"If it could only be like this always -
always summer..."
- Sebastian Flyte, "Brideshead Revisited"
I sit and eat pub food amidst rustic clutter,
and Dusty Springfield comes on the radio.
Later, standing in the electronics section
of a department store, Dusty appears
on every single television screen.
I think there's something oddly cinematic
about these moments, and then I want
nothing more than to return to last summer...
I read John Le Carré below the beams
of a converted farmhouse, under the arm
of rural France. Light filtered in through
the slats of painted wooden shutters,
and the whole world felt so wonderfully,
beautifully, continental and warm.
I sat in my blue and gold room
and typed our blue and gold story
on my laptop with a mug of black coffee -
convincing myself it wasn't pretentious
if I was being purposefully cliché;
it was the month I'd quit smoking,
and I needed to compensate.
The French say "Je t'aime";
they chalk it on roads to receive
a seal of approval from the bike tyres
of the Tour de France, or scribble
it on Calais-bound autoroute bridges.
I carried mine, my reciprocated "Je t'aime",
around with me all summer, like a lucky penny.
I had to keep inspecting it, holding it up
to the light, to see a flash of gold;
every morning I'd wake up in shock -
shocked by its very existence.
Now, I miss it all - especially the shock;
the surreal, giddy feeling of knowing
I wasn't simply dreaming...
And sometimes I wish I could be
eternally eighteen, trapped
in a blue and gold summer...
Seeing the flash as I held "I love you"
up to the light.
Comments
skinner_jennifer | March 29, 2011 - 11:29
Ah! Magic I can see you are in reminiscence of years
gone by again, you reminisce so well.
Another simply beautiful worded piece, that shows
your emotions so well.
Thankyou for a beautiful read.
Jenny.
MistakenMagic | March 29, 2011 - 14:17
Thanks, Jenny! Nostalgia is definitely one of my weaknesses ;) Glad you enjoyed!
Magic xxx
Silver Spun Sand | March 29, 2011 - 17:24
Now you certainly took me back, with this one. Speaking of which, have you heard Dusty Springfield's 'Going Back'. It is very poignant, bearing in mind her relatively short life.
Really enjoyed this one, Magic. Especially,
"The French say "Je t'aime";
they chalk it on roads to receive
a seal of approval from the bike tyres
of the Tour de France, or scribble
it on Calais-bound autoroute bridges."
The entire poem, a treat to read;-) Love too the repitition of 'blue and gold'.
Tina xxx
MistakenMagic | March 29, 2011 - 17:34
Hello Tina! "The Look of Love" was the song that inspired the first stanza - but I'll check out "Going Back" too :) Thanks for your lovely comment!
Magic xxx
shoe | March 29, 2011 - 18:29
This is just gorgeous, 3, 4 and 5 are stunning, what a treat!
SundaysChild | March 29, 2011 - 18:51
Lovely- much enjoyed.
MistakenMagic | March 29, 2011 - 19:15
Thanks Shirley! Happy you liked those stanzas- I think stanza four is my personal favourite ;)
Magic xxx
MistakenMagic | March 29, 2011 - 19:15
Thank you, Sunday! Glad you enjoyed :)
Magic xxx
SteveM | March 29, 2011 - 20:08
I noticed your comments on Tina's (SilverSpunSand)poem, and just had to read 'Always Summer'. It's absolutely brilliant... are you sure you're only 19?
I saw Dusty Springfield do a gig in Wembley, possibly at the Starlite Ballroom (today probably a housing estate). That was quite a few years ago, and in my memory it was invariably summer.
Steve
MistakenMagic | March 29, 2011 - 20:24
Thank you, Steve! Yes, I assure you I'm only nineteen - although a phrase I'm rather fond of muttering is from the film 'An Education': "I feel old but not very wise." ;)
Magic xxx
fatboy74 | March 29, 2011 - 22:37
You bring this summer to life magic, very envious - I have a few I'd like to replay but i'm much older and far less wise than you - this longing for the past is very Gatsbyesque and you still so young...enjoy the rest of your week. ATB Fatboy :-)
MistakenMagic | March 29, 2011 - 23:14
Thank you, fatboy! Oh come on - if your fabulous poetry is anything to go by, you're far wiser than I'll ever be, don't be so modest ;)
Magic xxx
insertponceyfre... | March 30, 2011 - 08:12
there is something about some summers though - it doesn't matter how old you are. I really enjoyed this magic
MistakenMagic | March 30, 2011 - 11:54
I completely agree - some summers will always be magical ;)
Magic xxx
RachelPatricia | March 30, 2011 - 16:33
Gorgeous, Magic.
'I sat in my blue and gold room
and typed our blue and gold story
on my laptop with a mug of black coffee -
convincing myself it wasn't pretentious
if I was being purposefully cliché;
it was the month I'd quit smoking,
and I needed to compensate.'
- made me chuckle, this did!
Well done on the cherry, loved it :)
Rachel xx
MistakenMagic | March 30, 2011 - 16:36
Thanks Rachel! Glad I made you chuckle ;)
Magic xxx
Highhat | March 30, 2011 - 19:34
I agree with fatboy- something gatsbyesque about this. Groovy
;)Pia
MistakenMagic | March 30, 2011 - 22:08
Thanks Pia!
Magic xxx
threeleafshamrock | April 2, 2011 - 08:49
Ah Magic, while some of us flounder around in the base camp, you are sitting on the summit, waving the flag. A wonderful write, that erected the now greying hairs on the back of my neck and transported them back, to a time before the 'salt and pepper' invasion. Beautiful!
Chis XXXX
MistakenMagic | April 2, 2011 - 11:36
Wow, thanks Chris for such a glowing review!! Glad you enjoyed this one so much ;)
Magic xxx
littleditty | April 4, 2011 - 00:03
filmic - transported! The end two lines are perfect -well done magic :)
Beeme | April 10, 2011 - 10:43
arrgh :/ I read this ages ago and was sure I'd left a comment- but I've just noticed I haven't! Sorry for the lateness, I really enjoyed this and i agree about the last lines; just perfect.
Beeme xx
kheldar | April 27, 2011 - 09:49
Hi Rebecca,
In line with my forum topic "Commenting on peoples work - a dilemma I have." I will simply say... I enjoyed this very much.
:--) xxx
http://www.abctales.com/forum/2011/04/24/commenting-peoples-work-dilemma...