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Open Poetry #34
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soul drifter
Senior Member
since 2004-09-08
Posts 711
Colorado

0 posted 2004-10-22 07:33 PM


Colorado Boulevard

Down on Colorado Boulevard
you see your life pass by in a blur
like the drying colors on a painting
the gold October leaves I remember
those old fashioned smokey bars
with dark blondes in long Cadillac cars
parked outside
parked on the side of the street
where the crew would meet
and stare at the concrete
stare at their shoes
smoke curling through the air
asking unanswerable questions
about our youth, learning our lessons
to the tune of the Rockola
crackling with Buddy Holly
the sounds tumbling between the cars
down on Colorado Boulevard

Down on your knees in the night
you see your love fall away into mist
like the dying ghosts wrongly convicted
of leaving you alone and never kissed
it's Halloween, time for a jubilee
to remember amidst the maple trees
with the moon hovering over us
hovering over the side of the street
where we'd dance, stepping on feet
foolishly, awkwardly nineteen
asking for an unbelievable faith
in the life we were creating
in the life we got used to hating
getting older and sadder with age
they told us Buddy Holly was dead
and we felt the blizzard in our hearts
lonely eyes staring out the window in cars
down on Colorado Boulevard

Down on the frozen street at dusk
I will meet you for New Years Eve
you in your pearly gown and musk
me in my navy blue coat and clearing eyes
all of our friends gathered for the evening
gathered for the ending of freedom
1960 beckons like the sunlit horizon
1959 falling away under our wheels
spinning wildly 'round the cirtcuit
this art school dropout needs a haircut
and a blue corsage for you
pressing my memories we spent together
into a locket, cold like the weather
a fountain pen message of love
bled all over my nervous shrug
my skin tingling to a Buddy Holly song
and your last feather like touch
a faded innocence in my eyes, looking far
down Colorado Boulevard

Nothing left of this teenage dream
I remember, it seems to me so long ago
I dreamt the first night, it seemed
to me to be perfectly named Julia
perfectly framed for this girl to fit inside
but now I don't know anymore, except
there's nothing left, nowhere left to hide
I can't fit myself into this bar anymore
the old crew left for California and New York
I'm still here, stuck somewhere in between
these days I don't hear any raps on my door
asking me out to the breathless night
to sit beweildered by feminine wiles
but my interest is waning like the moon
beyond the lights, aching for miles
through the city too quiet for comfort
down the boulevard, through the turnstyles
to my apartment above a record store
these days I just sit here all the while
living on green tea and memories
living on remnants of her black sweater style
I need to get away
maybe escape to the mountains
some spring day
but now you can find me here
wishing I could see you
or maybe you can see me
in autumnal memories dear
Buddy Holly sing me down a rollercoaster day
above the streetlights at dawn
but you can find me here, looking for a car
to take me down Colorado Boulevard


"Poets are all who love, who feel great truths, and tell them; and the truth of truths is love." --Philip James Bailey

© Copyright 2004 Zach Hilgefort - All Rights Reserved
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
1 posted 2004-10-22 07:39 PM


Oh wow!  I grew up in Pasadena, California during those times of Buddy Holly and Colorado Boulevard was my home stretch on many nights.  So, I just loved this poem!  Tell me, is it Pasadena you are talking about or some other Colorado Blvd?  

Very well written!

soul drifter
Senior Member
since 2004-09-08
Posts 711
Colorado
2 posted 2004-10-22 07:47 PM


My Colorado Boulevard is right here in Denver, Colorado (well actually, I live just outside of Denver). I was just imagining a time and place, on the real street. I wasn't even alive in 1960...heh heh.
Thanks!

"Poets are all who love, who feel great truths, and tell them; and the truth of truths is love." --Philip James Bailey

DavePage
Member Elite
since 2003-12-21
Posts 2917

3 posted 2004-10-26 06:15 PM


Like it

Dave

Midnitesun
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647
Gaia
4 posted 2004-10-26 07:06 PM


love the way this one drifted along, and I know both the California and Colorado Blvds

you are an interesting poet, soul drifter

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