Reanimated Lavender Granola Switchblade Nun rides again.

Friday, May 12, 2017

New Banana Town

In Old Mango City,
I wore the thrift shop jacket you like,
and the big shades.

I wore them up, in my hair
as if I were trying out for Queen of the Produce Stalls.
You dissembled, became incorporeal,

And slept with my better nature
behind my back. Remember that tune we liked?
Neither do I. I wish I could.

Here is my black top hat,
and my white gloves. Here is you, appearing again.
Ta-da, I say. You kiss me to make me shut up.

The buses are all out of service
on the road to Old Mango City.
An urchin brought me an orange soda and said it was voodoo.

So, sit here. On the curb with me.
I bet you never knew we were a post card; I mailed us,
addressed to our ghosts, postage due.

Don't be sad. I'm not.
I just always cry at beginnings, arrivals, being here in a new place:
New Banana Town--population you.
_____

for Out Of Standard.
 

18 comments:

  1. sweet third stanza...no one can keep up with you!

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  2. You blow my mind. I especially love the postcard lines. You are brilliant. And unique. No one writes like you.

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  3. Ah, this is so clever, Shay. Sharply so. I am sure why, but when I read this, I hear Janis Joplin. You encompass the living side of heart ache like no other! Thanks for posting to the out of standard. viva la

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  4. Brilliant write, creative and unique. Like the ending.

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  5. "And slept with my better nature behind my back."

    Love that line!

    Another stunning story as only you can write, SP.

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  6. I love this. Such a fluidity and a palpable feel of Vodun.

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  7. Shay--As usual, I love the whole poem. Always brilliant.

    My favorite part? The third stanza, along with the last two words. Those last two words really get me.

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  8. This is so unique and what a seamless use of the given sentence... and yes the postcard line...

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  9. I just love this. Way too many good lines to quote, but I have to say, I especially, *especially* like the first three stanzas. Fruit-ily rich in that very rare fragrance that is so(bitter-)sweet in dreams and memories. (I think you picked the most succinct phrase to work with, as well.)

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  10. "I just always cry at beginnings"... amongst other fine phrases. You always bring a quirky, yet down to earth feel to your characters. No matter how different the reader is from them, there is always some connection.

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  11. Wonderfully playful and wistful at the same time.

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  12. Oopsie. I forgot to come back and comment; I read it several times, of course. It's so awesome. :) Going from Mango Town to Banana Town, old versus new --- either one yummy and fruity ... well, I just love the whole thing.

    Banana and man-go both seem like they have something to do with dudes. Ooh, what if it's secretly "Old Man(go) Town"? So then this could have something to do with seeing an older guy, but then ending it for a young "banana"? I don't know; that's probably a stretch. But it makes me giggle.

    I LOVE these sections, especially:

    "I wore the thrift shop jacket you like"

    "as if I were trying out for Queen of the Produce Stalls"

    "You dissembled, became incorporeal,
    And slept with my better nature"

    "Here is my black top hat,
    and my white gloves. Here is you, appearing again."

    "An urchin brought me an orange soda and said it was voodoo."

    "I mailed us,
    addressed to our ghosts"

    "post-age due" ... This makes me wonder if there was some sort of age deception involved. Like, these people met on the Internet and someone was misleading about their age so you're saying, "Hey, post your age, du(d)e!" :P

    Then at the end, you're saying that you're there, but that it's "population you" ... so I'm actually left wondering if the speaker is talking to herself. I like reading it that way, at least.

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  13. Yeah, the more I think about it, I think the speaker has a personality disorder.

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  14. Very fanciful - loved the image of sleeping with your better nature behind your back. la la mosk

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  15. Somehow I always seem to identify with, or at least understand, your colorful characters. And you always deliver when I need to read a good poem.

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  16. You have the best imagination, FB.

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Spirit, what do you wish to tell us?