The Party






From the Hubble Telescope



ubiquitous moment
the turning of eye
unshod pattern of time’s skirt
lashed to the mannered politeness
of social norms

the patter of sibilance
 murmuring across cocktailed dresses
breeze mouthing at hem and sleeve

hearts poured out onto toast points
meant to hold bruschetta,
the brittle loneliness
soothed by a waft of Chanel

a wine spritzer,  a tingle
to alert tongue to words
no one really wants to hear

and
all the while
the skilled strings of Vivaldi
float underneath
the heartbreak of the wealthy


copyright/all rights reserved Audrey Howitt 2012


Shared with Poets United Poetry Pantry 

Comments

  1. That last stanza was the clincher for me ~ If I am in that party, I just want to listen to the strings of Vivaldi ~

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  2. Oh my, this sounds like quite a 'chilly' dinner party! Very well written.

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    Replies
    1. Indeed it would be Mary! Thank you for the read and comments!

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  3. I love the simple, yet eloquent words you used here! It's like you're channeling Emily Dickinson! Powerful punch packed into few words that say soo much. Awesome!

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  4. I've been to this party~it's how i became a wallflower.
    I like how you used the colourful but cold expanse of space to describe it.
    Wonderful expression
    I'm never more lonely than in a crowd.
    ~rick

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    1. I think that can be true for all of us---this can be a distancing experience instead of a bonding one--

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  5. The image from the Hubble telescope is breathtaking. Wow. And I love the way you set this scene, with the underlying sadness of the wealthy disenchanted.....love the undertone of Vivaldi - great background!

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  6. The heartbreak of the wealthy. I guess money doesn't buy happiness at all. Beautiful imagery, lovely choice of music too.

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  7. the richly sensuous details of the poem engage all the senses and make the poem a wonderful experience.and what a picture! just wow.

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  8. hearts poured out onto toast points
    meant to hold bruschetta,
    the brittle loneliness


    my fav part above...you set the atmospere of this poem very well with your imagery too...love all the detail...

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  9. Love the images projected here, Very nice.

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  10. The ambience is perfect! Good company, elegantly dressing,good conversations, 'soothed by a waft of Chanel' and good music. It might have to be Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons' I guess! Nicely Audrey!

    Hank

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  11. Correction - ...elegant dressing..

    Hank

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  12. Fantastic!! I love this part:

    hearts poured out onto toast points
    meant to hold bruschetta,
    the brittle loneliness

    and the ending was lovely :-)

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  13. "The heartbreak of the wealthy" Whew, indeed, spoken with a little compassion, a lot of satire. Effective juxtapositions, including your choice of photo!

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  14. wow so many great images to fill the senses and slightly sad, really well done.

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  15. This made me shiver. The language is very vivid and conveys the image perfectly.

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  16. I'm with SaraV. This part was perfectly clever:

    "hearts poured out onto toast points
    meant to hold bruschetta"

    Excellent word choice throughout. Language fit the topic nicely.

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  17. Audrey, I used to play piano and sing at these types of affairs, often in mansions of said wealthy people. They were all so sad, so worried about the stock market. You truly etched the veneer beautifully... and the hearts served on toast points? Brill. Peace, Amy
    http://sharplittlepencil.com/2012/10/08/first-time-no-charm/

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  18. What a lovely time you have had!

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