It was 1928 when drinking was a sin
We could find a speakeasy
That vendored bathtub gin.
In your cloche hat and tubie dress
You really looked a treat
With a dangling string of pearls
Reaching almost to your feet.
Set off with long cig-holder
Your mouth a cupid`s bow,
Every glassfull made us bolder
As the drinks began to flow.
You danced a wicked Charleston
Swivelling your snake-hips
It was the neat alcohol that took us,
On hallucinatory trips.
Along the street a limo
With whitewalled tires sped,
The hoods inside all dressed up
With Fedora`s on their heads.
They must have been an orchestra
They toted all the gear,
But when they burst inside the place
It was not for a beer.
They sprayed the place with Tommy-guns
Glass shards flew far and wide,
So underneath the table
We quickly dived to hide.
So survived that grisly evening
Got on with our life,
They were only looking for
A guy named Jack the Knife.
Author notes
Option 1 My elder sister could dance a wicked Charleston in the 20`s. Got a telling off from Mother for wearing holes in her shoes.
A contest entry
- The Fine Flappers of The Fantastic Past by Rianna Bear.
700 points, ended March 28, 2007, 6 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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I really like your choice of words. The flow is very well done. You do a good job describing the fashion of the times, as well as some of the ideals of that time. Very well penned. Please don't respond or rate this comment until judging is final. Thank you. *rose
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The Cat's Meow!
Bathtub brew will eat holes in you! Gins not a sin,but it sends the mind round the bind. Ha! My Momma's era. And it must of been fun. I've heard wild stories from my Gran. Both have been gone for years. But Mom wouldn't of approved of tales/details Gran told me about her wilder daze.I loved this piece. I believe I'm an incarnate of the thirties myself. Can't explain why.Just a feeling I have.
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Awesome! It really turned into quite a story, and you gave great imagery of the era-long strands of pears, bathtub gin. It was like watching a movie in my head.
good luck in our contest
p.s. please do not respond or rate this until after judging. thank you
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