Monday, September 10, 2012

The Way You Look Tonight


Here is a poem I had to write for my creative writing class. We had to use vivid imagery to capture a moment that expresses our admiration for someone we've known or a striking character. This is the first poem I've written in a long time and it isn't perfect, but I'm pretty proud of it. 

The Greatest Generation

The house smelled like death and Red Door
When she came in for the first time that week.
There were no wet tissues in her hands
But they could not have been far away.
Still radiantly beautiful in her seventies
A lock of hair always exposed under the blonde wig
She has worn for almost twenty years now.

Nights after everyone left,
Quiet hymns and gentle talking
Drifted from the bedroom she helped decorate.
Bittersweet laughter rose and fell like tanked oxygen.
Soft, plump fingers rolled silver strands
In rubber curlers that were a vibrant green and yellow
Fifty years ago.
Children of the Depression never throw out good curlers.

For dinner she poured Gerber peas into a blue china bowl
And held each spoonful to her best friends lips
Careful not to go too fast
It had been a while since her granddaughters were that little.

Sinatra sang The Way You Look Tonight
While she chose a delicate bottle of lotion.
Everyone wants to smell like vanilla
Everyone wants fresh pajamas
Wont you please arrange it? Cause I love you

Both could not fight back the tears
When she dipped a purple washcloth into warm water
And one great lady washed the feet of another.
A last act of humility, to honor and prepare
In case tonight was the night.

One day it will be her turn to lie and wait.
For now, she dreams handsome angels
Who look like the sweethearts they sent off to war
Are tearing up that hospital bed. 


My grandmother, Frances, on the far left and her beautiful best friend and caretaker Laura, on the far right. I only hope I am blessed with a friendship like theirs in my life. 


Monday, August 27, 2012

Hurry Up Now Darling


Hurry
BY: MARIE HOWE

We stop at the dry cleaners and the grocery store
and the gas station and the green market and
Hurry up honey, I say, hurry,
as she runs along two or three steps behind me
her blue jacket unzipped and her socks rolled down.

Where do I want her to hurry to? To her grave?
To mine? Where one day she might stand all grown?
Today, when all the errands are finally done, I say to her,
Honey I'm sorry I keep saying Hurry--
you walk ahead of me. You be the mother.

And, Hurry up, she says, over her shoulder, looking
back at me, laughing. Hurry up now darling, she says,
hurry, hurry, taking the house keys from my hands.

You never question your own beliefs and reasoning more than in the presence of a child.
Photo by Viktor Garsater 


Saturday, June 30, 2012

Friday, May 25, 2012

The Secret



Whom do you find more interesting, the Hollywood celebrity that invades every corner of our lives or the mysterious, albeit manufactured, Chateau Marmont Chanteuse?

Friday, March 9, 2012

Hmmm.

I'm going through one of those, "I'm just going to delete this blog" phases right now.

Reasons for deleting it:
- It is difficult for me to figure out the blog's direction/what to post
- No one reads this blog anyway, only four posts get hit a day
- I am too busy to create actual content like well thought out book reviews

Reasons to keep Of the Thing Sung:
- What happens if I find an awesome poem or quote, with whom will I share it?
- I kinda like this little blog
- I probably will minor in English or Communications and what better way to practice both than with this blog?

I dunno guys. Give me a few days to ruminate over this.
I hate that word. hehe.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

I Would've Asked you Everything



THIS IS ADVICE FOR SOMEONE ELSE
BY: CARLY TWO
I thought I could tell
by your laugh, but
maybe not.

Sorry about that.

I thought I could tell
by your clothes,
but that's shallow.

And you make me nervous.

I thought it was your taste in movies.
You mentioned one of my favorites.

Sorry I assumed you'd like me because we had all the same interests.

Then I thought
I should talk to you,
but you didn't seem like
the type of person
who was good at talking to strangers.
I'm not that type of person either.

But if I did, I would've asked you everything.

This girl is amazing. I strongly urge you to visit Carly's profile on hello poetry! Even if you are not a poetry person you will enjoy it.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Meryl, The Goddess


Congratulations on a well deserved one, dear. She is truly a Lady, in every sense of the word.