Poetry & Prose Magazine

I was honored to have my poem "Gin Blues Minus the Bottle"
 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



Comments

Susan said…
By the end, I gasped! Despite the title, I was unprepared for the gorgeous end.

Congratulations on your publication!
Scriptor Senex said…
Congratulations - well deserved!

Love the verse -
In his street corner music hall
he performs for an audience
as transient as his dream of fame.

Gaining one dream while losing another. But gaining sobriety allows him to gain the other. This is a slice of one man's life. I like it.
Susie, what an achievement. Well done you and the guitarist deserves a gibson V.
Unknown said…
Hi suzie,
I can picture a sad musician but the theme and his condition are so dead on giving it irony...Congratulations.
Sreeja said…
It is so good.....congrats....
Gemma Wiseman said…
Love this profile of a street musician! And love the reflective power of the last stanza! Great poem!
Mary said…
Congratulations on having your poem published, Susie.

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.
Jim said…
Susie, I love it! Most of us have seen your fellow on the corners, against the walls, in th parks, or in the subways. Most anywhere where people go by. He brings memories of two friends I once had in another life.

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.'
..
Marian said…
excellent and congratulations, susie! round of applause!
Jim said…
Forgot my most important message here, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
..
Sherry Blue Sky said…
Susie, way to go! The presentation in the magazine is awesome. How cool are you? Love the story too, there is a singer like that in our town, talented, but playing outside the liquor store.......I'm glad your subject turned away from the bottle.
Daydreamertoo said…
Congratulations on being published!!
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!
Laurie Kolp said…
Wow, congratulations on your publication Susie. I can see why they selected this one! The ending was perfectly unexpected... and I love your first stanza.
Fireblossom said…
Congratulations, Susie! Way to go.
Herotomost said…
I would have published this gem as well if it were my magazine...but I probably would have published all of your work...lol. Great feeling and expression of what we are handed versus what we wanted. we make due, one way or another and to somebody...he was a rock star. Loved it.
Ellecee said…
Congratulations Susie. This is a wonderful poem about challenge and sacrifice and compromise. Things life makes us do.
Scarlet said…
Congrats on your publication ~

I can see why as the last stanza was a powerful one ~

Happy day Susie ~
Maude Lynn said…
Congratulations, Susie!
Margaret said…
I was gonna capture a favorite phrase... but dang, that would be the whole thing. This tells it like it is... I feel like I'm walkin' down the street and seeing this myself. Great ending!
Unknown said…
Nice kewl write, as a muso sat nicely under my skin
hjdbedfb said…
Wow congratulations on being published :D Really awesome poem :)