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| obviously, not the hearse |
A pale blue hearse
with confederate flag upholstery
passes me on the main drag, driven
by a shirtless old man,
with a wide nest beard & bird chest
(Listen close, you might hear a raven)
Surely, death has come to toWn
(or the South risen again) and i can't imagine
what might happen when he realizes
there is no more Unleaded gas left
in this city
figuring it better to make friends
i throw up a hand (too hot
to do much else)
but he pays me no mind
Obviously,
it is not my time
on he goes, down the road,
on we go,
down the road
Day 3 - supposedly it will not be over 100 today..still no power...earliest estimates are Saturday...it was 92 in the house last night when we went to bed...there are several stores that have power and we move from one to the next keeping cool...a few have opened up areas where you can charge cell phones & laptops or use their internet. As of this morning the gas station had Unleaded and the lines at the pump not too bad.
written for Poetry Jam
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66 comments:
No.#1 Wow!
Hank
Love the laid back approach. So apt and so everyday. I wish we knew what did happen, though!
Brian,
Very testing times,so it is! While we want to do good and others are not bothered we just continue and do our own thing. The good deed for the day is done,that's more important! Good thoughts!
Hank
Brian, I feel like I am right with you in the heat and no electricity. The days have to be long as you wait and wait and wait! Thinking of you and your family as you wait...
Wow! Try to stay cool the best you can. Those were some devastating storms. I'm glad you're all okay.
I know this seems like hell... hang in there!
Hope your power comes on sooner than that!!!!
Hugs
SueAnn
Not yet your time ~ so we just grind and bear it and keep on moving ~
I hope you get your power back on ~
Wishing you a happy day, because it is ~
I found a bit of humor in your words today love - hope you meant it for that! :) This was very laid back and just going with the flow....
"Obviously, it is not my time." I love this observation after the snub. Hang in there brother, I know this lack of power sucks.
Phew, I can feel that languid heat. Really really hope you get your power back soon!!
Time to go for a swim to cool off, Brian :) Down the road to a happier day, full of life ... smiles
I keep thinking about the awful weather in your part of the country and hope it will get better soon. You tried your best with the hearse guy. Here's hoping things will be looking up next time you post.
The cycles of bad weather are sure a challenge, and your gift of words helps when you share with us. Hope your elec. is restored soon, as it's such a show stopper to have life interrupted like that.
I have had several experiences where death walked up the mountain on the main road, right past our house.
I saw him coming late on the first
day, up the west side. He looked like any ordinary hiker, with a hat shorts and a back pack.He did not look left or right. Nobody followed him.
I did a quick inventory of my premises for any weak points
and vulnerable animals-It was high summer and hot.
He did not stop or detour from his path on 143.
I lost a very good friend; and several others had brushes with real danger.But it was not our time.
it is not my time
keep writing....this journal of sorts
poetry of the heat
gosh you are so good
someday I hope you write a novel
Hang in there, you and your family are safe, maybe uncomfortable but you have each other. Do the kids still go to school with no electricity?
Hello Brian,
I enjoyed the humor in your words = OBVIOUSLY, IT IS NOT THE HEARSE.
Power is a problem everywhere if not on a scale which you have mentioned.Frequent power cuts even for a shorter duration throws life out of gear.We have come to depend on electricity so much that I wonder what we will do if there is no electricity for a month.
I hope power will be restored earlier than what you have said.
Best wishes,
Joseph
Up to 100 wow
That has to make one have a cow
Not sure how you can even sleep
As the heat continues to creep
At least there is some power about
And yeah why not try to make friends just in case with a shout
smiles...today is better...temp in house down to 80s...we are at a cooling shelter right now...
any locals that swing by...there is a cooling shelter for animals at TRBC if you need it...
and they are serving a free lunch...and wifi...
Glad to hear today is better than before, I hope things are back to normal soon.
good to hear that you kept your sense of humor...the last lines sound almost like you sang them...and nest beard & bird chest...i like..and yep...i might have heard a raven...smiles
I hope things get back to normal for you and everyone affected soon, Brian. Nature sure has a wicked sense of humor, doesn't she?
When I see one of those "flag-draped hearses, I always wonder whose in the back? Great way to transport gangster wastes! Or mother-in-laws!
Some Peeps live in those conditions all the time. That knowledge does not help much. It must be SO frustrating, along with everything else. I try to think, how did those peeps handle it years ago. ("Pa, hand me that bottle of 'smell-me-good', PLEASE"!)
Sounds like everyone is working hard to restore the power. I always find it reassuring of mankind when these events happen and how all seem to work together. Hope you find some coolness today, my friend.
Still prayin that it stays reasonable and you continue to receive some cool reprieves!
You sound like you're keeping your cool in the heat. I hope everyone is able to make the best of this. It must be hard though. I lived through a few days in the winter a couple of years ago, no heat, no electricity, and the cold was unbearable. I realized how lucky we usually are to have so much comfort. Hope your comfort resumes real soon. Take care.
DYing of the heat? Wish I could send some fog and cool weather, where I am, near San Francisco.
The weather will change. Life will continue. Find water.
Take care of yourselves.
Oh gosh - poor you! Hope you can manage to keep cool.
is it the beginning of the end... or perhaps, the beginning of the end that births a new beginning...? - glad you've still got your sense of humour ;)
I do hope you publish a book someday :)
I hope some cooling temps are on the way...sending good vibes your way. It's certainly cool here in BC, 16C, this morning. Rain, rain...
