Handing me a Cuban cigar
while holding a match to the tip,
I saw my reflection in its flame
My beret was feeling lopsided
as the sun shone in my eyes
Palms swayed like hula dancers
from faraway Hawaiian islands
His voice was firm and reassuring,
like the beat of a drum never out
of sync, while smoky fingers curled
round our heads, beckoning their release …
similar to lives that exist in oppression,
pushing them further away from reality’s
happiness … paint peeling slowly off
the wall behind him, layers underneath become
more complex as he looks at the crowd below us
Posts
Love the way you got your head round this! I take it you were inspired by the picture. Delicious start to NaPoWriMo!!!
ReplyDeletePamela, His voice was firm and reassuring holds great contrast to similar lives lives that exist in oppression. This piece is interesting, and invites more than one read. The peeling paint has layers, so does your poem. Great start to a fun month! ~Brenda
ReplyDeleteHanding me a Cuban cigar
ReplyDeletewhile holding a match to the tip,
I saw my reflection in its flame
My beret was feeling lopsided ..
love the opening, every word counts, well done.
Happy April Fool's Day.
Happy Writing..
What a grand strong poem for NaPo. I adore your beginning lines:
ReplyDelete"Handing me a Cuban cigar
while holding a match to the tip,
I saw my reflection in its flame
My beret was feeling lopsided"
Brilliant!
Intriguing
ReplyDeleteWith that fantastic description at the beginning, I was sure you were going to take us to a firing squad scene. This is a great beginning to what will prove to be a heck of an interesting month,
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Yes, the famous balcony photo. I love Che. Thanks, Andy.
ReplyDeleteThat is what he lived for, Brenda.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jingle and the same to you.
ReplyDeleteNice to see you, Marianne!
ReplyDeleteThat he was, Viv.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I wouldn't have done that. If you are ever interested there is a book called, "Che Guevara: a revolutionary life" by Jon Lee Anderson. It gives you great insight, as to what he stood for.
ReplyDeleteYou're off to a flyer - hard act to follow!
ReplyDeleteStory of my life, Stan:)
ReplyDeleteLovely piece with such beautiful, vivid images. I really like "Palms swayed like hula dancers
ReplyDeletefrom faraway Hawaiian islands"... and love the parallel to oppression.
Happy Poeming Month to you, too!
~laurie
Thanks Laurie, I'll be looking for your work on the circuit.
ReplyDeleteThis was just awesome. Love it.
ReplyDeleteOhhh... how I enjoyed the flavor here. So different an unexpected!
ReplyDeleteMy Day 1 Poem.
Okay...now my interest is seriously piqued. Fascinating. (And curious.) ☼
ReplyDeleteThanks thingy, I see we both chose the balcony scene.
ReplyDeleteJulie, thanks, I went this direction, because of the famous photo.
ReplyDeleteRJ, he was in my opinion a fascinating man, a bit fanatical yes, but nonetheless, pure in his ideals. He cared for the impoverished, but his mistake was threatening a first world power, it led to his demise.
ReplyDeleteFanatical often is fascinating! :) I love this poem - it speaks to the ages.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan, he is fascinating to me.
ReplyDeleteExcellent and Che was a interesting character.
ReplyDeleteChe was (& of course remains) a personal hero. Thnks for this fine work.
ReplyDeleteThat he was Cathy.
ReplyDeleteMine too, Ron, thanks:)
ReplyDeleteGood start for the month, gal.
ReplyDeleteI like that peeling paint.
"pushing them further away from reality's / happiness" - that's such a great line, and then you transition to that final image of the peeling paint. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteThanks Barb, we shall see how the rest of the month goes, though:)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mr. Walker, I liked your entry about the boys getting changed.
ReplyDeleteWhat a moving tribute to a true revolutionary. Che is a hero of mine as well. Pamela, have you seen "The Motorcycle Diaries," a 2004 film out of Mexico, I believe, about a long trip young (then) Ernesto Guevara took with his friend... it introduced the budding Che to just how bad conditions were.
ReplyDeleteThe picture is lovely, and your words practically breathe fire and cigar smoke. Great work!
Here's mine, from Writer's Isle:
http://sharplittlepencil.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/the-man-who-became-an-island/
Paz, Amelita
Amy, one of my all time favourite movies, in fact, I own it. You should really read the book, "Che Guevara: a revolutionary life", it is fantastic. I loved your poem:)
ReplyDeleteTerrific way to describe the balcony scene. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThanks nan:)
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