En Route
I
slept, mostly. The trip taking longer
than usual. Cat scratching holes in the
blanket under her crate. Tranquilizers to little effect. Grandma swigging Pepto Bismol and turning up
George Jones. Seattle Traffic. My teenage self waking sleepily to this new
life.
Arriving
Hotel
hot and stuffy. Summer late, as
usual. Voices all night outside. Shadows visible only by the No Vacancy sign. Mom too worried and stressed to sleep. Smoking Virginia Slim after Virginia
Slim.
Of
the ghosts we left behind, which would meet us here?
©
2017 Jennifer Wagner
This is so incredibly sketched - it leaves me yearning ... for THE BOOK! A lovely evocative, nuanced piece of writing, Jennifer.
ReplyDeleteA lot like Bram Stoker
ReplyDeleteevocative, moody, intriguing - well done, J ~
ReplyDelete___ A punctuated Cinquain, generated by your thought-depth here, Jennifer. _m
ReplyDeleteSleepwalk.
In my glad rags
snuggled against the noise,
I clasp what little rest there is;
call home.
Wow, you have captured every nuance of such a journey, and one does want the backstory! Nice to see you in the Pantry, Jennifer! Yay!
ReplyDeleteI moved to a new continent at the age of fourteen...not easy. Lovely capture.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written. You left us wanting more!
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait for more...
ReplyDeleteThat was right on "theater"
ZQ
Jennifer you writing is acute and telling... A refreshingly unique voice, dripping with style - very nice vignettes indeed that both capture and tantalise...
ReplyDeleteI feel as if I am right there with you. Poetically, you have shared a slice of real life in a most intriguing way.
ReplyDeleteI really like the voice. And find myself wonder what happened before, and what might happen next.
ReplyDeleteHow all of us must have experience such a trip as this. Beautifully written and now I am tempted to do one myself!
ReplyDeletevivid scene capture and a great punch line.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful piece of writing. Now I crave more of the story.
ReplyDeleteSo much visuals in every line! Really love how Time unfolds its petals.
ReplyDeleteWell written. You capture your reader's attention and keep it, along with the desire for more.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
https://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2014/02/01/burgeoning-poet-ii/
This is so incredibly haunting! It leaves me yearning to know more and more!
ReplyDeleteI hope it was a safe place in the end - a wonderfully evocative scene
ReplyDeletethe magic of exploring new places - brings back some own memories - ha
ReplyDeleteLove the sketchy images, where I also see some of my own... those no vacancy signs bring up memories from roadtrips of my own.
ReplyDeleteI loved picturing this and the sketchy details that go with it.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Jennifer. Yes, evocative. A great read!
ReplyDelete