Long Tuxes Poems

An Unwelcome Surprise at the Family Reunion

By Elton Camp 

“We certainly do hope that all his descendents will choose
To attend the reunion of the family of Grandfather Hughes.”
The newspaper announced the gathering’s time & location
To...

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We all had homemade dresses for prom; well, nearly all of us.
This was back in 1970 while black and white Viet Nam War photos were on TV
Every night, we saw such sadness.
Prom was a reminder...

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Got the letter in the mail,  Highschool reunion, will you be there?                      ...

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i dont know much about him 
but i heard he wasnt talkative 
he didnt like being alive 
he was numb to all the stuff he had seen
i heard he didnt like anything green 
he ate...

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I was trying to be fair
Hiding all my fragile tears
From a man who didn't seem
To notice all my future dreams
Magazines of pretty brides
Tuxes, suits, and fancy ties
Romantic movies on date night
Love songs playing in the...

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The highest of the class with lots of flowing cash,
with gorgeous eveningball gowns and tuxes with  the sash.
They come to drink and dance the night away,
And no one  goes home till they see...

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Everyone wears tuxes and evening gowns
on the beach
and high heeled shoes
or highly polished winged tips
in magazines, anyway, the beautiful people.

Can you imagine walking or even trying
to walk in sand in high-heeled shoes?
Or how extra pretty...

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Gentle fog
descends from the rooftops
as sleek tuxes
evening gowns
crowd the velvet rope below

Breathy sax notes
drift out to the sidewalk
through the open front door
all gravelly and clear
breakin every rule
makin it up right on the spot
soft piano and...

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I’ve seen the Golden Globe awards,
The People’s Choice, the SAG,
Which lets us know, for Oscar night,
Which prize is in the bag.

The only one real obvious,
Consensus is a factor,
Is Lincoln’s star, Day-Lewis,
Who’s a shoo-in for best...

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Debutantes with secret lives of crimson
could drink and smoke much more than anyone,
dressed in ivory postbellum fashion
sable coats, charcoal tuxes by the ton.

In and out of shadows obsidian
debs and escorts waltzed like porcelain toys,
social ceremony...

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Getting ready for a wedding
It's the hardest thing to do
One minute you're feeling happy
The next, you're all unglued
The wedding cake, the flowers
You're trying to find the best
In all the uproar and excitement
You've forgotten your favorite...

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