Case No. 6-nyc-08232011 NUMBNESS

Life in the city

has its perks

and inverted, valleys

when sharply jutting

we regret the jumps from above

but still the excitement of falling

into darkness

electrifies , it's an upper 

but those mediocre 

middle grounds,

the gaps between stimuli

in those we suffer ourselves

aging. 

i would take a 

hockey puck to the face

over the monotony of

that same flirtation on repeat 

a line of ladies

in their most subtle 

angle of seduction

there is a right angle

the spokes of my flyer

the nubs of my ears and nose

the grace of my knuckles

wheeling by,

where, where was I between

it wasn't sex and work

there wasn't that rush to get away from one to another, in either direction

must have been home and home

alone, alone

when I grow up, I want to be

a speeding train driven by a lion on ice

i rob a line from the swell season

we all long to steal

my body's uninspired 

by your love

DIS-EASE:  NUMBNESS

REMEDY:   ITAL STEW

The familiar phenomenon we call boredom may be the cause of sluggish bodily function and vice versa. Excitement is experienced in every living cell. In the same way, boredom permeates from skin to bones. Solutions are available to address both the mental and physical causes. Nourish the body to improve function and in so doing, improve sensory enjoyment OR have an attitude change, get excited and the body comes alive. Our subject experiences numbness in his extremities and a general disinterest in his experiential world. Nourishment to increase blood volume may remedy his blasé attitude and his numbness from the inside out. A well balanced spiced root vegetable stew jump starts blood production.


On a winter visit to the Blue Mountains of Jamaica our hosts cracked fresh coconuts and picked chocho off the vine. Yam, thyme, squash and scotch bonnets. All went into a giant cast iron over the fire. The pot simmered for hours while we sipped home grown coffee.

Ital Stew

Fresh young coconuts, butternut squash, yam, kidney beans, yucca, 

green plantains, curry powder, chile, cinnamon, scotch bonnet or jalapeno pepper, 

green onions, thyme, black pepper, salt

Soak beans overnight. Crack coconuts, pour water and scoop flesh into blender. Process until smooth.

Peel and cut squash, yam, plantains and yucca into 1 1/2 inch cubes. Combine all ingredients in a soup pot. Add water if necessary to cover the veggies. Simmer over medium low heat until everything's soft.  Adjust seasoning to taste.

Squash, kidney beans, coconut, and scallions all contain varied levels of three building blocks for blood production: iron, C and B vitamins. 

Case No. 5-jersey-08012011 VERTIGO

she's a one man woman, in love with a one woman man

but for a few more days, a few more hours, she's a polyphony

two hearts, four hands, the prelude of twenty fingers on keys, all sing

a symphony inside her of chords, twills, tempered strings

it's only natural to teeter in transit, to be aflame in fire

legato, adagio, grazioso

the body slows and softens, glows and mends

as if she could be more tender

i laugh

she twinkles

cravings?, i ask

she giggles

ya' never would have guessed 

the not-so-secret love of southern belles

pimento cheese burgers on brioche buns

a spicy painting on her plate

recalls canvas

acrylics and oils long past, 

may be coming back

when four hands become two and two

finger paint smear ebony & ivory

childish dissonance at play

underscores a round, repeats

mother daughter harmony

DIS-EASE:  VERTIGO

REMEDY:  GINGER

Each day of pregnancy there are beautifully orchestrated changes taking place within the mothers body. Blood vessels relax and open and blood supply to the womb is increased. The uterus grows larger and there are shifts in the mothers center of gravity. 

Changes that support the baby can lead to vertigo in the mother. Improved blood supply to the womb may be at the expense of decreased blood flow to the brain and the growth of the uterus can put pressure on blood vessels and effect balance and stability. 

Ginger stimulates blood circulation and will prevent or reduce nausea, motion sickness and the urge to vomit.
   

For a fast remedy suck a slice of ginger without chewing. 

Ginger can be added in fresh or powdered form to your favorite recipes. Here's one of ours:

Gingered Rice

In a medium size sauce pan, bring 3 cups of golden rose organic short grain brown rice and 6 cups of spring water 

to a boil. Count ten minutes. Lower the flame to a simmer and count 20 minutes. Keep covered, turn off the flame, 

and let sit ten minutes more. *

Melt a hefty spoonful of coconut oil in a saute pan. On a medium flame, add a handful of each; 

chopped shallots, crushed walnuts, grated ginger and shredded kale. If you like spice, a sliced serrano chile, too.  

Toss and stir to combine well and avoid scorching. The shallots should soften, the walnuts toast and the kale turn a brighter shade of green. Since everything's chopped small, the cooking time is short.

Add a few cups of cooked rice and stir to combine. 

Sprinkle with sea salt or Herbamere seasoning to taste.

  

*Plain cooked rice can be refrigerated for several days and used to whip up this savory recipe in a pinch.