The crew at the new poetry watering hole, dVerse~Poet's Pub couldn't wait for opening day (July 19th) to start the party, so they're laying down the paintbrushes and inviting everyone to their Under Construction link-in. The following poem is my BYOP* contribution to the festivities. (I have a lava lamp, too.)
 |
| A Bad Hoss, Charles Marion Russell, 1904 |
Transition
You graciously fed me
redneck breakfast, 2:00 am
at Jody’s Night Owl Café;
a short stack of trouble,
scrambled brains
on toast and hash
browned heartache
on a plastic plate.
You spent your days with
a hammer in your hand, but
you thought you were
quite the cowboy.
When you noticed I was a
trick rider and a straight shot,
you said I could be
Sweetheart of The Rodeo.
But I took one look at
what you had racked up
in the chute,
that kicking, twisting
neutron bomb of a bull
you wanted me to ride,
and I decided
to get gentrified.
You got the cold ones,
the juke joint and
the sad country song.
I got a crisp Merlot
the juke joint and
the sad country song.
I got a crisp Merlot
on a round table
with a crimson
with a crimson
cloth, lavender
candlelight,
candlelight,
Miles Davis on the box,
and a wild-eyed
leftist poet
and a wild-eyed
leftist poet
in a bohemian pub,
who says that
kissing a woman
is better
than drinking flowers.
kissing a woman
is better
than drinking flowers.
July 2011
Here's the Miles:
Apparently there was a hippy in the group as well:
And here's the saddest country song I could find
Apparently there was a hippy in the group as well:
Image: A Bad Hoss, by Charles Marion Russell, 1904
Charles Marion Russell [Public domain], via wikimedia commons
ha. kissing a woman is better than drinking flowers, but can sure make her lips sweet...you know...smiles. lefty poet cowboys...sounds like you got one there...smiles. cheers
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic treat this was! I knew we were talking music...but it's a cultural war being waged right here! Love the melting pot, and isn't it wonderful how sometime opposites really do attract...you wouldn't believe the fly fishing lingo I'm able to throw down! Rodeo on the river! lol Loved it...as always! Here's to d'Verse!
ReplyDeleteI think I've eaten at that diner at 2:00am. Nice work.
ReplyDeleteyeah... great.. true story? last line is marvellous. Who'd wanna be anything but a Leftie bohemian poet? Things look bright.. so glad you're onboard too.. I didn't actually realise until just yesterday, though I suspected from all that Twitterin' :D
ReplyDeleteThis was great, and very different! I'll take the Merlot... :)
ReplyDeleteAh to be in London with you all at the pub. What a fine mix this is (I had to bring the cowboy stuff as you weren't there, while everyone else drank the wine and breathed out culture) but all eyes sparkled like the glasses and all stories turned to sepia as we told them there that January night. Would that you had been there with a story like this. Always so well written. I'm under your spell as always!
ReplyDeleteThanks all. This is just some fun for the party, loosely based, of course, aren't they all? on some past experience.
ReplyDelete@Luke: I'm just going to pitch in on OLN for some backup, but I'd still be twittering about it, regardless. Some of my favorite poets are going to be hanging out there.
"even cowgirls get the blues indeed"
ReplyDelete@Gay; I was with you all in spirit, my friend. Thanks for all your kind words & support.
ReplyDelete@Louise: Good choice.
But I took one look at
ReplyDeletewhat you had racked up
in the chute,
that kicking, twisting
neutron bomb of a bull
you wanted me to ride,
and I decided
to get gentrified.
Loved this, marvelous imagery.
love the songs, great words.
ReplyDeleteSweetheart of the rodeo... How you can whip up a storm of a post... I am always awed with your words.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the music clips... I enjoyed the second one best.
ha - bring your wild-eyed leftist poet with you to the pub...i'm sure we get the jukebox to work and play some miles davis for the two of you....woohooo...great poem hedge and an exciting start into a new adventure...looking forward to this
ReplyDeleteWitchy, you're killing me with that country song. That little girl is so CUTE! (and the song is so sad!) I've always loved the Dead's "Uncle John's Band", too. Great song, with really nice lyrics, too.
ReplyDeleteAs for your poem, that's quite a menu in the first stanza. Been there, done that, got the tee shirt. I really like the transition that takes place through the body of the poem, and that ending is perfectomundo, as we ivory tower poetry types like to say.
I love what you create, Witch.
Thanks, all, for stopping by for the words and songs, and may Saturday night keep your jukebox playing.
ReplyDelete@Claudia: Don't forget a candle in a Chianti bottle for my table. ;_)
@FB If that song doesn't have you crying in your beer, Merlot, or mocha latte, nothing will. Thanks for noticing the music--I thought Uncle john's Band fit the occasion best. And thanks for your normal erudite crit on teh poetic.
Very nice :) I quite like it! My grandfather was a juke joint kind of guy, but it has taken me some time to come around to country appreciation. It's all good, though, right? Well, maybe not all of it, lol.
ReplyDeleteFrom cafes to rodeos and even neutron bombs...dang, that's quite the trip you're taking us on! A bit of good fun...ah, good old poets, having all the fun. I think it's going to be a lovely joint, this pub - don't you?
ReplyDelete@Chris: I get that feeling, my friend. Glad you'll be stopping in to keep the party going.
ReplyDeleteOh that was fun to read..she is one sassy lady that I want to sip Merlot 9or the occasional shot of Jack D. with).
ReplyDeletethis was simply a great tale.. much enjoyed!!!
This was quite the journey. Love the colour of the penultimate stanza particularly 'lavender candlelight' and the ending is just sublime.
ReplyDeleteVery nicely done, really enjoyed this piece a lot, chock-full of some incredible lines, good to know you'll be hanging at the pub:)
ReplyDeleteYou capture the essence of hanging a small country pub wonderfully, nicely written.
ReplyDeleteThat first verse and the Charlie Russell picture hooked me immediately, Joy Ann. Then, just as I was thinking of Gram Parsons and longnecks, you took seat in the lavender-lit club with a merlot in hand and Miles on the box. Just wonderful images.
ReplyDeleteFantastic, and you made a great trade - traded up, as they say. I love the sound of the lefty poet......love your writing!
ReplyDeletei can feel the music, learning to tap my feet. looking forward to more.
ReplyDeleteThe musics playin' and the rounds are flyin'... look forward to seeing you around as I drop on by.
ReplyDeleteYou can talk about rodeos and country music, as long as I can listen to Miles here, and smile.
ReplyDeleteWith you visiting the bar at dVersePoetry the sessions are certainly going to be stimulating. As usual your work moves and inspires. Also love 'Kinda Blue.' Thanks once more, to you. James.
ReplyDeleteMe thinks the memories of rodeos and Greenwich Village mix together quite well. Some nights the cowgirls and whiskey were less intimidating than the poets and wine.
ReplyDeleteA delightful, cohesive blend of images and even eras. And it's not just leftist poets who think kissing a woman is better than drinking flowers.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a treat, even with scrambled brains on the screen next to my bowl of breakfast cereal. A true pleasure to read and absorb.
ReplyDeleteAll delightful!
ReplyDeleteSo much fun. I watched "The Misfits" on TCM last night...this captured that same feeling of freedom that the West signifies. Greeting from Nevada!
ReplyDeleteThis is a bit like my iPod on shuffle: 'from Hank to Hendrix', as Neil Young put it, 'I walk these streets with you.' The positive energy swirling around dVerse is impossible to resist.
ReplyDelete"kissing a girl is better than drinking flowers" such a delightful thought, and a superb tale wrapped around it.
ReplyDelete