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Sheraton on Canal St.
| Open Poetry #19 |
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Sheraton on Canal St. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart 
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Sheraton on Canal St. The diary says we arrived safe to our room, here at the Sheraton. Small room, 24th floor, but OK, as we are only to be tourists here. Mississippi flows long and lean outside our window, busy with ship's traffic, with memories only a river can lay claim to. Christmas Day. N'Orleans. Tourists. Bourbon Street on Christmas Night is not a typical evening in the French Quarter. Only the architecture remains in focus of what once was grand and eloquent. Too many niceties of the day bring about the fake realism of history's once-was. But the food is good. The chronicled data indicates we did a lot of window shopping there on Royal Street and admired the St. Louis Cathedral finding Faulkner's home. But what I recall in my spirit, and no notes required, was where the steamboat paddled us to, a location of civil strife, where heart's blood gave life to the ground, in a very small field in a very important moment for love of country. Where the past curled tendrils around my feet planting me in yesterday... For in this very month 184 years ago Andrew Jackson met a victory at Chalmette's field and as my gaze swept the battlefield it was far too, too easy to see the men in uniform, and not in uniform, running, trenching, readying weapons, spilling blood, laying their lives down under the winter sun of 1812. Flags raised, drums drummed, yells, curses, screams, smells of blood smells of powder spent sounds of things other than life. Orders given, "March, March" into death. So, there was a crossing there, a space of time where, for a moment, my feet were planted in the past, the sounds roared in my ears the visions of men against men on a small plot of acreage, for a large political reason resounded desperately in my soul memories which have not let go, nor have I stopped hearing yesterday call, as I turned and returned to Sheraton on Canal St. ~*~ ©Karilea Rilling Jungel 29 July 2000 repost, revised 17 March 2002 |
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| © Copyright 2002 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Rex Allen McCoy Member Elite
since 2000-01-30
Posts 2863Sippin a Timmy's in London |
Wonderful story Karilea ... well worth the second read  |
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Mark Coburn Member
since 2002-01-24
Posts 71 |
sunshine......tis the place that sparks....our whole being lifted as if in a dream....feeling the place...the triumphant grace that freedom brings......mark |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
...Remarkable... |
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Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (smiles) BRAVO!!! Oh my gosh, this is wonderfully crafted, sweet friend, I have only been to new Orleans once but I desire going back there so much to walk along the French Quarter and row on the bayou! (kiss on cheek) This is an excellent poem with both a narrative view from you and a historical interpretation! We all love you so much, sweet friend, this is outstanding! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Karilea, thank you for sharing!  May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton |
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ShadowRider Senior Member
since 2001-07-14
Posts 1038USA |
Sunshine: I absolutely was mesmerized by the coming-alive descriptions of N'Arlans as you experienced it. This was and is a beautiful write, but the choppiness made it hard to read. I hardly ever do this: suggest that someone change any part of their poetry, but i sincerely put some thought in this and think the poem benefits from putting them together, and changing just a few of the 'helping' words a bit. I printed this out, came up with 5 sheets; too long for a four-word line poem and the last thing you would want to do is visually aggravate the reader when you are after asthetic imagery. Pared down, it comes down a little over two pages, same content. Please, if i offended you, forgive me. This poem was just toooo good not to offer some assistance. In my humblest of opinions of course. Complaints can be sent to menofpause@hotmail.com. *smiles* Please accept my offering as the most sincere form of flattery! This could be publicized, and probably should be! Jeff Sheraton on Canal St. The diary says we arrived safe to our room, here at the Sheraton. Small room - 24th floor, but OK, as we are only to be tourists here. Mississippi flows long and lean outside our window, busy with ship's traffic, memories only a great river can lay claim to. Christmas Day. N'Orleans. Tourists. Bourbon Street on Christmas Night: not a typical evening in the French Quarter. Only the architecture remains in focus of what once was grand and eloquent. Too many niceties of the day bring about fake realism of history's once-was. But the food is good. The chronicled data attests that we did a lot of window shopping there on Royal Street; admired the St. Louis Cathedral; found Faulkner's home. But what I recall in my spirit, with no notes required, was where the steamboat paddled us to a location of civil strife, where heart's blood gave life to ground, in a very small field in a very important moment for love of country. As the past curled tendrils around my feet planting me in yesterday... for in this very month, 184 years ago Andrew Jackson met a victory at Chalmette's field and as my gaze swept the battlefield it was far too, too easy to see the men in uniform, and not in uniform, running,trenching, readying weapons, spilling blood, laying their lives down under a winter sun of 1812. Flags raised, drums drummed, yells, curses, screams, scent of blood smells of powder spent sounds of objects other than life. Orders given, "March, March" into death. So, there was a crossing there, a space of time where, for a moment, my feet were planted in the past, the sounds roared in my ears the visions of men against men on a small plot of acreage, for a large political reason resounded desperately in my soul memories which have not yet let go, nor have I stopped hearing yesterday call, as I turned and returned to Sheraton on Canal St. [This message has been edited by ShadowRider (03-17-2002 03:03 PM).] |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Excellent writing Sunshine...James |
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ThisDiamond Member Rara Avis
since 2002-02-22
Posts 9353Michigan, USA |
Powerful and specific. I like this. ThisDiamond |
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Tracey Member Elite
since 2001-08-29
Posts 2808where insanity meets breeding |
I’ve stayed at that Sheraton, though I must confess, I was more interested in the beer and bourbon street, than the history the city had lived through. Thanks for reminding me of the parts I always miss when I visit New Orleans. Think I’ll take a better look next time Karilea. If she who dies with the most toys wins, then can I have some toy boys please? |
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Abe Senior Member
since 2003-05-28
Posts 694Looks like Vero Beach, FL until the end! |
Great write and read. Thanks for sending. Abe |
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