Was a Time When…
Was a time when
nothing was shelved for another day
When, lacking A.C., our windows allowed
the cacophony of Manhattan traffic
to ferment with our Streisand on the stereo
into an ethereal, essentially New York brew
When heartaches were daily doings and
lovers’ promises abstract
When Chinatown was
a neon-spangled dragon,
delicious, exhilarating, smelling of
sesame oil and sweet rice wine
When we’d shimmy on the sidewalk
to every lowrider blasting reggae
Now those days in the City
are an exquisite origami swan
swinging from the ceiling on a ribbon,
suspended over my head
over my half-closed eyes
from the drop ceiling
over my hospital bed
as my life reaches the coda of
its jazzy, dizzying blur
Slowly, veil upon veil of blissful,
mystic, magic memories featherfall
upon my last moments…
but not a single regret
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For the Sunday Whirl: Exquisite, abstract, spangling, ethereal, ferment, dragon, shimmy, origami, cacophony, coda, aches, shelved. FYI, it’s The Sunday Whirl’s first anniversary this week, so click on the link and check out what others have done with Brenda’s weekly “dirty dozen” words. The variety of thoughts, of what springs to mind and splashes on the page of each poet or writer, is quite amazing. Brenda Warren, BRAVA and thanks!
Also at my poetic nest, Poets United! Peace, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
seingraham
but not a single regret! Indeed … love this, esp the Chinatown dragon and photo supplied … good read and write Amy, as always, and of course, I am biased towards all things NYC …
Sharp Little Pencil
Sharon, I know you love the City. LIved there for years – mostly low on funds, but Chinatown is where you eat for cheap and if there’s money left, Canal St is crossed for Little Italy cannoli… Ah, those were the days! And yeah, no regrets. Love, Amy
wordsandthoughtspjs
Amelita, you bring this scene in Chinatown to life. I wasn’t expecting the hospital scenario, a surprising twist. Nicely done. Good to see you at the whirling anniversary.
Pamela
Sharp Little Pencil
Bless Brenda for always challenging us with interesting words. The diversity cannot be denied, all poets see the words in different ways. And the ending was a surprise to me as well! Came in the type-out edits. Amy
julespaige
You have brought me back to Hong Fats…A little bitty dive you had to step down to get into that maybe had 10 tables (if that) that served hot tea in clear juice glasses. And ‘grandmother’ was prepping some green bean – maybe snow peas in a large steal bowl at the back table just before the entrance to the kitchen. I wonder if it is still there. I’ve a relative who has a photo she took of China Town (Manhattan) from who knows how long ago – that is prominent on a living room wall . I think the cars were still running on leaded fuel. Manhattan as I remember it…circa late 1960’s.
Hopefully it is just your character in that hospital bed? Hugs!
Sharp Little Pencil
Jules, it is one scenario of my ending I can imagine. Also, my hangout was Ting Foo Garden on Pell, plus shopping for dishes and little red and gold envelopes at the Pearl St. Emporium. Such nice memories, great stuff! Thanks, J. Amy
brenda w
This is my favorite part, Amy. You brought the feeling of Chinatown to my Montana living room.
When Chinatown was
a neon-spangled dragon,
delicious, exhilarating, smelling of
sesame oil and sweet rice wine
The ending is strong. Thank you for your work at The Whirl. I enjoy your posts.
Sharp Little Pencil
Brenda, I thank you for a full first year of challenging, interesting Wordles. Hope you have the energy and interest to continue offering us this prompt, because so many of us groove on your work. Thanks, hon. Love, Amy
Laurie Kolp
So many lovely memories of your past. Glad their are no regrets.
