He sat at the table, smiling a rehearsed curl of lips,
scribbling a signature on his eight by ten glossy photos,
passing them out for a fee
unto faces who remember him as a hero and king,
appearing at one more store's grand opening.
Layers of crowning seconds were stored behind his eyes
limelight's blinding blur,
which he thought would never cease,
always knowing the basements of fame
where others had gone to die,
but so convinced his flame would always burn,
not believing a day would truly come
unto his life when he would not still be champion
and monarch on the field
could truly end with the decay of his legend's immortality.
How short the journey to that door
leading to cellar of forgotten courage
being lost in the shadows cast by new gods.
Sitting next to another faded deity of athletic Elysium,
their eyes sharing the haunting
from the lost of glory's steady sun,
dwelling now with tarnished wreaths
in the special place
where twilight comes to accolades and attention
becoming the latest additions
in the vault of fame's morality,
when the only light still shining
is craved by memorabilia's collectors.
Author notes
Prompt: Cellar Door
A contest entry
- Phrase Prompt by Jasmine Rayne.
300 points, ended August 18, 2008, 6 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
-
This is a very interesting tale of fame and fortune. Very creative. I loved it. :]
"He sat at the table, smiling a rehearsed curl of lips,"
I like this line a lot! Very good way to start out the poem. :] I like that you said "smiling a rehearsed curl of lips". It shows the faux delight.
"their eyes sharing the haunting
from the lost of glory's steady sun,
dwelling now with tarnished wreaths
in the special place
where twilight comes to accolades and attention
becoming the latest additions
in the vault of fame's morality,
when the only light still shining
is craved by memorabilia's collectors."
This whole bit is fantastic. The description and metaphor is beautifully done. Superbly written. I loved it. Thank you for your entry. :]
-Lily♥
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