His is a blazing winter glow
burnt rosy with cold
cherry spread cheeks
and one too many cups
that cheered – such a hollow sound
the one handed clap
singular in piss-poor alleys
where winds whip up fake dreams
all fireside reds in crackling colour
In just 44 words, De invites us to write a Poem of Good Cheer (though it does not have to be cheerful but only ‘cheer’ filled)
Ooooo. I love this line:
“where winds whip up fake dreams”
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took me a while to find the adjective with that line – glad you liked it and thanks for the prompt De
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Oh the chemical joy of the addict… such a dark place to be.
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Yes took a warm bright word and looked at the dark side – only because I am taken with paradoxes!
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Bang on, as we continue to explore the dark underbelly of the holidays. But this alcoholic paradox embraces his addiction on regular days too.
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Alas it is an off seasonal cheerlessness too
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I do like the contrast between the flames and the darkness, real and metaphorical.
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Thanks Jane – I was struck by the various associations of rosy cheeks & cheeriness
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So much of it is eyewash.
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“all my eye and Betty Martin ” as my Grandmother would say
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Roll on spring.
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“where winds whip up fake dreams” sigh this speaks so much about winter and the dangers of slipping into the dark side. Poignant write 💜
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Gloomy thought perhaps considering the prompt – Made me think of the homeless especially now that winter is almost upon us here
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Ah, to trade those fake dreams for the real ones…alas! This took me by surprise; splendid!
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I am glad about the surprise element- thanks Jilly
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Nice phrase: “fireside reds in crackling colour”
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A rich palette in those flames Frank!
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Brooding and cuts to the heart of struggle… no quarter here Laura – I liked it!
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Thanks for your appreciative comment – the brevity of quadrille adds to the cuts
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“One too many cups that cheered” – this is my memory of Christmas, with my father – a holiday often spoiled by booze.
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Sad! Indeed it is how iit often begins -these broken endings
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Yes, too often it is.
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I liked your frost bitten cheeks spreading wide across the face.
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A slightly sardonic take on rosy health!
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I like the use of colour to highlight the flip-side of cheer, Laura.
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Thank you Kim – the cheer is there in dreams drowned in cups
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Nicely done – I particularly liked the wordplay in ‘crackling colour’ and ‘singular in piss-poor alleys’. The soundings are singing another story in this layered piece.
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the soundings are important to my writings rather than rhyme so thank you for noticing Peter –
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And how that wind-blast cuts to the bone. Fiercely wrought.
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I am struck by that association between wrought and written – thank you Tish
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I have one inelegant comment: Wow! The portrait is especially well paced and for me somber when read out loud.
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Thank you for that evocative appreciation Janice! Am pleased you read it aloud – Poetry is for the voice but often we just read it.
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Luv the alliteration Laura.
Much💜love
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thanks for noticing it Gillena ❤
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A fiery poem with various meanings to me, well done.
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Thank you – glad you can see the multiple layers
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love the implied reference to the Little Match Girl. I grew up with an Dad who drank – Christmas was always fraught. (Sigh)
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Had not considered that reference but with Christmas coming this Victorian melodrama has some close associations. Sorry your childhood was evidently fraught by ‘the cup that cheers’
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