Write a poem that has the same first line as another poem. Use a favorite poem or pick up a random book of poetry and get a first line that way. I selected the first line from The Boast by Rita Dove.*
Memories of An Evening
*At the dinner table, before the baked eggplant,
she told the old story of her brother's friend,
how he smeared baby oil on all the door knobs,
an April Fool's prank. Hanging behind one door,
her graduation dress, sweet dream of a dress,
now daubed with unctuous splotches of grease.
her graduation dress, sweet dream of a dress,
now daubed with unctuous splotches of grease.
It was a long, rambling story. Slightly tipsy,
she began to cry before she finished the telling.
Loud piano music came from a window
she began to cry before she finished the telling.
Loud piano music came from a window
in the house next door. The rain stopped
and the moon came out. There were strawberries
for dessert, over-ripe and slightly spoiled.
She remembers the oily feel of the knobs,
the rotting berries, the ruined dress.
5 comments:
While some dinner parties are contrived and stuffy, your writing is not. The unctuous splotches of grease would make many women cry in a retelling. ;) Your characters come to life, and this is a very real scene. Well done!
Very tactile offering... My Day 2 Here
Marianne, you have created a very real scene indeed. Love the images even if it isn't so pleasant.
Pamela
Deliciously visual content. Loved it!
Some memories just won't slide away.
An emotional trip down memory lane.
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