Film Noir
Film Noir
By the lampost at night
with the pale moon shining bright
but obscured by the fog
I saw her in the harbor
standing where my boat lay moored
but she knew that
her azure eyes beckoned me to come
smoke from a cigarette in her hand
trailing upward and blendng with mist
and a gold braid around her wrist
I remembered my gift
I stood there transfixed
if for only a moment
then I walked to her slowly
and tipped my fedora
and the little joke we shared in love
I asked,”Where have been all my life?
Waiting for you, she said
I laughed at her resentfully and said
You left me here from this place
without a note, without a trace
I scoured old haunts, you weren’t there
you left as if you didn’t care
Remember our walks along the shore
your favorite drink, our special place
in a cafe by the window
where the sun would shine on your hair
and leaving a golde glint
as it did on my boat when it was in full sail
Then one day you went away
our love became a mystery
that was never solved
now you’re here and I ask you, why?
There was a war she said
I lost this guy and you came along
to fill the void and share my grief
I loved you, Jake,your silly hat
the way you tipped it, the boat ,the cat
who begged for fish after after every catch
she paused and lit another smoke
Then one day, he showed up, his name was Cilve
the guy I mentioned had survived
and left his tags with a guy who died
and he became an MIA
he was hiding out in Mandalay
involved in something, he wouldn’t say
but he wanted me there, he promised me fame
I was a singer you know
and all the dough that I could want or I could take
I just had to know how to play the game
but I thought of you, Jake
and what we had and I told him ,No
He got mean, Jake
and threatened to expose me
for what I really was
and I couldn’t bear for you to hear
my sordid past, my constant fear
We’re both alike you and me, he said
we’ll take what the world has to give
or grab it by the throat
or I’ll expose you if you don’t
As time went by it didn’t take long
to see he was singing a different song
his lies, his schemes, his other dolls
I lost my respect and I didn’t care
I had to get out, I needed a plan
to rid myself of this rotten man
There was this guy, Dwight
who ran the bar, he pitied my plight
that I was in, he hated Clive as much as I
I told him I watched Clive at the end of each night
the cash he hid in a special place
no doubt to leave in a hurry when things got hot
he would check to see how much was stashed
if it was worth the dare, we would split down the middle
and make our departure as soon as we could
I knew a Burmese captain of a scow
who asked no questions for a fee
he’d have some cabins for you and me
Just before closing, I feigned getting ill
and called for Clive to aid me somehow
to stay awhile and give me a pill
and while he was there, Buck went to that spot
took the cash and lit out that night to wait for me
at a pre destined place
My bag was packed in another room
I told Clive I would rest and join him soon
but as soon as he left I slipped out
to the back grabbed a bag and headed
for freedom away from that man
thinking of you and to make things right
She paused for a moment and put out her smoke
and I thought I saw a drop of blood
form on the corner of her mouth
she quickly wiped her hand across her face
and continued her story at a slower pace
I arrived at the pier where the scow lay docked
took one look behind me and looked at the clock
on the building we were to meet
I checked my watch and matched the time
I saw a jeep and he saw me
two grips in his hand and a smile on his face
he said, I got the dough , I’ll leave the jeep
it’s the least I can do for that miserable creep
I said ,there’s no time to waste, just show me the dough
we’ll split it up now and get ready to go
he said, Oh, I’m ready but the plans have changed
I’ll leave you enough to change your luck
this one’s for you and this one’s for Buck
I suspected as much and I scowed as he grinned
but his mouth formed an O as he looked down below
a knife in his stomach pulsed blood from his guts
too late I saw his gun come up as he fell
I felt a pain in my side and clutched at my coat
I picked up my bags and summoned the strength
to get onto the boat
I said to the captain, there’s double the price
if we get away soon just pick up some steam
and head for Rangoon
he patched me up as good as he could
with the aid of rum and smoldering wood
to cauterize the wound for awhile
I knew it was wrong to take his life
but I was prepared to kill him
to end all this strife
as a precautionI took the knife that we cut bait with
a long time ago the knife stirred up memories
that you and I had
that pressed my decision to leave that cad
the wound didn’t heal, the lead stayed inside
i was resigned to my fate to see you once more
before it’s too late…and here you are
She collapsed in my arms and I held her tight
with tears in my eyes , her audible sighs
gasping for breath and leaning toward death
And before she expired her hand on my face, she said
Where have you been all my life?
waiting for you , I cried, waiting for you
*This poem is a tribute to the black and white movies prevalent in the
late 30’s and 40’s ala Humphrey Bogart, Alan Ladd or George Raft and the phrasing had a special charm.There was aways a failed romance, war, misguided loyaties and clandestine
treachery that separted these lovers. I received an N/A because it may have not been poetic enough or too long but I tried to portray a dialogue and atmosphere of that time
Copyright © Ralph Sergi | Year Posted 2015
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