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Aug 17
poem 6 comments
nean_bean

Oh, the places we'll go

1.    The crash of waves on a hidden beach somewhere lost in France. The cliffs rising high around us, so much so they appear to touch the clouds. The sky clear, a mirror of the forever ocean in front of us. The waves taste of salt and possibility, and the air smells fresh and sweet. And fishy.

2.    A rocky scrabble. A final climb to the top of Africa. A pounding in my veins, of the altitude and the oxygen. A bead of sweat, stealthy climbing down your forehead. We stand straight, for the first time in hours. Still. Swaying like the grasses so far below, and the waves on a hidden beach. Our breathing slows. And the world goes on. And on.

3.    Stealing through a sleepy city. I hear the smell of old books calling, we see the dust rising from their pages and the stories they tell floating around. There is a notion of voices from long ago. They make conversation over pasta, speaking of so many beginnings and endings and everything in-betweens. Cathedrals and coliseums. 

4.    You tap my shoulder and we run through the rain, taking care to splash in all of the puddles in these cobbled streets. Caution is thrown to the wind, our voices sing the screams we feel; our laughter keeping us dry. Unknown words drift by, broken by the not-soft tapping of the rain. A palace. A kingdom. Centuries of conquest. And a large clock tower, calling us back from the whispers of so long ago.

5.    Crickets in a field. Summer wind blows fall closer, but I try and hold on anyways. I always do. A burst of adult laughter from my kitchen up the hill. I point to the stars breathing in their dust that falls around us. You grab my hand. Your fingers are warm, pulsing with life. They squeeze my palm. Millions of years ago they were created by rocks, and matter, and stuff close enough only to imagine. I smile. You make me do that sometimes.

6.    White sand that claims to be perfectly imperfect. I dig my toes in, saying hi to stretching them. You gaze out across the crystal water. Palm trees sway to a silent tune that only they hear. Drum beats are somewhere. The wind is in my hair.

7.    Hello, bonjour, hallo, Γειά σου, ciao, hola, こんにちは. Plane tickets, stickers, worn-out sneakers. Crumpled checks and ice water. Sunscreen, running, breath in. Out. Umbrellas and raincoats and the occasional drizzle. Looking up. Looking out. Camera flashes, photographs, laughing at old memories. Stairs-- lots of stairs. Dancing, street lamps, keys, and passports. さようなら, adios, addio, αντιο σας, auf wiedersehen, au revoir, goodbye.


Oh, the places we’ll go.

 
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Posted: 08.17.19
About the Author: nean_bean
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Discussion

Comments

  1. PeachesMalone
    Aug 17, 2019

    I LOVE THIS
    Your descriptions are so wonderful, and it really feels like I'm in all the places you write about. This feels raw and poetic and very, very personal. You could not have done a better job with this. It's beautiful. I also love the little surprises at the end of stanzas like "You make me do that sometimes" or "And the world goes on. And on"
    This is amazing.

    Why bother being cool when you can be nice?

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  1. nean_bean
    Aug 18, 2019

    Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed this.

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  1. Icestorm
    Aug 18, 2019

    This is sooooo good. I completely agree with PeachesMalone's assessment. Great job :)

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  1. nean_bean
    Aug 18, 2019

    Thank you!

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  1. BloodMoon825
    Aug 21, 2019

    a fantastic and very summer-y piece that is almost refreshing to read— a perfect series of snapshots that capture those precious moments. thank you for sharing!

    "I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it."
    - Voltaire

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  1. nean_bean
    Aug 21, 2019

    Thank you so much!

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