We liked it sweeter then. Darkened room, brilliant stage. When entertainers wore suits. Sinatra, tie loosened, cigarette dangling, in the wee small hours. When romance powered our world.
Didn't see the 60s, but this created quite an intriguing, romantic picture for me of how it was back then. Would also have wanted to see Sinatra with tie loosened and a cigarette.
Always a nice juxtaposition between the British Invasion of hard rock and the old timers playing Vegas, where some could still enjoy smoking without the chilling fear and expense of today, sitting in one those lounges sipping hard pop, arm around a blonde, roll of bills in the front pocket, trying to overlook the assassination of Kennedy, the emergence of civil rights, and that pesky bush war in Southeast Asia.
Glenn, funny you should write this right now. I am writing a new novel and was thinking about the limits to what we can comfortably pay attention to and how that is shrinking rapidly. The world has become a scarier place but just as we need so urgently to see the big picture, we are pulling back, limiting our worlds, trying to recreate a time when we felt in control. Of course we never were, as you point out. But it was compartmentalised as it can never be again, tea parties notwithstanding.
It really is time to stop chanting the mantas and think.
There is a massive tug-of-war here between the response to the muse and the comments it elicited. Between rose-coloured glasses and reality. Between our reach and our grasp.
And to the likes of us, this seems like a dream.. :) Really enjoyed the romanticism in your poem.. I have a feeling I have used the EXACT same adjective on an older poem by you... And my intention was definitely not to sound repetitive.. that's just how I felt on reading the poems! It's just dreamy and kinda takes the reader back to some calmer (and peaceful) time..
Appreciating the time and energy you put into your site and detailed information you offer. It's good to come across a blog every once in a while that isn't the same outdated rehashed information. Wonderful read! I've saved your site and I'm including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
Ah, yes! Those were the days. I remember them well. I'll have mine chilled please .. no ice!
ReplyDeleteThis creates such a vivid image when I read it, I can imagine so many details from so few words, very good writing!
ReplyDeleteah romance....
ReplyDeleteyou said it well
and that was a great take on that collaged image..perfect
What a great Rat Pack take!
ReplyDeleteFabulous Stafford - yipeeyayay :)
ReplyDelete"When romance powered our world" ...I remember those days.
ReplyDeleteWonderful.
-- K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
Somehow, Stafford, your 28 words read like a lovely novel.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely piece,
ReplyDeleteWhen romance powered our world"
Didn't see the 60s, but this created quite an intriguing, romantic picture for me of how it was back then. Would also have wanted to see Sinatra with tie loosened and a cigarette.
ReplyDeletemhhh I think I would have liked this atmosphere a lot :-)happy day!
ReplyDeleteNo midnight cowboys, then... :)
ReplyDeleteNostalgic take Stafford. Sinatra, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis Jr and the lot. Wonderful 60's!
ReplyDeleteAlways a nice juxtaposition between
ReplyDeletethe British Invasion of hard rock
and the old timers playing Vegas,
where some could still enjoy smoking
without the chilling fear and expense
of today, sitting in one those lounges
sipping hard pop, arm around a blonde,
roll of bills in the front pocket,
trying to overlook the assassination
of Kennedy, the emergence of civil
rights, and that pesky bush war
in Southeast Asia.
Glenn, funny you should write this right now.
ReplyDeleteI am writing a new novel and was thinking about the limits to what we can comfortably pay attention to and how that is shrinking rapidly. The world has become a scarier place but just as we need so urgently to see the big picture, we are pulling back, limiting our worlds, trying to recreate a time when we felt in control.
Of course we never were, as you point out. But it was compartmentalised as it can never be again, tea parties notwithstanding.
It really is time to stop chanting the mantas and think.
I'm all for roamnce! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. Though it hasn't been long, you know me... why yes, I've been known to fib for a rhyme and rhyme for a fib as well.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes! Oh, yes! Those were the days, my friend....:)
ReplyDeleteYou captured 'that era' when singers were singers, men were men, woman were sophisticated and show business really was show business, so very well.
ReplyDeleteLoved this. I hope this doesn't mean that the romance is now all behind us.
ReplyDeleteIt was, indeed, so, so, sweet...the first time around.
ReplyDeleteah yes romance...better power than warfare
ReplyDeleteCould hear Sinatra's voice , instantly.."of the morning"..thanks for the memories!
ReplyDeleteoh i think romance could still power the world if we let it...
ReplyDeleteThere is a massive tug-of-war here between the response to the muse and the comments it elicited. Between rose-coloured glasses and reality. Between our reach and our grasp.
ReplyDeleteStafford,
ReplyDeleteI just returned from Vegas.
It's different now: all bling and bluster.
rel
A very evocative piece. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSwing it, baby!
ReplyDeleteYou've got this so right, Stafford.
A lovely trip back. My dad played so much Sinatra as I grew, though it's Danny Kaye that I associate with him more. But they were true gents.
ReplyDeleteRomance these days..? Raves, tattoos and bags of chips (and loads of lager, of course!)
Lovely piece, Stafford. Thanks for sharing with us!
ReplyDeletevivid...and dreamy...;)
ReplyDeleteWe liked it sweeter then...
ReplyDeletethe following lines of your tale explained exactly WHY ...
a tale that is full of wonders.
love every word of it.
the world is dull without romance,
ReplyDeletemagical tale, love your humor, wit, and magical ability in painting a story with so few words and so extraordinary impacts.
keep it up.
Smiles!
Happy Sunday, dear poet friend.
ReplyDeleteit is a pleasure to read you and get inspired by your poetry.
keep it up.
And to the likes of us, this seems like a dream.. :)
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed the romanticism in your poem..
I have a feeling I have used the EXACT same adjective on an older poem by you... And my intention was definitely not to sound repetitive.. that's just how I felt on reading the poems! It's just dreamy and kinda takes the reader back to some calmer (and peaceful) time..
Well written, Stafford..
Those were the days....a wonderful era, and you captured it amazingly....hope you still have a few nights like that Stafford...:-)
ReplyDeleteromance powered world is something i could get used to!
ReplyDeleteAppreciating the time and energy you put into your site and detailed information you offer.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to come across a blog every once in a while that isn't
the same outdated rehashed information. Wonderful read!
I've saved your site and I'm including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
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