Note: in my April 9th post, "Dust", the Queen Of The Vampires was gravely injured by a vampire hunter. Her story continues here.
To be a cat in a poppy field
Is not such a bad thing.
(No matter that it is a hallucination.
No matter that a vampire hunter's attack has put her there, teetering...)
Rasputin sits with the Queen Of The Vampires, who lies still amid the red blooms in her favorite illusionary black panther form.
His tunic is dirty and frayed.
A Russian cross sits on his chest, suspended from a leather thong,
Like God's emblem in a stirrup.
"немного один" he whispers, cradling her soft ear in his giant hand. "Little One."
His love is like a warm samovar--
Utilitarian.
Indispensable.
The vampire hunter is dead,
Flat as a pancake in a Target parking lot.
Some saw a large vehicle,
A woman,
A lightning strike from a blue sky.
Others report the miracle of black doves,
Carrying tiny bells in their feet,
Rising.
You might find it strange that a staretz--
A wandering holy man, and long-dead besides--
Should treat a Vampire Queen so tenderly.
Well,
They both know what it means to be lost.
They both know that church spires, whether onion-domed or not,
Rise up like smoke above the sinful world.
The Queen Of The Vampires opens her eyes.
Her head, her ebony-haired human head, is resting on the Dark Haired Chick's thigh
In a pristine, untorn booth
At Danny's Coffee Shop.
She is looking down at the Dark Haired Chick's boot.
There is grit on the heel,
As if from a newly-resurfaced chain store space.
The QOTV's lips curl in a smile,
Imagining her sitting, waiting, watching the rear view mirror and making up fabulously creative--
And shockingly obscene--
Pet names for the people honking at her, coveting her spot.
Now the QOTV will recover.
Now she will remember,
She is Queen and all her powers will return;
But she will carry Rasputin in her heart,
And the poppies,
As well as a new white streak in her hair
Like an opium dream
In a dove black sky.
for One Shoot Sunday.
top photograph by Fee Easton
i lovevisiting danny's and nice pick up from before...the miracle of black doves with bells...that thought stirkes fear in my heart...but i am glad she carries a bit of him...we each do in those we touch...
ReplyDeleteThere could be a lot worse than waking up in Danny's Coffee Shop! Those black doves are kinda freaky though!
ReplyDeleteI was at first intrigued by the title of "Dove Black Sky" which sets quite an imaginative tone in continuation from "Dust." Great visual story telling. (My grandma used to call me "трохи один" thank goodness for Google translate ;) What strikes me most is the way you infuse social commentary into references, historical figures—smooth versatile language use.
ReplyDeleteAs ever, you are out in front in terms of the overtime working of your imagination-- and the lyric it forces into being. The poppy refs add a blood-red touch of color to your amazing tale. xxxj
ReplyDeleteAny time Rasputin pops up, I pay attention. (What a fascinating figure to drop into your poem...)
ReplyDeleteI loved the idea of them both being "lost" and the image of the onion-domed churches...
Holy ___ ! (Figuratively AND literally!)
I don't know the full story, but love the language you use in this episode. My fave lines were:
ReplyDeleteOthers report the miracle of black doves,
Carrying tiny bells in their feet,
Rising
I just love that image.
I swear, you just get more and more amazing with every poem you write. The imagery is so vivid and it works its way into your soul and blooms. Just amazing!
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't love next installments! Especially when one wasn't expecting it! YAY :D
ReplyDeleteIf I had an imagination like your's I'd be tempted to live in it. Could make it all doable.
I miss you. xx
The QOTV at last knows some fleeting happiness. It gladdens my heart, even if Rasputin is lurking somewhere murmuring Russian endearments, and the sky is full of bats...er, black doves, I mean. I love this saga, I could read about these characters every day and never feel I knew them, yet by the end of the poem I always feel I do.
ReplyDeletefrom a cat in a poppy field to the Queen Of The Vampires to danny's coffee shop....my goodness...what a journey..highly enjoyable...
ReplyDeleteWhat a journey- beautiful !
ReplyDeleteDanny's yay!
ReplyDeleteThrilled to be BACK-
Warm Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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Skillful blending of fanstasy and pop culture (flattened in a Target parking lot!)
ReplyDeletevivid, imaginative lines. wonderful
ReplyDeleteThe whole piece an opium dream - and a trip to Danny's - served with Russian Tea cakes ...fit for a Queen....I hope you compile - a book and call it Danny's Coffee Shop...bkm
ReplyDeleteI spy poppy laden dreams...
ReplyDeleteOh my freaking God, you are so ASTOUNDING! Brilliant writing, fantastically rich story.......and I adore the "opium dream in a dove black sky." First rate writing. Wowzers.
ReplyDeleteJust as your page had loaded enough for me to see that this was a post about the QOTV, my internet crashed. I think I got pretty fabulously creative and shockingly obscene with pet names for my service provider.
ReplyDeleteThe Queen will live. I think that I can breathe now.
The last time I found myself rolling around in a poppy field was several years ago, but unseen hands swiftly guided me back home and into my own bed. It wasn't until the next day that my friends told me that they found me face down in a Circle K parking lot clutching an empty bottle of "Old Gypsy" whiskey.
ReplyDeleteWhew !
ReplyDeleteQOTV being a favorite of mine, I am relieved. If she needsa neck to chew on until she's back on her feet, send her my way .
"Like an opium dream
ReplyDeleteIn a dove black sky."
i love your imagery throughout.
you always slay me!
fabulous!!!
dani
I loved it, Shay. I especially love the streak in the hair.
ReplyDeleteShay,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for visiting my blog. I thought I'd repost/copy my reply to your comment here:
"@ Fireblossom - Thanks for your indulgence. I feel my old lady pace must bore you to tears. I read your work and am at a loss to comment on areas of culture and life about which I haven't a clue, such as the modern interest in vampires. I read your poem yesterday three times and felt too clutzy to say anything substantive. I so look forward to reading your witty quips on others' blogs. I laugh out loud at times! Keep it up and thanks so much for visiting here."
Phew, that was close ... and an untorn booth .. that wont last for long
ReplyDeleteWow - a white streak in the hair now. Cool.
ReplyDeleteBelo!... como um sonho de ópio!...
ReplyDeleteBeijos,
AL
Ann G and I may be close to the same age ... I feel that clutzy vibe when I attempt leaving a comment for you too!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading my Magpie ... I laughed out loud while I wrote it. Damned librarians.