Still reeking of last year's regret,
string ties and antique lace
skew my view
of a golden chain tree in bloom
wishing instead
for heeled boots and cowboy hats.
Saturday night dances were my rewards
playing the stage with beer drinkers
for a spin or two
at the "good ol' boys bar."
A violin and an inanimate cello
secure bitter kisses
beneath beaten earth,
hiding in candlelight shadows,
coaxing me to strike a pose.
My fingers had not touched their strings
since she left -
the rustle of her skirts
still teasing my ears
with want and surprise.
Coke and ice cream for breakfast
reminded her it's crocheting weather again
while sauerkraut, tea and cream cakes
were staples in her daily fare;
and these memories let me smile.
I miss her.
She was always one for saying
"and now for something completely different"
and there was always something different.
I am held to remember
quieter moments
drinking whiskey in the car park,
stray dogs sniffing plastic engagement rings
with memories rising to well my lids.
Or maybe it was the whiskey...
"A little garlic and olive oil are all you need,"
she used to say, while taste testing my latest.
It was a dance of smiles
and unforgettable tears,
where life stayed in line
with partners and spins.
and yet...
My arms reach out empty
as they line up,
Cotton Eyed Joe lyrics mouthed
as each step forms-
tap overflowing,
fiddles playing.
Author notes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton-Eyed_Joe
My Dances Offered:
1. curtsy (dance card spoken for)
2. blow bubbles near the back of the shed
3. pull weeds in the potato patch
4. throw your boots behind the curtain
5. blend bananas on the heels of a hurricane
6. Knead the bread dough, watch it rise
7. Coconut oil and summer sun (dance card spoken for)
8. Pineapple
9. Red River Sunsets (dance card spoken for)
10. Black bread and wine (dance card spoken for)
11. Ruby Slippers (dance card spoken for)
12. Wear the rubber from my sole (dance card spoken for)
13. Bankrupt (dance card spoken for)
14. Deliverance
15. On the edge of tomorrow (dance card spoken for)
16. Peeled grapes and kisses
17. Circular file
18. Lies (dance card spoken for)
19. Moonshine (dance card spoken for)
20. Cantankerous(dance card spoken for)
21. Porcelain chips
22. Black coffee in the rain (dance card spoken for)
23. Clotted cream and scones
24. Rusty nail
25. Burned bridges and tears
My Chosen Dances Accepted
Fiddles
"and now for something completely different"
garlic and olive oil are all you need
candlelight shadows
beaten earth
bitter kisses
It's crocheting weather again
stray dogs sniffing
Coke and ice cream for breakfast
plastic engagement rings
cello
golden chain tree in bloom
sauerkraut
tea and cream cakes
Drinking whiskey in the car park
Antique lace
String ties
still reeking of last year's regret
A contest entry
- Victorian Parlor Game # 15 - The Mixer by ea.
450 points, ended May 25, 7 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - The Mixer - Part II by ea.
450 points, ended May 23, 7 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 34 of 34
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Nice write Pamela. I could feel the country twang of the fiddles and banjo's while reading it. Thanks for sharing and congrats on the bronze.
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You told a whole life story here, and I loved it. Thank you for the dance.
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A violin and an inanimate cello
secure bitter kisses
beneath beaten earth,
This is so good, you hear the music, see the lineup and can peer behind each face there. A wonderful poem.
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This is such a vivid character sketch of someone I would no doubt get a kick out of (I meant the woman, but actually the man's character interests me, as much, I realize) - The melancholy of the second half highlights the charm of the woman's depiction, which sometimes bordered on the hilarious. You really embraced this dance contest concept so generously and I can't get over how this evolved into such an entertaining story line. Thank you.
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ea
I loved this idea and am so pleased for your comment here. Thank you. Thank you so much. ~Pamela
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Black coffee in the rain - May I have this dance?
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Absolutely!
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May I have this dance? - moonshine
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Indeed you may.
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May I have this dance - lies?
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With pleasure.
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May I have this dance? - Cantankerous
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Indeed you may.
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May I have this dance? Bankrupt
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It would be my pleasure.
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May I have this dance? On the edge of tomorrow
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It would be my pleasure.
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Wear the rubber from my sole. May I have this dance?
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It would be my pleasure. "bows"
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fun to see your poem taking shape! Here's the tune we're dancing to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcyAwI95iiQ
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May I have this dance? - ruby slippers
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With pleasure.
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May I have this dance? Black bread and wine
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Absolutely you may have this dance.
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May I have this dance? Red River Sunsets
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It would be my pleasure.
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May I have this dance? - coconut oil and summer sun
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It would be my pleasure!
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May I have this dance? curtsy
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Curtsy is all yours.
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Amazing how you can make pulling weeds seem fun and do it poetically!
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would love you to enter and pick a dance.
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very good stuff
Now that I know what you were writing about! l.o.l.
(I checked from link for info)and I just learned something new! thank u for that my friend! good write!
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would love you to enter and pick a dance.
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