Sharp Little Pencil
I’m pretty confident that my worst mistakes (grandest?) are behind me… and that I have atoned for those which required such. This is a flash from the future me, should that be how I go… Thanks, Laurie! Amy
ihatepoetry
Beautiful – oh, if I could go that way! Just gorgeous, Ameleh! – Love Moskowitz
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, brudda mine! Yeah, it’s one scenario for how I go. Good thing the “death panels” myth fell through and we no longer have to fear being put out onto ice floes… of course, they’ll all be melted by that time, ha ha ha. Love you, your sistah, Ameleh
whimsygizmo
Beautiful, Amy. You’ve taken me there. LOVE the featherfall” mashup.
Sharp Little Pencil
You know, De, I don’t remember how, but that little wordlet fell upon me as lightly as the word implies. Moments of grace… THanks! Amy
brian miller
it is great to look back an life and feel like you have no regrets…having just been to chinatown, it is a magical place…enjoy those memories…and themaking of more of them along the way…
Sharp Little Pencil
My friend wrote a song that said, “You never know when you’re makin’ a memory, they will wish they were there together again,” and she was so right. And no regrets? So TERRIBLY Piaf, but it’s me, it’s how I am. I made peace with old regrets and hope that my biggest mistakes are behind me now. (wink) A
kaykuala
No moments of regret, Amy! Life has been fair and we have friends around.. Chinatown typified with lanterns, aroma of food and movements of people as what we have over here. Great write!
Hank
Sharp Little Pencil
Hank, this was indeed one big love letter to my NYC years, in the 80s, when Chinatown was not one big street-vendor T-shirt concession… you could walk quietly there on weekdays at one time… Thanks, hon. Amy
Mary Mansfield
What a wonderful portrait of Manhattan! Love this so much!
Sharp Little Pencil
Mary, I loved living in NYC but could not do so today. I’m simply too old! At 55, I cannot tolerate some of the smells, the noxious fumes. But man, I took Riley down for a mother-daughter trip and we went to some of my old haunts… amazing. Thanks, hon. Amy
1sojournal
Thanks for these images of a place I have only longed to see. You brought it alive with a plethora of emotions,
Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/
Sharp Little Pencil
Elizabeth, it isn’t quite the same as it was in the 80s, when the last vestiges of porn shops were still on 42nd St. Now it looks like DIsney threw up on it. But there is still the Met Museum, the Metropolitan Opera House, and Grey’s Papaya on 72nd at Broadway/Amsterdam. Also the Village is sort of good, but too pricey now. So I’d rather remember NYC in my dreams…! Thanks, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil
I am so glad I could give you the “dime tour”! I know (or used to know) all the places one could eat on the cheap and view at a discount! I’ll stop by your blog, hon. Thanks, Amy
Mary
This is terrific, Amy. I love the way you ‘wordled’ these words. The Manhattan traffic can be music to one’s ears after a while, can’t it? And Chinatown, nothing like it. Visiting you at dVerse Open Links. My poem:
http://inthecornerofmyeye.blogspot.com/2012/04/history.html
Sharp Little Pencil
Mary, thanks for finding me a dverse. I gave up after about ten views because I know so many comments were pending here. Will check yours out – THANKS for a direct link. Hint, hint, other poets, if there’s something particular you want to see, give me the exact URL! Peace, Amy
hedgewitch
I love all the divergent memories, sensations, standout moments, turning into a swan over the bed–pure and home in the air and the water, the mind and the emotions. Lovely piece.
Sharp Little Pencil
HW, thank you so much for a heartfelt comment. I really appreciate when folks convey their feelings in this way… I know I’m on the right track! Amy
daphnepurpus
Not a single regret! Wonderful portrait!
Sharp Little Pencil
Ha, I’m so VERY Edith Piaf. Non, non regre-e-e-e-e-ets… but it’s true. I’ve mended about all the fences I needed to thusfar, hoping not to bust any more… thanks, Daphne, coming over to see you now! Amy
Ken Higginson
lovely poems. Your site also has a very nice feel – great background and colors.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, and welcome, Ken. This theme is Koi… I chose it because I love sepia tones and well as those little hints of hippie art at the top. Altogether my taste. I love WordPress because there are so many choices of theme… I am going to try to find yours now! Amy
Hannah Gosselin
Great use of the words, Amy!! I love this bit:
“Now those days in the City
are an exquisite origami swan
swinging from the ceiling on a ribbon,
suspended over my head”
I was drawn right into that slow swinging origami swan! Great poem, Amy! Smiles!
