Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Dressed Up

                                                                     By Langston Hughes

I had ma clothes cleaned
Just like new
I put ‘em on but I still feels blue

I bought a new hat,
Sho is fine,
But I wish I had back that
Old gal o’ mine.

I got new shoes—
They don’t hurt ma feet,
But I ain’t got nobody
For to call me sweet.
A little girl stayed over and taught me that poem last night. As long as she calls me sweet I'm good--butcept on the Friday and Saturday nights when she's not here. Anyone wanna come over and see my etchings? And my shoes?
 Onward. In new shoes. Reading Hughes.
ADG, II 

16 comments:

Silk Regimental said...

I swear! We're gonna find you on stage somewhere-sometime . . . .

ilovelimegreen said...

I've been dying, dying, dying to see your green loafers before they were even delivered to you. How much longer do I have to wait to see them?

CeceliaMc said...

Well, I do have this evolving fantasy of your closet.

Sort of like the scene from the Great Gatsby where Daisy tears up over Gatsby's room filled with rainbows of shirts.

Lisa said...

forget the etchings and forget the shoes, it's the rugs that I want to see.

Anonymous said...

"forget the etchings and forget the shoes, it's the rugs that I want to see"

Max, can you read my mind here?

As SummerIs would say, kindness of Max to stop photographing the damn chaise, thank you.

yoga teacher said...

I love Montage of a Dream Deferred, and it's sharpness will contrast nicely with the John O'Donohue blessings I've been reading in classes this week. Thanks for doing my homework, since I've been busy helping my kiddo with hers. (Humanities only; no math, very little science. Dad, too. Poor kid.)

Anonymous said...

In all of the months that I have followed this blog.........this is on the top five most heart wrenching posts you have offered.
When you mentioned that your little literary critic was doing Langston Hughes as a "project", I held my breath to see if yall would share the magic. and so you have.

2010 has been a year of loss and 2011 will doubtless bring more for some and we'll all puts it on and feels the blues.......

ADG/LFG don't need nobody to call them sweet.....they's already been called.......

Anonymous said...

When I first stumbled upon your blog I asked you if you were a writer. You answered, "Yes. I write about my daughter and about socks."

I have followed your sock and kinder paper trail for some time and it leads me to the F. Scott quote, "You don't write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say. "

Thanks for saying it.

ADG said...

AnonStumbler...I wrote a story for tomorrow that explains what I did with my thoughts before a started this blog. I'm considering a retreat, at least partially, to it.

AnonHearWrench...didn't mean for it to be heart wrenching per se. And loss...indeed...the world has already seen tragic loss in 2011. My blessings are abundant and I try to let the world know, that on balance, my world is a zillion fold better than many. Still looking for some weekend action though!

LisaRugs...they need vacuuming.

SilkReggie...I'll tell you one damn stage I won't be on and that's "Smarter than a Fifth Grader" 'cause I'm learning every week that I'm not.

CecelianMcMac...I just re-read Gatsby. I'd forgotten how great it is.

LimeGreen...Ticketmaster is handling the green cordo viewing event.

SouthernProletariat said...

Just when I was having a pity party that I had to go back to work, and leave my girls...you remind me that I'm blessed to see them every night and weekend. My non-traveling job is a blessing. You tugged at my heartstrings on this one...

Lisa said...

I don't vacuum but I do have someone who comes in weekly to move the dust around. I could give you her number but I'm afraid the transportation/gas costs would outstrip her great rate. Still, the rugs look FANTASTIC in color, please, no more black and white. They are beautiful (as is LFG) and I hope you appreciate them at least a smidgeon of a fraction of what you appreciate LFG.

Miss Monograms said...

I'd have to insist on playground rules; I'll show you mine if you show me yours!

Scale Worm said...

Poetry: a few words, in a few (sometimes) lines that cause tears, smiles, anger... all emotions rolled into one, and all based upon personal reflection.
I very much enjoy your reflections here sir, and I, in earnest, feel Mr. Hughes would have as well.

Susan R said...

Love the poem, however, I love Lil' Bits robe even more. My daughter saw it and said, "Is that my robe?" She has the same robe (christmas gift).

Main Line Sportsman said...

I may come over...not to see your etchings but to rummage thru those bottles on your side-board and join you in a libation...cheers.

ADG said...

MainLiner...sounds like a plan. I'll try to stir up some acceptable hooch for you. I'll drink the swill. Captain Morgan, signing off.

Susan...amazing that such an inexpensive little fleece robe from Target has become one of LFGs favorite things. This one though, is staying here. Fleece/flannel...kind of comfort food for the body.

Scale...indeed. It takes a lot more skill to posit a few words than a pile of them.

Monograms/Margaritas...you'll need to go first then. Because after you see mine, you'll be vaporlocked. My etchings are sublime.

Lisa...the only reason that post was done in black and white was for effect. Yes, I'm a visual artist in addition to being a great writer. Just look at my photos as a whole. Jethro Bodine meets Cartier-Bresson. And the rugs...like I've said, they are a bachelor's most useful floor covering. They hide everything till chunks begin to appear. Chunks was my dog when I was little.