I was honored to have my poem "Gin Blues Minus the Bottle"
in Poetry & Prose Magazine's September issue.
in Poetry & Prose Magazine's September issue.
Gin Blues Minus the Bottle
A guitar is strummed
writing its music
on traffic lights, pedestrians
and engine vibrations.
He is there each day
with his guitar case open
to catch appreciation
in silver and green.
Far from record deals,
paparazzi, and egos
he sings the blues
of the homeless, the hooker,
and the lonely.
In his street corner music hall
he performs for an audience
as transient as his dream of fame.
This isn’t the rock star life
he had hoped for but it wasn’t
the death he’d been drinking
from a bottle of gin.
©Susie Clevenger 2012
Real Toads Open Link Monday
Real Toads Open Link Monday
Comments
Congratulations on your publication!
Love the verse -
In his street corner music hall
he performs for an audience
as transient as his dream of fame.
I can picture a sad musician but the theme and his condition are so dead on giving it irony...Congratulations.
You brought this performer to life, gave him a story, and allowed us to know him. Strong ending: Yes, that is some success. At least he will LIVE.
One died with his gin blues, bottle still in hand. He might as well have been homeless, his wife had kicked him out and the squalid little one room trailer where he spent last years of his life was rescued from the 'yards.'
The other had a change of life. But in earlier days when his bottle was empty and his guitar had slowed he often played his little game of 'spin the guitar.'
..
..
This is a sad story and yet it isn't because, he at least got sober and is doing something with his life and, it also so easily could be any of us.
A really great read Susie!
I can see why as the last stanza was a powerful one ~
Happy day Susie ~