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Sheraton on Canal Street...in tune with hoot owl...
| Open Poetry #40 |
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Sheraton on Canal Street...in tune with hoot owl... |
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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 2007 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved | |||
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
A eulogy...  Thank you lovie.  |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
I want to go back to there, and for many other reasons... so since I want it so much... I know it will happen. |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
I don't remember having seen this write before and am so glad to see it reposted. What haunting memories are found at these historical site...I'd imagine a revisit to that area will carry many more ghosts than the first time you were there in light of Katrina. P.S. Was Liz that visited Nan and not myself, though I love Cape Cod and wish it would have been me  |
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Dominique-Simone Senior Member
since 2005-11-12
Posts 643 |
Beautiful... |
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The Lady Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634The Southwest |
ummmm... so good it puts my teeth on edge Karilea you have to go back to get more of this |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
if you ever go back, let me know I'll be on my way |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
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 Even before reading further, I knew where this had to be. And I thank you for giving voice to those silenced so long ago. Beautiful work!! |
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Neeraja Senior Member
since 2002-06-22
Posts 812The Netherlands |
This is so beautiful.... |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Sissie Where the past curled tendrils around my feet planting me in yesterday... If anyone can do this, it is you.  |
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
SIL, glad you reposted this as I don't think I had read it yet. You took me back to the past, too. *hugs*...jo |
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Artic Wind Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080Realm of Supernatural |
Lovely and inspiring ARCTIC WIND |
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