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Open Poetry #46
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She Was For Sale (Repost from many years ago.)
| Open Poetry #46 |
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She Was For Sale (Repost from many years ago.) |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
She was for sale As were all things At the corner of Lou’s Loans She’d worked others But somehow something always brought her back Age had waged its war With scattered scars scoring her skin But the curves still called While strobing red screaming neon nightlights Painted a rosy blush That feigned a more youthful polish Suitors? Sure, she’d known her share Some good Most bad Only one worth considering Her first But that was long ago A lover’s lost touch in time An echoed memory heard in those who’d come afterwards And now she faced yet another In a long line of hopeful but failed masters This one would be no different This one was old Too old Old enough to know better But his paper was green And who was she to say “No” Everything on Lou’s corner has its price Times it was right there Others in a dark ally Or subway Tonight favored a fallen down second floor flop The room’s singular distinction resting in a gold plated watch Fifty years in the making Keeping time next to a black and white flame Held by silver frame Long since lost to the hour Everything else was a gray wash It wouldn’t be long Nicotine stained fingers beating a ceaseless staccato And two bags of broken glass at every breath said as much No… Not long at all But he showed no interest in exploring his purchase Though upon the bed she lay Black leather suit stripped He made no play So she waited Waited through whisky-tea Smoking drags Coughing jags The rinse of red rags Waited Silently still Waited till Reaching out With tentative touch An amateur’s clutch? Virginity’s first? Too late for that thirst A surprisingly firm hand found her key Then knowing lips the source And from a long locked heart Sprang a soul set free To soar in true unity For it was he The one of many The one that mattered The one that set her soul to sing Her first And how her heart desired Her last As they made the love of the lost now found In late night hours that turn to morn Two becoming one With the coming sun Neither wishing it to end Each knowing the truth Not long at all Morning found her alone Cradled in the crook of his arm Pale lips dyed in broken glass Fitful fingers forever still Golden time keeping watch Till the lord came to call for past rent due Payment came from Lou Silver frame Gold watch And she The three The sum value of his life paid out Now standing vigil on the corner Awaiting the next hopeful buyer But she knowing There never will be another To match her soul Try as they might He died that night Everything has its price at Lou’s |
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| © Copyright 2010 Andrew Scott - All Rights Reserved | |||
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Allouette's predecessor it seems. I like this. You have to have walked the mean streets to understand certain nuances, and this, to me has those nuances in spades. Sometimes when you are near Lou's every day you wonder what is keeping you there, but you know, it is the darkness within. It is always the darkness within. Her lost love found her and released her to her fate. Damn good writing. . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Hey Jerry, thanks for the read and write. In the past I played a guessing game as to who was the subject of this poem. To be fair, I'll just say it is a saxophone. Lou's is really nothing more than a pawn shop where she's been bought and sold several times. But as you pointed out, there is much more to this piece than what is at the surface. Again, thanks for the read and write. Peace. "We'll chase them like rats across the tundra." |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Andrew...why have you stayed away so long? Welcome back... Now, be a good poet, and bleed some more.  I'm so glad I'm staying up "late" tonight.  |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Sunshine: In truth, I've been hanging out here most of the day... floatin' in now and then, while grading papers and listening to some fine music. Thanks for noticing this one. Enjoy the long weekend. Peace. "We'll chase them like rats across the tundra." |
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Amaryllis Senior Member
since 2010-05-20
Posts 1306Mi now |
This is fantastic writing... and once you mentioned it may be a saxophone, even better! Layered and evocative..nice one, Andrew.  ~A |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Why thank you Amaryllis. It's one of my personal favorites. I bow to you and yours in turn. Peace. "We'll chase them like rats across the tundra." |
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Earl Brinkman Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183Osaka, Japan |
I read this several times, each time coming to a different conclusion as to who or what the subjects were in this piece. After reading the comments, I read it again letting a saxophone be the subject and it fit. But still there are passages where I think an old man, an old car or a hooker would fit as well. I must say this shows some clever writing on your part. |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Thank you, Earl. As you've pointed out, the hooker idea fits, and that's how I identified the saxophone in this piece. The old man was her first owner, but had to give up the music scene for a better paying gig. Others have played her... in the ally, on the subway, and on the corner. But never the way he did. The watch was a retirement gift and the silver frame holds a picture of his departed wife. The old man suffers from Toburculosis, thus, the coughing and blood on the lips. When he dies, the landlord collects the back rent by selling his possessions to Lou's pawn shop. Someone else once mentioned that the subject could have been a car. I'm not sure where that comes from in the poem. I suppose I have tunnel vision and can only see it as I intended. All the same, thanks for the multiple reads and write. Your words are the coin of the realm. Peace. "We'll chase them like rats across the tundra." |
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Prasad Nataraj Senior Member
since 2008-05-29
Posts 1149Bangalore,India |
Brilliant writing, vivid images flash through my mind. Wonderful read, Andrew.  "Hardwork pays in the long run" |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Prasad: And my hat off to you as well. Thanks for the read and write. Peace. "We'll chase them like rats across the tundra." |
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Misty Lilacs Senior Member
since 2005-11-15
Posts 1060White Birch Forest |
WOW! I could see the whole poem in my mind's eye! Good stuff ... Marti |
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Honeybunch Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115South Africa |
Very clever writing here, Andrew. I must admit to not thinking of a musical instrument while reading so can I bow to a ... "master of deception"? Helen |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Misty & Honeybunch: Thank you both for the reads and writes. That it wasn't so obvious means I did something right. Your words are the coin of the realm. Peace."We'll chase them like rats across the tundra." |
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