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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California

0 posted 2000-07-17 05:44 PM


Santa Monica Sunshine

It was Saturday afternoon
on the Third Street Promenade
and it seemed the whole world
walked those three blocks
in the Santa Monica sunshine

wearing their coolest colors
skimping in slender ease
well muscled shirtless and looking
long smooth legs in shorts
flowing glowing youth
or oh so twinkling age
in argyle socks and white deck shoes
in thongs and sandals and dirty bare feet
some pushing shopping carts
and eating the soft pretzel prize
the trash can had saved
and some eating elegant salads at tables
that slithered out onto the sidewalk
cascading their fresh fish
and French fries and white wine laughter

A mime held a crowd at the corner
telling of the heartbreak
of a butterfly
in long fingered grace
and his body was made of liquid
it flowed and rippled
and his face wept wings too fragile
to speak of
and the corner of people paused
and watched amazed their children quieted
and Vavaldi played and it was like
the story was the music

and a boy of eleven played
a sweet guitar his fingers dancing
and his face straight and severe
as if he was gone and only his fingers
understood the need to play
and play until the pennies became quarters
and his mother in patience sitting said okay
we have enough to eat today
and all he wanted to do was sleep not eat
just sleep and dream of football
and kicking the guitar across the field
he could hear the loud thump it made
and then the shattering
and his face eased out an expression
that looked like happiness

It was Saturday afternoon
on the Third Street Promenade
and it seemed the whole world
walked those three blocks
in the Santa Monica sunshine



[This message has been edited by Martie (edited 07-17-2000).]

© Copyright 2000 Martie Odell Ingebretsen - All Rights Reserved
JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
1 posted 2000-07-17 06:01 PM


Martie I've walked that Third Street Promenade so many times...it holds a special place in my heart...I have always loved hanging out in Santa Monica...when I go back to Calif. for Christmas in December I must visit one more time...Thanks for one more lovely walk down that promenade..you have described it perfectly....James
Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania
2 posted 2000-07-17 06:20 PM


I have also walked Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade, just now, thanks to you. This was wonderful!
LOve
Liz

Michael G
Senior Member
since 2000-06-25
Posts 579
Nashville
3 posted 2000-07-17 06:21 PM


Very good Marite.  Brings me back to it.  I grew up on 14th street and went to SAMO.  I remeber when they first started to build the new mall, and rebuild the old.  I go back every month just to visit, and see how many things have changed......
Michael G
Senior Member
since 2000-06-25
Posts 579
Nashville
4 posted 2000-07-17 06:22 PM


Very good Martie.  Brings me back to it.  I grew up on 14th street and went to SAMO.  I remeber when they first started to build the new mall, and rebuild the old.  I go back every month just to visit, and see how many things have changed......
brian madden
Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 4374
ireland
5 posted 2000-07-17 06:56 PM


Martie, wow I could taste the air, so vivid rich imagery wonderfully written. Beautiful scene.

"Out of sorrow entire worlds have been built
Out of longing great wonders have been willed
They're only little tears, darling, let them spill" Nick

Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

6 posted 2000-07-17 08:30 PM


You brought me into that world, Martie! Your words have a way of taking me places!  

Denise

Janet Marie
Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

7 posted 2000-07-17 08:40 PM


A mime held a crowd at the corner
telling of the heartbreak
of a butterfly
in long fingered grace
and his body was made of liquid
it flowed and rippled
and his face wept wings too fragile
to speak of
and the corner of people paused
and watched amazed their children quieted
and Vavaldi played and it was like
the story was the music

-------------------
that verse above is so perfect and so uniquely YOU that it could stand on its own...
simply stunning detail and imagery

"and his body was made of liquid
it flowed and rippled
and his face wept wings too fragile
to speak of"

OH MAN....on my best poetic day...
these kind of words dont come to me...
awesome Martie gator
jm


There are places inside our souls -
that have never been touched.
There are places inside our hearts -
that need to be loved this much.
~jm~

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
8 posted 2000-07-17 09:57 PM


James--maybe I'll see you there.

Liz--Maybe some day we can walk there again.

Michael--It must have been an interesting place to grow up...thanks for letting me know.

brian--if you could taste the air, then you must have been there.

Denise--you can book a flight with me any day.

Janet--If you had seen him, you would have made a poem from his movement, much better then mine.

Corinne
Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167
state of confusion
9 posted 2000-07-17 10:05 PM


Great description of Santa Monica!  I was there a couple of weeks ago - my brother lives there, we did the Pier, saw a man lying face down in the street, drunk in the a.m., my kids were wide-eyed. Went to the famer's market and grazed, was a blast, a feast for all the senses!

Thanks for sharing this!

Corinne

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
10 posted 2000-07-18 01:02 AM


Corinne--maybe next time you are down here we should get together--I live about an hour away from Santa Monica...thanks for reading.
Mark Bohannan
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269
In the winds of Cherokee song
11 posted 2000-07-18 01:15 AM


I used to live in the high desert and go to Santa Monica all the time.  You have captured it well and brought back some lovely memories for me.  Well written.
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