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I Should Have Flown

I looked at my birth certificate,

it stirred memories, some sweet

like the cake batter I used to lick

from mom's wood spoon, funny

 

how we recall the distant past, like

I had almost forgotten mom was 15

when she had me, her birthday June,

mine November; she was only 14 when...

 

 

I heard of her death, I awoke from

a terrible sleep halfway across

the United States, a nightmare

it seemed like

 

millions of miles I traveled,

a few thousand anyway to get home

for her funeral, almost non-stop except

for gas, food and a speeding ticket

on a long stretch of Nebraska highway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author notes

An example of distance.

A contest entry

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Comments

1 - 6 of 6

  • Allyce May gold member
    August 28, 2008

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    The last line is like a final kick in the readers stomach. Highways always emit such a desolate feeling, if that makes sense. There's that battle between the notion of them leading to places, and the feeling that they stretch on forever. My grandfather always said "to travel in hope is better than arriving". That's what this made me think of - so many emotions are roused when you're driving, both good and bad depending on the purpose of the journey.

    Such moving poetry, and as Nicolette mentioned, you are so very authentic.

    Thanks for sharing


  • Nicolette gold member
    August 24, 2008

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    The one thing I love about your poetry is that your voice is so very authentic and you speak from that place that is personal, sensitive and deep within, Michael. This is sad.... how long that Nebraska highway must have been...yes, millions of miles. I remember when my father died, the hospital was only 50 kilometers from my home and I was there when he died...but oh, how long those 50 km when I had to come back home... This is such a moving poem - thank you for sharing it with us in the contest.

    ~ Nicolette


  • Wind 03
    August 17, 2008

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    veryy sad!

    very sad and sweet...very well written..when a loved one pass away its like cutting a part of you of...i know how hard it can be! I wish you the best of luck my friend and a very touching poem


  • tara wilson gold member
    August 16, 2008

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    I love the title, the voice...and I love the last stanza so much...

    "millions of miles I traveled,
    a few thousand anyway to get home
    for her funeral, almost non-stop except
    for gas, food and a speeding ticket
    on a long stretch of Nebraska highway."




  • Gwenevere
    August 16, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    Diatance can be vast even when we live close together .With love we can be close together always .As your memory proves, you can bring your mother back to you in the wink of an eye, Ros


  • Margaret Denham gold member
    August 16, 2008

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    I still remember clearly the wheres and whys when I lost my Mother after all these years and it only takes the smallest thing to make it all come back. Your words seem to have an ability to make me think of things long past.

    Best wishes in the contest.



    Love Margaret

1 - 6 of 6