deepundergroundpoetry.com
S i l v e r
Edie Sedgwick (1943 - 1971)
Youthquaker. Girl in the Black Tights.
Warhol's underground superstar.
She had left the silver foil walls, and the pull
of Hollywood, and this earthbound plane long
before I knew I loved & wanted to be like her.
Her skin of powdered rice paper, the
scent of rotting orchids, a drug-induced
Noh dancer with slow-writhing limbs akimbo.
Silver-gilded girl of the moment at the
Factory, that turned out Monroe silk screens
and porn to the drone of a refrigerator.
From asylum to the Big Apple, the
apple of her father's eye and his desires,
she'd sleep among gay lovers, pretty boys
with erotic names of exotic birds, knowing
she was safe for a while as they quarreled
among themselves: who would bring her
chocolate shakes, and chauffeur their princess
to her doctor's for injections
( she was too much a lady to do it herself ).
Until her fingertips became match-heads
setting fire to hotel rooms, flailing from
inside a closet while bellboys stole her furs.
Face of a comatose junkie drawing deep on
filter-less cigarettes ( she wasn't afraid ), and yet
what deeds have you, Edith, what deeds?
But wasn't she fabulous! remembering back
when she and Suky spent trips screaming
from a convertible through San Marcos Pass,
their bright scarves fluttering like kite tails.
In that same wind she'd ride her roan
along the spine ridge of Rancho Laguna
without sense of dominion over the land
with its wild fires that went on forever,
where the ashes of her brothers, and their
self-possessed and possessing father of
eight in his brood had been far-flung
and one day so too would hers be, alone
under shade trees in the valley of Santa Inez.
•Noh - Japanese classic theatre
•Suky - the youngest sister
•Rancho Laguna - the 6,000 acre family ranch
•San Marcos Pass & Santa Inez Valley, near Santa Barbara, CA
•Actress Kyra Sedgwick is Edith's niece.
(preview photo from Wikipedia stock)
.
Youthquaker. Girl in the Black Tights.
Warhol's underground superstar.
She had left the silver foil walls, and the pull
of Hollywood, and this earthbound plane long
before I knew I loved & wanted to be like her.
Her skin of powdered rice paper, the
scent of rotting orchids, a drug-induced
Noh dancer with slow-writhing limbs akimbo.
Silver-gilded girl of the moment at the
Factory, that turned out Monroe silk screens
and porn to the drone of a refrigerator.
From asylum to the Big Apple, the
apple of her father's eye and his desires,
she'd sleep among gay lovers, pretty boys
with erotic names of exotic birds, knowing
she was safe for a while as they quarreled
among themselves: who would bring her
chocolate shakes, and chauffeur their princess
to her doctor's for injections
( she was too much a lady to do it herself ).
Until her fingertips became match-heads
setting fire to hotel rooms, flailing from
inside a closet while bellboys stole her furs.
Face of a comatose junkie drawing deep on
filter-less cigarettes ( she wasn't afraid ), and yet
what deeds have you, Edith, what deeds?
But wasn't she fabulous! remembering back
when she and Suky spent trips screaming
from a convertible through San Marcos Pass,
their bright scarves fluttering like kite tails.
In that same wind she'd ride her roan
along the spine ridge of Rancho Laguna
without sense of dominion over the land
with its wild fires that went on forever,
where the ashes of her brothers, and their
self-possessed and possessing father of
eight in his brood had been far-flung
and one day so too would hers be, alone
under shade trees in the valley of Santa Inez.
•Noh - Japanese classic theatre
•Suky - the youngest sister
•Rancho Laguna - the 6,000 acre family ranch
•San Marcos Pass & Santa Inez Valley, near Santa Barbara, CA
•Actress Kyra Sedgwick is Edith's niece.
(preview photo from Wikipedia stock)
.
Published 27th Nov 2016
| Edited 5th Feb 2017
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
likes 9
reading list entries 1
comments 16
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The author encourages honest critique.
