The braille topography of memory
still pushes aside a place
for that October weekend 20 years gone.
Carload of young women,
blooming with life in contrast with summer's waning
autumn road trip
last weekend before the killer frost snatches the reds and golds
and leaves some spindly smoke-hued browns
and clinging bricks against the evergreen.
Gun metal gray streams of clouds blanket the Allegheny forest treetops
and mountain's honed-down ancient peaked fingers
praying to indigenous gods.
Strong, sullen, rain reigned in by
brilliant golds and copper jewels teasing behind as
sun holds court but shares little warmth.
As our youth burns.
Pause to pose
perched on the rails biting into the backs of our thighs
laughing as one
photo-captured moments to remind us 20 years down the road
overlooking the dam steam flying back to heaven behind us.
Burn rubber through the kind mountain wind
to walk across the remaining slats of Kinzua Bridge.
Look through the rotted spaces
into times gone by
how many hands and races
joined to create something above the trees?
a bridge to the past
now gone, unburned, knocked apart by nature
one last storm laying it to dust with a muffled groan
along with its authors
under soft carpets of pine
and lush whisperng receiving blankets of leaves'
memories of sweet sap.
In a list
A contest entry
- October's Stun by CarolDesjarlais.
525 points, ended October 29, 2007, 12 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
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I had to keep reading
I always find it extremely difficult to write about the past. So naturely, I was quite taken by how facilely you pulled it off in this piece, Star Shine. I'm thinking I didn't take enough photographs.
"one last storm laying it to dust with a muffled groan"
This line seemed to channel W. H. Auden's great poem, "First Things First" and stands out in an overall compelling poetic read.
A60sMan
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Thank you so much for the lovely compliments you pay this piece and my writing, I am so glad you liked this one and appreciated the mood of the memories. I am humbled by your words.-K
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Wonderful are the memories in the minds eye for with it we can recant without blemish or stains what we so love of our cherished past. Let those moments remain that we may yet live to tell of those summer days when youth was burning life's candle at both ends.
When we turn old and weathered as the bridge we used to walk upon let us look back at these pictures captured from a moment so long ago.
I like it, I like it so.
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Thank you so much for the awesome comments and philosophy, I appreciate it.
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oh my goodness.... this theme is so intersting to me..of course...we are all this and yet we are remembered in those simple snapshots of memory. Beautifully penned.
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