There was
a desert wind
blowing that night.
It was one of those
hot dry Santa Anas
that come down through
the mountain passes
and curl your hair,
make your nerves jump
and your skin itch.
On nights like that
every booze party
ends in a fight.
Meek little wives
feel the edge
of the carving knife
and study
their husbands'
necks.
Anything can happen.
You can even get
a full glass of beer
at a cocktail lounge.
Adapted from Raymond Chandler's short story "Red Wind"
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11 comments:
this moves like a song - an edgy song, one you come in in the middle of, not knowing exactly what's happening, if you're in it or watching it; real, dream or some vague nightmare of a time that could have happened-- when you think, that wasn't really me, I don't think I had that much to drink!
Meek little wives
feel the edge
of the carving knife
and study
their husbands'
necks. -> gruesome great imagery
ha good luck getting that full glas....this is smooth steve and def rings of atmosphere...the line on the wives with knives....yikes...
After reading your intriguing lines, think I will have to go back and read the short story. My curiosity is piqued! Enjoyed this!
LOVE THE SUNSET IMAGERY,
AMAZING POETRY.
cool capture of the tenseness of the atmosphere here steve...and so cool to see you linked up with dVerse..honored to sharing a pint of verse with you in the pub...smiles
I have to confess, my favorite lines are all too revealing:
Meek little wives
feel the edge
of the carving knife
and study
their husbands'
necks.
Great film noire poetry!
What a perfect passage to choose -- I'm glad you left Chandler's words so untouched, and instead focused on an arrangement that reveals the internal rhymes (wives/knife, Santa Anas/passes) in his text, and how breath would be moving through the phrases.
Made me laugh out loud! Great one.
eden
How are you today?
Happy end of November!
Appreciated your support to our poetry picnic,
Hope to see you share today,
A random poem or old poem will do the wonders too.
Your talent rocks.
Hope to see you in.
xoxox
loved your poetry a great deal.
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