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In Haunting Notes
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In Haunting Notes |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA 
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My longest poem ever, but one I like. Once more Balladeer, thanks for the help with a few of the lines on this one  In Haunting Notes It was a brisk November night When I rode into that town Feeling saddle sore and weary Looking only to bed down. My clothes were dark with trail dirt My chaps were wearing thin. The wind was blowing from the east And cutting to my skin. Every hoof fall kicked up dust Upon that darkened street. I hitched up next to the saloon To get a bite to eat. My boot heels struck upon the wood. Sounds echoed in the night. The streets were bare and silent, Not a single soul in sight. Soft orange light reflected out, Cast shadows on the ground And from the depths of that saloon I heard a haunting sound. A voice so soft and full of grace Was carried out to me; The tantalizing notes she sang, I simply had to see. I entered through the swinging doors And saw her standing there In dress of red and deep blue eyes Framed with auburn hair. She looked at me and flashed a smile That lit her entire face. I wondered what a girl like that Was doing in this place. I bellied right up to the bar, Then ordered up a drink. Captured in the spell she cast, I found it hard to think. Her eyes caught mine across the room; I couldn’t look away And when she finished her last song, She turned and came my way. “Hey cowboy, it looks like to me You’re lonely and bone tired And you should know, a girl like me Prefers to be admired. I got myself a room upstairs Here in this one horse town. I’ve got a bed just right for two. You’re welcome to bed down.” She smiled once more, I couldn’t speak; She reached to take my arm; Then led me to her room upstairs, I, spellbound by her charm. “Welcome to my home,” she said. She opened up the door. The room was dark, a single lamp Cast shadows on the floor. She led me to the bed and stood Before me in the night Slipped her clothes off, piece by piece, Outlined in dimming light. Each sensual curve was accented. She stood before me there. I reached to pull her towards me, Hands running through her hair. A chain of gold graced her fair neck From which a locket dangled. She climbed in bed, right next to me, Our bodies soon entangled. We loved and talked all through the night. I drifted off near dawn And in the early morning hours I woke to find her gone. Hazy light was filtered in Through a window marred with dust; Next to me, lay on the bed The locket dull with rust. I picked it up and opened it Where, much to my surprise, I found a picture old and worn That made me doubt my eyes. The picture was in black and white. It bore the test of time. The face, though, that it held within Was no one else but mine. I had to find her, had to know What this was all about. I threw my clothes on in a rush And from the room ran out. I took the steps two at a time. I had to find that girl. But what I saw as I looked down Caused my head to swirl. The saloon lay still and empty. Silence filled the air. Old broken bottles packed the bar Not a soul was there. Tables and chairs were brown with rot. Dust coated all with white. But what I saw when I looked down Was the most unnerving sight. The floor lay thick encased in sand That had blown in through the door Disturbed by just my set of prints Where ‘we’d’ walked the night before. I ran outside to only find The town stood in decay. I jumped onto my waiting horse And quickly rode away. Years have passed, since that cold night In that forgotten town. Now on my stand, the locket rests. Some nights I take it down. I open it to see my face, A picture from the past. I’ve questions I can’t answer and There’s no one that I can ask. Sometimes at night, she calls to me From somewhere in my dreams And I’m forced to remind myself All’s never what it seems. So cowboy if you find yourself On the trail some cold , dark night And run into a quiet town Where something seems not right. Beware the girl with auburn hair And mesmerizing voice; Just saddle up and ride away While you still have a choice. She haunts the town, still in search of A love lost long ago And once you’re captured in her spell She will not let you go. Best mark my words, I see her face Bathed in that dim light Where in my dreams, she haunts me still Every single night. To love means never to be afraid of the windstorms of life: should you shield the canyons from the windstorms you would never see the true beauty of their carvings. ~Elizabeth Kubler-Ross |
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| © Copyright 2000 Ruth Kephart - All Rights Reserved | |||
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~Enigma~ Junior Member
since 2000-07-03
Posts 44St Cloud, MN |
Absolutely incredible. Like a book that I couldn't put down. From beginning to end, this reeled me in. |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Enigma...wow, what a compliment. Thank you |
