The Concert

Cooling evening air and the smell of naughty smoke,
nameless camarades all sharing beers and a joke
beneath a natural stadium roof of stars and midnight blue
massed ranks all sat by fires, just like the eve of Waterloo.
huddled expectation, leather jacket wrapped round tight
monolithic stage a silhouette in crisp moonlight.
Someone shouts for Wally, or a friend that has gone missing
giggles under blanket from some dreamy youngsters kissing.
Conversation halted by the two-word intervention
“one two,one two” Marshall HiWatt really gets the crowd's attention.
People racing to the front, they want to get there first
The noise as bubbling patience starts to strain now, fit to burst.
I shout out to the burger bar for brother, but in vain
the roar from eighty thousand like an oncoming subway train.
A single drumbeat, crashing chord, a fan of laser light,
the massed ranks rise, fists to the sky, guys, here we go- Alllllllllllrightttttttt!
One minute in, it's deafening, the front rows start to jam,
my raison d'etre plainly clear- I rock, therefore I am.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Macfarlane Avatar
June 11, 2015 at 7:09 PM
Way to rock at that concert and on this contest! Big congrats on your win! Hugs
Wigley Avatar
June 11, 2015 at 10:58 PM
Keep the faith, Cecilia, rock on, bodacious dude, and all the other stuff young people say nowadays :) . Viv x
A  Avatar
June 11, 2015 at 4:03 PM
Viv, Congratulations........ Love SKAT
Wigley Avatar
June 11, 2015 at 4:12 PM
Thanks, Skat, appreciate you dropping by. Have a lovely weekend. Viv x
May Avatar
June 10, 2015 at 5:38 PM
Great write and win...Congrats
Wigley Avatar
June 10, 2015 at 10:17 PM
Thanks Joseph, a nostalgic comp, for sure. Regards, Viv
Haight Avatar
June 10, 2015 at 2:18 PM
Congratulations on your win, Viv! I enjoyed your awesome write! Sandra
Wigley Avatar
June 10, 2015 at 10:18 PM
Thanks Sandra, nice to dig up old memories. Viv x
Allison Avatar
June 10, 2015 at 1:50 PM
Dropping back with my congrats Mr Viv:-) Hugs jan xx
Wigley Avatar
June 10, 2015 at 10:19 PM
You too, Jan. My gig was Led Zeppelin, Knebworth, 1979. I was deaf until June 1980. Viv x
Dietrich Avatar
June 3, 2015 at 9:57 PM
this is FANTASTIC, Viv. I would love to see this high on the winners list. I am thinking he wanted free verse, but i am hoping I am wrong about that, because this just really ROCKS it.
Wigley Avatar
June 3, 2015 at 10:13 PM
Thanks, Andrea, one can but hope. As an aside, back in the 70's, when Status Quo played at Cardiff Castle, someone lost a friend called Wally, and went round shouting for him. The whole crowd queueing to get in took up the call, and at concerts after that for many years, the cry 'WALLLLLLYYYYY' would go up and you'd get thousands answering back. Bizarre..... Viv x
May Avatar
June 3, 2015 at 6:51 AM
An excellent write Viv...great first and last lines....good luck in the contest
Wigley Avatar
June 3, 2015 at 10:13 PM
Thanks, John, appreciate you stopping by. Regards, Viv
Lindley Avatar
May 26, 2015 at 10:06 AM
Ahhh, I remember so well back in the days as a young man that "I Rocked".. Teenager in the 60's I was there at the birth of the great Rock bands, saw many in concert as newbies. Best if one lived it!! This poem itself Rocks! Great poem and A7...
Wigley Avatar
May 26, 2015 at 11:10 PM
Thanks, Robert. You're never too old to rock and roll- we just do it quietly now. I hum along and move one of my toes :) . Regards, Viv
Ryerson Avatar
May 26, 2015 at 6:16 AM
'I rock, therefore I am'...Rock on Viv! You put me right in that place and time. However I CERTAINLY hope that 'naughty smoke' you refer to wasn't from those left-handed cigarettes? Good stuff! - Tim
Wigley Avatar
May 26, 2015 at 6:29 AM
Good Lord, Tim, I'm sure that the tobacco in question was purely for herbal medicinal reasons, since everyone had a spliffing time. Jolly good. Thanks for dropping by. Regards, maaan, Viv
Carmack Avatar
May 25, 2015 at 11:30 PM
I love the Descartes twist at the end. Nice imagery you captured here.
Wigley Avatar
May 25, 2015 at 11:40 PM
Thanks, Rob, appreciate your dropping by. Regards, Viv
Laurie Avatar
May 25, 2015 at 6:50 PM
G'day Viv... I once helped out with talent quests and I know they are not concerts, but boy, it's like you were my shadow. Loved this piece - Lindsay
Wigley Avatar
May 25, 2015 at 9:27 PM
Knebworth festival many years ago. I can say no more at present. Thanks for the comment. Viv
Allison Avatar
May 25, 2015 at 10:31 AM
Brilliant atmospheric description Viv - I felt like I was there with you - good luck in the contest:-) hugs Jan xx 7 xx
Allison Avatar
May 25, 2015 at 10:42 AM
ha ha ha - they had them at Knebworth - not like something I have ever or ever want to see again - not proper toilets like they have now ... i will say no more :-( Hugs Jan xx
Wigley Avatar
May 25, 2015 at 10:39 AM
Thanks Jan, I was going to mention the portaloos, but people may have been reading this over lunch :) Viv x
Ward Avatar
May 25, 2015 at 3:06 AM
This poem SWINGS, and is very atmospheric. A 7... All the best for the contest, Julia, xx
Wigley Avatar
May 25, 2015 at 4:04 AM
Rock on, baby. Thanks for popping by, Julia. Viv x
La France Avatar
May 25, 2015 at 1:19 AM
Viv, this is great, I was there with you every moment, so visual, 7, I wrote mine about a rock concert also, it was deafening but quite wonderful and unforgettable, and thanks for visiting my limerick, I am not that good at those darn limerick's
Wigley Avatar
May 25, 2015 at 1:58 AM
Glad you were there, BW, I saved you a beer. Thanks for the 7. You do yourself a disservice, I thought your limerick was triff x
Konos Avatar
May 25, 2015 at 12:31 AM
How's your ear drums? Meanwhile, it's gotta be one of um! Mr. Bungle, Faith No More, Kiss, Black Sabbath, Helmet, Slayer, Fear Factory, Godflesh, Skinny Puppy, Neurosis, Judas Priest, Metallica, White Zombie, Led Zeppelin and Beastie Boys
Wigley Avatar
May 25, 2015 at 12:41 AM
You rock chick, you x . Yes, you've got the band in there somewhere. Feel free to go put on the Spandex pants, leather 'n lace and a poodle perm. Or you can borrow mine :)
Leiser Avatar
May 24, 2015 at 11:25 PM
This poem puts you right there at that concert with its excitement, sights and sounds! Excellent write, Viv! Good luck in the contest:)
Wigley Avatar
May 24, 2015 at 11:37 PM
Sorry, Laura, I couldn't hear you :). Thanks for popping by. Viv x
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