Sharp Little Pencil
I imagined the swan as swinging in the light flow of hospital air conditioning, so that even in the worst circumstances, one can find beauty… thanks, Hannah. It’s so right that this was the part of the poem you chose to highlight. Blessings, Amy
Hannah Gosselin
This gives me such joy, Amy! Thank you so much for what you do, it is beautiful!
Patti
I love this. You’ve brought life to the old saw that your life will pass before your eyes at the end. This life was obviously loved and well-lived. What wonderful images to carry into eternity.
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, Patti, it’s funny – some of the images are best left here on Earth, but in general, yes. I think the idea of atonement sneaks in the side door here. I’ve had regrets, but I’ve also made amends for those I’ve hurt. I’m one big manic-depressive 12-step program! I’ll stop by your blog now. Peace, Amy
Semaphore / S. Peralta
What I love most is the way you assemble your words into amazing stuctures. Look at this: “cacophony of Manhattan traffic / to ferment with our Streisand on the stereo” and that final singular line “without a single regret” that sums it all up. Brilliant! And you do this all throughout the poem, so much that your love of words shows. And that on top of a wonderful array of scenes that turns out to be – at least in my interpretation – before passing on, one’s life flashing before one’s eyes.
Sharp Little Pencil
Sam, you nailed it. Once in that hospital bed, it needn’t come as a flash before one’s eyes… sometimes it’s days of languid strolls through one’s life. My mother had that experience… for days, talking about different aspects of her life. And she had too many regrets, and no one could help her unburden them. So I have sought always to make peace with those I’ve wronged, including my former husband, and there was lots of forgiving on both sides. Thanks for your intuitive comment, Sam. Peace, Amy
henryclemmons
Oh, so bravely sad. I hope it is just your MC. I loved this poem. You put right into all you were describing in the 2 thru 5 stanzas I believe. Excellent write. I like the no regret line, but it started to get sad for me by then. I hope you are well!
Sharp Little Pencil
Henry, I’m not sure what “MC” is… but sorry you got sad. Hey, life ends, and I could walk in front of a bus tomorrow and still have no regrets, because my journey has included a lot of mistakes, a lot of therapy and prayer, and time, blessed time, to apologize to people I’ve wronged. So I hope this explains the fact that, when it’s time to meet my Maker, I hope to have no regrets! All those memories are mine, and I’m so happy to have such a rich past… Amy
henryclemmons
Main Character.
markwindham
very visual, an immersion experience. Truly feel like you are a part of it.
Sharp Little Pencil
Mark, it’s all my experience, except for the last part, which is one of my favorite options should I grow old. Just lolling in bed, bugging nurses for morphine, and watching little origami swans drift in the air conditioning. Even if I get hit by a truck tomorrow, I’ll have no regrets, because I’ve done all the apologizing I need to, I hope. And I really hope all my “best” (worst) mistakes are behind me! Amy
Rosemary Nissen-Wade
This is beautiful and moving, Amy – immediately one of my favorites of yours.
Sharp Little Pencil
Rosemary, this means a lot, coming as it does from you. I truly appreciate your encouragement! Peace, Amy
Renee Espriu
All kinds of ways to view life…past, present and future and this is wonderfully written so that I am taking a journey along side. Nice.
Sharp Little Pencil
Ah, Renee, we journey together via the Net, and ain’t life grand? I love my life and hope that it ends peacefully, like I’ll fly by the swan on the way up! Love, Amy
purplepeninportland
Amy, This is one of my absolute favorites. So well done.
Sharp Little Pencil
PIP, thank you so much. This means a lot to me! I’m going to keep this one in my “you done good” file! Blessings and peace, Amy