Vogue

Vogue

A Poem by Kelly Scheppers
"

...the big band era of swing

"


Vogue


______________

________


 


It was the forties -
the big band era of swing.

The lean years
of jitterbug and zoot suits,
of pin up girls and jukeboxes.
When Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman
were president
and World War II had come to an end.

It was

Citizen Kane and Casablanca.
When a broad was a woman
and a woman was broad shouldered
and fur clad.
When black and white was in vogue,
and Mildred Pierce was a mystery
told in flashbacks…

and Joan Crawford
was the Mommy dearest

of them all.




photography by fanpop.com


 


____________


 





 




 


© 2015 Kelly Scheppers


Author's Note

Kelly Scheppers
I googled the years in which my parents grew up as teenagers...this is what I came up with!

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Reviews

dear Kelly, I was born in 1940.
I am drawn to the old movies and
love Casablanca.
"We'll always have Paris".
Love the big band sound and I
am drawn to The Salvation Army
brass band. I am truly an old soul
with Hungarian in my blood.
I adore your poem. Love, Pat

Posted 9 Years Ago


Kelly Scheppers

9 Years Ago

I adore your old soul...it's what makes you the compassionate person you are! I am thrilled you enj.. read more
Patricia Wedel

9 Years Ago

dear Kelly... You are Cecil De mills' angel
of WritersCafe. truly, Pat
Kelly Scheppers

9 Years Ago

What a lovely thing to say...thank you, darlin!
Loved it, love the music, movies, style, the whole ensemble. Well done!

Posted 9 Years Ago


Kelly Scheppers

9 Years Ago

...thank you so much for visiting!
I saw a guy on Everybody Loves Raymond wearing a Zoot suit to go jiving - those suits were something else.
"When a broad was a woman
and a woman was broad shouldered" - you mean they were bigger than the shoulders on DALLAS? My word!
This is such a great write about a gentler (socially speaking) time. I love history and I love this Kelly. A wonderful new string to your already glam bow.

Posted 9 Years Ago


Kelly Scheppers

9 Years Ago

Lol, how funny...that was Robert, Raymond's brother who dressed in a Zoot suit!! I saw that!! Don'.. read more
ANTO

9 Years Ago

How funny was Raymonds crazy dancing - the girl he chose to dance beside said to him - "I think you .. read more
I was just listening to some Glenn Miller! This poem made my day!! Great write! :-)

Posted 9 Years Ago


Kelly Scheppers

9 Years Ago

Oh girl, I love it! I have a CD set by Linda Ronstadt and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra doing those o.. read more
I am impressed. Have you got some more! I was just kickin[ back!

Posted 9 Years Ago


Kelly Scheppers

9 Years Ago

...aww, thank you, Raj! I get such a rush when I think of those torch singers back then, standing i.. read more
I knew you did not live through those years, but you took us all on a grand tour of the forties with your words and great references. "When a broad was a woman and a woman was broad shouldered and fur clad." Oh yes! I have photos of my mom dressed like this...with a matching hat of course. Wonderful write, Kelly! Lydi***

Posted 9 Years Ago


Kelly Scheppers

9 Years Ago

I adored the "look" that women had back then...the pencil skirts and the shoulder pads, oh my!! I kn.. read more
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Both of my grandparents fought during WWII and survived. My paternal grandfather's house was actually burned three times by the German army, and my maternal grandparents hid a young Jewish girl in their barn... it was a different time in Albania. We did not get to see any of the Vogue you've mentioned, but I came to learn about it well after communism fell... ahhh.. memories.. memories.. great write my friend!
xoxoxoxo

Posted 9 Years Ago


Kelly Scheppers

9 Years Ago

Oh darlin, I am so sorry!
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...
excellent reminisce of the 40's, my dear poetess :)

Posted 9 Years Ago


Kelly Scheppers

9 Years Ago

So kind of you to say, Lynn..it was great writing it and bringing it all together! Thank you!
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dan
Aah, Joan Crawford...she single-handedly almost brought down the entire hanger industry. Just try to imagine 60-70 years from now, which people will be looked back on and included in writes such as this one. It's funny how romanticized the past eras of stage and screen appear to us now, everyone focuses on the good, the F. Scott Fitzgerald-like world of Beverly Hills and Hollywood and Vine. But that's the fun of looking back, is it not? A beautiful newsreel moment revealed. Thanks for that, Kelly. take care...dan

Posted 9 Years Ago


Kelly Scheppers

9 Years Ago

I do believe you're right, Dan! She had to be the motivation behind those molded plastic hangers yo.. read more
I love the history of that decade almost as much as the twenties. Growing up, the WWII guys were still relatively spry and full of stories and grit. We're losing them at such an alarming rate now it's sad. But that's time for ya. During the nineties swing was kind of popular. Remember that? It passed way too fast before we could get good at it. I enjoyed this. CD

Posted 9 Years Ago


Kelly Scheppers

9 Years Ago

My grandfather was one of those WWII guys...how wonderful of you to acknowledge their presence in th.. read more
CD Campbell

9 Years Ago

You are very welcome Kelly.

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1161 Views
31 Reviews
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Added on May 14, 2015
Last Updated on May 14, 2015
Tags: big bands, jitterbug, zoot suits, WW11, Joan Crawford

Author

Kelly Scheppers
Kelly Scheppers

San Diego, CA



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I was never a pearl kind of girl... always wore jeans with holes in the knees. more..

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