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Midwestern Roadside Longings
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Midwestern Roadside Longings |
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Ryan Member
since 1999-06-10
Posts 297Kansas |
Midwestern Roadside Longings I-70 Out in the middle of our great plains there's a stretch of highway that's never known hills, but just in the distance over the curve of the land, the rolling grasslands begin. It's a lonely country there where the bluegrass knows everything from laying under so many star filled nights. I know about these plains and they know about me and this stretch of highway will always bear east and west into great hills, but it still must pass through this empty place where everyone meets themselves. K177 Everyone always tells me they wanna get out of this little place in the middle of nowhere. There ain't no life in this state. 80 mph across the plains with the sun caressing the red grass that grows out there where everyone wants to get away from. That's where the life is. Still, it's so lonely and I know why, but I just wanna stay and revel in the tragic nature of this whole forlorn state. US 75 There are satellites in the sky and if I look up at just the right moment 185 miles south- southwest of the big town I can see them float over the vast prairies as they thank God they're up there in outer space, best place for cold steel to live. And sometimes the moon, full of a soft midnight glow, will come out & I can just smile and it can just smile back and then maybe all my dreams'll come true or at least just one. US 54 The mornings after are always the worst, after the whole night's been up wailing its blues like an all night San Francisco Kerouacian fairy tale and I'm the only one that heard it, and you're back somewhere else. US 69 Just let me take to the roads a while cause the pavement's a soothsayer and what it's telling I can hear sometimes if I listen just right and really want to. It ain't just everywhere a car can go 300 miles w/o seeing a soul or a turn but still seem to get it all. Those roads keep their futures like secrets though & when I get back the words are never there. But neither are you. K57 An empty pay phone, the first place my family's past remembers working. An old dying town reserved for memories and colorless photos. The trees always fly by, but in the ghosts of a Midwestern past, slow and see it and smell the rolling hills and grasses. A graveyard sits on top of one more hill, its stone engravements old and weathered, the birds still singing, the Grand Army of the Republic still marching. I-35 Semis and rust and old yellow busses who don't carry children anymore all line the roads with their sad-eyed broken headlights to tell their stories. But southbound around the gentle curves is enough of a song for me. Carry me to my promised land, or maybe just a little junction of 2 lonesome roads where I can rest my weary feet. I've been longing for too many years now, and I gotta sit down. I like too many things and get all confused and hung-up running from one falling star to another till i drop. This is the night, what it does to you. I had nothing to offer anybody except my own confusion. —Jack Kerouac |
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X Angel Senior Member
since 1999-11-07
Posts 1521Oregon |
*sitting down* good idea! I was tired after all that drivin!  fun poem~H |
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bsquirrel
since 2000-01-03
Posts 7855 |
I take it you like Kerouac. Great poem. There's way too much cool stuff to mention it all, but I especially love the part about the satellite being glad it's in space, and you sort of wish on it like you would a star, hoping at least one of your dreams will come true. The whole poem is a beautiful, semi-organized mess of insight and coherence, just like Kerouac. Thanks for posting.Mike |
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Temptress
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-06-15
Posts 7136Mobile, AL |
I've read this before for sure. I don't know if I said then that I enjoyed it, but I'm saying it now. Its voted for! Thanks for the wonderful writing you do. Nothing can deter a poet, for he is actuated by pure love. Who can predict his comings and goings? "Thoreau" |
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Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
I think this would make a strong addition to the book. I also vote that we just call it 'the book' from now on. At least until vol. 2 comes rolling along. Brad |
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wayoutwalt Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 4870TEXAS (it's all big) |
i hope this gets in its lengthy but there is balance in the force...i love the fact that my I-35 runs around bustling Ft Worth yuh this poem be way cool |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
"Carry me to my promised land, or maybe just a little junction of 2 lonesome roads where I can rest my weary feet." That's a wonderful journey Ryan ... been down a few roads myself. I particularly enjoyed your wording in the verse above. Very nicely penned! Best wishes, /Kit |
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Partner In Crime #1 Junior Member
since 1999-07-21
Posts 13 |
Yes, yes, I know, very evil, but I promise I'll never do it again. *evil grin* *into the night, the thief vanishes* |
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JP Senior Member
since 1999-05-25
Posts 1343Loomis, CA |
Well, well, well... took an English comp class while working on my degree. The professor's theme for the class was "Open Space" so we spent the whole semester reading and writing and discussing various aspects of open space (he droned endlessly about his vacation ranch in Wyoming...) After reading this peice, I began to see a different view of open space, a view not ever conveyed quite so eloquently by any that have come before. "An old dying town reserved for memories and colorless photos." (my favorite part) This one deserves space in the book! Yesterday is ash, tomorrow is smoke; only today does the fire burn. JP "Everything is your own damn fault, if you are any good." E. Hemmingway |
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Ryan Member
since 1999-06-10
Posts 297Kansas |
Just stopping in b/c I wanted to say thanks to everyone for voting for this one. It's a personal favorite of mine. I like too many things and get all confused and hung-up running from one falling star to another till i drop. This is the night, what it does to you. I had nothing to offer anybody except my own confusion. —Jack Kerouac |
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doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
Do i get 2 or 3 votes???? Geez. Ryan!! What's been going on with you! I can't wait to tell my grandchildren I knew you when... This is some powerful writing, m'friend... and i can't believe it came out of the mouth of someone so young... you've been reading kerouac and ferlinghetti, huh? keep READING... Keep WRITING... ok.. now watch out because i'm about to quote almost your entire piece here... this is really awesome free verse! Great lines here! "It's a lonely country there where the bluegrass knows everything from laying under so many star filled nights. I know about these plains and they know about me" "There are satellites in the sky and if I look up at just the right moment 185 miles south- southwest of the big town I can see them float over the vast prairies as they thank God they're up there in outer space, best place for cold steel to live. And sometimes the moon, full of a soft midnight glow, will come out & I can just smile and it can just smile back and then maybe all my dreams'll come true or at least just one." "The mornings after are always the worst, after the whole night's been up wailing its blues like an all night San Francisco Kerouacian fairy tale and I'm the only one that heard it, and you're back somewhere else." "Those roads keep their futures like secrets though & when I get back the words are never there." unforgettable poetry! I'm so glad to see you here, my friend! Semis and rust and old yellow busses who don't carry children anymore all line the roads with their sad-eyed broken headlights to tell their stories. Carry me to my promised land, or maybe just a little junction of 2 lonesome roads where I can rest my weary feet. I've been longing for too many years now, and I gotta sit down. |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Ryan~ I enjoyed this journey. Thanks for the front seat ride ! ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ noles1@totcon.com |
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