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Rex Allen McCoy Member Elite
since 2000-01-30
Posts 2863Sippin a Timmy's in London |
I remember this one Ruth ... this is absolutely awesome ... where is that town by the way?  Rex |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
One of your very best, indeed! {~,^} Sunny ~~~Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. Helen Keller ~~~ When you want to be loved, look within...KRJ |
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Eloise Senior Member
since 1999-11-27
Posts 1096Wyoming |
Yes, I remember this one well. Loved it then and still do now. What a wonderful piece your pen has stroked. |
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BSC
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-02-04
Posts 2919New York, USA |
Oh Yes!!!! I remember this one well, was in awe the first time I read it, am in awe once again. Bonnie |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
Ruth I remember this one! I'm still just as mesmerized by it now as I was then! This is one awesome piece of writing! Miss ya round here |
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doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
Wow! You sure can weave a story, Ruth! I enjoyed every word of it! Well done, indeed and I'm sorry I missed this one before... voting! |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Thank you everyone |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
This would be great for our "Ballad" workshop, Ruth...  |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
Oh Ruth this is AWESOME!! you have my vote hon Yes, I am here, but I am dead, not alive, my body goes on, my spirit has died and I though alive, feel dead inside. "Rose Petal" |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
I had not had the pleasure of this before so I am very glad to have gotten the chance now... Hoot-girl this is AWESOME... enchanting...EXCELLENT!!! a must for the book jm |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
One of my favorites of yours, Ruth! I remember this one very well! p.s. take out the note at the top unless you want it to be printed as part of your poem. You may have to have Ron do it know as it seems you posted this over 24 hours ago. Denise |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Needless to say, I remember this one well and love it now just as much as when I first saw it. Count my vote in, Ruth  |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Thank you everyone Denise...thanks for letting me know that |
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AVANTI Senior Member
since 2000-02-02
Posts 664INDIA/MAHARASHTRA/PUNE |
RUTH... THIS VERSE IS OUT OF THIS WORLD... SIMPLY UNIQUE WORK! THOUGH LONG IT JUST KEPT M GOING AND I STILL WANTED TO READ MORE... LOVELY If all was light...then I would have never learnt the dark...from which such truth evolves from which evolves the light... Avanti Rao |
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tracie66 Member Elite
since 2000-01-18
Posts 4713Australia |
Oh Ruth this is so splendidly done, an excellent image maker this one I applaud you Tracie~ Love is the life of the soul... It is the harmony of the universe |
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Lone Wolf Member Ascendant
since 2000-03-16
Posts 5842Lansing, MI USA |
Excellent ballad!!! Hope mine turns out half as well as this one!!! Wonderful writing my friend. LW Poetry should surprise by fine excess...it should strike the reader as a wording of his own highest thoughts and appear almost a remembrance. -J.Keats |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Thanks friends |
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Jeffrey Carter
since 2000-04-08
Posts 2367State of constant confusion! |
Truly mezmerizing Ruthie |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Thanks Jeffery |
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Not A Poet Member Elite
since 1999-11-03
Posts 3885Oklahoma, USA |
Don't know how I missed this one before. Loved it in the workshop and love it here. Pete |
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X Angel Senior Member
since 1999-11-07
Posts 1521Oregon |
ooooooh I got goose bumps! This was perfect! Entrancing! Spellbinding! Captivating! I loved it ~H |
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Heather Miller Member
since 2000-07-19
Posts 409Bryan, Ohio USA |
Very Very Very good. LITL, Heather With God all things are possible. |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Thank you everyone |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
Hauntingly beautiful Ruth ... I found myself reading faster and faster ... mesmerized by this wonderful story. Well done! Best wishes, /Kit |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Oh good! Another chance to "click"... Sunny ~~~Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. Helen Keller ~~~ When you want to be loved, look within...KRJ |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Thank you Kit and Sunshine |
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