deepundergroundpoetry.com
Red Lanterns
Chinese New Year, Shanghai
It’s when the icy winter winds
bluster down the Bund, spraying
pin-prickles of dust, scudding
the sky, scattering the fish-paper,
ruffling waters of the ancient Huangpo,
driving the hardiest of romantics to shelter,
that the bars and alleys blaze, strung
with luminous fruit; apples, cherries,
strawberries—or, are they radiant
ruby necklaces? Détente:
your hand on my knee, the thaw,
the glow of beating, suspended hearts
in our brandy snifters, talismans
of heat, sex; believe, red lanterns
can seduce a girl in a frigid city.
*Note: This poem also appears in Snakeskin Poetry Webzine:
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~simmers/174lanterns.html
It’s when the icy winter winds
bluster down the Bund, spraying
pin-prickles of dust, scudding
the sky, scattering the fish-paper,
ruffling waters of the ancient Huangpo,
driving the hardiest of romantics to shelter,
that the bars and alleys blaze, strung
with luminous fruit; apples, cherries,
strawberries—or, are they radiant
ruby necklaces? Détente:
your hand on my knee, the thaw,
the glow of beating, suspended hearts
in our brandy snifters, talismans
of heat, sex; believe, red lanterns
can seduce a girl in a frigid city.
*Note: This poem also appears in Snakeskin Poetry Webzine:
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~simmers/174lanterns.html
Published 27th Jan 2011
| Edited 3rd Oct 2011
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
likes 4
reading list entries 1
comments 16
reads 1501
Commenting Preference:
The author encourages honest critique.
Anonymous
27th Jan 2011 7:14am
Aw man this is just so very beautiful. All at once tender, knowing and fragile. Your path is infinitely wide.........
27th Jan 2011 2:37pm
27th Jan 2011 8:26am
this poem is extremely beautiful and it holds alot of passion... which leaves this poem very promising of great enjoyment to others who read it :)...
i found your imagery so beautiful that i could actually imagine it infront of my eyes... you did a great job, keep up your beautiful poetry :)
i found your imagery so beautiful that i could actually imagine it infront of my eyes... you did a great job, keep up your beautiful poetry :)
27th Jan 2011 2:38pm
27th Jan 2011 8:51am
as i knew to expect from you since the Bob Chronicles. i've always wanted to go East and you've given me what feels like a vivid memory. exciting and gentle, and JJ said it right with his comment. So beautiful, Lauren.
27th Jan 2011 2:39pm
27th Jan 2011 9:38am
This is absolutely cool. I am almost feeling the harsh cold wind in the first stanza. And how it tends to drive us all to the red light district.
I am just loving this romantic piece. Thumbs up Lauren.
I am just loving this romantic piece. Thumbs up Lauren.
27th Jan 2011 2:41pm
27th Jan 2011 5:32pm
We should all strive to express ourselves with such grace and deft artistry. Your delicacy and imagery are far above par here. I bow to you in reverence. PTM (Question: isn't it the Huangpo River?)
28th Jan 2011 00:13am
Wow, thanks for the amazing comment, Pierre! And yes, nice catch on the misspelling~every once in awhile one slips under the radar. :)
27th Jan 2011 8:42pm
....Lauren - I shall treasure the ruby necklaces from yet another polished and enjoyable read.
Best ~ Abra
Best ~ Abra
28th Jan 2011 00:14am
Anonymous
12th Mar 2011 3:10am
Please forgive me Lauren for not having commented on your work before now. I must admit is splendid to find a writer with integrity I haven't read before on here. Someone not seeking pity but who actually cares about expressing an image, a feeling. This is wonderful. The ruby necklaces were my favourite moment. Well-wrought, tasteful, and divine.
12th Mar 2011 3:21am
Thank you, Jack. No need for apology. I've missed a lot of poems on here too, I'm sure~including yours!
12th Mar 2011 3:17am
'suspended hearts
in our brandy snifters, talismans
of heat, sex; believe,' Beautiful, I missed this also, it's a lovely little read - I'm not used to your smaller writes. I like this alot, it was like a winter breeze.
in our brandy snifters, talismans
of heat, sex; believe,' Beautiful, I missed this also, it's a lovely little read - I'm not used to your smaller writes. I like this alot, it was like a winter breeze.
12th Mar 2011 3:25am
Thanks, Poppy. Yes, I actually write many smaller poems, trying to hone things down to the heart of the matter~but every so often, I like to write the longer ones too(kind of like letting a horse out of its stall to gallop the fields, I think?).
