Dallas Doesn't Love You

"I am the man," the President said,

"who accompanies Mrs. Kennedy.."

Good weather, top down

the glossy black Lincoln

Continental and new

paint as fresh

as freshly-sliced flesh

shiny as a hearse

that's never been used.

Motorcade glamour

flashing lights and badges

head-snap, skull-flap

Zapruder-red flowers

and blood

on the limousine floor.

"Mr. President, you can't

say Dallas doesn't love you"

the Governor's wife said

then her yellow flowers splashed

with the President's head.

Mrs. Kennedy, so cute

in her pink Chanel suit

white gloves, pillbox hat

(it was hard to match that)

she's 'the look' of '63

soon to be retired

and she glows as she goes

where photographers shoot

but bullets will be fired

today's fashion smeared

and eras frontiered

the sands running out

as the crowds waved and cheered.

To die is to cast

big speeches to the past

and to lie at the last

in states disunited

Ask not what your country can do for you

say goodbye to your life,

your wife, and this land

"They have killed my husband.

I have his brains in my hand."

Reviews

[Shante Payne]

Omigod wow! First words that came to my mind when I finished this. This poem is full of imagery that feeds the imagination. Moreover, I love little bit "To die is to cast
big speeches to the past
and to lie at the last
in states disunited
Ask not what your country can do for you
say goodbye to your life,
your wife, and this land
"They have killed my husband.
I have his brains in my hand.""

Love Love Love it.

ps. great insight on Kennedy's assasination and the truth behind it.

[Antonio Valentino]

... thank you for writing this my friend.

One of the worst days, in our country's, and the world of humanity's, history.

I stand before you, and clap

very quietly.

Antonio

[Bubo]

When you really think about that day it was horrific, I had been born a few days before, you have described such vivid emotion, the loss of a husband under terrible circumstances, your detail is shocking, as if I was standing there, and although he was not wanted there, he was a man and a father.........great write.

Ask not what your country can do for you
say goodbye to your life,
your wife, and this land
"They have killed my husband.
I have his brains in my hand."

she's 'the look' of '63
soon to be retired
and she glows as she goes
where photographers shoot

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

So sad is this and you are right .. Dallas for the most part did not love Jack ... he was warned by a senator from Arkansas not to go ... times were different then, yet not.
Your poem made me feel the sadness Jackie had to have felt ..
That famous line " Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country"... you leaving off and adding 'say goodbye to your life your wife and this land'... You have captured the horror of this so well... a very good job.
Moving , and makes me feel anger as well ... what a tragedy.

Peace
Chloe

[Sweet_pale_cacophony]

I love the detailing here,you have covered every minute dimension here..the imagery is very strong here..excellent work as always..

[Ruth]

"Ask not what your country can do for you
say goodbye to your life,
your wife, and this land
"They have killed my husband.
I have his brains in my hand.""

Excellent lines Devons!

This poem bleeds everything it should, I was interested to see the wife in there to and the country making its way in, wthen the turn around to the brains on her hands! Suffocating work, in a good way :)
xx

[Crowley]

No reason to read into this and ferret about. I am just going to say that you are one terrific writer and I admire the consistency of your work. *bowing to one of the kings*

[ashley]

Oh wow, this is incredible!
*fun fact* My mom was actually there when it happened... she said it's something she'll never forget.
You wrote this well. My favorite:
"Ask not what your country can do for you
say goodbye to your life,
your wife, and this land
"They have killed my husband.
I have his brains in my hand.""
Brilliant job, as always. :D

[Fran Marie]

Ask not what your country can do for you
say goodbye to your life,
your wife, and this land
"They have killed my husband.
I have his brains in my hand."

This is great, I can see the scene play in my mind of the events that went down on that fateful day, right down to jackio's fashion plate design, and blood stained lap, everything is here, you touch down on so much detail in this precise version of poetry with a classic ending as always an enjoyable read from a talented pen~

Nicely DonE!


words

[The Analog Kid]

I like it. I am motivated now. Hey, too bad it wasn't Ted instead of Jack...