He couldn't
not take off
the backward cap
that hides
his tousled hair
as he pulls back
the high-backed stool
he'll perch himself on
next to
this unfamiliar beauty.
He couldn't
not accept the bourbon
shot, a pert bartender
offers to keep
his pint company
and lend him
extra courage.
He couldn't
not exchange
an inquiring smile
then a glib remark
about the heat
and the sudden
appeal of dank taverns.
He could
watch her
small gestures for hours
and never
lose interest.
The way
alabaster fingers
tease auburn hair,
they pull at his longing
for a moment
they'll land to still
his right hand
nervously tapping
so useless against
the emptied glass.
He couldn't
guess where
it all might lead,
but he couldn't
not take the chance
it might,
somewhere.
Her accent
sounds French,
and it is Bastille Day.
Anything's possible,
n'est-ce pas?
It's Bastille Day, and the Poetry On Wednesday prompt this week gets us in the proper spirit by suggesting a sprinkling of French and some mimicry of the poet Jacques Prevert. My piece is more Francophile than French, but I did retain enough from my high school studies of the language to understand Prevert's Desjeuner du Matin in the original (with a little help from the translation).
12 comments:
Oh Francis, this is absolutely charming and so French. Alabaster fingers playing with auburn hair..lovely.You have made me smile.Thank you.
Francis this is lovely poem and the descriptions perfect!
Pamela
francis i could have almost jumped out of bed for i think i would have written something (maybe not as good) like this in the future...i'm almost taken aback at how similar i find myself to you(from your other posts)....thinkers alike i guess....
cheers !!!
Francis, you have really caught the Prevert style and voice. I absolutely love your poem.
Francis, I couldn't not comment on this piece. The thrill of the hunt, the pulling desire, the need for courage...it's all there. I love this piece. Bravo!
ah... seems beauty is storming the prison of self to set soul free...
both the content and the form connote freedom...
i couldn't
not smile at this!
:)
C'est magnifique, Francis! Very much in the style of M. Prevert!
I do like this--bunches.
love the way the lines force a little pause between couldn't and not.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Sometimes we have to take the chance.
Francis, what a wonderful Prevert style poem! What a terrific Bastille Day story told!
@Rall Thank you for the inspiring prompts!
@Pamela Thanks!
@Manik It's always good to find like minds :). I've read your poetry and it's very good, so I'm flattered by the comparison.
@Viv Thank you. I'm going to delve a little deeper into his poetry, and also check out his movies.
@Brenda The character is much better at it than his creator ;).
@hb I think I have much more freedom in my poetry than I allow myself in real life :D.
@Marianne Merci beaucoup!
@Barbara I've been thinking about writing a double negative poem for a while now, and this seemed like the right opportunity.
@Stan Yes, there's no fun in not trying.
@Mary It was a fun way to commemorate the day.
bien fait Francis.....by the way Lord Stanley is here in BC this week...thanks to those 5 BC boys on the BHawks...cheers
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