A Smile and a Drawl

For the beautiful city of Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina has a heartbeat all its own,
     Steady and slow,
The sound is St. Michael’s bell that has rung like clockwork
     For three-hundred years,
     Like an uncracked Liberty Bell
          Through two wars, slavery and civil rights,
And always it sings, “sweet freedom” as it tolls the hour
Over cobblestone streets and tourists taking carriage rides.

Couples still do their promenade on the Battery,
First down from their homes and back
     on Sundays after mandatory church,
With sea spray splashing on white fancy frocks
     and white planters’ suits,
The sound of Palmetto branches rattling
     In the sultry breeze,
          barely audible between the roaring roll of waves.

Rainbow Row, its softly rainbow colored houses
     Turned sideways to the road
     Each facing a garden with intricately designed wrought iron gates,
     And walls of tabby, oyster shells
          peeking out from accidental artistically placed patches.

It’s a matter of pride that only a few blocks away
Porgy met Bess and sang “Summertime” from a porch
     less well kept but sideways to the main road.
          It’s Charleston, after all.
And there’s always ambiance, a smile and a drawl.

Reviews

[Bubo]

Sounds stunning!!Not knowing much about Charleston this was lovely, rich warm words and a sense of pride!
With sea spray splashing on white fancy frocks
and white planters� suits,
The sound of Palmetto branches rattling
In the sultry breeze,
barely audible between the roaring roll of waves.
This imagary was lovely..............would love to be there now!

[Blackbirdsong]

I love the juxaposition of some of the images in this poem. You mention slavery and then say -

"Through two wars, slavery and civil rights,
And always it sings, "sweet freedom" as it tolls the hour"

That irony and truth of that image was not lost on me.

I always envy those who can create place in their poetry and make it come to life so much so that I feel as I've visited the place through their words. Great work.

[Luna Tique Fringe]

Well, if you were to ask me, I would exclaim your beloved Charleston as a jewel of the south. The charm, the history, the arts and the spirit take a second seat to none. This is a lovely tribute and a vibrant painting of a beautiful and still vital old southeren city. Brava!

[Staci Brown]

[color=indigo]
Great poem! Outstanding descriptions! Made me feel like I was there. Brought back some good memories for me. Thank you.

Faerie Blessings!
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[Rodney Ray Hatchell / U..]

I think you captured the city very well also,,GBU,,RodneyRay

[Gandré]

such a great urban poem. this is not easy to write (not for me). you did a great job. it affirmes thatyou have a talent to make our senses come alive. wonderful. I have been in north caroline what is not far away - charlotte and i ve been in alabama (huntsville) that was a nice Southern experience. but your painted it beautifuly my dear.
It’s a matter of pride that only a few blocks away
Porgy met Bess and sang “Summertime” from a porch
less well kept but sideways to the main road.
It’s Charleston, after all.
And there’s always ambiance, a smile and a drawl.------------this was my favorite stanza, because so sentimental and so poetic!

[Val]

A beautiful poem - I felt transported to a magical place. Long live that liberty bell, we surely need it in these Godless times.
Val

[Barry S. Maltese]

Wow the serenity of a life undaunted by uneeded complication. I wonder how this town escaped the rigors of todays histeria.
I love the beauty that you so skillfully describe here. Having lived in a less tranquill surroundings, I am envious of this quaint setting. Fantastic job!

[Jhadelin Amor Visayan]

I want to go to Charleston now. You make it look so nice! And romantic too. The houses, the beaches, the gardens... i need a rich husband. hehe.

[Wulfstan Crumble]

Ah Charles Town... one of the last pieces of British America. Before reading your poem/painting i did not know much of Charleston. But now i know enough to want to see it, experience it, for myself. This poem leaves all the senses sated. Well possibly except smell. I can imagine the sea breeze and the smell of the sea as it crashes on the beach. As i read your poem i could imagine Charleston in history as well as in the modern day. You achieved this by putting in little mentions of bygone days such as cobbled streets and of course the bell. The bell tolls and time slides over 300years.

As for the poem as a construction you keep to a good formula and lay out. Two stanzas of 8 lines followed by two of 5 lines. The poem doesn't need any rhymes and works all the much more without them.

The other reviewers are certainly right to say that this should be published. Maybe people will think of this on Rainbow Row as others do with Summertime a few blocks over.

[Erotic Goddess]

Oh! Such a wonderful description, you write it so well that the reader can see it unfolding, feel the atmosphere of the place, sense the timeframe you invoke. I want to go there now!!!!