This will be my last post before I turn 50, and honestly, I may have the kind of hangover that takes a few days to recover from, so this may be my last post for a week or so. I am still undecided what the celebrations will look like. That said….
I am continuing my recorded poetry series today with a poem that was originally published in The Furious Gazelle. The Furious Gazelle is a super cool and eclectic journal, with editors whose artistic sensibilities have range, depth and flare. “Gold Lame'” is the first of three poems I was lucky to have published with them, along with a couple of essays.
My range as a writer may not be very expansive; I tend to write about just a few things. But, one of those things is my city, and in my city lives a wealth of characters to write about. All three of the poems in The Furious Gazelle were inspired by Hollywood…the real Hollywood.
Gold Lame’
Toothless ladies reign
over my Hollywood neighborhood,
holding court on street corners.
Gold lame’ and a slash of red lips,
she flicks you away like filth off skin
and barricades you from the
wreckage of her fortress.
She sits on a throne of fading glamour
and keeps watch over the tumble of
ravaged relics that house her memories.
She came to the city to be gild
and slathered in star light,
but settled for a crown of tin with
rubies made of glass.
May 14, 2019 at 6:31 am
Happy birthday susan
May 14, 2019 at 7:24 am
Thank you so much, Grace!!!! Sending love to you!
May 14, 2019 at 10:36 am
Happy Burthday Shsan. Make it a good one if you can, despite how you feel about it. I daren’t tell you how okd I am, but my last burthday in April, did my head in! Yoyr writing is still amazing Shsan. This one is great. I love it. Much love to you my friend ❤️❤️
May 14, 2019 at 10:39 am
Thank you Lorraine! Much love to you!!!
May 14, 2019 at 10:41 am
And hugs too Shsan xoxoxo
May 14, 2019 at 6:35 am
Wonderful….and Happy Birthday!
May 14, 2019 at 7:24 am
Thank you, Bill!!!!!
May 14, 2019 at 7:26 am
My pleasure!
May 14, 2019 at 7:37 am
Happy Birthday, Susan, and many more great years ahead.
May 14, 2019 at 7:40 am
Thank you so much!!!!
May 14, 2019 at 7:44 am
You’re welcome.
May 14, 2019 at 7:38 am
I love reading your Hollywood stuff.
Happy birthday, hun, and many happy returns.
May 14, 2019 at 7:41 am
Thank you, Gorgeous!
May 14, 2019 at 7:44 am
I like this piece. It really captures not just the concept of lost dreams, but reality. And Happy Birthday!
May 14, 2019 at 7:49 am
Thank you, River!!!
May 14, 2019 at 9:30 am
You’re welcome. Be thankful I’m not the same person I was eight years ago or else I’d be showing up at your door with a keg and a case of whiskey!
May 14, 2019 at 8:04 am
For my 50th… I did not want to go out. I received one of those headbands with a blown up 50 on top and a happy 50th birthday pin… I put on both and thought- screw it! I went on a Ferris wheel for my 50th. Two reasons: I love the way Ferris wheels look at night when they are all lit up, the second, I am afraid of heights! Deathly afraid… conquered that fear (after two margaritas!) Hell, we made it to 50!!! Who’d have thought? And I figured I was half dead so so not? Seriously, 50 is freeing, you no longer give a shit about what others think! You can even be rude and no one will call you out… because you are 50! You can’t flirt with the cops to get out of tickets anymore… but you don’t drive! (Problem solved.) So go, be merry, and do whatever the hell YOU feel like! Because you are free, my friend! ❤
The poem, divine. I could picture the 'reign' of toothless ladies! In Hollywood even… land of dreams, many lost. You only get better EVERY TIME I read one of your poems. The track of you reading is such a delight. Still. You have the perfect pitch when reading your thought-provoking prose. xoxo
May 14, 2019 at 8:34 am
Kim, you always bring the light in with everything you say to me. Thank you so much! You make me want to stand tall rather than hide away. So much love to you! xoxoxo
May 14, 2019 at 8:53 am
There you are, Susan! You are going to do ’50’ fabulously!!! xoxo Happy 50th, my fantastic friend! ❤
May 14, 2019 at 8:49 am
Happy birthday, Susan!
