Sometimes when you have no better sense, and you are seeking a lonely place, you can drive out past Akron, where Highway U crosses the strait. A place that has not changed much since 1948. A murmuring of spirits, a train that digs for bones. What you hear when you listen closely is a couple driving home, and a voice that is heard from darkness. A voice that carries no gray. “Come for love has earned you, a leaning to my arms, for here you’ll be together, no worlds can do you harm”.
“Lonnie” say’s Truman, “there’s a full moon tonight, hanging upside down against this steel bound track.” “The world is shimmering yellow and it brings a truth to the facts, of where we are tonight.” “The devil’s in the details but the moon paints your eyes.” “Oh Lonnie it is such a lovely light. Well Lonnie just smiles and points her tongue at the sky, and with the light wind blowing, it makes her dress blow tight. In truth, she looks just like the fair girl that he kissed one April night, long ago, when the full moon bathed the night. In the distance leaves a thudding sound of a workhorse pounding might, over Eastern Colorado, moving grain throughout the night. Its lone light sweeps the scrub-land, painting a long row of cross ties, twenty miles on to Brush and then turn right.
“Truman” says Lonnie, “it seems so cold out here, and I know we are feeling April, but it’s January in here”. Truman watches Lonnie draw with fingers around her heart, and he says, “Now there, now there, my Lonnie don’t you fear”. The scene it plays beneath the heavens on a lonely stage, of dark, where Lords and Daemons come to judge and swirl under stars as they spark. Destiny and choice, they barely talk from the start, as they watch the couple where they lay. Decorum holds its head above all that is displayed, and watches a single second hand upon a universal clock in play. For nothing holds to purpose until the day breaks, and this single hour is weighed.
“Lonnie” say’s Truman, “I thought I heard a train, it seems even now the whistle carries through my brain.” I know it probably not the time to tell this or explain.” “I love you with all my heart”. “Truman, oh my Truman”, says Lonnie with her soft smile, “I feel my cold leaving with your words, oh so worthwhile”. “I think that angels might carry me right up from off this track.” “Forget all explanations till our Lord brings us on back.” For it is with these last words and smiles, that rise from a human dismay, that a voice is heard from darkness, with words that carry no gray. “Come for love has earned you, a leaning to my arms, for here you’ll be together, no worlds can do you harm”. – 04.26.2019 – דָנִיֵּאל
You write a great ballad! 🙂
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Thank you Jon. Happy you liked this.
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I am a fan of this type of poem. Telling a good story is a lost art, but you have done well here.
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Thank you, I am like you, I miss the art of story telling. I however appreciate your very kind comment on my efforts.
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Anytime! 🙂
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Great piece Daniel, would make for a nice set of lyrics with Gordon Lightfoots voice. 😉
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Thank you Scott. I was thinking of Gordon just the other day, will have to pull some of his music to listen to it. The guy did great ballads. Thanks again for your compliment.
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Very welcome, A good deal of your writings could be set to music. Just a thought. 😉
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Hi Daniel,
I love this story, ghostly, yes but a love story, and as always your prose and poetry abilities are superb. I followed the links, to the very site the accident happened. Shabbat Shalom. ❤
Erin
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Hi Erin, As always I appreciate your kind words and reading of my stuff. I am happy to hear you followed the links. The very site the accident happened is a very lonely place even today. Shalom, Daniel
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Your welcome, always fun and interesting to read your post.
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Daniel this is masterful. Your abilities to bring the reader a story that they will long remember in so few words always amazes me. Thank you. ❤
P.S. Wonderful characters!!!
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Thank you Lauren. I am happy you enjoyed the characters. I strive to find the best ones I can. Almost an audition in my head. 😉
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LOL that is how I would imagine it. 🙂
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You weave interesting tales Daniel. Always haunting and mysterious. I enjoyed this one very much.
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Hi Brian, Thank you very much. I am happy you found the words to have a haunted and mysterious luster to them. More than that I like hearing you enjoyed reading my stuff. 😉
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Dear Daniel
Magical words, and a haunting love story. My favorite components. Once again I am enthralled with another post. A terrible way to go, but at least they had each other. 😉
❤ ❤ ❤
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Indeed Heather it was a terrible way to go. 😉 Thank you for reading and commenting, I am humbled you continue to like and read my work. Thanks again.
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I enjoy reading and commenting on your wonderful writing Daniel. Shalom Heather
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Mysterious, haunting and beautiful. I love the second paragraph the most. Especially the words from Lonnie to Truman as she draws around her heart with her fingers. Chilling really but sweet.
