Little Black Dressed; Together

Little Black Dressed; Together

There are two stories and a resultant lyric poem here. One story is about relationship. The other is a story of a couple collaborations that came as a result of the relationship. How two people’s mutual likes begat more.

I’ve brought the Life Coach and Artist and Another Artist to this piece but you can scroll down to the lyric poetry if you so choose.

These two people encountered each other as peers. A real relationship formed from their encounter and they became and shall always be good friends.

More simply I liked her goodies and she liked mine. No, you don’t have to send the kids out of the room. This is a family hour tale and would be a good one to share with the kids. The kiddies might not be ready for the lyric poetry.

Both of us write, well. Two writers got together and something very good happened. The fact is 3 very good things happened on the writing level. Yes friendships are good things too but those are beyond being good and have special place as this friendship does.

You may have seen “Little Black Dressed” differently. If you haven’t you can read the exercise in poetry that Lady Anonymous and I did. Poetry for an Acrostic phrase I came up with, “Little Black Dress”. The first letter of every line when read down like a crossword puzzle make the phrase. Together we gave the readers the perspective from both a woman and a man on that item of apparel. Lady Anon was kind enough to give it up for me when I asked her to write the woman’s perspective.

Looking at things differently led to collaborating with Lady Anon again to this time make lyric poetry. We got to know each other better and a friendship grew. Grew in the same way all relationships grow, by getting to know each other.

Early on in the relationship me and Lady A, we’d say the exact same thing to each other but different. She’d send me things with a consideration and I’d do the same for her. She’d say something like, “if you’ve seen this, sorry for sending it”. I’d send things and say, “I don’t know what you know, I know what I know” for something she might already know. My friend and me, we haven’t used those disclaimers for a long time now. Some things become a given and some givens in relationship are comfortable.

After that interlude, back to collaboration.

I was reading the poem by Lady Anon and saw something that got me thinking. I gave her piece a little spin, flipping the 3^rd and 4^th stanzas. Then I headed over to a piece I’d written, “Corridor’s End” to ponder on the chorus in that poem.

I checked in with Lady Anonymous on whether or not I’d shown her just the flipping of the stanzas or moved the piece along to her after I’d added the chorus in. She is of the mind that I put it together and then sent along what I’d done for her consideration so we’ll go with that.

Yes, there was some concern on my part how what I had done would be received. At the time I did what I did, the relationship we have hadn’t been going on for all that long. You start playing with someone’s work, there is damn good reason for you to have concern!

I’m never comfortable with begging forgiveness rather than asking permission. Fortunately Lady Anonymous really liked what I did. She also assuaged my slightly guilty conscience and assured me no harm and there was no concern because it was me.

We take a little sideslip back in to the relationship here. This relationship began in a place common to both of us. Two people out doing things they like to do in a place they like to do it. There are others who do the same. We are talking about the Internet and not a local writers circle. The specific location we both hang out on the web is WordPress.

I’ve shared this little tidbit with people for a long time and frequently with people wondering why they can’t meet someone, why they can’t find relationship. Simple stuff really. You only meet people in 2 places and 2 places only. The 2 places you meet people are at work and in your activities. That’s it.

If you live to work you’ll probably find someone in your work environment like you and the two of you will be quite happy. If you work to live, it means “you” getting out there and doing the things “you” like to do in the places those things happen. Means you might be going places on your own but the bright side is, when you get there you’ll find other people doing that same thing you like to do!

Lady A knew me well enough to know that I see differently, I go delving in to works from different angles. You can see for yourself what I mean by the different angles by reading, “Overdosed, The Creation Of”. FYI, Lady Anonymous was an incredible sounding board as that piece of poetry came to life.

We talked about why I flipped the stanzas. By flipping the stanzas we had the tale of a woman who just couldn’t take the charade anymore. A woman who couldn’t be what she’d become. A woman who has reached her emotional end. The original poem in its acrostic form wouldn’t have stood up just by giving it a chorus. The tale would of been disjointed.

Lady Anonymous in her version of, “Little Black Dress” showed the woman in both 1^st person and 3^rd person. We had a good amount of chatter back and forth between us during the titching and the result is all 1^st person and oh so very personal!

Lady A’s woman’s touch was especially helpful when I was punching up the chorus. It was in consultation with Lady A that I took the masculine harder hit out for a softer landing.

For all of you, Lady Anonymous will always be, Good Friend.

We hope you enjoy this collaborative work as much as “WE” enjoyed its creation!

G.R. Hambley ©
May 26, 2016

Little Black Dressed

Living out life in a gleeful rage
Innocence in this smile, tricks in another
The sweetness of the slaughter upon the lips
The second-hand silk is only a tease

Nowhere to be, what flew from heaven at your sound
Hoping and praying, the sound of the wings just not around

Looking for approval while asking for criticism
Emotions raw beneath the reflection
Betraying the cards up this sleeve
Lucky that mirrors always forget

Nowhere to be, what flew from heaven at your sound
Kneeling and praying, the sound of the wings just not around

Returning home alone once more
Every morning it’s just the same
Salting the wounds with a shot of Jack
Sleeping past noon in last night’s silk

Nowhere to be, what flew from heaven at your sound
Falling and praying, the sound of the wings just not around

Assaulting jealousy with laughter
Concealing the weariness with wit
Killing time in exquisite ways
Dying, one day, with memories instead of fantasies

Now it’s gone, no more when you call is an angel found
No angel can save you when your body touches down

Now it’s gone
No angel around
Now it’s gone
No angel found

Lady Anonymous & G.R. Hambley ©
March 12, 2015

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