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Open Poetry #29
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n2dmystic
Member
since 2003-09-27
Posts 253
beyond the doors of perception

0 posted 2003-10-02 03:45 AM


I remember this day so well.  And it never seemed important, as a memory, until I started to question what I believed.  Now I know why it is so heartfelt, and solidly a part of me.  Peace


Jesus, it was hot!
I remember going for a hike
the Merolla twins, Brian Davis
We were all around eight years old
Knapsacks, with lunches and water
105 degrees, if it was anything at all
“Hotter than the hinges of Hades”
as Gramma Elsie woulda’ said
Couldn’ta said hell
wouldn’ta’ said “[Edited by Moderator]” with a mouthful
Days of youthful exploration
The Sierra Vista housing projects
Right on the ass edge of town
So we left south outta’ “the Vista”
as we called it
across pastures, down through Hobo Jungle
We used to trade flour, lard, salt and pepper
for produce procured by the hobos
from the box-cars at the adjacent RR yard
Always with mom’s permission
after the first time
We follow the RR tracks
down to the “Grand Canyon”
It was an excavated pit at the brickyard
We’d get cardboard from the RR yard
slide down the sides of the “Canyon”
Occasionally, a side a bit too steep
Ow!, but never “wah”
even if ya’ broke something
Further down the tracks
south towards French Camp
That big ol’ Longhorn steer in the pasture
ringed by large old Oaks
It was 105 degrees in the shade, too
We called that steer a “Texas Longhorn”
probably got that from what little TV we saw
My compadres weren’t much for reading
or ‘ritin or ‘rithmatic, for that matter
We explored the Little John, and Duck, Creeks
We always called ‘em creeks, out there
Never heard of a “crik”
Caught crawdads, by hand
tore off the tails, built a little fire
cooked ‘em like marshmellows, on a stick
They are tasty when fresh
not like those dirt tastin’ things
I tried once in Louisiana
and again in Florida
We explored the fields
around the airport
theorizing about flight
wishing we were the “Right Brothers”
Back north, across a field, was “Plum Nelly”
a ragged-assed shanty town
on the edge of the projects
It was “Plum” outta’ town
“Nelly” out the county
Beyond “Plum Nelly” was St. Linus’
the Catholic Church of my youth
Though, to make a point
there would be no church in my adolescence
I learned to pray there
and played softball there
on the Wombats, no less
Neither a good name
or a bad experience
That name would later become
a source of embarrassment
But that is for a later...
As we trudged wearily, merrily
across the field, in the withering heat
of a San Joaquin Valley summer day
toward St. Linus’
the strap of my knapsack
cut into my shoulder.
I uttered a complaint to my comrades
Then seeing that big-assed crucifix
out in front of the church
with Jesus forever publicly agonizing
I remember saying...
“If Jesus can carry that cross for me,
I can carry this pack...”


Peace, Joe
in the big MT
seeking the serendipitous magical mysteries of life's ubiquitous twisteries

[This message has been edited by Sunshine (10-02-2003 08:19 AM).]

© Copyright 2003 Joseph D. Carreno II - All Rights Reserved
QjQ
Member Elite
since 2003-04-18
Posts 3756
U.S.A.
1 posted 2003-10-02 10:09 AM


interesting write,,,,
n2dmystic
Member
since 2003-09-27
Posts 253
beyond the doors of perception
2 posted 2003-10-03 12:10 PM


hey y'all, don't be afeard, I ain't no evangelist.  This one is about a child exploring life and building a bedrock for faith.  It's not a commercial for the blah, blah, blah.

Peace, Joe
in the big MT
seeking the serendipitous magical mysteries of life's ubiquitous twisteries

Susan Caldwell
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348
Florida
3 posted 2003-10-03 01:25 PM


Joe~

This was a great story, because of how it was told and b/c it made me remember how desperate I was, while growing up, to have something to believe in...my agony over needing, yet not finding, something solid that made all the madness make sense...

Well done!

Susan

n2dmystic
Member
since 2003-09-27
Posts 253
beyond the doors of perception
4 posted 2003-10-04 01:49 AM


susan, again thank you for affirming me, and I'm glad you could find something to i.d. with.  blessings

Peace, Joe
in the big MT
seeking the serendipitous magical mysteries of life's ubiquitous twisteries

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