Saturday, August 1, 2020
BLUE SUEDE
The polished night
obsidian
shelters you in its cocoon
your perfect spot to stay put
and ruminate
until the dawn
You cannot remember
what is holding
America together--
some long lost ideal
of ultimate rightness
and robust potential
perhaps
as seen (or constructed)
in Whitman's mind's eye
The young greeter wearing
the mask at the market
says you always wear
the coolest shoes when
you come in...
You look down...
Oh, those are my
Blue Suede Shoes!
You are startled
that a pleasant someone
barely on your radar before
has taken note of you
when most who once bore
the heavy burden of
significant other
surely haven't given you
a thought in decades
A reason to hold on
at least one more day
you say
Just to see what will happen
to America
caught up in an Agatha Christie
whodunit
where you think you know
who's the bad guy
but do you really...
in a world where all the players
are complicit in the murder?
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Wow! This is wonderful, and thought-provoking.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Blessings to you.
DeleteLove your blue suede shoes. I bet even Elvis would be jealous. Alas, I wish I did not agree with your last two lines.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Kinda fits with an old rocker like me!
DeleteI identify with the opening line, the feeling of being sheltered by night and sleep from all the trouble that haunts us during the day, I’m not sure what is holding the world together, let alone America, although it is a shock to see what is happening to the place everyone admired, like the big brother we wanted to grow up to be like– now it’s Big Brother or even Big Bother we want nothing to do with – and the reminder of why in the blue suede shoes.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The shoes a a throwback to another time that reminds us of how much we've lost.
DeleteA very thought-provoking and well written piece. Even though we don't remember anymore what is holding the world together or America (in your piece), there's always hope when people see and acknowledge one another.
ReplyDeleteGood words, my friend.
DeleteIf danger comes you either runaway and hide or stay and combat it. Later on we will find out who was wisest, but to ignore it is worse than either.
ReplyDeleteTrue. It's the constant fear-mongering, day after day, from the media that I can't abide.
DeleteWhen somebody my age speaks the words 'Blue Suede Shoes' Elvis is suddenly resurrected, singing on our mental jukebox, sweet as ever. But when someone, say, half-a-century younger hears those same words, nothing happens. All they do is look at your feet. Shoes is shoes, they think; not anthem.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this read. Thanks.
This one pokes just behind the shoulder-blades...a shiver of danger and recognition in the what is noticed and ignored.
ReplyDeleteNoticed and ignored...we are so good at hiding our heads in the sand and twerking with our exposed asses :)
DeleteYou're spot on, kindred spirit. This particular young person seemed to get the reference, though...anyway, she laughed!
ReplyDeleteBlue suede shoes are just the thing to soothe while we wonder who's next to be killed.
ReplyDeleteIt's that old game of "Ten Little Indians"
DeleteHistory will sort it out I suspect--meanwhile, we each have to chose to go down our own path--some will choose wisely--others not--
ReplyDeleteThanks. The poem is gently nudging us toward recognition of a sense of shared responsibility.
Deletewhat an interesting idea, thought. amazingly insightful.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, my friend!
DeleteWow! This is entertaining and profound at the same time.
ReplyDeleteThank you. "Dinner and a show!"
DeleteOh WOW! There are layers of meaning from stanza to stanza, evocative and profound. I really enjoyed this one!
ReplyDeleteYou know how to make a guy feel appreciated. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteThese are challenging times and your poem captures that.
ReplyDeleteThank you, my friend.
DeleteLittle things sure mean a lot. Happy Sunday. Stay safe
ReplyDeleteMuch💖love
Bless you!
DeleteI'm not sure much of anything is holding America these days. The threads are frayed and ready to snap.
ReplyDeleteBut as always, we'll pretend that we don't notice.
Delete