Lost Vegas

Prove to me the light rains
When strings and people fold
Accidents through fraction splice
Inferno flames you froze 

Flails of neon ghosting
Spewing high-beam wires
Apocalypse unwitting
Incandescent drivers

For had all come to waiting
As life were bursting free
Magician waves her hand to try
Lost Vegas now my dreams

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70 Responses to “Lost Vegas”

  1. betweenhearts75 Says:

    You weave a fascinating structure of words! Always so well done! “Lost” Vegas…often many wish to visit…however not sure it’d be my forte of dreams πŸ˜‰ ~Excellent work! ~April πŸ™‚

    • April, you know the old cliche: It’s a nice place to visit, but…. lol Sensory overload to me. Still, the lighting is majestic and fun to just wave a camera around πŸ™‚

  2. I really like this one Adam! I’ve been to Las Vegas and seen those ‘incandescent drivers’ :-0 and the ‘flails of neon ghosting’! Love the accompanying image too:-) Las Vegas really should be a mirage – but it isnt….:-)

  3. Lynda, thought you might like the image. It’s definitely no mirage… except for the resort of that name πŸ™‚ cheers

  4. betweenhearts75 Says:

    Meant to comment on the cool image! Certainly a fascinating capture with streamlining colors, I can see the camera enjoyment!!! πŸ™‚

  5. When I think of Las Vegas , I think about money that it would cost to just visit there. LOL Although I do love the beautiful colorful lights. Your poem as always my friend is just simply awesome. Did you have a nice Thanksgiving? Hugs and love Vi

  6. I did have a nice Thanksgiving, Vi. Must have been a tough one for you this year. Hope you enjoyed the company of family. Me, think I gained a pound from turkey and beer. lol Cheers, my friend πŸ™‚

  7. Never been there myself… ut i guess it must be , be felt that way… if you say say… greatly too
    πŸ™‚

  8. It was a tough one Adam, but my daughter and I open our home up to those who didn’t have family or friends to spend that day with. I cooked for two days, and with keeping busy, and having a house full of people helped my family and me get through the day. My guests even put up my Christmas Lights and decorated my tree. Hugs and Love Vi

  9. It’s Blackpool but more glamarous? Sensory overload, described beautifully Adam.

  10. I must agree with Shanellis…sensory comes to mind when I think of Las Vegas and place like it….nicely stated.

  11. Is there any place on earth as unreal as Vegas? Your poem captures the sensory overload I felt when visiting. It’s like falling into a kaleidoscope.

  12. The poem is so much like the pic you chose–twisting incandescence, colored candy sticks of light and mood. Very much the feel of Las Vegas, which I have about the same opinion of as Stephen King did in The Stand, the place the devil will come when it’s that time. πŸ˜‰

  13. You know, I would normally hate when my camera does that…but it fits nicely here, nice lead-in to the image of the poem. Strong wordplay and description – sounds a touch like madness setting in. Fabulous…and I’m pondering now all the crazy things that might happen just waving my camera around in Vegas.

  14. Every time I visit Vegas, it’s different. I went there first before the lights. The strip was just two or three motels with gaming rooms. Only 16, I was left to play penny slots outside the Golden Horseshoe after 5 while my mother tried her luck as 21 (not much).
    When I was there the last time, the taxi driver said…Oh those were the Mafia days. Every boss in town knew you were there and you were never safer in your life. It is worth it for the pictures, Adam, and the people. I hate to gamble. Love this work and your photo. Gay

    • You’ve some of the best stories I’ve heard. I hate to gamble too, & i don’t count career risks in that category, though perhaps my problem is I should. lol

  15. Vegas has to be one of the most unique places I’ve ever been. Where else could Cher pull down a three-year gig for $60 million?

    I especially like your two opening lines, and the perfect title.

  16. Lost Vegas, how true. It’s not a place I would feel comfortable visiting. I prefer the quiet life.

  17. Sensory overload, indeed. There is nothing sensual about LV but you bring it to life. Well done.

  18. signed .............bkm Says:

    love the title….that is exactly how I see Las Vegas…lost and cold…do not like it …people can have their dreams there…I prefet to avoid it….bkm

  19. Strong locale-centric work. Love the line “apocalypse unwitting”!

  20. Aahh.. well worded!! And very very apt too! I still remember.. the first time I landed in Vegas, I was so “lost”! Bedazzled, yes.. but sooooo lost! Just like the rest of the city.. lost in its own lights πŸ™‚
    I guess I do like my quietude after all..
    Beautiful poem, Adam.. you have a way of bringing out the innermost feelings with such few words!! Quite a knack!

  21. Yes, it was nice to visit but even better to go back home! However, the lights are incredible. Lots of great imagery in this poem!

  22. very nice! liked it very much!
    thank you

  23. “Lost Vegas.” Fun play on words.

    So, you tried to write a villanelle the other day? Did it happen? Where is it now? πŸ™‚

    • in the garbage. lol L.L., I used to write lots of villanelles. All the time. I was in the mindset to write them then, sonnets tooβ€”3-5 yrs. ago. Many are in my book, and I wish I could revise all of them! lol The other day, just wasn’t feeling the form. I’ll try a few more… usually that block is quick to fade. Cheers πŸ™‚

  24. very well painted..
    nice work πŸ™‚

  25. You create such a surreal visual image with your words. Never been to Vegas, but you certainly make it seem fascinating.

