Get Your Premium Membership

Letter To My Brother From Christy's

"Ladies and gentlemen, direct from the bar, here's Dean!
                                     Joey quips after one song"

Christy's Sundown: where we uncorked a bottle 
of wine to dine in the Vegas-style setting 
of your favorite restaurant when I came to town
almost expecting to find Frankie and the gang, 
holding court at a big table with his Rat Pack 
clown, Sammy, and the Italian and Jewish boys 
crowded 'round, drinking and cracking 
inside jokes to lots of booze and lots of smokes 
that didn't seem to hurt the singing notes.

I am getting a little stoned tonight because the sun 
sets at Christy's, knowing you are ashes, now, 
dear heart, that's why I am getting stoned. 
Always knew how to do that--a few glasses before, 
and after, feels better writing a letter not sitting 
across from you.  Mr. Christy ('Nick,' to you 

because you were a close one), fluttered my heart 
before it filled, metaphorically speaking, with ashes,
yet, still, there's this echo of a time when the fine 
Mr. Christy came by our table with a surprisingly limp
handshake for your big sister. Me, thinking, Show me 
the passion, big Dude!  El Greco! No wimp! Gee, 
you were the fire that made Helen flee.

This night in near-empty salon rooms, a few 
old souls sup in silence, and then I am alone except 
for celebrity photos on the foyer walls: Christy's 
cronies consigned to the reception gallery. 
You, not among these famous faces, nor am I, 
and here's why.  We did not hang with Dean Martin, 
Kenny Rogers, Joey Bishop, Gary Merrill, ('Best 

to Nick, a great restaurant'), Art Linkletter or any 
others of the long-gone great.  We never broke bread 
with Anita Bryant (thank God), or dove with Esther 
Williams into the soup du jour, or sat beside sublime 
Miss America, 1969.  Only photos share stamina 
to retain their glamour.  A good restauranteur 
has friends in high places. So, Smile, Brother -- 
You're on Celestial Camera.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2009




Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 12/4/2009 7:28:00 PM
Hi Nola, Congrats on your feature poem this week! Love Light Patty
Login to Reply
Date: 12/3/2009 12:45:00 PM
Many congrats on your piece being featured this week. Rgds Janette
Login to Reply
Date: 12/1/2009 4:50:00 AM
Congratulations on your excellent poem being featured this week Nola. May you have many more. Love, Carol
Login to Reply
Date: 11/30/2009 12:55:00 PM
Many congratulations on your poem being featured Nola >> James
Login to Reply
Date: 11/30/2009 7:51:00 AM
Hi, Nola. Congrats on this super feature. Love, daver
Login to Reply
Date: 11/30/2009 6:01:00 AM
Excellente write. Congratulations on having your poem featured this week. A. W. www.freewebs.com/abcedit
Login to Reply
Date: 8/15/2009 9:25:00 AM
How could anyone miss this one? Nola you are too good for the soup, but keep submitting and I'll keep reading and loving
Login to Reply

Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry