The Story in Her Eyes

This poem was inspired by a song by Peter Sarstedt, "Where Do You Go to My Lovely?"

Her eyes tell a different story

of ragged clothes and dirty streets.

From days of old there is no hiding

when tummies growled 

and anger seethed.

 

But a pretty face can a magnet be

flaunting silky smooth skin and golden hair

and takes her from the dark damp street

to Paris, London 

or anywhere.

 

Yet sometimes in the dark of night

memories come back and haunt her dreams

and she reflects on the life that she is now living

which is colder than those streets

it seems.

 

With eyes half open she greets the dawn

the sun slowly rising, a new day is born,

and for a moment she basks in her memories

of the boy she loved from her

 life before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

Reviews

[emmajoy]

How sad but somehow inspiring your words are, Dara. So many people wear masks, desperately trying to save selves from fading to nothing. It only takes a single being to force way into a fragile spirit to destroy it. That known, putting on a show, creating a facade is a form of armour. Your character, bless her, is braver than her persecutor.

[Dara]

“Creating a facade is a form of armory.” A very insightful statement and definitely holds a lot of truth in it! Great of you to stop by and review one of my favorite but least read poems. The song really touched me and inspired me to jot down these simple words. So nice to hear from you my friend! Sometimes you seem to appear when I most need one too. :-)

[Abhilash Hegde]

Well written, the poem goes back and forth in times.
Seems the protagonist in the poem has a transition in life from rags to better life but yet finds memories in old life beckoning her. Money, fame, or better lifestyle may not bring happiness - its the state of mind, the stability, balance and peace that may. Life from streets is hard, but may be more real from the life in palaces (thinking..)
Thanks for sharing!

[Dara]

Very well expressed. You have captured the essence of the poem nicely. Money can’t buy love or happiness. Thank you for sharing your reflections on my poem!

[NotUsinganymore]

Vry beautiful poem about poverty it seems. I enjoyed it especially wehn I have been a victim of poverty.

[Dara]

Thank you. I am so sorry to hear about your living in poverty. It is hard to completely comprehend what it is like unless you actually experience. I hope life is treating you much kinder now.

[NotUsinganymore]

It is thank you c:

[Betty Hermelee]

sometimes it is difficult to make the transition from poverty and street life to the upper class. It doesn't necessarily mean happiness. It's what you've been used to that feels comfortable, not necessarily what you've become. A nice comment on life transitions. Nice write Dara!

[Dara]

Thank you Betty. I am also reading Love in the Time of Cholera and it has a similar theme. As the saying goes “ You can take the girl out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the girl”. Hope you are doing well! Take care :-)

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Beautiful Poem
Thanks for sharing it and I’ve always loved that song
I think your poem is very true
Her memories are kept private of a hard life
She only shows the world her success her beauty not the real her what she has been through to get there where she is today

[Dara]

I just recently heard this song and fell in love with it. The theme from rags to riches is common enough but those lessons learned from a hard life must linger. Sad to think looks can get people places but of course real “beauty is only skin deep.” Great to see you! Thanks :-)