These two poems are very much of the sixties. Not surprising as that’s when I wrote them!
You might think that my poem “A Light for Eleanor” was influenced by the Beatles’ song, Eleanor Rigby. In fact, I wrote it long before the Beatles’ song was ever published.
Although Eleanor was written in the 60s, the kind of shallow person it describes could just as well be someone from today.
A light for Eleanor
Eleanor shines like the moon on water
of a sky lit night
and rainbows in a pool
She moves like a nightmare
feeling her way through the people
and the days of their nights
Eleanor the party giver
reclines on the sofa
rings on her fingers
and round her eyes
Eleanor talks like typewriter keys
and all the men listen
their eyes and hands wandering
Eleanor, conventionally different,
conforming but not knowing.
In the murky light of morning
eyes take a long time to open
Hands reach out to touch
the wrinkled mattress
of yesterday’s hopes
Aftermath of an elegant evening
Eleanor wakes
to the ash of her life
on the floor.
Naomi
Who hears Naomi crying in the night?
Only the stars
There’s a passing plane
full of people
going to some suntanned beach
And Naomi turns to the pillow
She cries for yesterday
and the moon shines in
at her window
As the people on the plane
are served with Martinis
by sour faced girls
with sleep in their eyes
Naomi clasps the cover
in her dreams
The people on the plane
fasten their safety belts
Naomi sleeps
The stars have gone
© Andrea Neidle, My Life in Poems
Ouch! You’ve certainly captured the sense of despair for these two party-goers who can no longer hide from themselves.
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★★★★★
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Nice poems Andrea.
Definitely has that feel of the swinging 60s about these two.
Keep blogging!
Brian
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