Duke Ellington Blue


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The lines on his face were etched with rum
his eyes drooped down
they were battered folds of red
veined with the purple fist of poverty
—-
He  had a 24 hour, vacant look about it him – it said he was open to all offers
scavenging troweling for that one golden thread of hope that would save him
from the abattoir of gloom
——-
Sometimes he still strummed the notes on his shotgun  guitar
his fingers like bloodied bananas fried in ghee
he was a shadow in his own land
an exile of no worth
his army fatigues were clubbed with GLORY
but his smile was cut with cremated dreams.

Saira Viola


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3 Responses to Duke Ellington Blue

    1. Oh goodness so moving , so so moving .

      Comment by Jenny bergman on 21 April, 2016 at 8:01 am
    2. Have you ever seen a banana in ghee ? So ghee is clarified butter , this vet’s hands would be pulverised and bloody . It is a disgrace how war veterans are treated and this poem reflects that beautifully .

      Comment by Pippa on 21 April, 2016 at 3:45 pm
    3. Excellent piece..Love this one. So descript it sears.

      Comment by Unitas Quick on 29 April, 2016 at 8:05 pm

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