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Open Poetry #42
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A Road Not Taken
| Open Poetry #42 |
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A Road Not Taken |
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r v wooo Senior Member
since 2007-08-07
Posts 656 |
A Road Not Taken Hissing, grunting, sloshing, and then, a long drawn out whistle blows! I'll never forget the sight of her sleek black body, blending, in the autumn moonlight, with those seductive sounds, as she exhaled her smoke into the crisp nite air. It was as if she were gesturing to me... taking advantage of my adolescent innocence, while quenching her lust, with another, alongside the aging watertower. Oh, the nocturnal fantasies of youth, the dream to go unnoticed... to escape into the nite, on a road not taken, to an unidentified place called paradise. Now, all that remains is silence, rusting tracks and memories of a mystery train. Yet, in my aging solitude, if I closely listen, I can still hear her whistle blow. |
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| © Copyright 2008 r v wooo - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
There's nothing more seductive than the sound of a train whistle in the distance. You have captured this idea so beautifully. Excellent writing. Ida |
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r v wooo Senior Member
since 2007-08-07
Posts 656 |
thank you ida for taking the time to read and to listen...i, too, have been seduced by the steam engines of the past. |
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gilead Senior Member
since 2008-03-10
Posts 1067nevada, USA |
I remember those big, black steam engines roaring through town, and I can still hear the echoes of the whistle vanishing in the long, rounding bend, and into the dark pines on either side! This is splendid writing! Art |
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r v wooo Senior Member
since 2007-08-07
Posts 656 |
thank you, art, i appreciate your shared personal thoughts and kindness. |
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Honeybunch Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115South Africa |
"Yet, in my aging solitude, if I closely listen, I can still hear her whistle blow." Of course you can because mystery trains run forever - we just can't see them. Enjoyed the read very much! Helen |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
r v wooo, I was born and spent my first 16 years in Altoona, PA, home of the largest railroad shops in the world. I traveled free, since my mom worked for the railroad. Been on those steam trains a lot. Nice work on this. Bobby |
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Dark Stranger Member Patricius
since 2001-03-19
Posts 13631West Coast |
johnny cash song and some greasy borgnine with his brakeman's billy enjoyed the conjur you oozed here |
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r v wooo Senior Member
since 2007-08-07
Posts 656 |
helen, love your insight concerning the mystery train running forever... |
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r v wooo Senior Member
since 2007-08-07
Posts 656 |
bobby, you were fortunate to be able to ride the rails for free as a young boy...i was only able to dream that one day i would growup to become a hobo...strange but i still have that childish dream. |
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r v wooo Senior Member
since 2007-08-07
Posts 656 |
ernest borgnine...d.s., you stimulate my imagination...i can see him as a ruthless bo chaser and me, identifying with the hobo and being beaten...always identified with the underdog...don't know why... the industrial revolution...the steam engine...technology controlling man...hard times...depression(both psychological and economical)...must be the source of my longing to escape. |
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poddarku Senior Member
since 2008-01-15
Posts 589india |
you have the craftmanship clever talks delay friendship! |
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SEA 
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
wow  I like this very much... |
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2islander2 Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825by the sea |
Enjoyed it... Yann |
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r v wooo Senior Member
since 2007-08-07
Posts 656 |
podd and sea, i appreciate your words of kindness and for taking the time to read my poem. |
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r v wooo Senior Member
since 2007-08-07
Posts 656 |
thank you, yann |
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Richy Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 3050 |
Now that was one poem that could. That was, let me see, how could I put it, loc-emotive. Great Job! Rich |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
wow left me sighing heavily thanks for sharing this mood |
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r v wooo Senior Member
since 2007-08-07
Posts 656 |
richy and passing shadows thank you for spending time reading and responding...i, too, enjoy reading and responding...to your wonderful poetry and spending time contemplating your poetic thoughts. |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
This is an exceptionally gorgeous write I find. I too have "train memories" in my youth and I cherish them. It is never too late to jump on a train and enjoy the trip, even if it might be less adventurous now than in your youth. Just beautiful! Love, Margherita |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Wow! Loved the humanizing of the train! ~ your mistress of the night! A compelling read! You engaged several of my senses and I was able to 'sense' your own! Great write!!! ~ and I love the sound of a distant train in the still of the night.  EA |
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r v wooo Senior Member
since 2007-08-07
Posts 656 |
margherita, maybe one day i will make the jump but with modification...of course! earth angle, i find your observations and comments interesting. thank you both. |
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sewasham Senior Member
since 2006-09-11
Posts 714Oklahoma, USA |
Really nice imagery, good work. Take care and Have fun. Steve |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
Read this yesterday. Today...like it even more. I used to live several blocks from the railroad tracks (back when I was a kid) and I too remember the steam engines. AWESOME machines...and the engineers always waved at me when they went by. The caboose was my favorite though...because they almost always threw me a coin or a small toy ... even a flare once in awhile ... and of course, we always laid a penny or two on the tracks....yes! Brought back many a memory, my friend. Thank you for that. jimmy |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Oooh! Loved this! I'm off to read it again. - Owl |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Fine writing...James |
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r v wooo Senior Member
since 2007-08-07
Posts 656 |
sewasham, jwesley, owl and james, thank you all for taking the time to read and comment. it does good to an old man's heart to know that others listen and care as the world around us moves on and changes. jwesley, we shared a common thread of existence...measuring distance in blocks, placing pennys on the tracks, waving at the engineers and enjoying an occasional surprise pitched from the caboose. [This message has been edited by r v wooo (05-20-2008 01:45 AM).] |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
quote: Enjoyed reading this wonderful piece of poetry once again, after you mentioned it in your reply to my poem "Untrodden paths of desire" yesterday. As beautiful as ever! Now, jump on that train! Love, Margherita |
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