Waking Up (from Riding the Greyhound)

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jwesley
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-04-30

Posts 7563
Spring, Texas

0 posted 2013-05-22 10:07 PM

Waking Up
(from Riding the Greyhound)

The older we get
the more ghosts
we gather,
the more friends we lose,
family that passes,
lovers, whose hearts
have moved on.

Big Dog
spoke of misery,
pain,
the bottom rung
of America;
those looking for excitement,
a difference,
then find it takes two days
to do what a car would
in one.

I thought I could sleep
through anything,
found people smoked:
they weren't supposed to.
People drank:
they weren't supposed to.
Men wet on the floor
because they didn't want
to leave their seat.

The Dog I was on was filthy,
Graffiti on the walls,
trash on the floor,
the seats smelly, sticky.

Bad times
made worse when sleep
finally came – brought dreams,
ghosts of my past,
the hell of my present,
foretold the pain
still to come.

Like waking up,
and finding, nothing . . .
had changed.

© wesley james beard, jr.
may 2013

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

1 posted 2013-05-22 10:28 PM

I've been having some of my own ghostly dreams lately, JW, so I truly do appreciate this ride!

Alison

Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-27

Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!

2 posted 2013-05-23 01:05 AM

Damn, this is fine writing.

A

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

3 posted 2013-05-23 07:06 AM

I've rode many a dog, J, but I'm happy to say never one such as this. Miserable ride, it had to be.

~*~ PMS jokes aren't funny, period. ~*~

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis

since 2007-09-16

Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California

4 posted 2013-05-23 12:41 PM

Quite a ride, Jimmy. Superb writing.
Ida

beaniebaby
Member

since 2005-11-17

Posts 55

5 posted 2013-05-24 10:13 AM

powerful write my friend

Lighthousebob
Member Elite

since 2000-06-14

Posts 4725
California

6 posted 2013-05-24 07:57 PM

Your story really pulled me in and I was wondering, actually fearful, what might happen to you if you fell asleep and, then, you did and, wow, then the ending. Whew, yeah, the ending was Fantastic! Ha! Really, really enjoyed this one!

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

7 posted 2013-05-25 03:00 PM

Two days under such conditions were surely a torture, dear Jimmy. And yet, when necessary we the human beings can adjust to almost anything. I hope nowadays the Greyhounds are more comfortable. Dreams not always bring comfort either.

You rendered this adventure with your usual "bravura".

Margherita

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

8 posted 2013-06-05 09:36 PM

Fine writing...James

EmmaRose
Senior Member

since 2011-03-02

Posts 1376
Midwest

9 posted 2013-06-06 08:57 AM

romantic and gritty writing all at once.
I like very much

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