perking up after a little light drizzle.
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Weather has such an effect on our enjoyment–and our memories–doesn’t it? I was afraid this would be too specific to my own experience and not generally evocative enough. Thanks for your comment!
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Beautiful imagery. I’ve never been to Istanbul. I travelled to Asia recently, and saw the biggest, most beautiful tulip flowers. Istanbul wasn’t exactly close, but your poem reminded me of them anyhow.
Congrats!
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Aw, thanks so much! I love how details can release memories. Asia…someday…
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I love the words you chose in this–so specific and evocative. I haven’t been to Turkey, but this brought me back to the markets in Morocco in August.
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Thanks, Marcy. I haven’t been to Morocco, either, but I imagine there must be many cultural similarities, and maybe physical ones as well.
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If I’d had enough words, I would have included the cats! My husband said there were also loads of cats wandering around in Morocco when he was there.
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This is giving me so much imagery…I’m walking through Istanbul now…:) Brilliantly penned !
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Thanks! I’m so glad this is making a picture for you!
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What colorful images you evoke!
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Thank you, Tina.
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You’re really getting me into poetry! Such beautiful words so cleverly put together to paint an exquisite scene. Well done, again!
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What a beautiful compliment, thank you!
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I have always wanted to visit Istanbul. You captured the hustle bustle of how I imagine it to be perfectly – doner-grill heat and breathlessness summing that up best (for me). I almost felt refreshed at the end when the skies opened – sounds like a shower was just what was needed! See, there you go – you got me with this one! Great job!
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Oh, yay, thanks!
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Beautiful word choices: cobble-sore, sizzling, scarf hawkers, sea-glare, sky blacks, deluge, unwilts… loved them all!
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Wonderful, this means a lot to me!
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I love the rhythm of this piece, the way it sort of tumbles along effortlessly. The lowercase helps that, too, I think. What beautiful imagery. I’ve never been to Istanbul, or Marrakech for that matter, but for some reason it makes me think of what I imagine Marrakech to be. Very evocative!
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I bet Marrakech would be similar in a lot of ways. What an interesting comment about the lowercase…I am going to study that. 🙂
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A walk through a city I Have never been to. Thank u.
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Thank you for reading!
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What a nice write! It reminds me of wandering through the souks when I lived in Riyadh.
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I would read that poem. Or story, whatever you got. 🙂
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This post is about my experience in Riyadh. :-0
http://thewizardsword.com/2012/07/12/the-mall/
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Wow! Thanks for the link and great story! One of the friends whom we spent time with in Istanbul is originally from Saudi Arabia. His stories of growing up there are fascinating.
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Thanks you for reading it, Jennifer. Growing up in SA. Wow! I’ll bet he does have some stories!
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Beautiful! I spent five hours – a long layover – in Istanbul in 2005 or so, and it was just like that, brief deluge and all. I love the way you combine words (“tea-tide,” “sea-glare”). Just lovely all around.
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Maybe those kinds of deluges happen once a week, and that’s why the locals seemed so nonchalant? Thanks for your kind words. I appreciate it!
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Beautiful rhythm. I felt like I was taking a stroll in another world (Istanbul to be precise). Such lovely description.
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Thanks, Renada. I am always thrilled to get comments from fellow poets!
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Thank you for your word-stroll to a place I’ve never been. I could fell the beat of your overheated footsteps inside the rhythm of your prose. I am glad you were unwilted at the end. 🙂
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At least temporarily unwilted. 🙂 “Word-stroll”–love it, may steal that for future work…
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I love the idea of rejoicing tulips! That is beautiful imagery. Well done! ♥
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Thank you, Kathy. The ❤ makes my day!
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I love how you lay the images so tightly together to capture the sensory overload of the place. And the last line is a fantastic image to end on 🙂
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Sensory overload, exactly! Thanks for your kind words.
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I want to go there. I want to be draped in scarves. I love your poetry.
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Thanks, Meg. ❤
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