By J.J. Tindall
Vestiges of Lilacs in Time
Vestiges of lilacs
Festoon her face
Rose of Sharon and
Tulips, too, in time
Gestures betray
A dancer’s grace
Her smile:
The bane of fools
Her smile, gone awhile
Now
Except in dreams
As winter wanes
Tulips loom
Sturdy stock, downtown bloom
A Chicago thing
Rose of Sharon, sturdy stock
Neighborhood boon
A Chicago thing
Fugitive lilacs, late to spring
Clusters garland
Her fading face now
Hostage to time
My lost rose gone
To the repertory company
Of the dream theater
Along the main drag
Of the dozing mind,
A small town with
One intersection
One horse, maybe two
In this nightly Brigadoon,
Rural yet nearby, like
Woodstock, or
Maybe Lockport
Before Boza’s closed
Recurring cameos
Clipped dialogue
Matinees mostly
Scenes best directed
While wide awake
Night dreams being
The domain of the dead
Mortis Personae:
Lost family, late friends
Those ghosted, and who ghosted
Celebrity crushes
Taking direction only
From the subconscious
Improvising, extemporizing
Beyond control
My lost smile
Relegated to fugitive
Memory
Vestiges
Of surrendered
Prestige
Lilacs linger
In the larger lots
Rose of Sharon
Endure the neighborhood plots
Tulips bejewel
The boulevard pots
My lost face
Ghosted to imaginary
Cameos
My last grace
Surrendered to the bane
Of time
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J.J. Tindall is the Beachwood’s poet-in-residence. He welcomes your comments. Chicagoetry is an exclusive Beachwood collection-in-progress.
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More Tindall:
* Chicagoetry: The Book
* Ready To Rock: The Music
* Kindled Tindall: The Novel
* The Viral Video: The Match Game Dance
Posted on February 15, 2016