And thank you for this view of Hollywood!
May 14, 2019 at 9:33 am
Thank you, B! xoxo
May 14, 2019 at 3:25 pm
Many kisses!
May 14, 2019 at 10:33 am
Wishing you a birthday that is worth remembering………..in a good way! 🙂
May 14, 2019 at 10:38 am
Thank you, Wendi!
May 14, 2019 at 10:41 am
many blessings this birthday year!
May 14, 2019 at 11:28 am
So brilliant, Susan! Again, it’s so vivid! I can just see her. Happiest Birthday Eve!
May 14, 2019 at 1:39 pm
It is this way with the tough old birds who hang on the corner. I’m always amazed of how thin that line is.
Best wishes to you Susan!
May 18, 2019 at 5:59 am
I Love these women; they offer a brand of wisdom that just can’t come from anywhere else. Thank you Mark!
May 14, 2019 at 3:34 pm
Happy Birthday, Kiddo ❤️❤️. This is a new favorite. Wonderful 👏🏻👏🏻
May 18, 2019 at 6:00 am
Love you, Rita! Thank you!
May 14, 2019 at 4:02 pm
This is so good! Gives the reader a slice of a day in your city, with such wonderful sensory details and emotion.
Happy birthday, my friend!! 🎉🎈
May 18, 2019 at 6:01 am
Thank you Beautiful!!!! xoxoxo
May 18, 2019 at 6:35 am
My pleasure.
May 15, 2019 at 6:29 am
Happy Birthday. Awesome poem too. I could picture it in my head as I read it. Loved it. 🙂
May 18, 2019 at 6:02 am
Thank you Lovely Lady!!!
May 18, 2019 at 6:04 am
Most welcome. 😊😊💕
May 15, 2019 at 10:03 am
Happy Birthday, and earn that hangover in true TBT style, Susan! I dig this poem. You continue to astound!
May 18, 2019 at 6:03 am
Thank you Sweet Tom!!! I think you would have been proud! And had a blast!
May 16, 2019 at 7:26 pm
This was really gritty Sue. I loved it! I always read these first and then listen. The spoken version was PERFECT for this piece. Bravo!
May 18, 2019 at 6:04 am
Thank you Steve!!!!!!
May 17, 2019 at 4:43 am
Still one of my favourite Hollywood movies/poems of yours. Happy Belated Birthday, my friend! Hope you’re getting spoilt.
May 18, 2019 at 6:04 am
Thank you so much, A.G.!!!!!!
May 17, 2019 at 8:17 am
Happy belated birthday
May 18, 2019 at 6:04 am
Thank you so much!
May 19, 2019 at 9:07 pm
This did what you always do- you took me to that street corner, sitting where she sits, trying to exist in a world that defies reality and mocks humanity.
I lived this in many ways, trying to immerse myself in a city where we all want to sparkle, striving for recognition, yet starving for connection. A city that thrives on the superficial yet attracts so many who harbor the profound.
Hollywood. It will forever change you, for good, or for terrible, reducing so many to a woman on a street corner:
“Gold lame’ and a flash of red lips.
She flicks you away like filth off skin
and barricades you from the
wreckage of her fortress.”
You, my beautiful, brilliant girl, are one of those who harbor the profound and do what so many in your city of angels can’t. You sparkle…from the very depths of your soul.
May 20, 2019 at 7:24 am
Oh Brooke, I can’t tell you how much your beautiful words mean to me. I have been feeling so cut off lately, so exhausted and drained of any creativity. Life is battering me right now and I feel as if I am failing every moment of every day. Your kindness has lifted me in exactly the way I needed to be lifted. Thank you, Beautiful, for your heart and your generosity and your love.
May 20, 2019 at 7:30 am
Oh, my girl. I can empathize more than you know. It’s all I can do to write a comment or quote. Just please be gentle on yourself. You are not defined by how prolific or published you are. But that’s easy to say and extremely hard to embrace…I know this very well too. Hugest hug to you. You aren’t alone and you are very loved by so many.
May 20, 2019 at 7:31 am
Thank you. Sending so much love to you, Beautiful Girl!