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Open Poetry #41
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1slick_lady
Member Ascendant
since 2000-12-22
Posts 6088
standing on a shadow's lace

0 posted 2007-08-22 12:14 PM



Duval Street

I was at the end of the beach
the most southern point of Florida
ate in a place where Hemmingway sat
the very palm breeze there inspires
I understand his love for the keys
for this place has the keys to my heart
the stress of the world melts there
in the warmth of a key lime sun
salt tickles the tongue in margaritas
as chickens roam free wherever
I sat in tan chairs of knotted rattan
perched white gauze and nail pink
in the middle of beloved black iron
and pastel Mediterranean tile stuccoes  
watching emerald salt water splash
where the turquoise sky melted in an
orange and purple shell clouded sunset
then the sun blended into the waters edge
to my left calypso music softly plays
magically time stops I am lost in sound
between the notes thick Cuban smoke
behind me interrupted by piping lemon
garlic steamed shrimp and crab leg trays
that are presented with a thick Spanish accent
looking above swaying palms the moon
slow dances in a velvet sky above me  
white sands flowing in the hour glass
drifting closer to my time to go home
daybreak has arrived much too quickly
and coffee transports all my strength
swiftly to collect a few more shell treasures
before I merge again onto alligator alley
home

but as I sit here now
I truly know that home
is where the heart is
and mine is back there
in the keys



"no darkness has ever been deep enough to extinguish my personal knowledge of love"  Anne Rice



© Copyright 2007 Helen Chambers - All Rights Reserved
TomMark
Member Elite
since 2007-07-27
Posts 2133
LA,CA
1 posted 2007-08-22 02:08 AM


beauuuutiful.  fine write. everyone shall be your guest to have a share. Just watched sun setting 'into' the sea two days ago. all very fresh with the scene.

truly a beauty and I love the endding S.

YOu always write fine poems.

I'll read again.

Tomtoo

Susan Caldwell
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348
Florida
2 posted 2007-08-22 09:38 AM


I haven't been and need to go..

sounds as wonderful as I have always imagined.

One day when I don't have a negative leave balance..

Wonderfully written.

"too bad ignorance isn't painful"
~Unknown~

Midnitesun
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647
Gaia
3 posted 2007-08-22 10:37 AM


~sigh~is the restaurant 'The Cracked Conch' still there?
Oh, what a gorgeous, inviting painting you've left us with today!


(PS, check your email)

[This message has been edited by Midnitesun (08-22-2007 11:13 AM).]

Bronzeage
Member
since 2007-07-20
Posts 197

4 posted 2007-08-23 02:35 AM


Very well done. A good write
The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest
5 posted 2007-08-24 12:34 PM




such beautiful colors and sounds Helen
and the palm breeze

sigh...

secondhanddreampoet
Member Ascendant
since 2006-11-07
Posts 6394
a 'Universalist' !
6 posted 2007-08-24 05:00 PM


What a grand-fine ‘impression’ of
specific time and place!

[I wish I could do this kind of
  direct “Poetrose” (‘poetic’ prose)
  ‘write’!]

I am particularly fond of wonderful
‘imaging’ such as:

“the stress of the world melts there
in the warmth of a key lime sun”;

“watching emerald salt water splash
where the turquoise sky melted in an
orange and purple shell-clouded sunset”;

“the moon
slow dances in a velvet sky above…  
white sands flowing in the hour glass…”

Serious, long-sustained applause!!

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