Sunday, September 25, 2011

A Hard-Boiled Bird

Another nickel, another crazed midnight with Cleotis Hammersley. She insisted, the way only the lace-gloved, silk-trained rich can insist, that she was being spied on; she wanted, the way heroines always want, to leave the mansion and draw the watchers out; and it was raining, a way it never rains in southern California. I needed a drink, I needed a lot of life insurance . . . I needed a night alone reading Raymond Chandler. What I had was a coat of feathers, a black feather hat, a headache like a gun. I put them on and escorted Miss Hammersley to the granite shores.

For other writings inspired by this image, visit Magpie Tales.

22 comments:

  1. Kathy,
    Give her company. Give her strength. She needs it! Great verse!

    Hank

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  2. I must agree with Pare Hank, she needs someone with her...

    nice take!

    JJRod'z

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  3. Maybe she needs someone without a drinking problem...

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  4. such passion and hunger, powerfully delivered emotions.

    hope she gets what she needs to survive.

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  5. Chandler would be proud. Terrific write. : )

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  6. I love love love "headache like a gun"...

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  7. This is great. I love it. "A coat of feathers, a black feather hat, a headache like a gun."
    Fabulous homage to Chandler, another hard-boiled bird.

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  8. Perfect timing, Kathy. I just finished reading The Long Goodbye for the nth time. "The first kiss is magic, the second is intimate, the third is routine. After that you take the girl's clothes off."

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  9. Love how this one reads out to me. Words that sang. Lovely.

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  10. Tight piece. Love how it spills from the depths of intrigue.

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  11. Very imaginative, impressive read.

    Anna :o]

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  12. I think it's time your feathered friend found a new companion. Great response to the picture.

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  13. dang...like this one all the more...your descriptions are top notch and then the melancholy "i put them on", perfect...

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  14. I can hear a deep male voice ... a voice-over in a play, film or television production. Beautifully composed!!!!

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  15. Stunning title, followed by a stellar piece - a perfect Chandlerlike.

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  16. Nice writing! I enjoyed "She insisted, the way only the lace-gloved, silk-trained rich can insist," We get her number immediately!

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  17. Excellent
    thanks for sharing
    martine

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  18. Although I haven't explored many noir style books or films, this one had a touch of that. Good read :)

    Cheers,
    Arnab Majumdar on SribbleFest.com

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  19. Excellent - great atmosphere.

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