Trinity

"Queen of night torments" ~ Wole Soyinka

She sits on her bar stool throne
drinking the sacrifices of dollar bled
worshipers until wallets are empty.

With a cigarette rusted voice
the Queen of night torments wrings
pain from blue notes and adds another
layer of tears to whiskey walls stained with secrets.

Part witch,
part angel,
part dream collector,
she holds court every Saturday night
at a corner bar where success is measured by a tip jar.


©Susie Clevenger 2015



Real Toads ~ The Tuesday Platform

Comments

M. A. S. said…
I have heard lots of ways to describe a smoker's voice, but "cigarette rusted" is uniquely awesome!
March 11, 2015 at 12:59 AM
brudberg said…
The parallel between the blues and fado is great.. i like how you moved the mood to a ground that feel more well known.. Since I have listened to fado live it could have been applicable there as well.
March 11, 2015 at 3:01 AM
Anonymous said…
Great work, SC. I, too, especially appreciated the cigarette rust. Bravo
March 11, 2015 at 4:20 AM
Laura said…
I can feel her song deep in my belly… beautifully written.
March 11, 2015 at 8:33 AM
Vandana Sharma said…
Losing one selg in smoking and whiskey to forget about the world.......may be one should try to change it.
March 11, 2015 at 8:53 AM
Jim said…
You partially describe a friend of mine, from a former life and now out of touch. She lived above the bar and once loaned me her apartment to stay in (I had a rented room in a private home) over a long Thanksgiving weekend when she went home to see her parents.
Her success was measured by whom and how she was entertained. I don't remember her having a car, she liked mine.
..
March 11, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Maude Lynn said…
This is a really cool take on the quote.
March 11, 2015 at 10:38 AM
Outlawyer said…
Measuring success by the tip jar is so sad--and one thinks of it tipping over too--I agree cigarette rusted is terrific. Thanks, Susie. k.
March 11, 2015 at 1:07 PM
Kerry O'Connor said…
This portrait shows a great perception of human nature through your detailed descriptions.
March 11, 2015 at 2:16 PM
Audrey Howitt aka Divalounger said…
Loved this--esp the last stanza--part witch part angel--
March 11, 2015 at 4:56 PM
Grace said…
What a character - part witch, part angel, part dream collector ~ You painted her torment well ~

Thanks for the second offering Susie ~
March 11, 2015 at 9:01 PM
Anonymous said…
She's singing and living the blues- this is terrific.
March 12, 2015 at 3:46 AM
Sherry Blue Sky said…
I love "part witch, part angel, part dream collector". As are we all. Smiles.
March 12, 2015 at 12:09 PM
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