Five O'Clock Queen
Every day at five on the dot, she comes
All the heads raise, swivel around, and then look away
(I don't know why she comes here anymore.)
They tell me she was beautiful in her time
Nice long legs and red-gold hair and eyes to catch your breath
But time's become her enemy, if it ever was her friend.
I don't think there's anything sadder
Than the face she smiles at me
As I pour her beer and take her coins and watch her look around.
She stumbles to the booth that knows her contours well
Fluffs back her hair and licks her lips
And pretends she's unaware.
Maybe there's a new guy in that doesn't know the score
And I see him raise her hopes up
And then dash them to the ground.
The regulars jab him in the ribs and laugh behind their hands
"No, son," they say, "You want none of that!"
And she pretends she doesn't hear.
When the beer is warm and the night is cold
I watch her reflection in the window pane
On the odd night, in that light, I can see her as she was.
Sometimes, I ignore her and sometimes I just can't
I wipe the bar and wipe my hands
And put quarters in the jukebox.
"This one's for you." I'll say
And she'll light up like a child on Christmas morning
And nod her graying head like a reigning queen.
But when she's gone, I'll play a Dave Loggins song
And a hush falls as the room is filled with shame
And pain and longing for the days that are no more.
Days when youth was beautiful even on an ugly face
And those eyes could make you stumble after
And promise her tomorrow when you knew it wouldn't come.
©by Voo Shining Stone
May 12, 09
1:18 a.m
This is the heartbreaking song that inspired this poem.
I felt that this woman had another
part of her story that needed to be told...................
So heartbreaking and all I could think of was to go sit with her and chat with her and see what makes her smile. To listen to her because no one else will. Maybe deflect the jabs from those who mock her. But what do they know. They're in their own little world of insecurity. And the reflection of her on the window. Forget that. I'll just sit there and see her through my own panes of glass as her image reflects from the back of the retinas of my eyes. And the evening would go on!
ReplyDeleteAwwww listen to you!!! Friend of the friendless!!!! That's so sweet! I cried again
Deletelast night reading this one again. It just tears my heart out. "You're a worthless woman..just an aging overnight friend"
so sad! Dave Loggins is a true poet!!! I love when he sings..Give my smile to a soul worth saving....omg
Ah, but Lord those mistress eyes in disbelief as she was leavin.........I just melted when I heard those words. I think I would have to take her away from there to some place where we could sit and talk and tell her not to listen to Dave Loggins. And find the worth in her that she longs for. And help her get there. I apologize, I got so wrapped up in the song. It's a good one!!!!
DeleteI know. that's the line that always gets me, too.
DeleteBut you should read the poem again, dude!!! To my knowledge, she never heard the Dave Loggins song
or was ever aware that the bartender sometimes played his song after she left because he felt so bad for her
and was so ashamed at the way the guys in the bar treated her. He was really playing it for them...He played other
songs for her. Let's see. what songs do you think he played for her to make her light up like a Christmas tree....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlrNxJqODBc
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3YbIB12oP0
DeleteNo no no! My point is if she had heard the song, then she should just ignore it. It wasn't for her. I should have been more clear of that, but my mind was sitting at a nice cozy cafe drinking coffee, tea, or me with her and letting her know her "flower" is as elegant now as it was then, because I would be looking in her eyes the whole time we were there. What woman isn't worthy of that kind of admiration! I'm just a guy who swoops in, picks them up and gives them direction.
DeleteOh yeah! A couple of Elvis songs can't hurt either. Now I'm really LOL!
why, you Spanish Conquistador, you!!!!! lol
DeleteNo, I don't think she EVER heard that song...EVER.
