Just a story. Not a particularly happy one, at that. Hope you don't find it
t o o much of a downer.
Always Have Little Rock
Top it all, that big snowstorm hit,
trapping
us at each other's throats. Mother,
wasn't it? Took turns running out
and flailing at our parking spot with
a rusted excuse for a shovel. Car
finally out, rigged a scraper out of a
busted ice tray. Warnings blaring from
in-and-out tv not going to stop us.
Slipped and slid down to Little Rock,
figuring to catch a plane. Planes.
Mean planes. Pea-soup and slick
runways gave pause. Literally. Your
joke. Oddly, the wall of ice between
us melted small as we waited. . .waited. . .
WAITed. Getting along was a blip
on the radar was clear. Still, it was nice.
Talk passed the time. Distracted from
prices and bucket chairs. White bread
bread gooing around quote cheese unquote.
You were wearing that hideous down
jacket. Hung open. Zipper on the hood
kept sticking, you complained. You had
peroxided beach-boy streaks without
reading the box, and Christmas candy
and booze added blossoms to your chin.
Big mother over your left brow. I wanted
you so bad. Wanted me! 'bout flipped.
Good the weather warmed so rapidly.
Able to go our separate ways, at last.
Good? I say good? WE were. . .but. . .
just. . .doomed? Long enough now
that weeks go by when I no longer see
a wavy cabin floor, a streaked weather
channel, squeezed zits, and hear us scrape.
Didn't end up frozen to an Ozark ravine,
be free. Hip, hip, hurrah. Didn't count
on the first snow of the year spreading
a blanket makes one see the one outside
a squeezy, ill-equipped cabin occupied
by an ill-equipped couple, you know?
Clung to that Arkansas mountain. . .OW.
My eyes burn. Gotta go. Take care.
Remember ice is not always visible.
Signs frost over. May catch ourselves
napping.
(c) Phyllis Jean Green, March, 2009
All Rights Reserved
Want to review or comment on this poem?
Need a FREE Reader Membership?
Reviews of "Always Have Little Rock"
Reviewed by Chantilly Lace (Reader)
Reviewed on March 30, 2009
Very well written sweet lady...keep smiling...Hugsss
Wow. You were smart not to get stuck on an Arkansas mountain. Love the way you string it all together to depict such strong and vivid stories. Glad you got out. Hugs, Liz
OMG, you just described one of those nightmarish happenings, and doesn't matter that disclaimer of it being a fictional story, few of the readers will remember it vividly, because it happened to them.
Good story teller we have here.
I am flattered that the story comes across as true, but it isn't. While I have reason to relate strongly to being trapped
by a blizzard in a place I wanted badly to escape, the story
that this poem tells is not about me or anyone I know. It is purely a work of the imagination. The couple does not exist. The cabin
did not exist. The scene in Little Rock is purely imaginary. I find it very encouraging when someone reads my fiction and thinks that the characters and events have to be real. I am grateful for comments to that effect! But as I hope to become known as a fiction writer {as well as a poet and biographer}, I need to make it clear that the characters I write about and the things they do are often made up out of whole cloth. ~~ All that said, thank you, thank you, thank you
to all of you who take the time to read my work. To spend time and energy writing comments is beyond the call. Forum or no! Love
and Peace, Phyllis
I have been through more than one trip and get together like this in my day and I remember how bad it can get. Great capture of the way things were for you and how it made you feel.
Wow. Sounds like I'm sitting right next to you, listening to a master storyteller - wait a minnit, I am! LOL This one is compellingly penned (told) - well done!
Phyllis,
Like Karen, I sense apprehension here but I do love the style, the confessional and casual stream of consciousness commentary, very real and emotive.
John
Wow Phyllis, you have really thrown your heart and soul into this piece, leaving one to ponder and think. Very expressive yet I can detect your apprehensiveness running through...
“Being a couple yet free is our next challenge on the evolutionary ladder. This book successfully helps us unravel the myths that block that achievement. It does it with warmth, with readability, and with balance. It recreates everyday problems and
Dozens of Frequently Asked Questions regarding Pathological Narcissism, relationships with abusive narcissists, and the Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
Share
Print
Save
Follow
Good story teller we have here.
Georg
of this yarn, as only you can tell it. -gene
by a blizzard in a place I wanted badly to escape, the story
that this poem tells is not about me or anyone I know. It is purely a work of the imagination. The couple does not exist. The cabin
did not exist. The scene in Little Rock is purely imaginary. I find it very encouraging when someone reads my fiction and thinks that the characters and events have to be real. I am grateful for comments to that effect! But as I hope to become known as a fiction writer {as well as a poet and biographer}, I need to make it clear that the characters I write about and the things they do are often made up out of whole cloth. ~~ All that said, thank you, thank you, thank you
to all of you who take the time to read my work. To spend time and energy writing comments is beyond the call. Forum or no! Love
and Peace, Phyllis
hugs
Fee
Wow. Sounds like I'm sitting right next to you, listening to a master storyteller - wait a minnit, I am! LOL This one is compellingly penned (told) - well done!
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Like Karen, I sense apprehension here but I do love the style, the confessional and casual stream of consciousness commentary, very real and emotive.
John
Be always safe,
Karen