Iambe...Through Another's Heart

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Duncan
Member Ascendant

since 2001-08-07

Posts 5455

0 posted 2003-10-12 10:06 AM

I.  The phone call

No one told me, not directly.

I overheard a word or two,
benign words like
where and when,
not words that should carve
cold-silver thunder down my spine...
but they did.

Jake’s knees gave,
just slightly
before he was able
to steady himself
on the bar.

In that instant
I knew regret,
inconsolable regret

and quiet, quiet anger.

II.   Attempting  Numb

I reached behind the bar
and tightened the fingers of my left hand
around the first neck they encountered,
stepped down, blindly then
toward the sense of light

(it wasn’t light,
it held no warmth)

filtering through tobacco and time
stained windows.

I walked
until there was not
even that

the sense of light

(it wasn’t light,
it held no warmth).

I lifted the bottle of whiskey
to my mouth
and swallowed fire
to put out a flame.

III. Remembering

The first time I saw Iambe
I was fourteen years old.
I’d never seen a girl that dressed
like a boy before
or who looked so darn good
doing it.

My Gram caught me lookin’,
read the grin on my sunburned face
and smacked me hard
on the back of the head.

“Hey!”, I yelled
and ducked at the same time,
knowing Gram rarely smacked ya once,
said learnin’ made more sense in twos,

“What’d ya do that for?”

“Watch where yer walkin’ Jackson,
and don’t be actin’ the fool in front of Miss Iambe”

IV.  “Miss Iambe”

I must’ve said her name
inside my head a thousand times,
just listening to the sound of it.
Thought it was the prettiest name
I ever heard.

V.  Clark’s Road

The night was cold,
without star
or blanket of cloud and so dark
I couldn’t see even my step
as I made it...

still I hastened, blindly
flailing away branches
that dared my path,
tearing leaves
prematurely
from their early autumn rest...
to death
under
my step.

Until
the tangle of stinging brush broke
into unfettered air
at the north end of Clark’s road

where I heard the sound
of sharpened metal breaking earth,
driven again and again
into torn virgin soil

the sound of sharpened metal striking stone,
cymbaling again and again
through gasping wane of night

I heard
the sound
of Iambe’s grave
crowning.

.
(Cont...)

[This message has been edited by Duncan (10-12-2003 10:08 AM).]

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

1 posted 2003-10-12 10:11 AM

no Kleenex alert?
no drumroll?

just...life?

Gads...

dang.

but...Library.

I'll think of something stupendous to say
when my brain stops reeling.

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

2 posted 2003-10-12 10:14 AM

quote:
I lifted the bottle of whiskey
to my mouth
and swallowed fire
to put out a flame

ouch, but that burnt my lips!
and then this burnt my eyes:

quote:

the sound of sharpened metal striking stone,
cymbaling again and again
through gasping wane of night

I heard
the sound
of Iambe’s grave
crowning

[This message has been edited by Midnitesun (10-12-2003 10:17 AM).]

Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean

since 1999-07-07

Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla

3 posted 2003-10-12 10:14 AM

Duncan,
Well you got my interest. Can't wait for chapter two. Excellent start.

vandana

Member Patricius

since 1999-10-22

Posts 10463
USA

4 posted 2003-10-12 10:15 AM

enjoy your read

Susan Caldwell
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-12-27

Posts 8348
Florida

5 posted 2003-10-12 10:23 AM

Well...it's about time....

I was wondering if I was going to have to force you...

This piece is so full of depth of emotion..you fill me with your words...

Now, I happen to know there is more....(insert Liz's copy righted smiley here)

Susan

"if you won't let me fall for you
then you won't see the best that I would love to do for you"
~Dido~

Patricia
Member Elite

since 2003-04-06

Posts 2160
Missouri

6 posted 2003-10-12 10:45 AM

Oh Duncan, you had me the whole way! Yep, a keeper. Magnificent writing!

Patricia

Magnus

Member Laureate

since 2001-10-10

Posts 14135
South Carolina, USA

7 posted 2003-10-12 10:50 AM

Dang, Duncan...this is very very good.
Yepper! More than many may ever realize...

Nice work..

Duncan
Member Ascendant

since 2001-08-07

Posts 5455

8 posted 2003-10-12 11:11 AM

Thank you all. I wasn't going to post this yet, because I haven't been around to read and respond much, but the moths wore me down.

I promise to return the appreciation, very soon.
I do want to say now though, that this series and what Iambe means to me and so many of you, is the product of my bud the Capt. And I owe him a thanks that I will never be able to completely express.
Thank you all....

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

9 posted 2003-10-12 11:21 AM

Thank you Duncan....

I await the continuation...

~Hugs~

~Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile~

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

10 posted 2003-10-12 09:02 PM

yep, Jiminy had to come back for another read
it's even better the second time around

I might even want a third serving

Cpat Hair

Member Patricius

since 2001-06-05

Posts 11793

11 posted 2003-10-13 08:37 AM

(chuckling)

About time you posted this you procrastinating slacker.....

I see some subtle changes.... looks like they are worn well...

enjoyed this bud... but you knew that, didn't ya...

Greeneyes

Member Rara Avis

since 2000-09-09

Posts 9903
In Your Poetic Mind

12 posted 2003-10-13 09:29 AM

looking foward to more.....
Lauren~

Janet Marie
Member Laureate

since 2000-01-22

Posts 18554

13 posted 2003-10-13 11:01 AM

not words that should carve
cold-silver thunder down my spine...

--------------
In that instant
I knew regret,
inconsolable regret

and quiet, quiet anger.

---------------
(it wasn’t light,
it held no warmth)

filtering through tobacco and time
stained windows.

------------------
I lifted the bottle of whiskey
to my mouth
and swallowed fire
to put out a flame.

------------------
I’d never seen a girl that dressed
like a boy before
or who looked so darn good
doing it.
--------------------
IV. “Miss Iambe”

I must’ve said her name
inside my head a thousand times,
just listening to the sound of it.
Thought it was the prettiest name
I ever heard.

-----------------------
where I heard the sound
of sharpened metal breaking earth,
driven again and again
into torn virgin soil

the sound of sharpened metal striking stone,
cymbaling again and again
through gasping wane of night

I heard
the sound
of Iambe’s grave
crowning.
==============================

I do believe the inspiration torch has been properly passed. ( but then Ron already knew that)

Iambe is smiling -- she likes the idea that she haunts so many of us....and inspires a few along the way as well.

oh and about this part.....

"(Cont...)

damn straight!!!
( just dont make us wait too long)

but the moths wore me down."

and dont you forget it.

high inspire looks good on your pen Dunc.

"Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold."
"So dawn goes down to day ...
Nothing gold can stay."

~Frost~

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

14 posted 2003-10-13 11:54 AM

Wonderful writing, Duncan...full of color and heart!

Wind

Member Elite

since 2002-10-12

Posts 2981

15 posted 2003-10-13 03:26 PM

don't worry puppy...I was only ignoring this because it drives you insane..heh

now I get to bump it! yay me!

I can just imagine your granmother smacking you...hehe

What about China? Have you seen the Great Wall?
All walls are great, if the roof doesn't fall.
-yorke/bjork

Janet Marie
Member Laureate

since 2000-01-22

Posts 18554

16 posted 2003-10-13 10:08 PM

just stopped by to say....
Your email SUCKS!!!

yayayayayayayayayayaya

heh

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