27th Nov 2016 1:28pm
The ink that you weave is more spectacular than you give yourself credit for.
A skillful homage, well done Jade.
- UV
A skillful homage, well done Jade.
- UV
My truly humble thanks, UV, for such consideration, and for embracing yet another of my writes. My regard for Edith shines in this piece.
-Jade
-Jade
I love your kick to Edie... And the factory that was her rocket to the world and her imminent destruction... But what an "IT" girl she was... An illumination like road flares in a sterling candelabra...
excellent write, Jade
Geoff
excellent write, Jade
Geoff
28th Nov 2016 00:10am
Gosh Geoffrey, thank you so much, and I adore this "slam dunk" comment:
"An illumination like road flares in a sterling candelabra...".
👍👌👏
Jadey
"An illumination like road flares in a sterling candelabra...".
👍👌👏
Jadey
27th Nov 2016 4:21pm
28th Nov 2016 00:57am
27th Nov 2016 4:31pm
28th Nov 2016 1:03am
Thank you, dearest Ahavati, for letting me know of your embrace and also of your fascination. I love it!
27th Nov 2016 5:45pm
Jade, you've introduced me to a fascinating tragic character who seemed to have lived at 100 mph. A bright flame destined to linger amongst us but a short time. Brava!
Thank you, Bob, I'm so glad you could begin to learn about Edith. She did seem to travel at the speed is sound. And she seldom was still. She always seemed to be dancing when on her feet. I used to be that way. And even while she slept, her hands/fingers were on the move.
I could've mentioned so many additional facts & details, but it would not've been a poem of essence anymore.
I could've mentioned so many additional facts & details, but it would not've been a poem of essence anymore.
Well hello Miss Pandora
I appologise in advance, the subject matter of your writing is one I'm deeply fond of, so this comment will take some space on your page. ;)
My fave quote from the beautiful Edie
"I'd like to turn the whole world on, for just a moment"
I loved how the first stanza set the tone by declaring a love and almost an image of a celebrity crush type interest. The want to be like her, makes a reader go well give it to me, tell me. (special and well penned)
The use of "akimbo" in the second stanza is perfectly placed. You can see her standing there hands on hips, attitude in her stance. The classic theatre reference just prior helps that image perfectly. Dancers do akimbo!
Your description of Wahrol's "The Factory" is lovely. Exactly as I imagined it to be. I was surprised that you fast tracked her life to the inclusion of Wein so quickly but it becomes evident later.
The mention of her father's over interest becomes a pivot space in your poem. I was surprised you didn't mention her brother. I'm in awe of your way of discussing the addiction issues.. Just wow!
The imagery of her road trips with her sister was memorable and the writing admiral.
The lead to the closing is swift and tidy and I don't think you could have given her death more justice than...
" And one day so too would hers be, alone
under shade trees in the valley of Santa Inez."
Jade this is stunning really. Well done! Thank you for the read. It musta been a heavy write to puzzle together. Suitably impressed!
Blue Skies @You
Al-x-
I appologise in advance, the subject matter of your writing is one I'm deeply fond of, so this comment will take some space on your page. ;)
My fave quote from the beautiful Edie
"I'd like to turn the whole world on, for just a moment"
I loved how the first stanza set the tone by declaring a love and almost an image of a celebrity crush type interest. The want to be like her, makes a reader go well give it to me, tell me. (special and well penned)
The use of "akimbo" in the second stanza is perfectly placed. You can see her standing there hands on hips, attitude in her stance. The classic theatre reference just prior helps that image perfectly. Dancers do akimbo!
Your description of Wahrol's "The Factory" is lovely. Exactly as I imagined it to be. I was surprised that you fast tracked her life to the inclusion of Wein so quickly but it becomes evident later.
The mention of her father's over interest becomes a pivot space in your poem. I was surprised you didn't mention her brother. I'm in awe of your way of discussing the addiction issues.. Just wow!
The imagery of her road trips with her sister was memorable and the writing admiral.
