“If a man harbors any sort of fear, it percolates through all his thinking, damages his personality, makes him landlord to a ghost”. – Lloyd Douglas
I had crossed on over, with the darkness rolling in, and the Stateline of Mississippi, made me pause to think of him, maybe it was thirty years ago, but it seems like yesterday, just seconds really to watch a story in display.
He says the sun it sets in ragged pieces floating humid from the sky, tearing soft red hazy parts of heaven hanging them low above Vicksburg to dry. He says you might not really know me, and I would not look too far back into my eyes. You might see a little more than Mississippi lightning, in the places my tears have gone to dry. The dark birds seem to float down by the river, guarding old men fishing last meals and telling tall lies; a young man stands and sticks a needle in his arm, and curses the flies who are passing by.
He says the night it falls upon the water, I hear her begging to be fed. He turns and motions to the Yazoo, to fill the river brown than red. He says the soil above us holds a dead nation of those dumb farm boys how they bled. One hundred years and fifty-five more, all those ghosts are crazy. A million carrion in my head. The old man sniffs and looks on over at the young man lying dead. The needle sticks up like a steeple, sending signals that no one read.
The low clouds light up a candle, a low light that bask in need. Curtains of mist hang over Vicksburg, magnolias bend to receive. The old man haunts the shadows, the grave markers sink beyond retrieve. Antebellum meets the future, of deluded thought and greed. For one old man walks past burial, one young man dies in need. The past is like the present, for the hungry no food is received. The old and new look to the low hung sky, and wonder of their deeds, their many hidden deeds.
He says the seconds slow in Vicksburg, like the cliffs overhead, their lives a hundred different caverns holding the past and present dead. He says each it has it’s story, an unspoken bit of cred, that, that makes its footprint in the lineage of coming heads. A bit of South filled Gothic that’s often read but never said. He turns as if he’s ninety, no doubt he’s already dead, and he motions up from the river, to the lights dim overhead. He says the witches they are coming, in the dimness up ahead. And I know he’s kind of crazy, with the liquor that he’s had, but I can’t help but think he comes from somewhere in the seconds inside my head.
He says the sun it sets in ragged pieces floating humid from the sky, tearing soft red hazy parts of heaven hanging them low above Vicksburg to dry. – 08.28.2018 – דָנִיֵּאל
This is incredible. Love the Gothic feel!
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Thank you so much Itsa, I appreciate your kind compliment.
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You are very welcome 🙂
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A well versed seance Daniel. A favorite for me to join the many others. 🙂
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Thank you Scott, I like the way you described the post. 😉
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I love the story aspect to your poetry. Always hidden meanings underneath the wonderful surface, that keeps one wanting to read more and more. This was well written.
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Hi Cheri, Thank you so much for your kind words. It’s probably hard to believe but I don’t often see the hidden meanings myself until a wonderful reader points it out to me.
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That is what makes your writing that much more special. 🙂
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Daniel I am always curious when I read your writing, where your thoughts arrive from, how they form, and how your intricate, and sometimes brutally delicate stories spring forth. “Vicksburg” was very interesting. Looking forward to more.
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Thank you Eleanor. Sometimes I am not sure myself where ideas come from. Mostly I think they are from places I have been and certain people I have met. I very much appreciate your kind comment.
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I was thrilled to awake this morning to a new writing of yours Daniel. Needless to say it is brilliant, the accompanying quote and music fitting and as with all other pieces you submit I shall read it over and over again. ❤
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Thank you Lauren. I fell in love with the quote and the song myself and was hoping they would fit with the writing. I am thrilled that you think enough of the piece to read it more than once. Thanks again.
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Your welcome. The majority of your writing I have to go through more than once, and yes that is a compliment. 🙂
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Dear Daniel,
It’s easy to find the words to praise your written endeavors, and I am always thrilled to do so. “Vicksburg” is no exception. The back and forth between past and present, all ghost, all human, the attempt to understand the pain that is real in the human experience, for some more real than others. So well done my friend.
❤
Ruby
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Hi Ruby, Thank you, your comment made my day dear friend. I think you encapsulated what I was trying to say, and in fewer words and more understandable. 🙂 As always I appreciate your kind thoughts and observations on my writing.
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I made it into the inner circle of interpretation. Something good is going to happen for me now I can feel it. 😉 ❤
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You know a person works hard enough and good things happen. 😉
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I feel like I won life’s lottery! 😉 ❤
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Great prose, with some deep underlines that drag the bottom of the mighty Mississippi. 😉
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Thank you Haley, I appreciate you reading and your comment. The Mississippi and its accompanying bank towns holds so much when it comes to stories to be told.
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This was a modern “Old Man River”. I kept hearing Aretha Franklin’s voice singing somewhere in the background. Lovely work.
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Thank you for your wonderful comment. I had actually listened to an older recording of Aretha singing “Old Man River” before writing this piece and thought of using it, at least a quote from it. Such a beautiful song and lady.
