Character's name: Jefferson Daniels
What character is doing at the moment: Combing his hair until it's perfect.
What character is thinking about: The '57 Chevy he saw at the auto dealer
Most significant event in character's life: His mother died two years ago.
Character's dearest wish: To own that Chevy
That information was given to me by my poetry classmates. And I then had to write a poem about him. It was so much fun I thought that maybe we could try it here and share results!
Here's the deal:
Write an uber-short poem in any style about the described Jefferson Daniels--15 lines MAX.
Do not take a long time to do it--15 minutes MAX. (ok. So 20 minutes is fine. But no more than 20)
Have fun; we're not trying to get a TS Eliot here. (But that might be interesting.)
Then post your poem as a comment to this entry.
In a few days I'll post my version of Jefferson Daniels. But I want to see your variations on this theme without giving you a writer's block. Have fun :)
Posted by stephanie at March 5, 2004 08:39 PM | TrackBackJefferson Daniels
Reflection rampant in his brain,
He could see himself once again.
But perfection hadn't been achieved
Not of self or status in his world believed.
The glass reminded him of the past,
Of that car he saw so very fast.
Her gentle wave, his Mother's smile,
His introspection went on awhile.
This image that he contemplated
His hair, his face, to himself admitted
His lack of satisfaction in waking.
He wanted that car; it remained accusing!
The car that from him had taken dearly,
His hope, His Mother: Yes. He saw it clearly.
9 minutes
Posted by: james micah at March 6, 2004 12:10 AMThe left hand cups the locks
cowlick back, and back and
Mom always took the time.
Spit that cleaned a dirty face.
Plastic taps white
yellow light becomes blue
Domed under pale skies
The left hand shoved in pocket
Daniels is our hero, our knight
his damsel sporting rubber feet
and a grinning metal face.
"Griselda" he had christened her
chrome and glass, the whole she-bang
Caged by sportcoat hydra
breathing lies, cigar-smoke dollar signs.
man, you guys are good. i'm in the presence of professionals. oh well...
Daniels, Jefferson
The gel molded each hair like a painter’s stroke
Each hair except the three in the very back
No matter the stroke, or the growing goo
Would lay the mavericks down
He stared at his face and hated his hair
And the way they wouldn’t lay down
He fumbled with the mirror to see the back of his head
And fumed and fussed and caressed
A final irate command and he was in charge
And he imagined the scene
The wind whistled through that hair
And he laughed out loud with his Mum
As they cruised through the town
And loved their dream life
He stared at his face in the mirror
As the three hairs jumped up again.
motherless cox comb:
J.D. emptiness.
replacing water with sand.
sixteenth may
hair won't lay
disarray
clock delay
ticks convey
more gel spray
dad won't say
going grey
mom would say
she's away
mind astray
not ok
that looks gay
old cliche
but today
chevrolet
on display
job won't pay
find a way
anyway
dad won't say
mom can't pray
he won't stay
triple play
chevrolet
find a way
drive all day
Look at you, Jefferson Daniels;
oh, you real smooth Daniels.
You're gonna show her, aren't
you, Daniels? With your slicked
back hair--mmm you look
good Daniels--with
your slicked back hair
you gonna buy that car, Daniels.
Jefferson Moses Daniels
gonna part the sea and
buy a car. Then
Mama be proud of you.
"Looking in the Mirror"
Two year anniversary
All he thinks is:
"I want that Chevy"
Combing his hair to perfection
All he thinks is:
"MY car won't pass inspection"
Mom's life was taken in car
All he thinks is:
"The '57 may give me a scar"
He wants the plate to say "Jeffie"
All he thinks is:
"I want that Chevy"
6 mins
Posted by: Donna Sweede at March 20, 2004 01:41 PMIn the mirror, where you are
Dreaming of a Chevy car,
Does the gel you sleekly smother
Serve to plaster down your mother?
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