Every Afternoon at Four

by Anna Stephens   Oct 29, 2015


Every Afternoon at Four

Every afternoon at four o'clock
The day finds her reclining
On a tattered chaise from her last movie
Thirty years ago. An aging diva
In a stained dressing gown
Holding court with her memories

She recalls it all each day at four
It starts after her third manhattan
Suitors, money, fame, lovers and husbands
All now just a blur of self-pity
Her loveliness well past gone
Adoration and spotlights dimmed to dark

"Good Morning Heartache" drifts through the air
From an ancient phonograph in the parlor
Somehow the scratches compliment the voice
Billie Holiday could always make her cry
Walls of pictures stare back with hollow eyes
She remembers the story attached to each

They found her one afternoon at four
Reclined on the same tattered chaise
A favorite photograph clutched to her breast
At last released from regrets of the past
No tears would flow, no one to grieve
As the phonograph played on and on and on...

copyright Anna Stephens

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Latest Comments

  • 10 years ago

    by J Nair

    Anna your poem 'Every Afternoon at Four' is an excellent piece of work.
    I think every one could relate to it, a juncture in life which is yet to come for all or for some it has come and gone.

    The reminissence of bygone days, lost opportunities, fading youth are all so beautifully captured in this poem.

    If it was projected as a movie it definitley would come under the genre 'Drama'. The time clocked is perfect too....

    Congratulations on a well deserved win.
    Thank you,
    Jay

  • 10 years ago

    by J Nair

    Anna your poem 'Every Afternoon at Four' is an excellent piece of work.
    I think every one could relate to it, a juncture in life which is yet to come for all or for some it has come and gone.

    The reminissence of bygone days, lost opportunities, fading youth are all so beautifully captured in this poem.

    If it was projected as a movie it definitley would come under the genre 'Drama'. The time clocked is perfect too....

    Congratulations on a well deserved win.
    Thank you,
    Jay

  • 10 years ago

    by Sunshine

    I like the simple yet vague title, got me interested.

    Afternoons always reflect that type of theme where things go emotional and deep; for some reason.

    A stunning way of narrating a story in such a poetic and descriptive way. It's an ultimate role, the one you helped your words play to serve your comprehension.

    It's very touching and very and its much easier than one could think to relate to this piece by personal experience.

    Found this to be worth of highlight!

    Well done for writing.

  • 10 years ago

    by Sunshine

    I like the simple yet vague title, got me interested.

    Afternoons always reflect that type of theme where things go emotional and deep; for some reason.

    A stunning way of narrating a story in such a poetic and descriptive way. It's an ultimate role, the one you helped your words play to serve your comprehension.

    It's very touching and very and its much easier than one could think to relate to this piece by personal experience.

    Found this to be worth of highlight!

    Well done for writing.

  • 10 years ago

    by Ingrid

    We all want to grow old, but no one wants to be the kind of person you portrayed here, living in past memories!

    Well done,

    Ingrid

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