The Ultimate Act of Love in The ’80s #Day22 #NaPoWriMo

 
 ...and now live 
    from the Vic Theater 
       here in Chicago 
          The Pat Metheny Group!

I take a deep breath, press down on two fingers and 
peering in on the small window of the boombox 
— you know, to make sure the cassette reel is indeed moving —
I exhale.

I sneeze a great big sneeze, blow my nose, and fluffing the pillow, I recline.
 
    Scooped
       Round
          Squishy
             Buttery
                Smooth

My shoulders rise and fall with the tones of the guitar,
and when I imagine Leni and Craig, 
and John— Oh, John, he had to go to The Vic without me— I sigh.

Minutes later, the two buttons eject to alert me that one side is full. 
I flip the 90-minute tape to side B, 
press the same two fingers down on the buttons,
check the reel and exhale again.

Over the weekend, after making duplicates I label them: 
                  Pat Metheny, The Vic 11/29/87.
                                 ***
                    © 2021 selmamartin.com

Photo by Eric Nopanen on Unsplash

https://www.napowrimo.net/

Grateful for yet another excellent prompt that took me back decades. Thank you, NaPoWriMo, you rock. And, know what? I still have that old cassette tape.

You call this one metonymy in poetry. A new vocabulary word for me, so on that count, again, thanks.

The optional prompt for Day22 states: Today, I'd like to challenge you to write a poem that invokes a specific object as a symbol of a particular time, era, or place.

Please, let me hear from you if you’re familiar with the particular symbol I chose for you today. And even if you’re not familiar, be kind and leave me a comment, please. Thanks.

Be well, and I wish you miracles. xoxo, Selma.

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Selma Martin

I’m a simple woman who dares to see the beauty in ordinary. I’d love to connect with you and like pen pals, I want something beautiful to blossom between us. Will you join me? Selma is my middle name. Its meaning—peaceful, complete, are euphoric affirmations I like to think of myself as having. They compliment the joy I feel when I write. I sincerely hope you decide to join me on my writing journey. I Wish You Miracles.

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This Post Has 5 Comments

Manja Mexi Mexcessive April 22, 2021 Reply

I love it how metonymy became Pat Metheny. 🙂 Oh yes, this is how we recorded… I never had records growing up, only cassettes. I always thought that was better because we could make compilations. I got rid of them all before moving to tapeless Tuscany.
1. Selma Martin April 22, 2021 Reply
  
  Yeah, a new word I didn’t know. And when I saw it I thought of Metheny. 😃
  I appreciate you dropping by to read and comment. (Don’t get many of either 😢)
  Visited your place also. Wow. Your pictures are amazing. And even that post had a door. Leave it to a photographer to find that. Wow!
  Oh yes. The poem. Poppies. 🤩 you rock, lady. Be well.
Smitha V April 22, 2021 Reply

Selma you brought back lovely memories of cassette tapes and the recording of songs. I remember being given one by my husband ( boyfriend then) with all his favorite songs. I’d listen to it constantly believing they were dedicated to me. Lol. Your poem was lovely!
Chado April 22, 2021 Reply

Nice how you locked in a 1980s vibe here.
The graphic is a perfect complement.
1. Selma Martin May 13, 2021 Reply
  
  I’m late to acknowledge your visit. Forgive. I appreciate your words. Be well. I wish you miracles