Salem, Jack, and Other Stuff

by Maple Tree   Mar 10, 2014


There are times when I get lost in memories,
listening to old ones croon tunes that
collaborated well with Jack Daniels
and a Salem cigarette.

I wore jeans with patchwork freys,
never needing to fit in, just wanting
true friendship, laughter, and a
flirtatious smile from a guy or two.

I liked my hair tangled and long,
still do-
my feelings melted to paper,
such as the candle that dripped
in my two story bedroom window,
but I left that side of me hidden.

Eventually, adulthood approached,
poetry became metaphoric, unusual,
that was good enough for me,
I liked creating art within words,
just didn't want the readers to feel
me cry,

that was private, even in stanzas.

The older I get, jeans still feel good,
traded Jack for bottled water, Salem became
generic and old time classics continue to play.

I'm getting bolder with words I write,
style and art is always coveted within my
realm of writing, I've learned hard in life,
that I don't give a damn about shadowy emotions,
or how it's placed on paper.

I'm an old hippie, with a heart that
writes what she feels, and there are
days when I just want to write what
makes me cry.

I don't care how many words I repeat,
or If I overload it with commas, or if
somebody out there gets offended,
I just don't care anymore,

I'm gonna write how I feel like writing
and I'll always miss Salem and Jack.

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Latest Comments

  • 10 years ago

    by Darren

    Judges comments

    What Andrea does well here is to disguise how clever this poem really is by pretending that it is a 'what the hell ' spit and post. It is nothing of the sort. If this poem was a painting we would be dragged through the canvas and be able to feast upon the imagery contained. When reading this we find ourselves smack bang in the authors head as she tells us her tale. The first line is very apt because reading this we all become lost in her memories. This is a great example of a poem that takes us through decades of somebody life in a very clever write. Well done. 4 points.

  • 10 years ago

    by Hannah Lizette

    I read this when you posted it and I absolutely LOVE it. It is completely raw with a straight "I don't give a damn" attitude that screams this is me, like it or leave it. I nominated it and hope it wins, it truly deserves it.

    Jack Daniels, Salem cigarettes and good old fashioned tunes used to be your go-to back in the day. You were all about having fun...dressing the way you loved, not worrying about "fitting in", hanging out with true friends and flirting! All us girls enjoy that. ;)

    However, you left your poetry hidden. You didn't want anyone to see that side of you, the side of raw emotion and true feelings. You would create unusual metaphors to hide your feelings, art within words. You didn't want your readers to know your true feelings so you made it story-like with complicated metaphors. Your feelings were private, even within poetry.

    I love that because I can relate to that SO well. I am still in that stage of hiding my true feelings behind metaphors. I'm sure I'll get over it one day and find my 'idgaf' attiude lol.

    As you grew older, Jack was traded for bottled water and the name brand cigarettes were traded for cheaper generics but blue jeans still felt good and the classic's never died.

    You write to please you.. some days you choose to write artsy while other days, you want just to pour emotions onto paper and not worry about anything frilly. You aren't worried over misplaced commas, repetitive words or format because you write for you, no one else.

    Lovely piece, dear!

  • 10 years ago

    by DarkLight

    Wow!

  • 10 years ago

    by Amreen

    Wow! Andrea, you touched my heart with this piece! This is so original, true and straight from the heart. After long, I have read a poem which is simple in language but so insightful and intriguing. You nailed it. Strong message!

    Nominated :)

    <3

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