She's something else
somewhere else
quiet, wondering--
drawing faces and stories
on steamed windows.
Wondering, always
lost in spellbindings
and a haze of drugs
called hope
faith
love.
Wondering
where I have been.
And now it's my turn to wonder
why?
wonder how,
wonder what I was thinking
when I missed the window
where was it?
will it ever be open again?
The train left tonight
at 9:15
dragging faces and freight
along the cold iron tracks
passing through a land
that ancient eyes wouldn't know
by sight or smell or taste
and I'm still waiting...
Another one leaves just before day
Feeling your stories
in the tongues of our own language
like tattoos under skin on my back,
I write a Kama Sutra in blue ink
on white washed walls next to me
wondering or divining
what happened
to those old drugs
that we used to live on.
Hope you are all still with me. I'll be around soon to see you all. Really!
It's been a long time, for certain. I was out for a while with a bad tooth which had to be addressed with copious amounts of antibiotics and a root canal. It was bad enough to make me physically ill. So ill and so painful that the root canal was nothing, and I might have went without Novocaine--except that there's no need to take things that far.
In between bouts of nausea-inducing misery and a steady stream of high (cash!) paying work, I've been watching my youngest sister, Sarah, leading her hockey team, the Rebels, to the local Silver Sticks championship game (which has yet to be played). If any one thing took some sting out of the week, it was seeing her scoring goals and taking her seat in the penalty box quite often. That's my sister! Do what needs to be done, say you're sorry later.
Top: The Heart and Soul Nebula. Been saving that one for a while! Mid: Obvious symbolism, I'm sure. Bottom: The Blue Water Bridge, between Port Huron, Michigan, to Sarnia, Ontario. If I have thrown a penny off of a bridge in a wish for good luck, this is the launchpad! Current water temp, 32.9 degrees F. Even in the height of the summer, the lakes are "invigorating", to say the least. Ice flows lasting into June are not uncommon.
Florida! I could use a warm vacation.
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78 charges of vandalism dropped:
hi eric, nice to visit you. i'm just coming up for air myself. hope all slows to a gentle halt for you.
:)
Well, the little story of life at the end makes the achievement of the poem even greater. It shows great control and discipline over the rhythms, the changes in tone, windows and trains, and a kind of reunion in memory in the last stanza. Great poem, glad to here about that 'clean laundry' rolling in,
Lovely poem, as always.
Wow.
You are living proof of "no pain, no gain."
The physical work and hovering on the edges of bad health has produced fine poetry and sentiment.
The god exacts a price, but I am sure we are both willing to pay it.
Come on down 79 today 80 tomorrow middle of the state- Such passion in this post and contrast ..superb!!!
Kinda reminds me of a Blue Rodeo song, written by Greg Keelor I believe:
I was riding on this train
looking out the back door
on where I had been
thinking about the sun
on your golden skin
I'm looking back
out onto where I'm coming from
out into that big white sun
I was feeling kind of strange
chasing these tracks to a
room by the lake
I heard your song and it took me away
I wanted to stay
I'm looking back
out onto where I'm coming from
out into that big white sun
Good luck to Sarah in the big game!
And welcome back, E, we missed you even more than your tooth will. I had to part with one last year - even a root canal wouldn't have saved it.
The heart and soul nebula rules. I wish I could travel through space. It's time for a long term cryofreeze, I think.
Sad, sad poem. <:(
Sorry about the dental problems. That sucks.
Glad to hear about the cash job & the championships! :)
As always, I love this poem. I love the idea of hope, faith and love.
I hope you are feeling better. I have missed reading you!
I freak out when I hear root canal that was because it took out a chunk of my saving as well as the tooth ... last year I had one done plus 8 fillings, that really hurt ... I mean the cash and I had no big paying job.... you are luckier.
I still have no clue about poetry but now I take pride in myself anytime I can make some sense in between the lines of yours.....
LoL:))
Hey, you! Miss you! I've not been around either. I'm working like 45 hours a week on top of all the "extracurricular" stuff (i.e. writing/acting, etc. etc.). Hope you are doing better with the tooth and yay for the cash jobs! Always good! Oh and faith, hope and love are still around, there everywhere you look-it's kind of amazing. :)
"Feeling your stories
in the tongues of our own language
like tattoos under skin on my back"
Clink!
Total clink! Hooray to Sarah and the saving grace of the good Dentist! I've missed your words, your magic, your ramblings, my friend....
Beautiful,
hauntingly beautiful
Ahhhh... how I've missed your words. And images of fading sketches on a foggy window.
The idea of a damaged, aching smile is a bit treacherous though, Eric!! Especially on someone like you. Your poor smile :(
ERique!
So glad you survived the bad tooth. How awful. I am glad you are not ill anymore. What a huge drag.
Your new poem is wonderful. The train symbolism is neat, I always equate trains with our past. That is what they refer to in dream interpretation anyways.
