He was a fop, a fool, a popinjay
Man-about-town, too cute and gay
A fashion plate, a cavalier blade
His arrogance riveled an oak’s tree shade
Club nocturnal
In Bilbao, on a warm evening, he walked past a nightclub
walked in and had a beer; he could have gone to
a Guggenheim Museum and be culturally minded, absorb
and mention it later in a passing conversation, “the other
day at the Guggenheim.”
At the club, a group of people sat drinking affluent bubbly
wine, thinking it was champagne, the group laughed a lot
and apparently had a fine time, although, he thought they
were a bit frenzied about the fun
The people around the table didn’t look prosperous and
the women looked like office tarts, with too much lipstick and
mascara, flashing eyes and giggles.
He knew (had been there) that the one footing the bill
would feel dreadful in the morning, sensing the futility
an ice cap on sagging shoulders of hopelessness.
No, it was not the drinking, real drinkers do not frequent
nightclubs, but drinking at modest places, was about feeling swanky
a man about town.
He paid for his beer and complained about the price
the waiter pointed to a pricelist hanging high on a wall, so there!
Along the boulevard, he bought newspapers went to a café,
had some wine and spent hours enjoying himself.
Young Again***
The true story tells of a boy
Whose near-death experience
Took him on a tour of heaven.
The movie trailer shows the boy
Unable to recognize a photo of his
Elderly, deceased grandfather...
Until he sees a photo of grandpa as
A young man-about-town of which
The boy says, “Oh, I everyone
Is young in heaven!” And,
Like most, I felt joy at the idea —
Mostly the idea of joint pain relief
To be found in a heavenly re-gained
youth;
But then, I got to thinking:
How young is young-again in
heaven?
Perhaps, one should be old enough
To read or use a telescope?
Do our souls become legal at 21?
Is 40 too old to let me reunite
With my husband for eternity?
What of the souls who did not
Find their love for Jesus until 60?
Is the peak of life definable by age?
Is it the distance or the depth
Of the soul that is sought? And,
When is the how that is measured?
Is 33 our cut-off? I think that is
When I began real life kindergarten.
———————————————————————
(C) sally young eslinger 4/21
leading covert double life
by day a man about town
by night masked vigilante
he fights for the righteous
brandishing his sword
protecting his people
threatened by villains
masked hero Zorro will duel
prevail and abort evil plots
again save the day
before he rides off
fast and furious on his horse
silhouette in the moonglow
leave behind his signature logo
three fine lines in the shape of a z
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Submitted on February 22, 2020 for contest YOUR FAVORITE LEGEND sponsored by CHANTELLE ANNE COOKE - RANKED 3RD
He sure enjoys
his life of Reilly;
lavishly living it up!
A globe-trotter.
A man-about-town.
He's a big hit
with the ladies,
and he doesn't mind
all the attention.
He's a big spender.
Did I mention
he's got style, too?
An unlit Cuban cigar
is always seen dangling
from his mouth.
He's not a smoker,
it's for the look.
He's fashion-savvy,
collecting Rolex watches,
ray ban sunglasses,
fedora hats,
and Versace suits.
He loves his cars
costly and fast;
a Porsche here,
a Lamborghini there
On weekends,
he sets sail
on his fancy yacht,
flying high
on his private jet.
He kills time
on the golf course
hitting the links
with millionaire friends,
throwing parties,
and showing off
his trophy wife
His escargot dinners
are always served
on high-end china.
He swigs champagne
from crystal.
Oh, what a life!
(Free Verse)
COMPLETELY YOUR CHOICE(20) any theme any form contest (Winner: 1st Place)
Sponsored by Brian Strand
Date written and posted: 01/06/2019
Riding in Scottie's Porsche with the top down
Creates a bunch of stares in my pretty pink gown
My flowing grey hair
Adds to the flair
Girlies all want a piece of this man-about-town
date: Feb 15, 2017
Always the same little hash joint.
For lunch, the identical dish -
in Kremzer's, on Mott and Delancey,
potatoes and yiddisher fish.
His real name was Julius Henry,
but "Groucho" is how he was known.
His whim was to lunch in the corner,
unsmiling, unnoticed, alone.
So in comes a true-born impresser,
a back-slapping man about town.
He's towing some Princeton professor,
and eyeballs the vaudeville clown.
Finagling faux introductions,
the forte of showbusiness sharks:
he'll astonish the ecrivain manque ...
"I'll get you an entree with Marx!"
He gives it the big how's-it-going,
the Princeton prick shuffles his feet.
But Groucho, unseeing, unknowing,
uncaring, continues to eat.
"This man wrote 'The Vanderbilts', damn it!"
(incipient panic attack).
Without looking up, answers Groucho,
"The Vanderbilts - did they write back?"