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Your welcome Daniel. Aretha was worthy of the title “Queen of Soul”.
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Another one with greatness in each word. Daniel, the description of the young man with the needle in his arm, gave me chills, I keep thinking of this work as an analysis of the way young men die or have died. What is the difference between a bullet 150 years ago and a needle today? Your thought processes as always astounding. ❤ ❤ ❤
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Great points all Heather. We do think alike. Thank you as always for your wonderful comment and in this case analysis I am thankful you always read and give me the most wonderful feedback.
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Always my pleasure to do so. ❤
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A work of art dear friend, a clash of cultures of yesterday and today, yet still the same, as is the mighty river that flows past Vicksburg! 😉
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Thank you Wang. It is a clash of cultures I agree, but yet as you said so little changes, history does indeed repeat itself it seems. Thanks again dear friend for reading and commenting.
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I agree so little changes as history repeats, at least it seems so with the human heart. Technology has done little to help I am afraid.
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“Vicksburg” is a fascinating read Daniel, and it speaks many truths, that speaks to the way we view certain sub cultures in our society as well as how life in that sub culture is valued. I enjoyed reading this very much.
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Hi Lynette, Thank you for your wonderful comment. Sub cultures in our society hold the best stories I think and probably the most when it comes to basic truths. What do you think?
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I agree, the best stories have always been told around fire light, making their way from the mouths of poor bards and peasants.
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I agree, the fire light especially makes for the best of stories.
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Smores and Hot Cocoa are a fine addition as well…:)
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My dear brother, this work is full of metaphors, as well as it is a graphic representation of that part of our society that we seldom view except through an occasional social commentators lens. Well written my friend. Shalom, Den
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Thank you Dennis for your kind comment, you always enlighten me and lift me up with what you have to share. Wishing you a great rest of the week my friend. Shalom, Daniel
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There have been many of your great words that have lifted me up in times of need my brother, so it is with a sense of humbleness and gratitude that I accept your comment and say your welcome and thank you. Shalom, Den
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I adored “Vicksburg” Daniel. Truly the best of your Gothic short pieces! ❤
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Hi Gigi, thank you for your wonderful comment. I always try to strive for a touch of Gothic in everything I write so I thank you even more for the recognition. 😉
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Your welcome Daniel, Gothic is the bomb, and as you know “Southern Gothic is a favorite of mine. Looking forward to that book some day. 😉
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I remember visiting Vicksburg one summer of my youth, apparently a very distant cousin of my Father’s that we were to visit. It was a grand from what I remember back then, but as warm as you say. This was another well written piece my young friend. I encourage you to never stop. Here is to your seconds of thoughts. Bill
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Thank you Bill for sharing that memory of your childhood visit to Vicksburg. It is an interesting place to visit and holds I think some of the best mystery’s. I do appreciate your reading and as always my friend your wonderful comments..
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Your welcome Daniel. I am still thinking about that summer tour of the South. Good times.
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❤ this post Daniel!
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Thank you Charlie, I appreciate your kind comment.
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Anytime! 🙂
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Fascinating surreal read. Love your Gothic touch!
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Hi Morgana, thank you for your comment. Gothic stories are the best I think. 😉
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I agree, dark and foreboding the best kind. 🙂
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Vicksburg is an amazing write my friend. Your characters always come to life in my head no matter how few words are written about them. You are very visual! 😉
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Thank you Ryan for the best comment. I can think of no better compliment then to have someone tell me my characters came to life in their head. 😉
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It’s a true statement on my part, and I add the mark of a great writer on your part. 🙂
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Bless you kind sir. 😉
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Great piece Daniel, as always you give me pause for thought!
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Thank you Darrin, I do appreciate you reading and taking the time to comment.
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Anytime Daniel, I enjoy your post very much, and always look forward to them.
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I enjoyed this very much. Your characters leave ones imagination chilled. (in a good way) 😉
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Thank you Carmel. I love touching the imagination and am happy the chill comes in the form of good. 😉 As always I appreciate your reading and kind comment.
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Very welcome! 🙂
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❤
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Thank you Deb, I am happy you liked this. 🙂
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“He says the seconds slow in Vicksburg, like the cliffs overhead, their lives a hundred different caverns holding the past and present dead. He says each it has it’s story, an unspoken bit of cred, that, that makes its footprint in the lineage of coming heads.” Like all of this post this paragraph is masterful! Loved this! ❤
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Thank you Abigail, as always I am grateful you find my work pleasing and worth quoting. Wishing you a great rest of the week my friend.
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Wishing you the same, and always a pleasure to read and comment on your writing. ❤
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Fab, a harkening awaits the wings!
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Hi Resa, something delicious and magical to look forward to me thinks.my friend. 😉 Thank you!
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You write a mean word or two! 🙂
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Thank you very much GB! 🙂
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