An enjoyable, intriguing read, as always here today.
Take care, G
This is a vivid image of death at his most eccentric, always out there, always looking, not always looking like you think he does...I hope your misery ends soon, friend. Hard on you, hard on the kids, just plain hard. Makes you wonder how people lived just fine a hundred years ago without all this stuff, though I know I wouldn't have settled somewhere where the summers hit 100 before AC was invented.
Hang in there, I was without electricity for one week after hurricane Fran, while living in NC. It was hot too.;) Hugs to you and yours...
xoxo
The hearse sounds intriguing to say the least. The guy wasn't too friendly though eh? Maybe he was too busy concentrating on the road or, too hot to think about your friendly gesture.
This heat and no power has to be very wearing on tempers. Glad you can go to several places to try to cool down and charge up the essential cell phones and such. Good on you for sharing the info for others who may live locally so they can go get some respite too and, am happy to see that it's come down to the more livable 80's today.
Pretty crazy conditions. I wouldn't sleep at all with that temperature.
Well, maybe if I sprayed my pajamas with water, or better yet, put them on right out of the washer...
=)
The heatwave and the gas shortage reminds me of when I was working in Pensacola right after Katrina hit and you just couldn't find a place with gas, that experience really showed me just how dependent I was on operating in the "known" manners and was quite unprepared when that "known" method of travel was hindered. Really nice piece, love the notion of death and not your time. Great piece. Thanks
What a cool write! Hang in there, Brian!
Sounds challenging where you are, Brian. Hope everything returns to normal soon. Here in the UK, the weather is completely the reverse of what you've got. It was quite chilly today for summer weather. Still waiting for summer to arrive. Rains a lot too.
Hopefully help is on its way. Keep your spirits up.
it's insine to be that long without power, can't imagine that. Do you have lots in the freezer? That would be my main concer, I'm afraid.
Hang in there, sending you cool greetings
yeah goofball we scrapped everything in the fridge yesterday...that hurt...like throwing money away...ack
What a sight that must have been. Oh, the joys of the south, lol.
So sorry to hear about the power. That sucks, no nice way to put it. We had a stint without a/c a couple of weeks ago, but it was only in the 90's. By day 3, I was in tears. Embarrassing but true. I suppose I'm no pioneer girl.
Be safe in this soul-sucking heat. It will drain you quickly.
but like I always tell my kids...we never know when it will be our time...so ALWAYS be good just in case!
I hope you get electricity soon.
It's good to at least be aware that your time will come.
Thankfully, it was not your time-or your family's. Hope your power comes back soon. I've lived a few days like that and it's pretty peaceful - but somber. Best to you all!
Hope you all get it sorted out and come through this okay.
Thinking of you and yours!
xo
Ugh! Sending icy thoughts...in a good way. ha.
Sending ice cubes & lemonade.
Of course, there was a time when no one had power, but I'd look terrible in a prairie dress...
My thoughts are with you and your loved ones.Hugs.
Thankfully, yes, not your time. Keep wavin'!
Hope you're doing well.
Shoot, the internet would be the LAST thing I'd be worrying about if the power was out!
Close to 100 degrees and no power - YIKES - PLUS a full moon -- very scary....
A new vision of the reaper with a sense that he will not take anyone from the liberal fixes of an old society--
But Brian, I am beginning to worry about you. Do you have water? Are you serious or delirious?
some types, not saying this example necessarily ;-) might be best if you are ignored ;-)
sorry to hear 'bout the heat and loss of pwr there, it can be really bad, though you have stores and gas stations to go to!
one never knows who'll get power first; back in early 80s, hurricane alicia left us w/out pwr in galv for 2 wks; first thing to get juice was one of the dutch kettles, they couldn't keep enough coffee cooking, even in late august ;-) it was nice ;-)
best wishes brian, i hope it gets much better soon
It's sounding a little apocalyptic and scary. Have you ever read a book entitled, "Alas Babylon"? Hope things get closer to normal soon.
100 and powerless?
That has got to be miserable.
Oh, but thanks for the relaxed read...
You sound so mentally cool even though it must be a struggle to keep that way. Saturday! Wow! How you all cope is a mystery but I'm happy that you do. I pray every night for a return to normal for you guys.
stay cool and keep that family safe! xo
It sounds like a sci-fi movie, but without the popcorn and cold soda!
Unreal...written well, Brian I can't imagine...how many days?!
Saturday? hang in there!
i love this poem!
"A pale blue hearse
with confederate flag upholstery"
def set the mood for me!
brilliantly written as always!
thanks for joining in at Poetry Jam!
Oh wow.. I feel for you and yours and your neighbours. I hope your power is restored very soon.
Dude, sorry to hear about the electricity. There are over 300,000 people in our state without power currently too. And I had the pleasure of driving through part of that storm on my back from Hilton Head! Ug!
Try to enjoy the Fourth, even if you're still sitting without power, my friend!
Brian, this is really potent. And I ask myself is it because he is/was without electricity? No, it is simply potent. I am so sorry! This is a late visit,so hope you ate back on. I was preparing for trip to the OBX where I am now with the kids and grand kids.
Brian, this is really potent. And I ask myself is it because he is/was without electricity? No, it is simply potent. I am so sorry! This is a late visit,so hope you ate back on. I was preparing for trip to the OBX where I am now with the kids and grand kids.
I have run into a few ... characters...who I think are ready for the south to rise again! We just never even think of it up north...it's ancient history... but here... some think it was yesterday, I'm afraid.
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