C-Town Serenade
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C-Town Serenade
(a poem about Cleveland)
In this town, baby
the seasons are two
In this town, baby
there’s gray and there’s blue
seven months we wait
under the sheet metal blanket
for the sun to be
resurrected
for the crux of our lives
to begin
yet Summer eludes us
salamander-like
she steals a kiss and slips away
leaving her mongoloid brother
Winter
to resume gut-punching us
eventually we pin
Summer down and take
what we feel entitled to
over and over again
our hostility from the gray months
spilling over
until we’re exhausted
pockets empty
naked and mumbling
as Winter’s gray fingers weave us
back under the dome
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As a Clevelander, I can truly FEEL this. We had a brutal winter, very rainy spring so far and we'll probably have a really hot humid summer again. But days like today, sunny and 63, are what I crave. Thanks for sharing!
Sharyn
the essence of this is the last verse. My fingers were grasping the frozen pipe as I visualized the snare of the iron clad grasp!
I lived in Parma for two years, and that is really pretty much how I remember it! Nicely done!
Interesting personifications :)
I've met those two before. Thank you!
I look forward to your hubs like a kid waiting for Friday when the Captain Marvel comics came out. I was never disappointed then; I'm not disappointed now.
I don't know the city, not know of it, but this is so bleak and cheerless, almost throughout.
I don't suppose you've approached the Cleveland Tourist Authority and suggested your poem to help in their promotion? I suppose not.
These words are so rich in imagery:
"yet Summer eludes us
salamander-like
she steals a kiss and slips away
leaving her mongoloid brother
Winter
to resume gut-punching us"
Will, yeah it gets pretty cold in Iowa. Thanks for the read.
Sharyn, you know what it's all about then...
terry, very vivid comment. Glad you could indentify.
K Burns, Parma, huh? Well then you know what is what.
Thanks Tom. They are quite a duo.
Ian, I'm honored by your anticipation. I'm finished with finals and school in a few days, so I should start being more productive.
Ha, yes, I'm not sure Cleveland would want my poem representing the city. They have image issues as it is.
Thanks for the great comment as always... Peace.
I haven't spent much time in Cleveland. I used to visit family outside Columbus and was shocked summer could be so hot while the winter was so bitter. You used great written visuals here. A surpassing job and a great read.
hmm sounds like i do not want to go to cleaveland.
hyphen, you nailed it on the head. It gets crazy hot and crazy cold. Glad you enjoyed.
nikki, not if the cold bothers you. I'm used to it though. I doubt I could handle the down-south heat that you live in.
Oh, yeah, winter in Ohio never seems to end, until suddenly, one day, it does! (For a while.)
It has to end eventually -- I hope.
Yes, I know the feeling
Miserable cold, wet, unrelenting wind
I think tomorrow my poetic friend
The Weatherman tells us, " It will be eighty degrees "
I'll be on my patio, soaking up the summer breeze
Happy that you are going to see pretty weather too. Loved your poetry.
yea i dont like cold weather. id like to go somewhere where it snows alot though, just to see real snow but id be freezing my ass off. yea its not that bad. especially recently. we are in May right now and its been pretty chilly, which is weird... i wanna get in my pool but havent been able to yet. that water is too cold.
Ruby, thank you dear. It's just been a harsh winter and an equally harsh spring. I'm usually not a whiner but this is getting ridiculous! Glad you liked. Peace.
Nikki, real snow is fun until the chill sets in. I'm used to it though. The north is in my bones. Dress warm, keep extra gloves and hats handy, and own 4-wheel drive -- those are my rules.
I think we just landed in a place called Cleave Land.
Great write my friend.
God Bless
I love Cali!! Always hot although we have had some cold phases burrrrrrrrr I guess thats why I dont travel good write Dougy....C-town and I call my city A-Town lol
smiles :)
bella
Enjoyed the poem. Seasons are interesting. A process, a cycle, a full circle. I don't live where there are 4 seasons, but I bet it would be nice. In the south, we have the reverse - it is hot and humid for 7 months. Then a reprieve - hopefully cold enough to kill the mosquitoes! I say I would rather be hot than cold, but if I were in your boots, maybe I'd feel differently.
Poor Summer, its not her fault winter is such a climate hog. You should be ashamed of yourself. TL picked my favorite stanza but the rape of summer was good too. Who knew you could make weather so interesting I'd read it thrice?
Vet, you know the place.
