Monday, September 2, 2013

The Americana

Live fast, yet eternal 
Like an ethereal creature 
With the outlook of a vampire
Classic scenery lies within 
The depth of your high cheek bones 
That carry the weight of pearls 
On ivory skin aged from the 1930s 
Live fast, young and beautiful 
Slender as the tall cigarette
Slightly dangling from the corner 
Of your pouting lips 
A cancerous stare 
As you tap away the ashes 
And place it back on the pure 
Sophistication of your tongue





©2013 Anthony Desmond Scott. All Rights Reserved

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28 comments:

Brian Miller said...

oo la....like the contrast between the cigarette imagery and the pure sophistication of the tongue...there is a heat there anthony...

good to see you brother...

Claudia said...

oh heck...this was like a drawing...i could clearly see (and feel) her and even smell the smoke...ha.. well done sir!!!

Anonymous said...

This stated out so awesomely, "American" with living fast... It seems a trait that others complain about us.... But the imagery of the cigarette and "placing it back on the sophistication of your tongue" is just wow! Great Poem Desmond...

emmett wheatfall said...

Tremendous! The fine work of Anthony Desmond. Stay true thyself my friend.

Louise said...

Oh yes...like a piece of word art! I can visualise it clearly...fine work indeed. :)

mrs mediocrity said...

Yes, a fabulous word painting, I could see the darkness, the mystery, the enchantment.

loved this:
"Like an ethereal creature
With the outlook of a vampire"

So evocative.

Anonymous said...

This was a good read. I really liked,"Classic scenery lies within

The depth of your high cheek bones

That carry the weight of pearls". >KB

Audrey Howitt aka Divalounger said...

I could see her--smell her--fabulous write

ayala said...

An awesome write, great to see you again.

scotthastiepoet said...

Well imagined and constructed - really loved the last four lines... With Best Wishes Scott www.scotthastie.com

Anonymous said...

Too me this is what the potential is to live in AMerica as AMericana..greatest gift imaginable to those that don't have it...

author.nara.malone said...

Such a clear word painting, I could see her, smell that cigarette.

Manicddaily said...

Very sharp poem - the cigarette such a palpable image for all that toxic sophistication (and allure.) k.

Scarlet said...

The opening lines knocked me out ~ I like the sharp lines of your pen ~

Great to see you Anthony ~

Dorianna (paintswithwords.com said...

beautifully visual..a delight to read and experience..images so well defined..great write

Victoria said...

For me, this brought to mind Chicago in the 20's, making this a great depiction of an era.

HisFireFly said...

yes, the scent of smoke lingers, weaves patterns as it hovers mid-air

kelvin s.m. said...

...ah, yes... a classic beauty nothing can beat! jalepeno sexy & with class.. loved this! smiles...

Margaret said...

The ending is exquisite - form cancerous stare to "pure Sophistication ... obviously one isn't real. Nice!

joanna said...

you paint the image so vividly... especially loved the line about the outlook of a vampire.

brudberg said...

Love what you did with the sharp image of your words and the contrast of death and sophistication ... great....

Anonymous said...

A velveteen quality to this leaves such a rich impression; therein lies a duality, as some other commenters have pointed out, and for me at least, it is this very duality that fulfills the 'Americana' of the title, burnt away in the ashes that fall to the floor. Stylistically wonderful! ~peace, Jason

Anonymous said...

What a contrast between the glamour that you were writing about and the danger that this kind of glamour poses. Beautiful writing. :-)

Beth Winter said...

Rich, someone said velvety and I agree. I love the cigarette imagery.

Arron Shilling said...

classic decadence: sexy, maybe sleazy but in the imagery a melancholy all amounting to CLASS! yeahaiiighhht!!!

Beachanny said...

Watching old black & white movies? I got an image of an aging Marlene Dietrich, or perhaps Bette Davis - great use of imagery here, A.

Outlawyer said...

I remember this piece - very strong and vivid. Thanks. Karin of Manicddaily. k.

Anonymous said...

This is such a rewarding poem to read; every line clearly adds to the image being drawn by your words, with not one word wasted. Fine writing.