SHOWBIZ LEGEND

by ray pool

Sunday 27th November 2016 11:24 pm

He had reached an age of suspended animation

half sunk into white leather sofa

monogrammed slippers in russet

resting on a quality kilim received as a present

from an admiring Arab in Mornington Crescent

These were trappings of suspended animation

wine table at his side

row of pills prolonging the suspension

fresh from the gym fit for the present

robed like a multi coloured pheasant

He cast his eyes to walls in primary colours

photos signed ostentatiously

groups of the famous

he saw himself much younger grinning back

arms across shoulders: love always, Jack.

The foyer of the Palladium in ghastly light

a galaxy of mirrored memories

a trip on a yacht somewhere near Barbadia

grotesque cartoon with giant teeth

a cartouche border and a scribble beneath

His wife, trophy of success and later love

in satin shift came through with docile scent

musky like an island dream

lines of content just peeking through

on her sauna'd face

every curve a subtlety in its place

her hand stroked his wig

dragonfly soft

would you like the TV on she said

a familiar row of VHS tapes below

she had determined would eventually go.

Tarbuck show 1970

a brace of early Strictlys

thirty good years under lights

Generation Game outtakes

an early advert for Kellog's Cornflakes.

Looking out he might see

a jagged golf top, like birds they came

foraging for lost balls

lost souls with frustrated wives

lost days and dwindling lives

As he rose for the urgent loo

his mind formed a breathless thought

Nice to see you to see you nice

and how he missed David Frost

and who would live in a house like this?

he hoped he might meet him in a state of bliss.

Comments

raypool

Tue 29th Nov 2016 12:20

Thanks Tom, you're a star !

Tom Doolan

Tue 29th Nov 2016 11:04

I say - Good show Ray ?

raypool

Tue 29th Nov 2016 11:03

Thanks elP. That's an interesting take, and I suppose one may pick up on certain aspects of a portrayal , and draw from it. It's worth adding to the mix that hinting at Bruce Forsyth there is the long life behind and the accolades. Nevertheless a sadness prevails i'm sure for the reasons you give. Mind you with a wife like that, what a way to go!

Cheers Colin for the full bodied response. I'm glad I managed to pull the strands together - I do enjoy this sort of analytical poetry. The VHS thing is a bit sad I feel - maybe he has a home cinema, but as you say it paints a picture. Again , it's the mechanics !! I love the Hove quote. Hove 1972 was where I took advantage of a married lady and that blowsy smug atmosphere fitted it perfectly. (confession time). I do know wigs have their own feel, cause I worked for a cross dressing performer once..... (i'll get my coat). Were those crates the old wooden ones or plastic ? please advise.

Ray

<Deleted User> (13762)

Mon 28th Nov 2016 08:34

excellent Ray - half way through I was thinking I would start my comment by saying 'nice to see you to see you nice' but damn, you beat me to it in the last verse.

Some clever rhyming, none of which clangs heavy on the ear when read. My faves:

resting on a quality kilim received as a present
from an admiring Arab in Mornington Crescent

and

Generation Game outtakes
an early advert for Kellog's Cornflakes

and

a familiar row of VHS tapes below
she had determined would eventually go

I think 'her hand stroked his wig' seems so utterly pitiful and swings the whole tone of the poem into the second half.

in my Brighton days I delivered crates of alcohol to old luvvies in Hove with their wigs and signed photo memories. Happy sad lives.

your eye for detail here is superb - a row of VHS tapes below - lines like this speak volumes - the fact that they are 'old-fashioned' VHS - recordings of their own work perhaps? I could go on but I have washing to hang out on the line.

Cheers Raymondo.

elPintor

Sun 27th Nov 2016 23:57

How sad the idea of reaching a peak, never to see another, so long before the age death must inevitably pay its visit..seems so very anticlimactic and a dreadful state in which to end a life.

elP

..hope I haven't missed the punch but that's how it reads to me..much enjoyed it, anyhow.

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