Sounds crass, but truly I did
catch sight of her across a crowded room –
a posh cocktail affair. Her dress, backless –
one of those little black numbers.
She seemed different from the rest.
As one does, I mingle, but it’s not
my scene. Hooray-Henries most of them.
Next thing I know she’s standing beside me –
long brown hair; her eyes a matching
shade of tawny.
“Like another drink?” I ask,
pointing to her glass.
“Mais, oui!” she responds.
I swallow, hard – attempt to nod convincingly,
as if I understand her every word.
Her name was Collette – from Paris.
Whatever else she said, I hadn’t a clue.
The most I could do was to smile back …
in my best French accent.
Comments
Myndstorm | April 2, 2009 - 16:51
This poem is very passionate in its simplicity. I love the straightfowardness of it, and the potential of the narrator and collette.
MistakenMagic | April 2, 2009 - 17:14
A lovely glimpse into a magical evening! I think the honesty of the narrator works really well her an again, you have a talent for perfect endings ;)
Magic xxx
Silver Spun Sand | April 2, 2009 - 18:20
Well thank you, Myndstorm. I really do appreciate your comment. As a fellow writer, you will know how useful they are.
Glad you liked it, as well:-)
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | April 2, 2009 - 18:22
I love that song too, 'Some Enchanted Evening'. And speaking of which, I went to see the film that it comes from 'South Pacific' at Leicester Square when it first came out. I was about thirteen years old then. Those were the days:-)
Tina xxx
SteveM | April 2, 2009 - 20:56
long brown hair, with eyes a matching
shade of tawny----------- That's brilliant I never thought of eyes as tawny...
I saw the film South Pacific at Odean Leicester Square about 1960/61 at a guess...... still got the brochure in the attic I think.
Steve
Silver Spun Sand | April 2, 2009 - 21:27
Yes, exactly! That's amazing. We may have even been sitting in neighbouring seats. It certainly is a small world:-)
Speaking of the film, I do believe it was quite 'avant garde' in its production and seem to remember it was shot in 'Todd AO'. Billed as an innovation in its extremely high definition widescreen film format, developed, I believe, in the mid 1950s, memorably characterized as "Cinerama outa one hole". So there ya' go!!
My thanks to you for your interest. Much appreciated.
Tina
SteveM | April 2, 2009 - 21:34
Hi Tina, keep them coming. I think short stories are much easier to write than poetry.
And yes it was Todd AO 70mm. I only ever saw the film just once, but recall the various lighting and colour effects. The idea was that whenever a song was out of context with the story they changed the view into a dreamlike sequence... similar to several numbers in West Side Story.
Silver Spun Sand | April 2, 2009 - 22:57
You are so right ... about the lighting and colour effects. I had seen nothing like it. The most spectacular sequence, was in the song, 'Bali-Hai'. The Pacific, taking on a myriad of colour variations. And then again, in West Side Story, in the ballroom sequence ... "I feel pretty" ... and others, as you say.
Tina:-)
Nathan Bednarek | April 3, 2009 - 13:27
This is amazing and the last three lines are just brilliant. The poem seems to have a rather casual tone to it and yet it has an elegance of its own.
A lovely read, well done.
Nathan.
Silver Spun Sand | April 3, 2009 - 14:08
That just about sums me up, Nathan. 'Casual but smart'... well, perhaps not that smart, but casual anyway;-)
Thanks so much for reading and I am so glad you enjoyed it.
Tina