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Sunshine
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Listening to every heart

0 posted 2001-11-17 10:38 PM



Midnight Walk in Battle Creek

night and darkness shadowed in
as heavy gray clouds felt of snow
quiet was the air, and thin,
awaiting Mother Nature’s show

O the beauty of a night first born,
a Michigan town, Battle Creek
smells of grape nuts in early morn
for these are memories I keep.

Company had come that night,
good times were had by all,
then it soon chimed come midnight
and snow had begun to fall

twenty miles east of Kalamazoo
Battle Creek quietly resides,
Kalamazoo had all the wind
off Michigan’s great lake side

Battle Creek, a different town
quiet reigns over the snow,
instead of drifts and shifting hills
the white just chose to grow.

Midnight walks on streets of white
a wondrous treat in it’s own,
but this is when magic begins, and
why I believe in cherrystones.

Did you know snow has song?
and is heard when winds don’t blow,
crystalline tinkling is taken to heart
and snow fairies softly glow

I know, we stood, quiet, still
heard chiming tings softly surround
no one spoke, but shyly descried
as snow came twinkling down

O Battle Creek of Michigan
someday I’ll come to visit again.


©Karilea Rilling Jungel
29 September, 2000
revised
17 November, 2001


© Copyright 2001 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved
Startime
Member Ascendant
since 2000-10-03
Posts 5918
Canada
1 posted 2001-11-17 10:45 PM


What a beautiful vision you paint for my heart. I love the magic of snow. *sigh* Stunning.  

Love I leave with you whether it is in your life now or yet the essense of your dreams.

Balladeer
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since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
2 posted 2001-11-17 10:46 PM


never been there but I eat Kellogg's! You make it sound delicious, sunshiney one!  
Enchantress
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since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
3 posted 2001-11-17 10:59 PM


Karilea~Living just over the bridge or through the tunnel from Michigan, I have been to Battle Creek, and your words painted a perfect picture of what it looks like with the snow in this area.  Well done and thoroughly enjoyed!  Nancy.

~I've loved you forever, in lifetimes before.~

Lone Wolf
Member Ascendant
since 2000-03-16
Posts 5842
Lansing, MI USA
4 posted 2001-11-17 11:05 PM


Ah, the smell from the Kellogg's factory.  Nothing like it!  There are many quaint towns hidden throughout Michigan.  Glad you enjoyed it, Sunshine.     

All writing comes
by the grace of God.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nan
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Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA
5 posted 2001-11-18 09:09 AM


Ah... Been there.. smelled the grapenuts... and felt the magic - I thought perhaps that part was emanating from elsewhere, though.. Going back?.. All righty - I'll meet ya there - Just tell me when.. Clicking my heels now...

I really like this poem, m'friend..

Ron
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Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669
Michigan, US
6 posted 2001-11-18 10:10 AM


Your timing, Karilea, is as impeccable as your skill with words.

I was born and raised in Battle Creek and, strangely enough, even though I rarely go there these days, my sister and I were talking about it no more than a week ago. I went to Junior High at Southeastern, across the street from Kellogg's, to High School at Central in the downtown area, and lived in Post Edition, so close to the Post factory that my old house is now part of a parking lot for their employees. Not the best areas of town thirty-five years ago, and much less so today. But I still think of them as home.

As a teen on foot, with an insatiable thirst for exploration, I covered every square foot of Battle Creek and the surrounding townships of Lakeview, Springfield, Urbandale, and even distant Pennfield. Back then, walking or running twenty miles a day was nothing. From Goguac Lake (my summer home!), to the old Mill Pond where we dove from a twenty-foot bridge into a sludgy river rife with currents, to the Sears water tower where you could climb a rickety ladder 400 feet closer to heaven, to the dark labyrinth of tunnels and water ways wending beneath the entire downtown area, to the woods and fields and quarries surrounding the town, I spent every summer and most of the school year discovering new secrets, new thrills.

Which is all to say, Karilea, that if you ever do return to Cereal City, you should let me give you a guided tour. It won't always be as beautiful as you've painted it with your delightful images, but I guarantee you won't be bored.  

Sunshine
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Listening to every heart
7 posted 2001-11-18 10:17 AM


Ron, to be graced with your presence is a gift, indeed!

Battle Creek was our home from 1980-1982.  I worked for a short time in Marshall, Michigan for Win Schuler's food marketing President, then began my sojourn as a legal secretary for an attorney of Patent Law in Kalamazoo.  We loved Battle Creek, and I have lovely, fond memories of Michigan.  Always the snow fell soft, thick, and magically in Battle Creek...and yes, I am sure I shall visit some day again...

but your introductory comment shall stay with me...and when we get back up there?  It would be OUR pleasure to have a guided tour by the Magician, himself...

Startime, if you want magic, a visit is in order...

it most assuredly is a delicious place, 'Deer!

Nancy, I am glad you enjoyed this repeat...

I did, Lone Wolf, thank you for reading...

Nan, when I click my heels, I shall make sure you hear....

peaches73533
Senior Member
since 2001-11-04
Posts 981
OK, USA
8 posted 2001-11-18 12:47 PM


Your words take me to this beautiful place.great job.
Peaches

Martie
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since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
9 posted 2001-11-18 12:57 PM


Wonderful, descriptive poem, Karilea...makes me think snow might not be so bad.  Never having lived in it, you take me there with some sort of magic you weave with words.  Thanks!
Sven
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Laureate
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937
East Lansing, MI USA
10 posted 2001-11-18 05:10 PM


you could then come to Lansing, we've got a lot of nice things here as well. . .

I've always liked this one. . . and now, I like it even more. . .  

----------------------------------------------------------

To the world, you may only be one person. But to one person, you may be the world.

Enchantress
Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
11 posted 2001-11-18 05:27 PM


Wow!  I've been to Marshall Michigan, and the Magic Museum!  Also to Colon every summer in August where the 'real magic' takes place.  Hummm, wonder if I could possibly know Ron?!
Loved this piece again just now....thanks.

Larry C
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Member Patricius
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286
United States
12 posted 2001-11-19 11:49 PM


Sunshine,
My mother was born in Berrien Springs and eventually I got to live there. Wow, do I ever miss Michigan and you help me remember why! Thanks tons!!!

Fagin
Member
since 2004-05-07
Posts 126
Ca
13 posted 2004-07-01 07:44 PM


This message was paid for by the Battle Creek Travel Bureau/Beauty Center/Post Office/Barber Shop/Car Wash/Nail Care and Discount Tire Mart

I wish we had 4 seasons.. Gret Sis

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