The Gold Afterburn
Salvadore, Frida
and Vincent
go into a bar.
This is America.
They're promptly
asked
to leave.
The car was as full
of prayer and profanity
as Texas sky is full
of planets and stars
floating in smoke
and blue
bloody tears.
Cigarettes, flaming giraffes
and your buzzsaw breath
tipped the lightning jug
over all our
constellations.
The story dissolved
the map; no surprise
everyone got lost.
A wheel or two
may have fallen off
in the gold
afterburn,
and the halos,
but all you need to
roll on that road
is an engine that burns
the laughter
of
of
the mad.
October 2020
posted for Fireblossom
Images: The Flames, They Call © Salvadore Dali, 1942 Fair Use
Image via internet, author and title unknown Fair Use
ZZZZINGGGGGGGG! Wow! I love this. You have caught something in words that is inexpressible in words for the most part. I know you loathe, as I do, having the poem you just wrote quoted back to you by some lobotomy case like me, but I must. These!:
ReplyDeleteThis is America.
They're promptly
asked
to leave.
planets and stars
floating in smoke
and blue
bloody tears.
The story dissolved
the map; no surprise
everyone got lost.
And, of course, that ending. I'm so glad to see your work gracing Muse this week, and it in such stellar style. Thanks, dear BFF.
Thanks, dear, for the very generous words, and for catching my 5 a.m. misspell. My worst nightmare is bad spelling and grammar in a poem.
DeleteYou have such an utter brilliance with word craft Joy! So much more implied in every line. That is a talent not all poets have. Always a pleasure to see you at the Muse my friend!
ReplyDeleteAll the energy in this! I love the way it creates a world, dismisses it, and creates a better in a breath.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! So many great verses that truly speak volumes about life, humanity and all that is wrong. I wonder if a patch will be enough to fix a flat tire on the road to nowhere yet, everywhere.
ReplyDeleteHa, i guessed right as to characters. The poem and tale it tells is wonderful, with a perfect closing. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteokay. this is so much fun.
ReplyDeleteSo good -- takes us inside and across and back outside the frame -- Nothing more surreal than America and Texas, and yet we are refugees in blue bloody tears. Buzzsaw breath brings us right into the car, face to face with the live body of art. I love halos as the holy golden nitro that fuels the afterburner. Shoot for the stars baby. Shoot them down. Shoot them up.
ReplyDeleteThis is so perfect! I adore it.
ReplyDeleteI think they may be heading for some obscure bar in the Florida Keys ... no problemo. I love the art, your take on the challenge is brilliant (as are you.)
ReplyDeleteYes, this is perfect. You've channeled the art and artists into a brilliant poem.
ReplyDelete"The car was as full
of prayer and profanity
as Texas sky is full
of planets and stars
floating in smoke
and blue
bloody tears." Love it!
Brilliant! Every stanza was full of your wit.
ReplyDeleteI love that final stanza. I find myself cackling, on occasion, just to feel the wee bit of tempest madness that gurgles beneath the skin of a former poet ~
ReplyDeleteNever lose your madness, my friend. It's good company.
DeleteThe trio kept their madness close. Indeed good company. The bloody tears hit where it should.
ReplyDeleteyes!
ReplyDeletethat's all i have to say about this poem. smiles
Glad you liked it! Thanks.
Delete