SONG OF SO. VEGAS BLVD
she ambles down the sidewalk
scattering bits of trash in her wake
but don't worry
she'll come back again later to collect it
a girl's got to eat
rattle rattle goes the metal cans
keeping in rhythm of the creaking cart
lovingly it blends in with the high hiss of Bus 201
before fading back into
sharp percussions of afternoon hornblasts
she cocks her head
in her left ear she tunes
to the roll of dice against hushed velvet
while wafting into the right
staccato static of neon lights
blink
like the red light at the corner
unheeded
dirt smudges the tip of her nose
and the tattered orange shirt is louder
than the man next to her
who hates this princess of pee-stained blue jersey
mumbling like unstretched vocal cords
she nods regally
for under the sodium streetlights
her hair is sulfur curls entwining
and with that lone katydid on Freemont
experience
the flinging of arms frail
she shouts
O
what a beautiful Day
and through the medley of Strip melodies
each jagged note of corrupt arias already sold
no loss of breath
no will of heaven
can ever mask
the
song
she
sings .
.
.
.
Author notes
This is a small tribute to the city I have grown to love dearly in my many years as its residence, lol. And actually, this is based on a true story...where I decided that no matter how oblivious or in oblivion you are, you can still hear music playing...
(NOTE: I know that most of this refers to NORTH Vegas Blvd, but I witnessed this on the Southside...lol)
Silver
Gold
Written October 18th, 2004
A contest entry
- Noise by Ms. Trick.
400 points, ended March 23, 2005, 17 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Cityscape - Las Vegas by Highwaytraveller.
375 points, ended November 16, 14 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 40 of 40
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Finally! someone who like Las VEgas! I was beginning to think that nobody did!!
I actually read this a long time ago, and i thought I had commented...oh well,
i love the imagery here, and i also like the line spacing..they add to the effect of this piece...I absolutely love the last few lines!
Thank you for sharing! -
If you’re satisfied doing what you’re doing, you might as well sing. Someone told me once that singing is the language of Heaven. Good luck in this contest.
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Really great write....I've only visited Las Vegas, so I really enjoyed this portrayal of the city. Good luck in the contest!
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Brought your spoon?
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buttery.
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And thank you for such an eloquent comment...lol.
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Like lying on warm asphalt in the rain and knowing that right on the edge around your eyes there are lights. Like feeling rainwater warmed from your scalp trickle down your forehead and neck.
Thanks for entering!
trick -
LMAO! Dude, Kent...that was just halarious...and yeah, I think the same thing of Charleston once you pass the SAV-ON store! Thanks for that chuckle and the nice comment.
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Thank you, John...such wonderful praise coming from a fellow Las Vegan just makes my heart float to the ceiling with glee! lol And yeah, there's just something about marvelous about seeing someone who should be so down but won't go down...at least not while the sun is shining.
Again, thank you.
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and if you go a little more northeast,
past Pecos where the Safeway used to be
not only can you here "music" but you can
smell the stale aroma of vomit in the air...
very nice write
kent -
Against all odds!
Dear O,
Great narrative and poem! I see people everyday like this girl. Some know me by my first name. I try to help when I can,
knowing full well that it is just a temporary reprieve from the poorest of existences.
Good job with this snapshot in text, of the lady in song.
Best Regards,
John-Las Vegas -
This one was pretty distracting, with the words all over the place, but you ovbiously have a style so Im not really in the place to say anything about that. Good job all the same.
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Fabulous
I LOVED the lines:
And the tattered orange shirt is louder
Than the man next to her
Who hates this Princess of Pee-stained blue jersey
Great imagery; will last with me for a while. I also liked the rhythm of this poem. Also, you included lots of sounds, like the rattling of the cans. The persona you describe here reminds me of this elderly woman that used to walk through my neighborhood, collecting recyclable materials as she went. She wasn't very rich monetarily speaking, but she was always happy and that's what counted to me.
You make me sing my own arias.
Thanks for sharing,
Zini
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AWESOME.
I love the Vegas. Tis a very well done poem. -
loved this it read like a short stort great how the single lines set the scene before each stanza..like the way you structured this too..
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I love the imagery in this poem. I can imagine it being read, almost in a spoken word song kind of way. Excellent poem, I love it.
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even the poorest street person can still see the silver glinting off of his/her shopping cart in the morning desert sun, and they scan the cracked and littered streets of vegas for a chance to come , a round two faced shot at a pull that might bring them glory and riches, or might get them another dumpster dive in the early eve, for a dinner of one in a cardboard box.....air conditioned with flaps and nothing to cover up with but the loss sheets from the races....great peom...Artis
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And through the medley of Strip melodies
Each jagged notes of corrupt arias ready sold
No loss of breath
i love this part.it's a beautiful piece.i think i'll read more of your work tomorrow morning
keep it up!
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Aww...thank you, sweetie! As always, you got the essense of this piece, and made me grin from ear to ear!
