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Open Poetry #38
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Malachi Riley
| Open Poetry #38 |
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Malachi Riley |
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XOx Uriah xOX Senior Member
since 2006-02-11
Posts 1403Virginia 
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Way up in the hills Over rocks, rough and jagged. Where a body can rise of a morning and wash his face in a cloud. Near the edge of a cliff Where a lone cedar stands, with limbs that bear no needles. Twisted by the winds of time. Showing no sign of life, but for the ravens that perch upon its dark branches. Lie the remains of Malachi Riley I've heard tales about him. Some of his days were no different than those of the others from that time, who switched the cream, to chase out the witches. Other factors set him apart. Malachi had no father. Just a briar patch baby. Born on the wrong side of his mother's blanket. Too many goodbyes in his world. With the passing of the last of his blood, strangers became family. Passed around like a jug. Young and able bodied. Fit to work from kin-see to cant-see. Growing up strong as an ox and bitter as a 'simmon. He would never ripen. As the seasons changed and the sap began to rise, he hunted squirrels and courted girls. A few drops of sweeter juice flowed from his heart, when he reached his early twenties. Love and marriage He bought a stubborn piece of ground, and with little more than a skillet and a hoe, they put all their efforts on the shelf of dreams. '29 was the year the chestnuts died. Some other disease took his wife. He ran on 500 horsepower moonshine after that. It burned away all but the meaness. Which was openly displayed before all who crossed his path. Near the end of his dark days all he owned was a jug of stump-blower and an Iver Johnson .32 caliber, nickel plated, pearl handled pocket revolver. Not a good combination. But the final results of the mixture brought a sigh of relief from those who heard the news of his passing. Now, all that is left of him are the stories and a weathered boulder, with an inscription. "Beneath this stone Malachi Riley lies Nobody laughed and nobody cries Where he went and how he fares Nobody knows and nobody cares" |
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| © Copyright 2006 Larry F. Leake - All Rights Reserved | |||
Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Uriah~ I SO enjoyed your story telling of Malachi~ My FAVORITE ... 'Malachi had no father. Just a briar patch baby. Born on the wrong side of his mother's blanket.' ADORABLY DESCRIPTIVE~ This is a charming piece of poetic characterization~  *Huglets*  ~*Marge*~ ~*The sound of a kiss is not as strong as that of a cannon, but it's echo endures much longer*~ |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Uriah, You are a delightful story teller. |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Oh Brother, you are indeed a great story teller. Enjoying all you write. martyjo |
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Devious Intellectual Member
since 2006-05-08
Posts 112 |
loved the story flowed very well |
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The Lady Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634The Southwest |
I love the story of Malachi! "Just a briar patch baby. Born on the wrong side of his mother's blanket" I haven't heard words like that since Hector was a pup. You bring me so much enjoyment Uriah! |
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