Bad Day At Black Rock

One of my favorite films...thanks Doc for the reminder about westerns.

Bad Day at Black Rock is a movie you see
it's one of my favorites, it's tough and gritty,
In search of a man this one handed stranger
came to a town and found himself danger.

Looking for Komoko, and Adobe Flats
gets off the train and finds himself that-
there's a secret that buried deep in the ground
and no one in town wants him around.

It's filled with a cast in a story so fine
starring the greats Tracy, Marvin, Borgnine,
It's a bit of a western and a lot of film noir
the lead is my favorite old-time movie star.

So if you have time that you're looking to fill
I suggest Bad Day at Black Rock, it's written to thrill,
so get out the popcorn, your worn cowboy boots
It's a fabulous movie no one can dispute.

Reviews

[Joiedevivre]

haven't seen the movie, but i will now! you are very versatile in your writing!

[icelandicblue]

Thanks, my mind is a cluttered place. I wish it had an off switch.

[Joiedevivre]

:) i love your cluttered space, there's lots to read in here!

[Clayton Bardwell]

Who doesn't love Spencer Tracy? "Bad Day at Black Rock" is a favorite movie and movie saying around the bunch that I hang out with.

A cute poem to remind me of a favorite memory. You'll never guess where I live.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much! Black Rock?

[Clayton Bardwell]

First guess! The old train depot is still there. Black Rock is not an actual town but more of a general area to describe an enormous lava flow.

[icelandicblue]

Ha- that is very cool! What did the lava harden into? Do you have a lot of obsidian around- I love obsidian.

[Clayton Bardwell]

Yes, there is a mountain called Glass Mountain. Just as you cross into Nevada I found where the ancients harvested obsidian. Shush, don't tell. Mostly the lava just hardened into porous black rock in a long flow of low mountains. There are underground lava tubes where the native people believed monsters lived. Probably to scare the children to keep them out of there.

[icelandicblue]

I teach about Igneous rocks as part of our earth materia/rock cyclel unit so I am fascinated by volcanoes and their rocks. Thanks for sharing all of that!

[icelandicblue]

Sorry that l from material got spliced!

[Clayton Bardwell]

Do you have any samples? Who do you teach? Fascinations should not remain unfulfilled:)

[icelandicblue]

I do have samples. I have snowflake obsidian as well- that cools underground. I teach 4th grade and I think I love this unit more than they do if that is possible. I teach all subjects at that level.

[Clayton Bardwell]

Great! That let's me off the hook. I'm a sucker for teaching kids. Other people teaching kids, that is.

[icelandicblue]

: ) Thanks for your delightful conversation.

[Baban.A.A]

I have not seen this film, but you convinced me to at least have a look at the trailer....then God knows I may check it out, but really this is the first piece I have ever checked of yours, and your rhyming is great. thanks alot,a diffrent poem.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks for reading and for your kind comment. ; )

[Baban.A.A]

most welcome.....!

[Tom]

The old movies are hard to beat... must check this one out don't think I've seen it and it sounds terrific!

A rousing tribute poem !

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much Tom for your never-failing enthusiasm.

[wordwarrior]

I love those old movies too. Don't get a lot of time to watch them these days. So this poem is a great trip back min time for me.
Much enjoyed this

[icelandicblue]

Thanks wordwarrior I appreciate your thoughts.

[Josie E. Cook M. A.]

I love western movies and I wish they were made more...You did a great job on this!

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much, I appreciate your stopping by.

[Josie E. Cook M. A.]

You are welcome!

[David Scott]

I love the old westerns... I used to watch the "Sunday Big Show" when I was a kid and these movies would be a part of the mix.
There is something about the stories and the way they are told. I get the feeling I am listening to one of my elderly friends tell me about how their life used to be. The movies just feel more authentic.
A great reminder in rhyme of how special these films are.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much David. There is something special about those old films.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

I would actually like to see you write this in the first person rather than as an observer, meaning, put yourself within the movie, as if you were one of the actors, and write about what's happening as if you were there, describing the scenery, sounds, etc. The title is great; and while you have expressed your excitement over the film, I'm really not taken there.

[icelandicblue]

I understand, the purpose of this was to summarize. Perhaps another day I'll feel more inclined to stand in the dust and write about it. Thanks for your comment and your critique.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

The words "stand in the dust" immediately create an instant visual, which reminds me of all great westerns. I think you could really bring it to life in your poetry.

[icelandicblue]

I appreciate what you are saying. This piece was just a quick little inspiration because of a conversation I had. it's not my best work, it's more for fun. I know you are asking me to show you rather than tell you. I really do want honest feedback and I appreciate the fact that you are willing to give it. Try my poem Odessa Lost, I'd be curious as to what you think.

[kublakhan27]

In light of my late Dad being a Western buff, I'm surprised and a little embarrassed to say that I've not seen this movie. But the poetry you've infused it with does put me in mind of The Wild Bunch, another dark Western in which Borgnine stars. There is some intangible factor in those old Westerns that has dissipated with time. Maybe it's in rawness of the geography, which was omnipresent to the point that it was a character in itself. I'm thinking of the classic Eastwood Westerns in the sense that you could almost feel the unforgiving heat of the deserts and the primitive conditions. This was an entertaining read that definitely compels me to check out the movie :)

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much...it really is more film noir than Western but it's got that grit you expect from a Western. Thank so much for the great comment.

[icelandicblue]

I hear the music and see the scene from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly when I read your review.

[kublakhan27]

It's definitely one of my favourite movies. I actually used to work at Blockbuster when they were still around and I managed to snatch a poster for the remastered version. Not the same as an original poster of course but still pretty cool.

[Baby Ricochet]

Sounds like a hell of a movie.

[icelandicblue]

It's a fantastic old movie! Thanks BR.