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Thank you Abigail. I am thrilled you liked this, and I am happy you pointed out the part you enjoyed the most. I hadn’t really thought about the chilling part of this story, but I think your right, an accident of such proportion would be so.
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Your welcome. 🙂
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You have a fantastic gift mate, and you use it well. This was a righteous read. 😉
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Thank you Shaun. I appreciate your kind words an am humbled by them. Happy you liked this piece. 🙂
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U are welcome mate.
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❤ this. 🙂
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Thank you Beth. Happy you liked this piece.
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Dear Daniel, “Lonnie & Truman” was a sweet haunting ballad. I loved the language. When you tell a story you are at your best. ❤ Ruby
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Hi Ruby, Thank you for your kind words. As always I am humbled by them. The words or the language as you call them are the most difficult for me sometimes. The meaning behind them, a piece of cake. 😉
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Dear Daniel,
One area we both have in common then. I too know what I mean, at times I can’t say it. 😉 Ruby
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Another favorite from you to add to my growing list of favorites from you. Daniel this was an amazing lyrical piece of writing.
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Thank you Jane. I am thrilled you found this piece to be a favorite. I do appreciate your kind compliment as to my words being lyrical in content.
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Very welcome Daniel, I put many of your words to the rhythm of the song you usually attach to each piece. It is complimentary. 🙂
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I enjoyed reading Lonnie & Truman. I followed the link to the site of the accident. Felt a chill just staring at the spot, then read your words all over again. 😉
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Hi Wang, Thank you for reading and commenting. Really excited you followed the links. The place of the accident has changed very little I think through the years. Still lonely and desolate.
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I find it fascinating there are still places in America left like that. Good to know. 🙂
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Always amazing prose. I would love to sit with you and find out where your ideas for writing come from. The variables you draw from seem endless. 🙂
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Thank you Gigi. I would enjoy that conversation. I enjoy finding characters or situations from the most ordinary, and giving them credit for being the most extra ordinary. 🙂
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That is real life as I see it. The ordinary is most of us. 🙂
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Daniel Lonnie and Truman was an entertaining read. Full of ghost, and melancholy goodness. Bill
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Thank you Bill, I like that, and you are quite right. They do have a good dose of melancholy goodness. 😉
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Your welcome Daniel, a bit of melancholy is good for one as long as it is not overdone. Bill
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A delightful story Daniel, with some wonderful sentiment directed toward eternal love. Shabbat shalom.
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Thank you Lisa, the eternal love part was what I was hoping came through. You made my day thank you for catching it. Shauva tov!
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❤ 🙂
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Thank you Summer. Very happy you liked this.
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Really like this one Daniel. Your characters are always memorable. Have a happy weekend.
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Hi Steve. The characters I enjoy living through, and I get excited if someone lives through them as well. So thank you very much. Have a great week ahead.
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Your welcome. The joy for some of reading, (like myself 😉 ) finding a great character to live through. The best in entertainment.
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“Lonnie & Truman” is amazing Daniel. I especially liked the following. “Come for love has earned you, a leaning to my arms, for here you’ll be together, no worlds can do you harm” The song from “True Grit” was a perfect fit. 😉
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Thank you Lynette for your wonderful comment. I loved the song as well, and am happy you tied the line from the post into it. Have a great week ahead.
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Wishing you a great week as well Daniel.
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Amazing writing Daniel.
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Thank you Delta, I am stoked you liked this piece, and I thank you for the compliment.
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I enjoyed this Daniel. You write great haunting pieces. They always stick with me. The music you picked out to go with Lonnie & Truman was perfect.
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Thank you Deb, I am happy you liked the music, I thought it fit nicely but always thrilled to find someone else thinks so too.
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🙂 YW
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Loved this Daniel. You had me with “Truman watches Lonnie draw with fingers around her heart, and he says, “Now there, now there my Lonnie don’t you fear” Love that description, I could see the whole story wrapped up in that one line.
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Hi Carmel, Thank you very much. You picked the line, perhaps I liked writing the best. Happy you liked this, thanks again fo reading and commenting.
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Very welcome Daniel, always a pleasure.
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Enjoyed this one Daniel. Great setting, time period and story. You write a mean haunt! 😉
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Thank you Ryan, coming from you that is high praise indeed and I am humbled by it. I am happy you like the time period. It is my favorite to write about.
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The world stopped turning for me in the arts about 1960. 😉 So I enjoy anything characterized before then. 😉
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❤ this story!
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Thank you Amy, I really appreciate you reading and commenting. Happy you liked this piece.
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