Melancholy

The mood lifts from the lips, parched with permanent nicotine,
and falls, like snowflake-ashes from a turbulent volcano.
The uninhabited eye, underneath the patch - a vacant stare
into a cloudless night with flamenco-stars. Further from the truth
comes the truth of perspective, perspicacity, the long draw
of his cigarette and slow sigh of ringlets. The Camel scent
of his clothing mixes with lavender and the draught of tears;
melancholy plugs up the dike. An occasional red fingernail,
as if down a chalkboard, his spine, taunts the old timer.
He grunts, and drains the erupting whiskey bottle. Thoughts
take wing…oft’ he hears her laughter, a bird call. Good eye
plucked from the bar, placed with the rest of the stars -
he doesn’t deserve the halo above his habitat, the floor.
Every day, life spins, like a merry-go-round, with no point.
He’ll never tell - the tale is decades gone and oversold.

5/7/2023
Anatomy of Melancholy 
Sponsor: Craig Cornish

Copyright © | Year Posted 2023



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Date: 5/17/2023 12:27:00 AM
Congrats! Thanks for sharing this... making me learn the essence of "showing" in creative writing. God bless you, and belated happy Mother's Day.
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/17/2023 6:03:00 AM
Thank you so much, Beata! Happy Mother’s Day to you , sweet Beata! <3
Date: 5/16/2023 8:11:00 PM
wonderful Kim...it is so hard to create a mood and you excelled :)
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/17/2023 6:04:00 AM
Thank you so much, David!
Date: 5/16/2023 5:04:00 AM
this is excellent in every way: vivid images, original use of language, and i love the closing line - congrats on your win in craig's contest!
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/16/2023 5:52:00 AM
Thank you so much, Charlotte! xx
Date: 5/15/2023 7:45:00 PM
I love the tale you tell to describe melancholy, Kim! Excellent imagery! Congrats on your win! :)
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/15/2023 8:44:00 PM
Thank you, Laura! :)
Date: 5/15/2023 1:58:00 PM
A compelling prose-poem. The burning cigarette, the empty whiskey bottle add to the melancholic shade of the self destructive smoker. Congratulations! Brian
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/15/2023 2:30:00 PM
Thank you, Brian!
Date: 5/15/2023 1:14:00 PM
Hi Kim, I had a feeling you be on the winner's list. I'm not surprised that you were, Congratulations on a top win. It was well deserved. Happy Belated Mother's Day. Have a nice day-Alexis
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/15/2023 2:31:00 PM
Happy Mother’s Day too :) Thank you, Alexis!
Date: 5/14/2023 9:15:00 PM
Tale I’d decade gone and oversold. Big Congrats to win Top. Love.
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/15/2023 6:44:00 AM
Thank you for citing what you liked, Anisha! Thank you :)
Date: 5/14/2023 8:03:00 PM
Sorry I missed this one, Kim. Brings back a few memories when I used to drink except I was a happy drunk. I seem to always find humor in everything:) Congratulations on your winning write, young lady:)
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/15/2023 6:44:00 AM
Thank you, Daniel! Better I suppose to be a happy drunk but better to be happy and sober minded:) God bless you, sweet friend!
Date: 5/14/2023 7:44:00 PM
Kim, congratulations on your win. This poem overflows with images telling your story of grief and sadness. Marvelous writing that drew me not only into the story but into the deep melancholy of the man's life. Written with an exquisite touch! Blessings.
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Date: 5/14/2023 7:42:00 PM
Kim, congratulations on your win. This poem overflows with images telling your story of grief and sadness. Marvelous writing that drew me not only into the story but into the deep melancholy of the man's life. Written with an exquisite touch! Blessings.
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/15/2023 6:42:00 AM
Thank you so much, Sam!
Date: 5/14/2023 7:28:00 PM
"parched with permanent nicotine", "a vacant stare into a cloudless night with flamenco-stars" - Beautifully written. Congratulations!
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/15/2023 6:42:00 AM
Thank you, Christuraj!
Date: 5/14/2023 1:40:00 PM
Melancholic indeed. Brilliant description you've woven into your poetry. Love it. God bless you. Love, Gina
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/14/2023 7:04:00 PM
Thank you, Gina! God bless you too! xx
Date: 5/10/2023 7:25:00 PM
I think their asking for depression when they should be asking for spring. It took me into the work of reading.
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/10/2023 8:19:00 PM
:)
Date: 5/10/2023 1:08:00 AM
Seems everyone is writing on melancholy. Must be some contest. Best for a win. Hugs.
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/10/2023 8:18:00 PM
Yes it is! Thank you! Hugs, my friend ~ Kim
Date: 5/9/2023 7:21:00 PM
Send him to AA... Better yet, send him to AAA, for a tow and an overhaul. lol. Interesting piece, Kim.
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/10/2023 8:18:00 PM
LOL!
Date: 5/9/2023 9:52:00 AM
This is beautiful, Kim!
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/9/2023 12:13:00 PM
Thank you, Ann!
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/9/2023 12:06:00 PM
Thank you, Ann!
Date: 5/8/2023 8:36:00 PM
WoW! Kim, This well-written write is “ melancholy” through and through. I think you hit the ball out of the park with this write. To me, it’s a home run. Best wishes in the contest. Have a great evening:-) Alexis
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Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/9/2023 12:06:00 PM
Thank you, Alexis!
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