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!

[Kelley Pascoe]

This was very well write Mimi! I could see it all in my head and it made me want to go to Charleston................smile. Great write!! Thanks for sharring.
Kelley Frost

[L.P. Hawkins]

"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 is spectacular! I agree with Kevin that you must publish this! I lived, for a while, in Goose Creek, and spent my evenings and weekends in Charleston. Your poem brought back that special feel. Thank you!

[Kevin Connolly]

You MUST have had this published, C!
This is a totally professional poem. It reminds me of the works of John Betjeman, only an American version.
As soon as I read Charleston I thought of the old-time dance. And then you mention Porgy & Bess... the only musical I've ever liked! ('Bess, you is my woman' is one of my favourite songs.)
This is totally high-class poetry. It's the first poem of yours I've read, and it's going straight onto my very-short favourites list.

[Tawny O'hara]

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,

I loved these lines. Made me remember Sundays at home. I always thought going to church was mandatory. We would go to church then come home and Grandma would always fry up the chickens she killed on Saturday. Sometimes if it was just Grandma and Grandpa and me we would eat leftovers of ham, chicken, potaoe salad and green beans from the garden with bacon grease in them and bits of bacon rind I hadn't stolen from the drippings can. On the chicken sundays there was always an aunt an uncle there with my cousins and we would play until time to go back to church for evening services.

I loved this poem, thanks

[David P. Eckert]

You provide the ambiance of the place in your description, the slow and steady pace fitting the town as you describe it. Some very nice descriptions

With sea spray splashing on white fancy frocks
and white planters� suits,
The sound of Palmetto branches rattling
In the sultry breeze

Nicely done.

David

[Anata]

Never been there, but reading this poem surely makes me want to go there! It's a really nice description, though i can't know if it's true ;) but i trust in your words, so filled with proud and lovely thoughts :)
And there�s always ambiance, a smile and a drawl.
That part really completes the poem! it should be in a holiday catalogue, would attract soooo many people cause this is really great :)

[*** Hey Jude***]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this piece, as you pay tribute to such a lovely part of our country. A place with such ambiance, its irreplaceable! ~ J

[Helen Woodward]

Mimi, It's interesting to see your changing formats, not sure if I like it, but I'm one of those block writers, everything has to be neat and this wonderful piece is all over the page...still there's nothing like a change!
Love the South,
Love the 300 year old Liberty bell,
Love the cobble stoned streets (check that in the piece)
Love the gardens and wrought iron gates,
Love Porgy and Bess and "Summer time"
Just loved the feel of the entire story! Oh, I also want to go and live in Charleston!!!!
Great work, as always xxx

[T. L. O'Neal]

This is beautifully written and a great tribute to the South and Charleston in particular. A wonderful and relaxing read. T