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Music can be heard by everyone, regardless of where they are or what's going around them or what's going on within. Music has such an amazing effect on people. You can brighten a mood, incite anger, create a soft sensual moment, or lift the heart to soar above the clouds and when that happens, at that moment at least, life's surroundings just don't seem so tantamount. I like this. You have done a wonderful job here. Good luck in the contest!
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Lol...thanks for that glowing comment, hon. I'm so glad you liked it...wrote it JUST for you!
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LOL...yeah, Abby, I hear ya, gurlfriend, lol. But I guess that I didn't want to get into the OBVIOUS aspects of the homeless here...because I think it's kinda self-explanatory, ya know? lol But when I saw this woman that day, she looked absolutely DELIGHTED to be alive and in the streets and I wanted to show THAT side of the picture...the inner landscape...for I could almost hear her singing, lol. But again, thank you for checking this out!
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Thank you Kestryl...and yeah, I admit it WAS rather abstract-ish, lol, but that's the feeling I was kinda going for...because I feel the subject matter is so open to interpretation and this was my version of it. Again, thank you.
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Lol...well, I think that Mail Order Bride is me at THIS point in time, but this poem is the FUTURE me! LMAO But hey, glad you thought it was damn good...because otherwise I would've cried and cried and cried...lol.
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LOL...wow...talk about flattering me much? Thank you for that killer comment and I'm delighted that you thought it was a relief from the usual, lol. Much obliged!
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Thank you sooo much soul...I'm delighted that you enjoyed this just as I am delighted that you took the time to read it, lol. Again, thank you.
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Thank you fire...that was such a wonderful comment you left and I really appreciate it.
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Oh wow, James...that was just one of the most awesome comments I've received in a very loooong time! lol Thank you so much, I'm so happy to hear that this touched you and that you enjoyed it. I feel like singing now!
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Thank you, Diamond! Glad you liked it!
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woooow...another poem that has taken my breath away...i love the style you bring with this piece...fantasmal choice of words...i was singing right along with ya! i really enjoyed this...uhhh the finals are going to be hard to judge!!!! -whimpers- but anywho...best of luck and thank you much for entering this....
anyonita -
I have often wondered what it would be like to live homeless. To just wander from street to place to building, always having to fend for yourself and find food to eat and shelter to sleep in. I honestly don't see what's so bad about it, besides the obvious. I mean yeah you look like trash, you smell, you fit into the category that most people don't ever want to cross paths with, but I mean it sounds like it would be an experience. You know, to actually feel like you're truly living. I'm sure it would leave some sort of inpression on you for years to come. Whether good or bad, it would leave you with some new-found wisdom of what it's like to be one of the home-less... Great piece. I only think it would be greater to have you really delve into the inner workings of homeless people. Get really graphic and detailed of what it's like
Abby Eyeball
P.S.
I'm not sure if it's close to what a homeless person has to go through, but it's quite similar. Read my piece "The Garbage on 5th and Gap". -
I like this... tho I think, and it could be just me, that without your elequant comment at the end, explaining what it's a tribute to and all, it would have gone a LITTLE over my head. could be my own stupidity, which is highly likely, but thats the way I see it.
Awesome write all the same. -
What music? I don't hear any friggin music? Why am I always the one who gets left out?
Okay, seriously, I could truly see the sights and hear the sounds of Vegas in this poem. I don't think it's as strong as Mail Order Bride, which just seemed to have more emotional impace for obvious reasons, but this one is damn good. The whole "lone katydid" thing is really nasty though. lol. -
this poem is totaly unique and awesome. very different than alot of poems on here, and that comes as quite a relief as an outstanding poem. good job! please keep it up!
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i loved this, it really pulled me in. i think the last bit was my favorite, but the whole poem was amazing, great work :-)
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it's ok she doesn't have to go back to sort the trash out, i will do that while i am looking for my own meals and drops of drink.
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I like this, it has a different touch to it. Takes the reader right into it, almost as if they can hear the music. The pictures that were in my head were put there by your pen, and I thank you for that. And yes, the music is always there. well done, like the feel of it.
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" And the tattered orange shirt is louder
Than the man next to her
Who hates this Princess of Pee-stained blue jersey
Mumbling like unstretched vocal cords "
These lines stood out to me the most, but the poem itself, overall, is stunning. You gloriously discuss and talk out these beautiful images that just pounce on you while reading it. You give us this entire world of this woman going through her life and how she is experiencing things.
A very deep write with a whole story to back up its qualities of interest. I am so glad I got to stop by and say a little something.
much love,
James
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I'm sorry I accidently clicked on your feature, but as someone who has lost points on some people not commenting I will do so now.This is a wonderful piece you have written, the lady sounds like she has had a hard life and now wanders the street. I really loved the way you portrayed your city. I am glad I accidently clicked onto it. Thank you for sharing this with us~angelica
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that'svery different- i like it! well dun.
sparkly diamond
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