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Riding the Greyhound - Trade Places With Me (from Boyhood Tales)
| Open Poetry #47 |
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Riding the Greyhound - Trade Places With Me (from Boyhood Tales) |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas 
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Riding the Greyhound - Trade Places With Me (from Boyhood Tales) Old grey dog was, well - old. One of the last of it's kind still slipping roads beneath its wheels, it's seats were past whatever comfort they might have had, and the odor inside was that of a car that had sat idle too long. It smelled of sweat and unwashed bodies, stale perfume, old cigarettes, and rivers of tears. Old grey dog, long past it's prime, was going home, it's wheels logging the last hundred miles it would ever see. And me, I was along for the ride, pushing miles behind me, putting distance between me and her, because she wouldn't try and I couldn't cope with the lies she wanted me to hear. Old grey dog sang to me: nineteen inch tires humming beneath my seat, long and longing they called, wishing to trade places with me, to have a choice, to be able to start all over again . You think you're on my Christmas List, but you're not - was the last thing she said as I got in the cab headed to the place where the grey dogs rendezvous. . . . trade places with me, sang the wheels . . . I picked up the book I'd brought but not opened yet, rifled the pages, not really wanting to read, then caught the folded scrap of paper trying to fall to the floor. - you think you're on my Christmas List - , it said, but you're not. You Are My Christmas List! . . . trade places with me, sang the wheels . . . and the tears came, and my heart hurt, and I knew I had to go home, again. © wesley james beard, jr. december 2011 [This message has been edited by jwesley (12-07-2011 10:42 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2011 Wesley James Beard, Jr. - All Rights Reserved | |||
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Sad refrain . . . again . . . and again . . . and . . . The songs we sing to ourselves and the words we speak aloud sometimes do not connect. I have ridden many a mile on the old Greyhound running and running . . . from myself. You can never run far enough. ~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~ |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
because she wouldn't try and I couldn't cope with the lies she wanted me to hear. If you'll pardon the pun, you took me on quite a ride with this one... from the "been there, heard that, needed to stop the noise" understanding of the above lines through sympathy for a tired old bus to the tears on my face that joined yours with the ending lines. *S* Beautiful write, my friend... you tell your tales so well!! |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
Jerry, you're correct - in terms of the heart, more running is done from self than anyone or anything else. Thanks for reading. j. |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
suthern, my good friend, always happy to see you. This was very much based on a true story, of someone I once knew, more about whom I hope to include in future Boyhood Tales. walk easy.... jimmy |
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JL Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128Texas, USA |
I know I'm a bit nuts, just a bit... But I was hearing the song "Sweet Home Alabama" in the background as I rode with you on this marvelous ride through your boyhood tale. Absolutely enjoyed the ride. JL  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
JL - may have been. I kind of pictured the old bus graveyard (after Trailways' demise) in the Ennis Area, just off I-45 --- remember that?? Don't know if still there... Thanks for checking in... j. |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Like a well written Townes Van Zandt ballad, J.W. Love the way this reads, its human sentiment.I feel a sense of hope, in the end..a picking up of one by their bootstraps, and a carrying on. Good poem, I enjoyed it. [This message has been edited by ice (12-08-2011 04:44 PM).] |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
... and suddenly everything changed! And even the old bus became a friendly place again. Very intense tale, beautifully rendered. I much enjoyed it, dear Jimmy. Margherita |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Well, I personally hate greyhounds... for some of the reasons you mentioned here even. This was a great ride though, and the upturn at the end was truly wonderful. Michael |
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