James Dean and The Little B*****d

The Little B*****d

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wish I'd seen him in Fairmount

with a Stetson hat, blue jeans, and boots;

or with his collar turned up on a drizzly day,

before his fast life crashed through

the intersection

of folklore and fame.

.

Before his sleek silver Spyder

gripped him to death in its web,

and a thousand pounds of metal

disfigured his boyish smile.

.

I'll bet those white lines on the road

resembled the seconds counting down:

until the ferocious thunderclap

of eternity.

.

He roared through life faster than

a silver Triumph motorcycle

through the streets of Indiana.

.

The Spyder is gone,

his high school is gone,

he's gone.

.

Death replaced his lines,

and that wasn't part of the script.

Author's Note

James Dean was an American actor who died in a car crash in 1955. He made only three movies but he became very popular among young people of that era for his perceived rebellious persona. He named his car the little bastard.

Reviews

[Kelly Scheppers]

Wow! The whole time I was reading this, I kept hearing the song by the Eagles playing in my head. One cannot read this and walk away without being touched by the magnitude of it happening. Each verse delivers an image of what was lost. Such a tragedy. He was so young.

[Relic]

Thank you for the comment, Kelly. :)))

[Kelly Scheppers]

I had to read this again. My attention went to the photograph this time, of how proud he looked pulling away from that station, in his haste to meet what was to be his destiny. It gives me chills. What a compelling piece, Tim!

[Relic]

Thank you, Kelly. I consider him a part of haunted Hollywood.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Hmmm ... Now this, I really, really like.

My favorite lines:

"before he crashed through
the intersection
of folklore and fame."

"Before his sleek silver Spyder
caught death in its web"

"Death replaced his lines,
and that wasn't part of the script."

This is so well done. I love it!

[Relic]

I appreciate your thoughts on this, Linda. Thank you. :)

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

My pleasure.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Good poem about James Dean. My favorite film by him was Rebel Without a Cause. Did you know he was almost blind? He was also extremely nearsighted and missing two of his front teeth which he lost trying to do a trapeze act on a rope from his aunt and uncle's barn. Later it would be told he lost them in a motorcycle wreck for (publicity) purposes. He took up bongo playing because Marlon Brando played them. There's another quirky Hollywood icon. But Dean died too young and left us all with the question of what he might have become. I enjoyed the read.

[Relic]

Thank you, Fabian. I read a book about him years ago but never knew any of that with the exception of the bongos. I also liked Rebel and find it odd that along with dean, Mineo and wood also died too young.

[Ken e Bujold]

As fine, if not the finest, tribute I have stumbled across, to the iconic JD. To this day I count Giant as one of my all time favorite films. And Dean's performance in it was out of this world.

great work Relic

[Relic]

I appreciate your comment, Ken. Thank you.

[Cherrie]

Excellent tribute to James Dean.
Death never is, part of the plan, but yet i
He is always there just around the corner.
A game of hide and seek where we lose.

[Relic]

Thank you, Cherrie. :)

[Chris Shaw]

His life cut short in a cruel way. I would imagine that there were many broken hearts the day he died. Sad end to an actor who had many more films and parts to play. Strong write Tim.

Chris

[Relic]

Thanks very much, Chris. :)

[keith]

a good write this is, taking into account the deadly end to james dean's life
the inclusion of 'ferocious metal' is brilliant metaphor ... indeed a good write

but ... i disagree ... his ultimate demise (the proverbial end) was part of the script
he was a live hard die young what me worry kinda guy ... again, live hard die young
50/50 at best

[Relic]

Thanks for your thoughts, Keith. :)

[Lisasview]

Yes, it wasn't part of the script.. this gave me goosebumps..
Such an excellent write...
Lisa

[Relic]

Thank you, Lisa. :)

[Lisasview]

You are always welcome!!

[William Michael Reeves]

That was strong. As strong as the legend you are writing about. And imagine all the lost roles he might have played. Some written only for him and never to exist.

[Relic]

You got it! Thanks for the comment, Bill. :)