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Open Poetry #32
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C&O
| Open Poetry #32 |
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C&O |
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wranx Member Elite
since 2002-06-07
Posts 3689Moved from a shack to a barn 
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I sat beside an old friend today The old canal where my youth was spent And even then, it had been decades since the Boatsman’s horn and his cries of “Hey there!”, “Hey-y-y lock!” had echoed off the lockkeeper’s house At night, in my time ashy old black men would sit here fishing their poles propped on forked sticks alternately carping and complaining but, always tippling their “tonic” By day, he was visited by bare-chested youngsters floating their bobbers over brushpiles trying to coax Crappie from a summer siesta We were shoeless, and jealous of the older boys whose longer legs and stouter hearts allowed them to wade the river below And once bored with watching a motionless cork we’d go off on adventures recreations of historical conflicts and living epic stories befitting the setting But his back had been broken. This old friend was laid waste by a fury named Agnes who shattered his banks and jimmied his locks Leaving him dry and denuded stripped now of brush, Crappie and Carp old tires, boots and empty pint bottles. Grass now grows where mermaids once swam Some of his trees, though, are still standing the ones with the longest legs and stoutest hearts Trees that once cooled mules towing the coalboats and shirtless young warriors exploring new lands Trees, that no longer recognize me Or remember my name * * * * * * * * * * * his is what it looks like http://www.kobotica.com/online/features/candoc/canal.tour/016-swains-monocacy.tour/030.84-lock25-edwards/ [This message has been edited by wranx (05-14-2004 07:50 AM).] |
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| © Copyright 2004 E.F.Rose - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Gentle Spirit Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989 |
damn Ed....I have missed reading you. Your imagery in this is outstanding and I enjoyed your thoughts so very much.  |
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JL Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128Texas, USA |
This is a great write. I was there in this adventure. Reminded me of Huck Finn. Although sad, enjoyed the read. JL  She said: ”You look cute in the dark.” |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
We were shoeless, and jealous of the older boys whose longer legs and stouter hearts allowed them to wade the river below And once bored with watching a motionless cork we’d go off on adventures recreations of historical conflicts and daring adventures befitting the setting But his back had been broken. This old friend was laid waste by a fury named Agnes who shattered his banks and jimmied his locks Leaving him dry and denuded stripped now of brush, Crappie and Carp old tires, boots and empty pint bottles. Grass now grows where mermaids once swam ~*~ What a summer day...I hope you never, ever, take up bowling, or decoupage.... |
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muted
since 2004-01-15
Posts 2949Elapsing, Eclipsing, Evolving |
"Some of his trees, though, are still standing the ones with the longest legs and stoutest hearts Trees that once cooled mules towing the coalboats and shirtless young warriors exploring new lands Trees, that no longer recognize me Or remember my name" go on, break our hearts with those last lines! you are creating such a deeply impacting image...out of thin air...ive never been there..but i'll be damned if after reading this, i now have memory of it! yes...enjoyed just doesnt "do it justice" |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
Excellent stuff -- the imagery in this is absolutely compelling. ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº> |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Ed The look from your memory's eyes is so beautiful and touching, but the photos still have a charm that would be hard to ignore. You write so well and always seem to touch the heart in me.  |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Excellent write Ed... and thanks for adding the link. Hugs~ ~ Trace my body with your words, |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
Oh Bro, this is fantastic.. you took me back to the days of Huckleberry Finn. it's a keeper m'friend. Dark Sis  The clouds never expect it when it rains, but the sea, changes colours, but the sea, does not change. |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
Ed,I remember taking my third grade students in Baltimore County on field trips to see the locks of the C&O Canal...and if I can remember back that far, I think we crossed it. Nicely done Maureen |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
wranx You have a Mark Twain gift, enjoyed. |
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
Ed, you probably won't believe me -- you're so modest -- but before I read Seymour's post, I, too, thought I was reading Mark Twain reincarnated! You are an entralling and brilliant writer and I hope you really do try to publish some of your work -- seriously and not flateringly -- just encouragingly........jo |
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MGROVES
since 2004-02-01
Posts 3802california |
excellant loved the memory |
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brian sites Senior Member
since 2002-06-25
Posts 1475usa |
and writing epic poems befitting the soul great great great Ed awesome |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
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Ringo
since 2003-02-20
Posts 3684Saluting with misty eyes |
Ed- We had a canal very similar looking to this within spitting distance of where I used to live. Mine is filled with water still, however is still a reminder of its once glorious past. This write put me back there sitting on the shores watching nothing go by. Great work. Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again... |
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majnu
since 2002-10-13
Posts 1088SF Bay Area |
this breaks my heart. in the death of your canal i can see the concrete that will pave the hills where i ran barefoot, and the cookie cutter developments that will pockmark the land. its just so depressing. -majnu |
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