First of all, it was relatively unknown. I accidentally found it on an old album
and fell in love with it. His BIG hit was Please Come To Boston, which I LOVE but very few
have heard SUNSET WOMAN. I think the bartender had to make a special request for it
to be placed on his jukebox. (Just fantasizing here, who knows? But I like to think that) ;=)
Hey ramblin girl now won'tcha settle down, Boston ain't your kinda town....Yeah, I love this song too. I would still set her down to coffee or whatever in a cozy little cafe and have a friendly conversation with her! Help her come around. "Not all guys are bad", is what I would tell her!(now I'm fantasizing)
Deletelol yeah, you are...lol Hey, I was friends with a guy once who lived in Boston
Deleteand he was always saying that to me on the phone. But I never did. Thank goodness!!!
He inspired A whole lot of my poems! sheesh!!! I'll find some links....
Aha!!! So I thought I was your inspiration, but I’m not from Boston. I’m just a country boy, money have I none. But I’ve silver in the stars and gold in the mornin sun! I thought I’d candy it up with some Don Williams! You never know! Lol
DeleteSpanish Conquistador?? but of course. Out of date though. But not a vagabond! Conquering new territory is what I do. New to me anyway. But even if she's discarded territory, I'll come in and settle it and make it better and then return it back to her. You would be amazed at what I am capable of. In a good way!
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p2k55F-uag
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62i4-WAHePc
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpBjgQlT_jA
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsgL35RCGcc
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Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDqwmaI_IdU
DeleteAt last...... some Dino! some of my favorite lines: Return to me, please come back bella mia.... other dancers may be on the floor dear, but my eyes will see only you....sway me smooth, sway me now, you know how!
DeleteGosh, there's no stopping you!
I grew up listening to my uncle's record collection. I fell
Deletein love with Dean Martin's voice. I always loved the oldies
more than the newbies. I was different.....smile
Return to Me and Sway make me melt...
You were born in the wrong era my dear!
DeleteI have ALWAYS said that...but evidently, God had a different idea!!! lol
DeleteYep! And here you are!
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkSfMj8D-7c
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZT-eU4pizI
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qol952UDurQ
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_urvud-Oi0
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hJr_GGAGBw
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7Jfs9MY0hg
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XVdtX7uSnk
DeleteOh boy! Another trip as we travel the skies, while I look into your eyes, knowing, "we belong together.......for eternity......
DeleteYou sure know, "How to bring it on home"... and then you send me....."Looking"......"With only my eyes" and a Sigh.... "a sigh is just a sigh".....and then I end up, "In the wee small hours of the morning"..counting sheep!....."That's the time you miss the most of all"....and then I get home wondering if, will "you miss me tonight"......What a journey!
I wanted to see how I could tie them together.
That was genius, Genius!!!! I can hear him playing her those songs on the jukebox
Deletebefore she finally gives up and stumbles out into the rainy mist back to her fourth floor apt....
poor thing. Which one do you think is her favorite???
I'm going to say, I only have eyes for you! That's my favorite. I want to look at her eyes and see down into her soul and draw her out where she can shine and be seen in all her glory as the person that she is!
DeleteI had a blast making the medley trip up. Maybe you can sometime get me another set to work on.
BTW I would not let her go home alone. I'd help her to her 4th floor place, unlock the door for her, help her in and bid her a good night.
DeleteReally? Wow, such a knight in shining armor! BTW: I Only Have Eyes For You is my favorite, too!
DeleteAnd Only You by the Platters.I'll make you another playlist sometimes, Buckeroo!!!😁
I'm a DJ, too and have a huge and eclectic collection of all kinds of music.
As I’ve been saying “Little One”, the eyes are the doorway to to a woman’s heart! You look anywhere else while you’re talking to her, (as a guy), then you’ll lose her! Then after you grab her attention and as you look at her take notice of her face, because what woman doesn’t want a man to look at her face! Admire it. But don’t touch it. Not until you get to know her. Smile at her to let her know how interesting she is to you. Find her interests, she wants to tell them to you. She’s putting her best out there, so admire it as you would a Mona Lisa or a Rembrandt! And don’t expect anything in return. Let her decide that. At the moment she wants you to give her the attention. Isn’t that your desire oh man?
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