All week, I have been anticipating sitting down and seeing what sparks fly come Friday. Now that the lights are blown and Saturday is in full swing, it’s time to see how Ashley, Cindy and my worlds intersected… Welcome to Week #2 of the Friday Night Lights Project!
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Friday, January 20
You ask me about superheroes.
(It is dark; the dog ran out his door
to bark at a car, someone looking for
their own dog still out at this hour.)
I say they are alert to any absence;
that’s how they know to save the day.
You ask about their weakness.
(We are switching off the kitchen light;
something on the floor clinks metallically
but we cannot see it. That might make us fall.)
I say the remedy to kryptonite is distance;
it is not a permanent condition.
You ask if they have a strength potion.
(I am combing my hair; the brush crackles
electricity in me. My whitened teeth have
a considerable glow.)
I say it is made of comfort, appears as needed;
(hot shower, cashmere robe.)
AM
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CK
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Teenage boys splutter. Their familiar
poison blisters even the thick skin
of January roads. Tar steams. Young
girls purple with perfume insist
on one more drink. Eyes and lips half
open: a duet it seems? Kleenex and
condoms crumpled in the street. Flat
as day old lemonade, stars rupture.
Swigging beer and blood, they sing
out of tune. Overheating taxis lower
their sails. The scraps of us, don’t forget
these pieces. Temptation spans the city.
GN
It was really hard to wait all week to do this! A few times during the week certain images came to mind that made me think, ‘oh! I should do that on Friday’, but each time I told myself no. This little project is forcing me away from my default process of think think think plan plan plan finally write and revise revise revise. My husband keeps teasing me: ‘What? You aren’t going to spend two weeks re-wriitng that? Only a few hours on one night?’
Thanks to Graham and Cindy for letting me have some fun!
Sure is fun! Am loving how our worlds intersect each Friday.
Fantastic – two completely different poems. The Superhero poem made me laugh ‘My whitened teeth have
a considerable glow’. Graham’s poem gave me flashbacks of hot summer nights out on the town – really good stuff. And the photo lights it all up.
Thanks Gabe, lovely to hear from you. Hope your holiday was divine. I was having flashbacks of hot summer nights in the Valley, so am glad this gave you the same feel…
much enjoying your collaboration…great image again and two great poems..
Young girls purple with perfume … this is just great..
Like Claudia…I’m enjoying the collaboration…two very interesting poems of Superheros…excellent reading.
“I say the remedy to kryptonite is distance;” – love this line, and the conversational tone in this magical poem. I see the two poems as a contrast between the young and immature still finding their place of love, and a more mature, comfortable, unfrenzied love that hasn’t lost its passion. And Cindy’s photograph encompasses both! Marvellous.
Thank you! This set is one of my own favorites.