The lead to the closing is swift and tidy and I don't think you could have given her death more justice than...
" And one day so too would hers be, alone
under shade trees in the valley of Santa Inez."
Jade this is stunning really. Well done! Thank you for the read. It musta been a heavy write to puzzle together. Suitably impressed!
Blue Skies @You
Al-x-
"You live alone, creating your life as you go." -Edie
Hello dear Al, and no need for apologies. I welcome your wonderful comment! Btw, the quote of her's that you included, I know it so well. In fact, when I wrote my homage, everything came easily to me, without it becoming a mere laundry list of her life, because I've studied her all my life. The poem was birthed in a single session of composing. I don't know if you've heard of the artist/writer/singer Patti Smith, but she wrote a poem to Edie, a tribute of her own that mentions iconic things about her that I didn't include (like her hair, her earrings, and batwing eyelashes, and so on). But I included other things that Patti might not even had knowledge of when she wrote the poem. But she wrote just enough, and I think I too wrote just enough. And I'm glad to know of your love of Edith.
I had to smile however, because I was surprised that you were surprised, thinking I hadn't mentioned her brother. I actually mentioned both of her brothers who met with untimely & tragic deaths. Bobby, who died in a violent motorcycle accident. And dear sweet Minty (Minturn), who committed suicide. And Jonathan, the youngest brother who survived the insanity, when he rode out to a high place on the family ranch to scatter his father's ashes, he said the wind blew up the slope, carrying the ashes back up, swirling around him, and he said "I was eating my father!".
My battery is low so I can't say much more about the rest of your comment, Al, but you've given me a fantastic gift,
ever,
Jadey🌾
Hello dear Al, and no need for apologies. I welcome your wonderful comment! Btw, the quote of her's that you included, I know it so well. In fact, when I wrote my homage, everything came easily to me, without it becoming a mere laundry list of her life, because I've studied her all my life. The poem was birthed in a single session of composing. I don't know if you've heard of the artist/writer/singer Patti Smith, but she wrote a poem to Edie, a tribute of her own that mentions iconic things about her that I didn't include (like her hair, her earrings, and batwing eyelashes, and so on). But I included other things that Patti might not even had knowledge of when she wrote the poem. But she wrote just enough, and I think I too wrote just enough. And I'm glad to know of your love of Edith.
I had to smile however, because I was surprised that you were surprised, thinking I hadn't mentioned her brother. I actually mentioned both of her brothers who met with untimely & tragic deaths. Bobby, who died in a violent motorcycle accident. And dear sweet Minty (Minturn), who committed suicide. And Jonathan, the youngest brother who survived the insanity, when he rode out to a high place on the family ranch to scatter his father's ashes, he said the wind blew up the slope, carrying the ashes back up, swirling around him, and he said "I was eating my father!".
My battery is low so I can't say much more about the rest of your comment, Al, but you've given me a fantastic gift,
ever,
Jadey🌾
27th Nov 2016 10:27pm
What a beautiful tribute you've painted, Jade! ☺ I love learning from other writer's posts.
Willow
Willow
28th Nov 2016 7:57am
Why thank you so much, Willow!
I've always believed in and practiced learning from other writers since I became one in earnest. Whether from a novice, or from a classic writer, clear back to Sappho.
I'm touched if you might learn from anything I've ever written.
_Jade
I've always believed in and practiced learning from other writers since I became one in earnest. Whether from a novice, or from a classic writer, clear back to Sappho.
I'm touched if you might learn from anything I've ever written.
_Jade
25th May 2018 4:59am
25th May 2018 10:32am
Andy, what a wonderful surprise!
Did my homage & subsequent replies to other readers’ comments shed light on Edith you might otherwise not have known?
I thank you yet again, for stopping here at this particular poem, to read & comment & even the honor of your RL...
~Jadey
Did my homage & subsequent replies to other readers’ comments shed light on Edith you might otherwise not have known?
I thank you yet again, for stopping here at this particular poem, to read & comment & even the honor of your RL...
~Jadey
