It’s a black and white day – fitting for a journey to the past
where yesterday easily blurrs with today
where peering through dilapidated windows
throws a muddied light
upon shadows of specters
strolling paint chipped hallways,
jingling their rings of brass skeleton keys
reminding the building’s blue-chambray-shirted guests
that freedom
is now nothing
but a seven-letter-word.
However,
upon further inspection
faint echoes of The Beer Barrel Polka
bust from a cumbersome form of piano’s cousin
One hand’s stubby, transparent fingers
rest upon strategic ladybug-sized buttons
while the other flies over keys of a different sort
lending an air of camouflage
to the aria sung by filed spoon handles
– improvised tools –
tapping,
scraping,
gouging,
at moldering cement
in secret preparation
for the escape
from
Alcatraz.
Only on the ride home
do these blurred visions return to focus.
Ever been to Alcatraz? What was your experience? If you do manage a visit in the next few weeks, you’ll be able to catch the Ai Weiwei Exhibit on Human Rights and Freedom of Expression. It’s well worth the trip! Here’s a teaser…
Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner 
Oh, Donna! This one is on my bucket list when we go to California next year! I have heard so many people say what a neat trip Alcatraz is. Love that shot of the sailboat on the trip back and the format of this, how you intermingled black and white and present and past really does give a good sense of blurring!
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It is definitely worth the trip. Just remember to buy your tickets ahead of time. Although they do a nice job with crowd control, I think late afternoon is less crowded and since summertime stays light out longer, it’s a nice option. BUT then there’s always the SPOOK tour at night. Ah…so many options. Thanks for stopping by and for your lovely comment.
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Thanks for the advice! Will remember all that!
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What great ghostly images from a place with plenty to spare, I’m sure. I love this: “…ladybug-sized buttons”!
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Well Windy, you’ve been an inspiration for descriptive scenes lately…actually, not just lately. 🙂
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I’ve never been, nor am I likely to ever get there, but I have seen docos about it. I have been on a night tour of our old Quarantine Station on Sydney Harbour and it was pretty spooky. Some – well lots actually – guests died while visiting, and some were murdered. It can get really scarey when they take you through the mortuary section and turn out the lights 😀
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😮 ooooooo…you could work that into one of your manuscripts. I’ve got the heebie jeebies just thinking about it.
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I could do, couldn’t I…hmmm…Yep, know exactly where it’s going. Thanks, Donna, you’re a legend 😀
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😎 and I have you to thank for these lovely emoticons too!
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You do?
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Yup ❗ https://theencouragingscribe.wordpress.com/2014/10/13/shiny-smiley/#comment-1975
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Oh yeah…I forgot about that post. Actually, we both should be thankful to Alastair 😀
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Well then, 🐻 to you both!
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