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Open Poetry #12
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The Clam Story
| Open Poetry #12 |
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The Clam Story |
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Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion 
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The Clam Story A memory appears on my tongue - lime juice and fresh clams, a bar in a restaurant on a sandy spit in Baja. We ride the train south from the San Diego border to the coast of Mexico, a desert adventure - exotic cacti and date palms, in contrast - the poverty of its people, homes of scrap metal and abandoned railroad cars, small curious brown faces press to the windows as we roll to a slow stop, children vending wares of their country. Mother motions for us to sit on green vinyl barstools, two hungry kids who were promised shrimp but they are not in season. We are hungry enough to suck down a few salty, gritty clams. We walk back to the train, skeletal dogs tail us, mother takes our picture we smile, squinting into the sun, the train a yellow backdrop. Halfway home, we stop in Calexico most of the riders make tracks, the conductor orders us to move to the caboose - the only car continuing north. As the caboose chugs along, we notice my brother is missing. Through the rear window I see his legs moving very fast along the tracks. Mother yanks the emergency cable, we screech to a halt, my crying Bro climbs aboard. Being a sister, I loudly sigh and lament all the toys I could have had. © 2001 Corinne Bailey [This message has been edited by Corinne (edited 01-17-2001).] |
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| © Copyright 2001 Corinne - All Rights Reserved | |||
SEA 
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
Corinne~ SHAME ON YOU!!!! LOL Fantastic wirte......you made me feel so much so fast, like being on a roller coaster!  -SEA |
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Irish Rose Member Patricius
since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263 |
a fantastic write, full of fire!!!! Just what I would expect from an Irish lass. Fire!!! Kathleen |
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VAS Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450Oregon |
Extremely well recounted memory...well as far as I know. You certainly pulled a chuckle from me with that last stanza! It reminds me of Shel Silverstein's "Sister for Sale." Heh-heh the other side of the coin, eh? Again, wonderful write! |
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Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
SEA, thanks! Glad you enjoyed the ride! Thank you, Irish Rose, fire - that's how we got the red hair! VAS - thank you! I think we all want to sell our sibs at some point or another! Corinne |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Corinne~ You are such a delight ! Turned the corner on me at the end - LOL ! Marvelous portrayal of sibling honesty ! ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ noles1@totcon.com |
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Wilfred Yeats Member Elite
since 2000-08-04
Posts 2704Wilmington, Delaware |
I LOVE vignettes like this - and THIS is especially good! |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Corinne--You told this wonderful memory story so well...loved it! |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Great poem... the last verse is classic! LOL |
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Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
Thanks, Marge, I was such a bratty sister! Thank you, Bill, glad you liked! Martie and Suthern, thank you! Corinne |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Delightful, Corinne! I enjoyed this very much! Denise |
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Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
Thank you, Denise! Corinne |
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Parker Member Elite
since 2000-01-06
Posts 3129ON |
Corinne, this story is cool. My mother used to take us out to the coast when I was young on trains all the time.... and I use to always run up and down the cars for fun. but one time, the train separated and I was on my way to the last car and it wasn't there anymore.... scared me. I wonder if my sister was thinking the same thing. Park |
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