Faded Septembers
it was too soon to be the Last
I can't remember the brand you smoked, but I prefer to imagine you now, wherever you are, clutching a pipe, sweet smoke curling slowly around and wafting toward me as you reload your sharp wit.
I've read every word written countless times, but no matter how many hours I spend pouring over them with my mental magnifying glass I know I'll never understand the nuances you intended.
I confess that sometimes when I wake to the chime of my phone, in my half sleep I still check to see if it's you with your endless rambling thoughts, come to lay them at my mailbox so I can help you decipher the next step.
I have nothing tangible to touch but one day I intend to walk on the soil where you walked and then I will lay down my hands to the poppies you planted that I imagine still grow there.
The acrid taste of my grief turns to bitter loneliness as the years pass and the table empties until all that is left is the grimy and fading tablecloth, and the crumbs of your glory.
~For the accidental shepherd from his girl from the north country
I guess I better buy that flatbed Ford one day. Get myself a coffee. Maybe next year.
About the Creator
Call Me Les
Aspiring etymologist and hopeless addict of children's fiction.
If I can't liberally overuse adverbs and alliteration, I'm out!
Website: lesleyleatherdale.ca
#elbowsup
~&~
She/Her
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Heartfelt and relatable
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Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
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More stories from Call Me Les and writers in Poets and other communities.
Body Needs Oxygen
be it sun or rain, I will go for a walk— the body needs oxygen. Some people skip walks, giving different issues or weather conditions as excuses. I don’t. Yet if there is wildfire smoke, leaf blower gas fumes, or mulch machines running, I will delay or skip.
By Seema Patel2 days ago in Poets
'20/20'
"Do It Again" the track that would ultimately open the Beach Boys final album on Capitol Records which was released on February 10th 1969 had originally been released as a single in August of 1968. The track was the first of many post-Pet Sounds era throwbacks to the early Beach Boys sound which would become continually more cliched and eventually lead the Beach Boys to the level of self-parody they would eventually succumb to in the 1980s while their closest contemporaries The Beatles nearing the end of their run in 1969 would go on to be viewed as the most influential band of all time. However, the song itself is not bad on its surface, and it opens with a futuristic sounding (for 1969) drumbeat captured by then-Beach Boys engineer Stephen Desper using tape delays on the drums performed by Dennis Wilson and John Guerin. The song has been re-recorded numerous times over the years on various Beach Boys-related projects most notably the 2011 re-recording at Capitol studios featuring the five surviving Beach Boys at the time backed instrumentally by various members of both the Brian Wilson Band and Mike Loves touring "Beach Boys" to promote the then upcoming Beach Boys 50th Anniversary reunion tour in 2012. The hammering and power drill sound at the end of the song was an excerpt from a track called "Workshop" that was to be a part of the uncompleted "SMiLE" album.
By Sean Callaghan5 days ago in Beat
Comments (27)
Dear Ms. Les - So sorry that I've just discovered your work within the VocalBucket - you are a marvelous storyteller - *I've subscribed with pleasure. May I introduce myself: I'm just an old-fashioned storyteller/and sketch artist leading into my Shorts; nothing more - not into contests or awards - this is just fun for me during retirement. The only poem I've ever written was in High-School "The Llama & Koala" that fellow writer Kristen Balyeat & I recreated here on Vocal. - My Respect - Jay Kantor, Chatsworth, California 'Senior' Vocal Author - Vocal Village Community -
What a beautiful and poignant description of grief!
wow i love this piece
A different story written with craftsmanship.
Beautiful, powerful, and compelling.
I like it
This poem speaks from the heart, Les, and is a beautiful way to remember someone who meant the world to you. A big congratulations on a very heartfelt top story.
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Beautifully written. Congrats on top story
What a gorgeous tribute! Hugs to you Les!
This sensory poem is so lovely and haunting. Well done. Congratulations, too, on the Top Story.
Breathtaking beauty
Congrats on the TS.
congrats call
Congrats on Top Story!
Oh, Les. Sending love. ❤️
I miss him with all my senses, too. Thought of you.
Can't help but to hear this song now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaBw37-nWaY Eagles (Take it Easy) Beautiful and heartfelt story!
A stunning depiction of personal grief Les. You are a word alchemist indeed, but the bittersweet lies in the tragedy that this had to be written at all. I hope you are okay? 💕
Gosh that was so poignant and relatable! Loved your poem
I love the rewarding thoughts ending 🥰
Lovely words and glad to see you writing once more 💜💜
Oh my, Les. This is exquisite, and heartbreaking. "all that is left is the grimy and fading tablecloth, and the crumbs of your glory." What a finish. 🤗
Good to read your words again.
Great to see something new from you! This is beautiful and poignant!