The Rebellion of the Shadows
By Elton Camp
Shadows show the actual shape
Silhouettes that the person ape
For the elderly, defects duplicated
That advancing years have created
Stooped, lame, walking with a cane
Harsh realities to bring them pain
Shadows decided to rebel
What was once there to tell
Old lady dancing with glee
Letting all the onlookers see
Youthful beauty and grace
Instead of a wrinkled face
Old man in youthful days
With his talents did amaze
A real man about town was he
Just as exuberant as could be
Thus, the shadows could reveal
What the passing years did steal
Their bold revolt lasted only a day
Shadows reverted to the former way
Where dost thou go o’ fair one?
I go to see the setting sun.
Would thou care if I did follow?
Dost though wish my innocence before the morrow?
Dost though question my intent?
Many maidens’ hearts have you spent.
Lies surround me like a swarm.
Yet for me your bed is warm?
Do not tarry with my heart.
Then from me you must depart.
Your beauty will disturb my dreams.
To many others you say it seems.
Why dost thou tear me down?
You know not love, man about town.
White painted face
red lips of expression
face representing emotion,
infinite humor but poetry
behind every motion.
A youthful curiosity,
sparking imaginaton of it's occupancy.
A man behind the make-up
stoik and unaware,
from loneliness depression releases anger from drunken
confrontations and swears,
he's scared.
Only freedom is behind someone
elses character but feeling more
himself as if he
transformed into a new form.
Depression subsides,
joy and pleasure of
entertaining others for smiles,
his dedication
and all other problems are reconciled
Under his domain
not a man about town,
that's why they gave him the name,
a clown.
On Monday color me brown
I’m not that “man about town”!
Ready to blend
and not be bothered, that’s me,
when I’m gettin’ down
to business.
On Wednesday color me black
a little burnt out from
not being slack.
Thursday I just want to sleep.
Color me white while I
count those sheep
Friday, it’s back to the brook
all that hard work baiting the hook.
Color my face red
for not catching any
while my grand son always
has plenty.
Sunday, color me blue.
A mild blue hue,
to match soft words about
God’s creation.
And other thoughts and meditation
of how colors can whisper or shout.
© Apr 05 20110
"An Apple Thought Rotten"
Trailing away from a path all to common
for the soul of this man about town
goes the way of the heart of an apple thought rotten
without so much as a sound.
Now all alone I reflect in a hush
not knowing whether I am happy or sad.
I am taking my time. Why should I rush?
There is still so much life to be had.
Once stuck in a world of limited ideals
always caring what others might say,
both Heaven and Hell right at my heals,
I finally got out of the way.
Though the path I have chosen has been rough and less traveled,
it has seldom been lonely or blue.
Some drink and some drugs I'll admit I have dabbled,
but good God I've had fun....Have you?
So as I stray from the path the common folk take
and your apalled at what you might see.
Remember my life is the one that I made
and I'm at the least....100 and 10% me.
The Urban Fox has come to town …
Back gardens now he roams.
Away from fools in scarlet coats,
He’s feeling right at home!
(Here in England, fox-hunters wear red - or "pink!" coats and chase the fox on horses, with a
pack of hounds. Hunting with hounds is now illegal, but most of the foxes have moved away
from the country into the towns. They love McDonald's ...)
Cosmopolitan is a man about Town.
Man About Town… Richly – Renown
The Duke Of Derring – Do
Part Of His Fame… Debonair Dames
Saved From A Distress Or Two
Handsomest Face… Ladies Chase
All – Over The Place… For His Embrace
What’s A Gel’ To Do?...
For The Duke Of Derring’ – Do…
Chivalry And Gallantry
He Wears It, Like His Clothes
Right- On Cue… Tailored – New
All The Ladies Sigh… Oooh!...
What Do They Say… There’s A Day
A Maid May… Take His Breath Away!
… Take It As Your Due…
Duke Of Derring’ – Do!...
The Duke… Of… D e r r i n g’ – Do!
Could it be? Not to sound too poetic
That I’m alone, unwanted and pathetic
Well if we sum all the facts in our hand
Then we may find near the answer we’ll land
Well I am as we speak writing poetry
Something that should be left to Pete Doherty
Or maybe a libertine of days gone by
For they understood romance would not die
Could it be? Was the question asked
Thus my self worth is diminishing fast
You see I feel a shadow of my forma
And I’ll try see if I can inform ya
My phone rarely bleeps or dose shudder
For my life has seen much more colour
It was much more red, yellow, green too
If I’m honest now it’s much more blue
They used to say I was “man about town”
Always a wink, a smile. No frown
The tail is classic, once a light burning bright
And now it has faded I give up the fight
Hang on! Bleep, bleep check inbox
Reads: Phil get to the party tonight rocks.
Related Poems