mystery novels end too soon

[heslopian]

mystery novels end too soon.
the killer is caught, the loose threads tied,
until we're left with a pretty patchwork
of identity, motive, timelines and clues.
but then what becomes of the innocent?
the killer's fiancee, his bride or her groom,
their family, friends, their employers?

I imagine them all gathered in the dark,
like rocks before the advent of light,
waiting for the next chapter,
or else a sequel to catch up with them,
checking their watches and tutting like Brits
in line at the post office.

the sleuth drives off into the sunset,
Marlowe merry with brandy and steak,
Brandstetter dwelling on boyfriends past,
Warshawski flicking lint off her skirt,
and whoever was the hero of Spillane's penny crap
probably banging another hooker.

they philosophise some, round off their gambit,
and leave in a flurry of blank pages.

while the innocent still wait in the dark.

[billy]

i think its just right. though i dislike the remark about spillane hehe

he used to be one of my faves
the pic works as well as the poem which sets up a kind of paradox.
i can imagine millions of characters all waiting somewhere in order to get the chance to
come alive again.

i think if i had a nit it would be the title, for me the title is in the picture.

[heslopian]

You think the poem should be called "Fadeout"? I think I liked Spillane as a kid, same as I liked Agatha Christie, but in hindsight I find his style really basic and unintelligent. With Christie I could forgive that as her work was all about plot, but I think Spillane's subject matter - urban violence, vigilantism etc. - deserved more literary treatment.
Thanks for the kind words and feedback Billy.

[billy]

i liked spillane because it was escapism. easy to follow and capable of a at least one pr two twists and turns.
i hated christi. hehe.

and back on topic the title you have is good i just felt fadeout would be quirky and relevant seeing as thats what they do.

[heslopian]

I agree, but wouldn't that be theft from the original author in a way?
I liked Christie for much the same reason as you liked Spillane. She was a shitty prose stylist and her characters were shallow and moneyed non-entities, but she was one of the best puzzle makers who ever lived.

[billy]

i see what you mean, the word fadeout is copyrighted <---me being facetious

words belong to everyone jack, people don't own them if they use one. there are many instances of poems having the same tle as well as having the same title as a film or song or anything else.

which now make me wonder how many poems are called....a love poem?

use it if you want, i#m sure mickey won't mind

i did a google for i love you titles and could get a decent google.
the word love on the other hand crops up billions of time

[heslopian]

Actually "Fadeout" was written by Joseph Hansen, someone who understood how to construct a sentence without the use of what came out of his anus Yeah you make a good point. I will consider a title change.

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