    Mine is here. http://razzamadazzle.wordpress.com/2010/11/30/two-souls/

  26. Anita Wakeham Says:

    Vegas is place I have never been and doubt I ever will go, I’m a country girl.
    Great poem Adam, the imagery in your words give me a clear vision of Vegas.

    Anita.

  27. Brilliant description Adam,haven’t been to vegas..but i got the image of Flails of neon ghosting
    Spewing high-beam wires
    Apocalypse unwitting
    Incandescent drivers

    rang bells in my head..i enjoy your prespective always my friend..interesting and marvellous picture πŸ™‚
    cheers from the rose πŸ™‚

  28. Nice one Adam.
    Its a very interesting slant on a vegas poem.
    I’ve read a few before.
    Though your words probably captured my idea of Vegas best

  29. ‘Inferno flames you froze’
    Great the way you weave words together

  30. Wild picture fitting for the city of lights. Great wording and image building to the place of lights.

  31. that image is so trippymodern-cool and teh words painted it poetically

  32. Wow…tight and absorbing imagery/poetry.

    I have only been there once, two years ago, and I hated it. A concrete city, and only came to life at night….All those Lights!

    Your poetry, which really sings when I heard your voice….captured this Lost city perfectly.

    Good job!

    Lady Nyo

  33. GK Asante Says:

    Excellent image, excellent poem. You captured the overbearing pulse of experiencing Las Vegas very well.

  34. Vegas never appealed to me but the lights in which you describe do.

  35. Vegas!!Glittering Lights…Expensive Dreams!Never been to it,but the photo you used and the words you wrote gave me a glimpse of Vegas!

    Thanks for sharing ,Dusutus!

  36. Real sorry for the typo!I meant to write Dustus.Hope it’s ok if I call you Adam next time!My sincere apology for the mistake.

    June

  37. As always Adam, great piece. Nice one shot. Love and Light, Sender

  38. I remember thinking Las Vegas was called “Lost Vegas” when I was a kid. (I also remember “The Long Ranger” – sounds like a porn star!) Nice One Shot, Adam!

  39. Lost Vegas is right! Very well done–enjoyed this.

  40. Sure such places are camera’s delight !! Wonderful words to go with the image πŸ™‚

  41. I love your creativity. It is vivid and true.

  42. Never been there, seeing power failure in your lines. Seeing movement in your image. Eye opening.

  43. Haven’t been to Vegas in a long time. Your lovely poem depicts it well.

  44. Wonderful Muse to come up with this…and the photo prompt was delightful.

    Cheers!

  45. the light rains…just as in your pic…i LOVE the light rains…slow shutter..?

    • Hey Claudia! Exactly. Was reading about trick photography and looking at examples.
      Hmm… wondering if the iPhone can capture light streaks well. hint hint. lol πŸ™‚
      cheers!

  46. Great poem! Still want to go though. All those lights look like magic.

  47. Never been there myself… and it is not on my β€œmust do” list.
    Nice writing

    cheers πŸ™‚

  48. Wow, that shot is so cool! And the poem so fitting. I really enjoyed this One Shot.

  49. You so vividly conjure in this poem what stays in the mind’s eye after a few nights in Las Vegas. But I love how the rhythm in the madness comes alive, too, in your poem. I recall the vastness crowded by “flails of neon ghosting” the memory as well. Thank you, Adam!

  50. hi dustus…nice poem for the city of vegas… And by the way thanks for a lovely comment

  51. I could so be there at the moment. Fun place. Nice One Shot.

  52. ahhh Las Vegas! Some call it “lost wages” love the word play — nice imagery in here as well. Nicely done!

  53. I’m back, and it’s clear that you have not lost your touch in the time I’ve been away. I especially loved the line: ‘Flails of neon ghosting’. Impressive word imagery there, my friend. πŸ™‚

  54. Never been to LV, but you’ve left quite a vision in my head πŸ™‚ that photo is very cool…

  55. I like Caty have never been to LV, USA for that matter, but loved your vision and poem Dustus

  56. This is both a haunting and an adventure! Your wordplay is so fun. and, of course, the title is just the bomb. Thanks for stopping to see me over at the Wellspring and encourage me in my first time at One Shot Wed. πŸ™‚

  57. Cool, Laura. Hope you enjoyed your first One Shot.

    Appreciate everyone taking the time to comment. Your respective works and talents inspire me to be a more focused writer.

    Cheers πŸ™‚

  58. Neon ghosting…LOVE IT!

    Thanks for this one shot!
    retrieval

  59. I have a certain view of Las Vegas as a 16 year old who just saw lots of lights and desperate people. Didn’t care for the place then and don’t care for it now. One relative extolled its charms by saying, “It has its own Effiel tower.” Why should I care after seeing the real one? iLLUSSION en masse.
    Love the photogrpah!

    • Hello, my friend. Interesting, I think your 16 yr. impressions of Vegas are similar to the ones I had of Atlantic City growing up. No la tour eiffel in Jersey, yet. lol In my opinion the only good that could come out of that hypothetical would be a Springsteen song. lol And you’re right… I don’t get people sometimes. Why did The House of Blues just pop into mind? lol Always enjoy your visits!

  60. You certainly are both an artist and writer. I have been to LOST Vegas many times and loved the lights, and no time, no limits LOL but I try not to go to often. Great Work. Thanks for sharing this wonder. Nancy

  61. LOL It can seem overwhelming when light, time, and limits change! For sure. Thank you, Nancy, for your very kind words πŸ™‚

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