RetroLounge
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Sat Dec-06-08 12:07 PM
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The RetroLounge Daily Poem Thread (Sat 12/6/2008) |
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Prayer
I woke my whole childhood to the sound of waves and silently counted one tide to the next the rest of the day. I went to sleep those years watching stars wash up the beach. I can't remember my sister's smell, which was something like the woods surrounding our cabin in Maine when the sun is sinking as she sets the table for dinner, but I fully recall the feel of her cheek in my hand. After they'd snaked a shunt from her thigh to her brainstem, I played with the scar, said "caterpillar" and watched for a response. Eventually, I'll pile these sheets of paper high enough. The morning of her funeral I watched a sunrise colored less of a bruise, more of urine left to stale overnight in the bowl. I searched the sky reflected in the casket handle for a cloud shaped like her face. I've held her cheeks in my hands, made the mouth between smile. I've told her stories to strangers in first person. There are no good poems to read at a sixteen year old's funeral. I can remember tides, bows of her Christmas presents, the last strands of hair, wind on my cheek that night, each cigarette for two years, singing Aretha to keep her up one more hour. I can't yet remember enough. Alone and drunk, I've pissed her profile in snow banks. For years I've heard her telling me not to cry, to sing some more. Every day I calmly risk my life to stop from lying.
Dan Manchester
************
:hi:
RL
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Tuesday Afternoon
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Sat Dec-06-08 12:15 PM
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RetroLounge
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Sat Dec-06-08 12:18 PM
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There are no good poems to read at a sixteen year old's funeral
:cry:
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Tuesday Afternoon
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Sat Dec-06-08 12:30 PM
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tears are still flowing. powerful piece, this one.
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lizziegrace
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Sat Dec-06-08 12:58 PM
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4. I was wondering about you |
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how's your back?
This one's a tough read. :(
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RetroLounge
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Sat Dec-06-08 01:01 PM
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6. Just came in from Shovelling |
lizziegrace
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Sat Dec-06-08 01:09 PM
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that doesn't help your back get any better.
How much snow did we get? My neighbor had already used the snowblower before I got up.
Running errands later. Let me know if you need anything.
:hug:
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RetroLounge
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Sat Dec-06-08 02:05 PM
Response to Reply #7 |
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I have a snow thrower.
Doctor told me to stay active and it will heal faster...
:hi:
RL
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blueraven95
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Sat Dec-06-08 12:59 PM
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RetroLounge
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Sat Dec-06-08 02:05 PM
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CaliforniaPeggy
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Sat Dec-06-08 01:27 PM
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Holy god.
This is so gorgeous, and so damn heartbreaking...
As you say, there are NO good poems to read at a 16 year old's funeral.
Thank you nonetheless, for this beauty...
:cry:
:hug:
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RetroLounge
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Sat Dec-06-08 02:05 PM
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RetroLounge
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Sat Dec-06-08 05:06 PM
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