Bella, Anaheim? Arcadia? Just guessing. I lived there too.
Sally, yeah I'm the opposite. I don't think I could handle the heat of the south. Like an oven down there. Glad you liked.
Randy, I can always count on you to notice what no one else does -- or else they don't want to speak about. Yes, summer gets raped. I recall my viking love poem, where everyone is saying how beautiful it is, and you're like "uh, hello, this about a horrific rape." Thanks for being so observant.
I like to write simply and for a broad audience, but I will always sneak in little mysteries for those looking close enough. Peaceness.
Did you take your viking love poem down? I went looking to reread it but cant find it now. That seems like forever ago.
wow doug - really like this..excellent, emotional and creative ...also love the title a lot
Randy, viking and nine other poems were pulled and sent to a writing competition. I believe your exact comment was: "I hope he (the viking) gets the clap." It was funny -- and again, you were the only one to point out the brutal nature of the poem.
Claudia, thanks for stopping to read. Peace.
Creativity in your use of words Doug, Likening summer to the elusive salamander and her mongoloid brother winter! Isn't that the truth! I so hope your summer is filled with joy and lots of sunny days!
Weather affected sydrome - don't live over here, we'd lose you. Love the poem, though.
You certainly painted a gruff picture there, your rich language only adding to the equation. It reminded me of England, which is a bit bleaker, with a nine months to three ratio. That's why i live in sunny Melbourne, where it's lovely most of the time. Cheers Doug.
..Cleveland - not my idea of the most exciting town around .... but Dog's Nest (now there's a really happening (ham) let!!!!
But the point being - you can make ANYTHING sound exciting and almost exciting as Ian Hunter (ex-Mott the Hoople) singing 'Cleveland Rocks' because you rock - Mister Turner all the way to the Hub Bank and the fortunes in which you must be making here - because if talent were money - you'd be the richest son of a gun here in Hubland!
Fossillady, the sun has breached the clouds and finally smiled on the north. We knew it couldn't hide forever. Thanks for having a peek.
Chs, if I recall, you're speaking of Ireland. Perhaps the historic castles and sweeping landscapes would make me forget the wretched weather. Peace and a fair summer to you.
Humour, that 9 to 3 ratio sounds unbearable. No amount of taking tea in the parlour could cure those chills. Glad you found yourself a sunny land to relax in. Many cheers to you.
Epi, you're right about that; C-Town is not the most exciting sprawl, and the people can be quite moody, but it's home. As far as that "Cleveland Rocks" song... I don't know, maybe the guy was completely loaded when he wrote it.
Unfortunately, nothing but a few pennies for me from hubpages. That's understandable; only the writers who churn out articles daily make a living here. I'm just trying to sharpen the craft while I finish school, maybe make a few friends. It's going well; I've enjoyed my six months here. Thank you as always, my friend.
..yes you're right Doug about 'home' - be it ever so humble there's no place like home - and you look really great there in your new profile picture - if I looked that good I would be 'Charlie Sheen' every night - and thanks man for the comments - they always rock my epi-world!
You don't have to be Sheen to always be "winning." Thanks Epi; it's an older pic, about 7 or 8 years ago. Haven't had the long hair for a while now, but it was fun while it lasted.
Alhambra lol Familiar??
Arcadia, Temple city, Rosemead , San Marino, San Gabriel, then Alhambra San Gabriel Valley...
whoah, Bella, you've been all over the map. I lived in N. Hollywood with my brothers, but I've been back in Cleveland in the rain and snow for 3 years.
Ah Cleveland! What a wonderful place. I hear it's warm there - all year round.
"until we’re exhausted
pockets empty
naked and mumbling
as Winter’s gray fingers weave us
back under the dome"
Brrrrr I hate the cold, yet love the beauty of snow, the whiteness, the flakes, the melting a blessing and then comes Spring...well written my friend. Bravo.
Gosh your piece makes me feel like I've been there! You are such an expressive writer! I love that about you! And I really dig your new profile shot! Very nice!
Micky, it sure is. Come drop in next January. We'll keep a seat for you at the sunny, luxurious beach.
Rider, I agree, though I doubt you're a stranger to the cold on your Canadian prairies.
tnderhrt, don't be afraid to come visit. There are plenty of nice things to do in Cleveland -- like drinking and chopping firewood.
WillStarr Level 8 Commenter 12 months ago
I remember the long, cold winters of Iowa, and the glorious but short summers.
I sure like this one, Doug!