Such a cool thing that your sister plays hockey. My youngest daughter, who turns 3 in a month, LOVES hockey. She can't wait to go play. Yikes!
xo
Gillian
p.s. I was in Florida last week, if it is any consolation at all, it was slightly chilly!
I liked the poem. It almost seemed like two poems. the part that begins with the train leaving, and then running through the rest of the piece was absolutely superb
u know what dude, this is just getting to weird. How is it that you are always able to know exactly what I am feeling and then write it so elegantly and put the emotions into words...
PS. we never left eric, we've been arund, simply waiting for u. cheers mate!
Tooth pain is the biggest nastiest bitch in the world. You have my sympathies.
A word on bridges - you guys build some stonking huge ones! There's a couple of suspension bridges in the UK that have become national symbols of engineering, but I've counted three over the Mississippi already that easily dwarf those...
I hope you're feeling better by the time you read this.
Beautiful imagery with the windows, and what can/can't be seen through them.
(1) If you wait a few months, you can take a warm vacation, and never leave Detroit.
(2) Congratulations to your sister. It'd be nice if her team won, huh?
(3) The most painful thing about a root canal, for me, is the dentist's bill. Otherwise, they're not too bad.
The stuff that comes before the root canal? That's bad.
(4) Enjoy the cash-paying gigs while you can get them.
how's the tooth now?
Eric
The last two stanza have power that sets this poem on fire. Good piece of work--hey I put you in my blogroll. Soon, Scot
http://midwestpoet.wordpress.com
Maybe they are drugs.
Certainly, to some they are.
A lot of born again christians seem to use their religion as a prop.
And Love, for so many people is a drug, addictive and dangerous.
Hi, Eric: Sad to hear you had a rough time of it. I'm still healing, but battling the demons of ill health. Love the poem--really, really good. You have the touch. Keep it up!
Donnetta
Good work, my friend as always.
Blessings,
Lance
www.lancessoulsearching.com
i love coming here...such a welcome respite from a weary world. are you the last romantic?
Hi eric,
Fellow Detroiter here. Do holla when you can. Looking forward to reading more of your work. Find me here:
Black-Eyed Susan
How are you, Eric? We miss you. I hope the tooth pain is better now. There's nothing worse!
I've given birth to children and I've had a bad tooth infection. I'm not sure which was worse.
Hi Eric... the poem washed me with nostalgia, not of long lost meaningful loves, but those that passed through my youth... aaaah
well you can certainly be justifiably proud of your little sis... she made in name in the papers; brilliant
sorry about the toothy problems... I truly truly sympathise; I think my mouth is the most valuable part of my body, a fortune has been spent on dental work and surgery because I am prone to abcesses (sp)
I know what 'behind blue eyes' means, yet despite the pain we go on and have more children!
be well, don't work too hard
lotsa luv ann xxxxx
Ummm....Don't they have internet over there? We're missin' your words, Guy!
Hope you're better, Eric. Take it easy.
Hey there Eric,
Hope, faith, love... What wretched, twisted demons. While all the other evils attack us directly, these three sisters, win our hearts and minds, don't they. Truly, drugs all three.
Anyhow, hope you're feeling better soon.
Hope all is well with you, Eric.
internetless suckz... we miss you eric.
Cheers my friend.
I hope your tooth/gum is healing well by now..take care, I am still lurking Eric :)
1313 mr poetry.. woke up in the middle of the night..
-hey, i haven't been seein' his comments... how's he doin'? -
so very glad to see here, more signature poetry.. slow but stready survival of a root canal and sibling love and support
great shots too
hope, faith, love to you! ~s.
Are you okay, Eric? We haven't seen you around for a while. I hope everything is all right with you.
This no Eric thing is no good for me. I want you back.
(I've been missing on a trip for about a week, and I thought surely there would be some beautiful words when I returned... alas, I was wrong).
Do check in when you get the chance!!
Much love!!
Yeah, baby...
I love this part:
"The train left tonight
at 9:15
dragging faces and freight
along the cold iron tracks
passing through a land
that ancient eyes wouldn't know
by sight or smell or taste
and I'm still waiting...
Another one leaves just before day
Feeling your stories
in the tongues of our own language
like tattoos under skin on my back,
I write a Kama Sutra in blue ink
on white washed walls next to me
wondering or divining
what happened..."
I could read those lines right there a hundred times and find something new each time. Something in them makes me want to smack something or hum and I'm not sure which I'd rather do. Maybe both. Thanks for the feeling.
M
drawing faces and stories
on steamed windows
A haunting visual. :)
Awaiting your return. (I'm back from my hiatus as well.)
OK, faith, hope and love are all very well... but where the feck are you?
Happy Valentines Day Eric.
Uh, hello! It's totally February already. Infact...February is almost half...IS half over. Post please!!!
cm'out, cm'out wherever you are!
cm'out, cm'out wherever you are!
We're very concerned.
Where are you man?
Eric?
For reals, mister, I'm gonna have to start google news searching you if you don't show up sometime soon. Hope you are well!
Are you alright mate?
