Drinkers
by E. Denis

The Wine-Drinkers
by Tennessee Williams

The wine-drinkers sit on the porte cochère in the sun.
Their lack of success in love has made them torpid.
They move their fans with a motion that stirs no feather,
the glare of the sun has darkened their complexions.

Let us commend them on their conversations.
One says “oh” and the other says “indeed.”

The afternoon must be prolonged forever, because the night
will be impossible for them.
They know that the bright and very delicate needles
inserted beneath the surfaces of their skins
will work after dark–at present are drugged, are dormant.

Nobody dares to make any sudden disturbance.

One says “no,” the other one murmurs “why?”
The cousins pause: tumescent.
What do they dream of? Murder?
They dream of lust and they long for violent action
but none occurs.
Their quarrels perpetually die from a lack of momentum
The light is empty: the sun forestalls reflection.

One of America’s greatest playwrights, and certainly the greatest ever from the South, Tennessee Williams wrote fiction and motion picture screenplays, but he also wrote some wonderful poetry.

If Tennessee Williams had never written a single play he would still be known as a distinguished poet. The excitement, compassion, lyricism, and humor that epitomize his writing for the theater are all present in his poetry.

The “mad heroine” theme that appeared in many of his plays seemed clearly influenced by the life of Williams’ sister Rose. Characters in his plays are often seen as representations of his family members. Laura Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie was understood to be modeled after Rose. Some biographers believed that the character of Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire is also based on her, as well as Williams himself. When Williams wrote A Streetcar Named Desire, he believed he was going to die and that this play would be his swan song.

Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie was generally seen to represent Williams’ mother. Characters such as Tom Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie and Sebastian in Suddenly, Last Summer were understood to represent Williams himself. In addition, he used a lobotomy operation as a motif in Suddenly, Last Summer.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof included references to elements of Williams’ life such as homosexuality, mental instability and alcoholism.

I have included a video which contains a very intense scene from his Pulizer Prize winning play, A Streetcar Named Desire, to demonstrate how beautifully he wrote with a poetic style in his monologues. This scene is where the character Blanche (Jessica Tandy) explains to Mitch, a man she is trying to establish a relationshop with,  about her former husband’s suicide, due to her unacceptance of his homosexuality.    

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

Well, thank y’all for comin’. I hope y’all enjoyed your stay. Click here to get back to  Sans Souci, our poetess hostess with the mostess. Whoever you are, I always depend on the kindness of strangers.   

deletereply bostonsdandd wrote on Feb 5, ’08 Very nicely put together! I remember Tennessee Williams from childhood. He did write some good movies. Thanks for sharing this with us. I love looking inside your head when you add the commentary :o).

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Feb 5, ’08 He was a very intense writer. He was very good about writing about conflict, and his characters were so real and believable.

deletereply millimusings wrote on Feb 5, ’08 Very interesting post and yes as you said he was intense really got to the nitty gritty of life around him,

Comment deleted at the request of the author.

deletereply redheadgirl4 wrote on Feb 5, ’08 Is that the movie in which she says “I have always relied on the kindness of strangers?” Lovely poem from a great writer!

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Feb 5, ’08 Yes Cathy, it was in A Streetcar Named Desire that this line was said.

deletereply sanssouciblogs wrote on Feb 5, ’08 Fabulous movie clips–incredible acting! Excellent presentation/background. The poetry is brilliant–heavy in meaning–loneliness and addictions. “They dream of lust and they long for violent action but none occurs.” You can feel them like living death. Your ending is a hoot!! 😀

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Feb 5, ’08 It seems that this week everyone is posting very depressing stuff.

deletereply sweetpotatoqueen wrote on Feb 6, ’08 Very interesting synopsis of Williams’ characters! He had a way of posing life as very real and unfiltered. Always so much to take in here~ what a treat indeed!

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Feb 6, ’08 His poetry reflects all the great qualities that he put into his films.

deletereply asolotraveler wrote on Feb 6, ’08 a stabbing choice… well written (OF COURSE) – i have always concentrated so much on his plays i neglected his poems… thanks for bringing me back to re-review… very interesting!  PS – i really liked the art choice you found to accompany the post… impressive!

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Feb 6, ’08 Everyone seems to have forgotten about Tennessee Wlliams for some reason. Maybe because he’s so well known-but he is not known for his poetry even though his poetry writing style is very similar to the way he writes his screenplays. Glad you liked the post.

deletereply papahere wrote on Feb 6, ’08 Tennessee Williams suffered from chronic mental illness which may have been reflected in his work…he seems to focus on the painful vulnerability of people whose are limited in their ability to change their predicament leaving us with a feeling of despair and pessimism. ~ Papa

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Feb 6, ’08 It’s such a shame that the most talented people seem to suffer so much.

deletereply philsgal7759 wrote on Feb 7, ’08 Hi sorry I’m late. It’s been a busy week. This is quite a wonderful selection you have here. Such a tragic life that brought us such haunting works about the realities and dysfunctions of life.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Feb 8, ’08 It seems the most talented people have suffered the most.