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Blackened by hate, heat
Slow, low hanging fruit.
Cherry red oozes blood
From flesh rotting.
Dying dreams young lives.
Eyes bulge, tongue hangs
Veinous blue.
Branch low with burden
Swaying gently, strangely still.
Rotted, fruit falls. Flies
Buzz, hum
Strange music for strange fruit.
"Talent borrows genius steals" Oscar Wilde
What makes this work is the complete lack of cynicism or parody.
The slow stealing lines has its peak in "swaying gently, strangely still".
Preeti Sinha
Thu 13th Nov 2014 14:02
Thanks Cynthia :) It was originally published as "Bitter fruit" and then the music was set to "Strange fruit". It has haunted me for years: the imagery, the criminality and then sung in Billie's voice.
Thank you for appreciation
You must be right, since I'm sure you have researched it, and I was going only on memory. I still wonder if the famous song is so seminal, that such comparative allusion is a bit risky without a direct reference.
Your own poem is really excellent.
You must be right, since I'm sure you have researched it, and I was going only on memory. I still wonder if the famous song is so seminal, that such comparative allusion is a bit risky without a direct reference.
Your own poem is really excellent.
Preeti Sinha
Thu 13th Nov 2014 03:58
I was under impressiion it was called bitter fruit as that was what the original poem was called.
This is a very good poem. I'm not sure if it should be called 'Strange Fruit' by title or content without specific reference to the original poem/lyric. I was shocked.
Preeti Sinha
Wed 12th Nov 2014 12:46
Thanks Steve :) Yes, to both counts. I have drawn parallels with Billie Holiday's haunting song and the disturbing new trend now prevalent in India.
Thanks for reading and your very kind words.
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Preeti Sinha
Fri 14th Nov 2014 16:46
Thank you ! It means lot to me. I am stealling, I think :O