"Black Velvet"

“Black Velvet”

There use to be snow up there,

lots of it to be sure.

Then the sun came out somewhere

and now all is melted and demure

in nature and touch,

as everything is covered in bleak colors,

rainy feel and such

displaying too many greys and shadows.

I use to spend hours

watching the witchy Borealis

shifting and shimmering 

on black velvet nights.

It was enough to set your heart a fire

running playfully

in those Canadian lights.

Now, some may look for

that “slow Southern style”

and a come on sway, oh my.

But I look northward

to the songs in the sky

with legs that make a skirt wild.

Give me

Borealis on painted

black velvet skies,

“if you please”.

Aztec Warrior / redzone 7.3.16

(Note: quote from the song “Black Velvet”

by Alannah Myles)

Author's Note

...thanks for reading...

Reviews

[Lyn Anderson]

You know she is Canadian too, right (although she didn't write this song it is her most famous) I really like the poem, and your clever use of use to -- it fits.

[redzone]

yep I knew both these things.. she has focused a lot of songs on this side of the border, and references a blues singer/ harmonica player (Chicagoan) in the song... Now I think she does mostly Canadian side stuff....

[Lydia Shutter]

Star gazing is not quite the same when the one you used to share it with is no longer with you. I liked the scattered rhyme. There are songs in the sky, Curt....for those who care to listen to them. This song has that down home sexy feel.....great accompaniment to your words. The grays and shadows will disappear if you stare at the black velvet long enough. Again, the romantic longing in this one is intense. So very "nice". lydi**

[andrew mitchell]

I actually never listened to the lyrics of this song apart from Black velvet, for every time i heard her voice my mind just wandered on her voice lol. A lovely write somewhat romantic

[redzone]

thanks Andrew. yes Alannah Myles has a wonderful bluesy voice that I have liked for some time now. I was formulating another poem about my Canadian friends here at WC (a funny reply to KLs poem on Canadians) and remembered this song and her being from Canada.. this poem came out of all this... are you Canadian Andrew? if so I can add your name to the small list I have on the Crazy Canucks poem I posted late last night..

anyway, thanks for your visit and wonderful comment, I am glad you enjoyed the poem...

[andrew mitchell]

i'm a south aussie lol

[redzone]

ah a down under fellow... almost as bad as a Canuck.. eh!.. lol... sorry Andrew, couldn't resist since at one time Canada and Australia were both part of the "sun never sets on the British Empire"... now it is the arrogantly ignorant american empire everyone bows to..

[andrew mitchell]

hahaha i've visited your beautiful country and i always found the canucks so polite

[Papaya]

Being Canadian, I love that we got an honourable mention here!
I'm lucky to live way out in the country where there's not much light pollution.
Beautiful black velvet skies, speckled with sparkling lights and once in a while that Borealis sails in.
On those nights you wonder, could heaven really exist?

[redzone]

on a side note, I am almost done with that silly "crazy canadian" poem... but to more important things...

I am jealous of your night sky and view Papaya, must be something wondrous to see.. "sparkling lights"... besides like you way out in the countryside, the other place to see a black velvet sky is out at sea... they tell me that you can see billions of stars... no Borealis though unless its out in the Arctic Ocean....

thanks Papaya... ;0)

[Papaya]

I've never really been out to sea. I bet it's gorgeous out there at night.
Maybe it's time to book a cruise, I've never done that before.
Great song choice again btw.

[redzone]

its funny in a way, she is Canadian but she has done a lot of songs here and Black Velvet has a reference to Jimmy Rogers, a blues singer/harmonica player..

I've never been to sea either but go if you can.. you might love it...

[Sami Khalil]

Your poems are inspired by the sight and sounds of nature and music. You put all the elements in a wonderful package of words and symbols. Keep your Southern Style alive...:).........................

[redzone]

Sami, thank you... hmmm but I remember you living down South and so must have that "Southern Style... lol .. ;0) and yes, music is a wonderful source of inspiration for poetry... thanks for noticing...

[Sami Khalil]

Lol. So true and rich. You are welcome. ...:))))

[redflutterby]

Hello there it's been awhile since I've read your words!! Love this one and of course the song you attached as well!! ;-)

[redzone]

someone pinch me quick... yeah!!I it's the "flutterby girl"... lost, but now found... you my friend have been sooooooooooooooo missed... and hey, thanks for reading my words.... can I faint now... lol ;0)

[redflutterby]

LMAO...yes you may faint my friend. Just don't hurt yourself. Thought I'd flutter back to the world of writing to see how everyone is doing. Missed you all as well.

[redzone]

ah, understand we are just too lovable to stay away too long... lol... but how are YOU Andrea... it's been over a year, hopefully you are doing like GREAT!!

[redflutterby]

I'm very good...and yes it's been over a year. Haven't written anything in some time. But you never know. The pen always awaits.

[redzone]

pens I hear are very patient with us humans... and then without warning they wind up in our hands and words are appearing on paper and WHOA, a poem is magically made... you might want to keep a sharp eye on that pen... but I have a confession to make, I have been bribing it with different colors and style of ink in order to entice you to write... I know, baaaaad Curt...