large as unspoken devotion,
warming a small world from its center with my body.
Brenda Lee, "Little Miss Dynamite"
whispers sweet nuthin's in the bowl of one ear,
her body a soft jukebox, my tongue coated with quarters.
Billie Holiday, "Lady Day"
sings desires, a pigfoot and a bottle of beer
to the spoon of my other ear like a sweet poppy mother.
Above, jostling spheres, circular activity, temples, threnodies.
I linger in dreams, a small world warmed from its center
with hallucinations,
hagiographies,
harmonies.
_________
This is a true magical dream to read from "sweet nuthings in the bowl of one ear" to "a tongue coated with quarters". I do not know how you do it my friend, but you always delight my poetic heart with lines and images that only an amazing poet like you could evoke!! Truly beautiful poetry flowing here Shay! I love it!!
ReplyDeleteDouble B's! And I learned the definition of two words I hadn't known. What a day, what a world, what a poem!!
ReplyDeleteA mesmerizing poem. I especially love the closing lines. I loved Brenda Lee in my teens. I used to sing along to her records, our vocal ranges were exactly the same.
ReplyDeleteGood heavens, Shay, I love this to pieces. Every single line and phrase is a favorite.
ReplyDeleteFor one thing, you taught me threnody and hagiography, both of which were new to me, and I love learning new words. Beyond that, your poem is magical!
ReplyDeleteA small world in itself, this poem, and I'd like to read the hagiography of Brenda Lee, and the sainted Lady Day. Lovely use of language to create a dream within a dream, and warm the things within which need it so badly.
ReplyDeleteVivid and beautiful. Love the way this just pulls one in.
ReplyDeleteThis was enjoyable to read and there is so much to love about it. Now, I have Radar Love humming in my ear.
ReplyDeleteAnd the radio played that forgotten song
Brenda Lee's comin' on strong
Goodness, we both went to dreamworld, but yours is so much more delightful. Love the music choices..and your ending has me spiraling into the surreal. I am always, always, in awe of your imagination and ability to write it into poetry.
ReplyDeleteA fascinating world of dreams...a wonderland of magic.
ReplyDelete"A tongue coated with quarters"....reminds me of a world like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Fun! Fun! Fun!
Oh yes! "my tongue coated with quarters." -- damn. Triple points for "threnodies". "hallucinations, / hagiographies, /harmonies" -- brilliant.
ReplyDelete"large as unspoken devotion" I felt a lump in my throat at this line that made me think of teddy bears and music boxes and safety. Spooning ears and three h's--what a wonderful dream world.
ReplyDeleteI really, really like those closing lines!
ReplyDeleteWell, I learned two new words while reading a true work of art poem. I love what you did with this image.
ReplyDelete