Monday, August 29, 2011

Delusion Angel

One of my absolute favourite movies, Before Sunrise, introduced me to one of my favourite poems, 'Delusion Angel'.
The poem 'Delusion Angel' by the poet David Jewell was actually written for Before Sunrise. In one of the film's scenes, the two main character, Jesse and Celine, come across a bum while wandering the streets of Vienna. Instead of typical begging, he asks them to give him a word and he will write a poem containing that word. And if they like the poem, they can buy it from him. Celine gives him the word 'milkshake' and this is the poem he "writes":

Daydream delusion,
Limousine eyelash
Oh baby with your pretty face
Drop a tear in my wine glass
Look at those big eyes
See what you mean to me
Sweet cakes and milkshakes
I'm a delusion angel,
I'm a fantasy parade
I want you to know what I think
Don't want you to guess anymore
You have no idea where I came from
You have no idea where we’re going
Lodged in life, like branches in the river
Flowing downstream,
Caught in the current
I'll carry you, you'll carry me
That's how it could be
Don't you know me?
Don't you know me by now?





{I thought I'd post the video with the shortened version of this scene, but if you want to watch the scene in its entirety, you can here.}

I've always loved that part. Whether or not the poet wrote that poem right then, it's still such a beautiful idea. I mean, if you have to beg you might as well put your creative juices to work!

{P.S. - I wrote a story for one the writing prompts! You can read it if you click the link on the right side of the page entitled "Prompt Responses."}