By: Doug Holder
_______________________________________
The raw, coiled
red glare
of the hot plate–
the urine stain
of a sink
and the waft
of Red Sauce
from Davio’s below–
The head
a short, anxious scamper
down the hall,
the hacking cough
of the retired civil servant
through a thin wall.
And the spinster
who peers from
the crack in her door
gathers her pennies
and courage
for her big trip
to the corner store,
the wooden ladder that
ascended to a tar roof
the sweet /sorrow scent of city, rain and sea…
and my youth…
Looks great and thanks!!
Doug,,
Smart already then!
Great poem.
Freddy
How well I know those Back Bay rooms…. Nice movement to this poem. Back Bay rooftops….
No problem. Thank you for being a part of Oddball Magazine.
editor
DOUG well done. Come see us in Brockton some time
I never imagine a room like that on the hip and swank Newbury St. You gave us a piece of history! Thanks
great picture, nice poem
Great poem, Doug. I had a room for a couple of years
back in the 70s on Marlboro Street near there.
Now that I remember it, there was poetry in that place, too.
Thanks!
Thanks nice running in to you today…
Nice poem, Doug. It summons images from my youth in Ann Arbor — especially
the glowing hot plate. . .
All pictures are very nice by your hard work and also very nice poem. carry on until you can!
Yeah the imagery in the poem is great!
Hi Doug, I was and still am in the office on the first floor, A & S Realty. Stop by sometime and say hello.
Hey Joel just saw your message now– Teaching writing at Endicott College and Bunker Hill– 271 Newbury was my Chelsea Hotel–fill of artists, mad men, students, has beens and wanna-bes–hope you are doing well my email is dougholder@post.harvard.edu we should have a poetry reading there –a good PR move 271 Newbury St the theme?