Women's History Month: Tuesday, March 16, 2021: Patricia Carragon's poem "These Foolish Things Remind Me of You"

 

These Foolish Things Remind Me of You

(sung by Ella Fitzgerald)

 

 

at a bar off Waverly Place

I sat by myself

imbibed gin & tonic thoughts

stared at solitary candles

& coupled daffodils inside glass jars

 

the piano by the corner   unoccupied—

if keys could recollect  

would they play it again, Sam?

 

me as Garbo   you as Crosby

never Bergman or Bogart

 

cigarette butts kissed by lipstick—

reminiscence rose from ashtrays

 

the bartender knew better

paid attention to twentysomethings instead

my mind time-traveled—

an airline ticket to Capri

paradise lost on a sunny beach

gardenia essence hugged our pillows

that trip to Île-de-France

the midnight train to Paris

 

foolish things burned strawberry incense—

my heart flew too high & fell

loneliness lit another pipe dream & cigarette

your ghost reborn in smoke

  

© 2021 Patricia Carragon

Patricia Carragon has been widely published online and in print. Her recent publications include, Alien Buddha Press, Bear Creek Haiku, First Literary Review-East, Jerry Jazz Musician, Madness Muse Press, The New Verse News, North of Oxford, Paterson Literary Review, Poets Wear Prada, Oddball Magazine, Redheaded Stepchild, Right Hand Pointing, Sensation, Silver Birch Press, et al.  Her debut novel, Angel Fire, is from Alien Buddha Press. Her latest book from Poets Wear Prada is Meowku, hosts Brownstone Poets and is the editor-in-chief of its annual anthology. She is an executive editor for Home Planet News Online. Patricia lives in Brooklyn, NY.