Top Shelf

Live in each season as it passes: breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit. - Thoreau

cotton-cheeked clouds congregated in a june sky

flowers bloomed like afternoon parasols on the avenue des champs-élysées

trees in fur coats swayed in a breeze of angel's trumpets

butterflies waltzed over a buttercup dancefloor

with distinctive flair, strands of steel sunrays reverberated here, there and everywhere

long haired music floated on the inevitability of a river's current

white-shoed fingers grinded an organ relentlessly as it hypnotized

a leather tambourine trembled whilst nervous maracas shook like holy ground on good friday

time stood still and poetry wrote itself

i stood and marveled

as a faceless bartender reached and poured

filling everyone's glass to overflowing

from the top shelf

thank you lord

Author's Note

"Whenever I have read any part of the Vedas, I have felt that some unearthly and unknown light illuminated me. In the great teaching of the Vedas, there is no touch of sectarianism. It is of all ages, climbs, and nationalities and is the royal road for the attainment of the Great Knowledge. When I read it, I feel that I am under the spangled heavens of a summer night." - Thoreau

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

A huge party in the sky and on earth, celebrating with dance, music, trees, butterflies...and you were so enamored by this hoopla that you were spilling drinks overflowing, yet at least enjoying the specular show of nature and man together be bopping to the beat of the leather tambourine!
Excellent Pete!
Warmly, B

[Pete]

all the ingredients of my favorite buffet. thank you kindly b.

[Betty Hermelee]

You’re very welcome Pete. as always
Warmly
B,

[emmajoygreen]

Each and every word grows into a blessing, Pete - you have read nature because you are part of it and know it inside out. Your poem is full of superb metaphors,

'cotton-cheeked clouds congregated in a june sky
flowers bloomed like afternoon parasols on the avenue des champs-élysées'

'long haired music floated on the inevitability of a river's current'

'a faceless bartender reached and poured
filling everyone's glass to overflowing
from the top shelf
thank you lord'

What a wonderfully great day - Nature's gig, an offering for those who need feel, inhale and keep ever onwards, sir. My kind of event, one to remember - always. Many, many thanks .

(quite enjoyed the music too! )

[Pete]

praises of creation, wonderfully great day indeed - one of those days where you're just happy to be alive and just be. true that i do have an eagle's eye for spotting often overlooked pieces of nature's splendor. thank you kindly for sharing and appreciating that which i do. glad you liked the music too -

"Music is perpetual, and only hearing is intermittent."

[Poetic Beauty]

Sounds like an amazing night filled with music and festivities. Love all the details in this poem

[Pete]

thanks for weighing in pb.

[Poetic Beauty]

I love music and I really love concerts. I am quite filled with contradictions. While on a normal basis I don’t like to be crowded but if it’s a concert or a festival I’m expecting it to be chaotic and love the energy it brings

[Pete]

you know that i adore music and always have a song in my heart and head no matter. live music is an even greater blessing despite the hassles. went to many a concert growing up in the eighties. mostly outdoor stuff these days although was thinking about going to see zz top last year at a small club but one of the guys had died and wouldn't be the same with a fill-in.

[Poetic Beauty]

So on the list of concerts that stand out to me is I got to see Van Halen top of the world tour when Sammy was their lead singer, I’ve see Tom Petty when I was 18. Quite the show indeed. I’ve see Orgy at a smaller venture called the Madison Theater that was an old theater and a bit gothic in detail inside. So the venue fit the band quite well. The theater closed about a year later. I’ve seen Korn and Puddle Of Mudd together. I’ve seen Disturbed, stone Sour and Fly Leaf together. I saw Seether at a smaller venue. I’ve seen race Adkin twice, Clint Black and the Mckenlleys. All amazing shows. I have even seen Mindset Evolution when they were a local band and Mudveyne when they were a local bands

[Poetic Beauty]

Cool story Mudveyne and Mindset Evolution are actually from a small town where I live. They say they are from Peoria or Chicago but they actually are from a small town close to Peoria

[Pete]

jethro tull, rush, allman brothers, stevie ray vaughan and double trouble come to mind.

[Poetic Beauty]

Those would be some amazing concerts to see. I am glad I got to see Tom Petty before his untimely death. It was one of the longest concerts and he had no opening bands. The stage was set up live a living room in a gothic mansion with leather couches an oriental rug and giant candlelaras

[Poetic Beauty]

And there is a lot to be said for Jonathan Davis playing the bag pipes wearing a black theater kilt

[Poetic Beauty]

Leather kilt

[Pete]

stevie ray vaughan was probably the best concert i ever went to. saw him just before he died in that helicopter crash. i was near the front in an auditorium that only holds a couple of thousand people. he blew the doors off the place - amazing guitar player. after the show he came out and stood in front of the stage so folks could meet him. super nice guy.

[Poetic Beauty]

Sounds like an amazing experience