The port city cheek and jowl
along the cordillera,
beside the grimy harbor,
guests in white shoes,
face powder and pomade
deep as black purple.
A lawn party seven years ago.
The scented breeze,
i look back, maybe posies
drying on a tray.
Voices across the emerald pool
and a line of Adirondack chairs;
the barkeep stacks paper cups
and offers a wrapped scone.
The diving board’s flat timbre
after a swimmer's final catapult;
the clipped grounds,
croquet court; the rouged guests
and laggard sojourn to the loutron.
Amiable dancers in mottled shade,
a failing afternoon; a curtain falls.
The three man combo disappears.
Ja Da.
The droll Airedale taken home
now seven years ago.
A city Unpacked and poorly hung
along the pearl grey coast
like a discarded gown, seven years
now and I never forgot the ripe lips
above teeth unexpectedly even
like a goldfish.
*https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/v ... ction=view
Ja Da*
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BobBradshaw
- Posts: 2688
- Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03
Re: Ja Da*
I love the contrast between the two worlds, "The port city cheek and jowl/along the cordillera,/beside the grimy harbor" and the rich, slow world of the rich where their purpose only seems to be entertained.
I especially like these lines in the closing stanza:
A city Unpacked and poorly hung
along the pearl grey coast
like a discarded gown,
but I'm perplexed by the goldfish image:
now and I never forgot the ripe lips
above teeth unexpectedly even
like a goldfish.
I especially like these lines in the closing stanza:
A city Unpacked and poorly hung
along the pearl grey coast
like a discarded gown,
but I'm perplexed by the goldfish image:
now and I never forgot the ripe lips
above teeth unexpectedly even
like a goldfish.
-
Kenneth2816
- Posts: 1619
- Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17
Re: Ja Da*
Ok after having seen you post ja da many times I looked it up.
Bernie, this is a fantastic example of show vs. tell. Pomade, rouge, Adirondack chairs - these are F Scott Fitzgerald era images.
There is just enough to make me wonder if our narrator attended such an event or if it is a fantasy wish. I like that whether or not intentional.
Great poem. Different
Bernie, this is a fantastic example of show vs. tell. Pomade, rouge, Adirondack chairs - these are F Scott Fitzgerald era images.
There is just enough to make me wonder if our narrator attended such an event or if it is a fantasy wish. I like that whether or not intentional.
Great poem. Different
Re: Ja Da*
The port city cheek and jowl
along the cordillera,
beside the grimy harbor,
guests in white shoes,
face powder and pomade
deep as black purple.
A lawn party years ago.
The scented breeze,
maybe posies arranged
in a floral bouquet.
Voices over an emerald
pool, a line of Adirondack
chairs; the barkeep shakes
a silver martini mug.
The flat timbre of a diving
board, croquet court,
clipped grounds, the rouged
guests and laggard sojourn
to the loutron.
Amiable dancers
in mottled shade, a failing
afternoon; three man combo
disappears.
Ja Da.
The droll Airedale taken
home. A city Unpacked
and poorly hung along
the pearl grey coast
like a discarded gown,
seven years now and I never
forgot the ripe lips
above teeth unexpectedly
even like a goldfish.
along the cordillera,
beside the grimy harbor,
guests in white shoes,
face powder and pomade
deep as black purple.
A lawn party years ago.
The scented breeze,
maybe posies arranged
in a floral bouquet.
Voices over an emerald
pool, a line of Adirondack
chairs; the barkeep shakes
a silver martini mug.
The flat timbre of a diving
board, croquet court,
clipped grounds, the rouged
guests and laggard sojourn
to the loutron.
Amiable dancers
in mottled shade, a failing
afternoon; three man combo
disappears.
Ja Da.
The droll Airedale taken
home. A city Unpacked
and poorly hung along
the pearl grey coast
like a discarded gown,
seven years now and I never
forgot the ripe lips
above teeth unexpectedly
even like a goldfish.
Re: Ja Da*
Bob and Ken
oh, deep thanks.
ja da.....yes, i associate that and this poem with fitzgerald...one of my literary heroes.
that final image with goldfish teeth---their teeth are not like ours, deep in the throat---more like small ridges---but i like the gentleness i feel in a goldfish, the royal color.
alas, all imagination.
bernie
oh, deep thanks.
ja da.....yes, i associate that and this poem with fitzgerald...one of my literary heroes.
that final image with goldfish teeth---their teeth are not like ours, deep in the throat---more like small ridges---but i like the gentleness i feel in a goldfish, the royal color.
alas, all imagination.
bernie