The Blue Notes

Let’s be honest: I was always your consolation prize. 

The shadow with an empty room 

to let whenever the blue notes left you 

high and dry to scrub the wound he’d tattooed  

inside your womb -- a little flesh in lieu 

of bloody roses -- the jackknife knave that flicked

Marlboros better than most 

you could cling to until the sun king returned.

It wasn’t love -- let’s call it another four 

letter word -- pick one -- from the mob of butts 

misery seared into the linoleum --

it doesn’t matter. I read the walls, 

made the bed before lying down

so these scabs are as much self inflicted 

as the communicable inflections 

we tongue swapped between gin soaked sheets.   

Ken e Bujold

Reviews

[Arundass TP]

Good work. Enjoyed your poem.

[W. Barrett Munn]

There is a nihilistic undercurrent running through this that makes it feel quite dark, and kind of sad in a see myself in it kind of way.

Winston

[Ken e Bujold]

yes this is a dark underbelly mopus. While a fair amount of readers here will take the words at face value the conversation is a wholly internal one. I attended a funeral viewing yesterday, The daughter of a dear friend who worked for me for many years, and it left me brooding. I didn't know the daughter which made it all the stranger. When i got home my thoughts turned to how much you ever really know anyone? from that came thoughts of what certain past amours might say of me. but by the end of rewrites, it really was/is just an eternal monologue between the now and then of life

ken

[W. Barrett Munn]

I understand the feelings. I just had a cousin once removed die at age 68 from cancer. Being close to death makes you feel hollow.

Winston

[John the Baptist]

Sounds somewhat like the role of a relief pitcher. Nothing wrong with that, as long as understandings are understood. Really, I'd rather be a good relief pitcher than a sun king any day.

[Ken e Bujold]

Thanks for the very interesting take John. I revised this one so much I almost junked it. A fine line between cynicsm and sarcasm, which I am tightroping here. Your analogy of relief picture is so cool. lends a little fun to darker tones of pinch hitter.
Ken