Wonderful post!
Sending love and peace to you my friend.
You are missed,
M
Everyone misses you, Eric. We hope you're okay.
i'm a counselor, and i know there's a message in your non-messages.
you've written a terrific poem here. is it almost time for more?
Eric, I was wondering where you had disappeared off to! Lovely poem. I love the images of windows and shadows, and saying goodbye. Also - writing the kama sutra in blue ink - loved it.
Hope you're doing well!
I hope all's well. We all miss you!
Hope everything's okay. You are missing the party, but more importantly the party is missing you!
Hang in there or rage on, whichever is more appropriate.
Faith, hope and love ... the three best drugs there are. Sorry about the dental junk.
I like the cute writing in steam part.
I am glad you are feeling better and your sister's hockey team sounds awesome. And you sound like a proud brother. Aw.
Hello Eric...take all the time you need to recover, recoup, rearrange and rekindle.
I miss you, but I have been away for a while too.
Come visit when you return.
:)
To health!
Send out the search parties...
Faith, Hope & Love
Eric, man, Faith, Hope & Love are calling you back. Did you try to make a trip & end up in a detour?
Honey, we are here throwing cookie crumbs curbside hoping you'll follow them back...we miss you & hope everything is ok.
Wondering
where I have been.
Yes Eric...we all are wondering...
did you catch a train?
Pass the bridge?
much worried...
Can you hear us knockin'?
Something ain't feelin' right around these parts, friend....
A lot of folks are gettin' worried....
-i'm with you sing, skinny, blogger friends and strangers
doesn't seem write -
sent an email today to the man who wrote the sports article about his sister.. (link in his post here) provided my contact info for his sister
hope to hear from someone
much love from all of us, ~s.
go sarah!! how i luv it...
eric..your words always leave me wanting more...wanting to add subtract..catch the drips from the icicles on my tongue...
get better, stay strong..
k:)))
Hey Eric. Wondering how you are. Hope all is well.
We need some smoke signals, mister... let us know you are out there.
Hey Eric-Hope your okay.
Still loving you and it has nothing to do with trains of any kind. :)
I'm here today, wishing you well, missing you, hoping you are okay and wondering and thinking about you.
Looks like you've had quite a few others doing the same so hey, you're not alone darling.
Wishing you much peace, joy, and beauty in your life today.
I got two teeth, the back two on the bottom left, root canal'd in early December . . .
It maxed out my dental insurance, such that I had to wait until I turned over a new coverage year . . .
Plus, I had residual sensitivity going on in both teeth . . . not heat or cold, but pressure . . . related to the healing of the underlying tissue . . . phantom pain, felt in the tooth . . .
Freaked me out . . . filled me with fear of having the permanent fillings put in . . .
Then I went yesterday and got it done . . . no pain whatsoever . . . nada . . .
Just goes to show that our minds can create fearful future realities that never pan out . . . and yet fill our present with something less than positive energy . . .
Here and now, baby . . . that's the ticket . . .
Still hoping all's well...
I wonder wherer Eric's at?
Perhaps he has been taken by the stars. Or just taken with them.
Who knows?
two emails to the sportswriter;
one phone call;
one try to contact his sister;
haven't heard a word.
-keep prayin'-
mr poetry.. you are missed!
love, ~s.
Indeed, this is the fisrt peek at the internet that I've had in six weeks, and it fills me with love and a great sorrow. Love for and from all of you who actually care, and sorrow that I've left you hanging this long.
I've been incomunicado in Escananba, Michigan--in the upper peninsula, which is tanatamount to being trapped under a glacier. I had to follow work like a migrant in the Grapes of Wrath. I'm back, but I don't know for how long.
Of course, that's no excuse not to let all of you wonderful people know why the long stay in absentia. It's a long, boring story.
OMG....Eric1313...doesn't matter where you have been, what has happened...you were SOOOOOo missed! We were worried, lol, Sing & I tracking the police blotters & newspapers...She reaching out in every direction...EVERYONE hoping, missing & wishing... a healthy Welcome Back!!!!
1313/mr poetry:
am i glad to read you!
there is a form they have at my children's school,
it is called, i think,
"extended leave of absence form"
and this is to be filled out IN ADVANCE (hint, hint, wink, wink) of long absences.. so they don't worry unnecessarily
the first 1 or 2 days.. it could be a cold or flu, or something like the dentist visit you mentioned
but without the form filled out,
-IN ADVANCE- (hint, hint, wink, wink) on the 5th/6th day, it would be quite natural to worry..
and so i was thinkin' today,
just now,
e-blogger should have such a form.
WELCOME BACK! i am happy today..
as are many others
much love, ~s.
Clink! That's all I gotta say, clinkity tinkity tink!
Peace~love our friend,
and welcome home.......
internetlessness sucks, glad you were able to peek in. hope you'll be back around soon. good luck with the work, i'm sure it'll inspire some new verses.
Lol, I think She is onto something...maybe an 'In Case of Emergency Contact Form'
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