Moving On (from Riding the Greyhound)

[jwesley]

Moving On(from Riding the Greyhound)
Never saw such loneliness
as when riding Big Grey Dog.
You’d think solitude
was hard to find
in a bus load of people,
but emptiness
sat in the seats
staring out the window,
at the back of the seat
before it,
or in it’s lap,
seeing shadows . . .
effigies of the living.
Thought circled the ceiling,
walked up and down the aisle,
stopping at a seat here and there,
like a ghost seeking the body
from which it had parted,
and in every eye
a tear waited to fall,
but didn’t.
You could see emptiness
in rummy faces
smell it in alcoholic fumes,
almost touch it
behind put on smiles,
and yet,
there was hope for some
in the next town;
for others there was hope
in leaving the last one,
it appeared in the slight upward curl
of their lips
when the city limits
was left behind.
Between leaving and arriving
spirits rose,
whispers started,
and soon there was talk . . .
I heard a giggle,
a laugh,
the ghosts faded away,
tears dried up.
I was wrong –
this wasn’t a chariot
of lost souls,
it was a ship of dreams,
a journey of hope and prayer.
These were people moving on . . .
the Big Grey Dog,
their ride to somewhere,
anywhere,
but the place they’d left.
On a black-topped,
two-lane road to life,
they were . . .
moving on.

© wesley james beard, jr

[whubbard7]

Every day I am more impressed with you, Jwesley! This was so... enlightening. It literally takes the reader on a journey. I like the lines that say:
"tears dried up.
I was wrong –
this wasn’t a chariot
of lost souls,
it was a ship of dreams"
Those lines are very enlightening and change the focus of the poem into a happier tone. I like it!
~William

[godsplat]

Hello jwesley

A truly awesome work of poetry here, I felt like I was on that bus seeing it all for myself, I really like what you did here!

godsplat

[musie]

jwesley~You KNOW that I have become a FAST fan of your writing, and this piece was Exceptional...given the imagery I too felt that I was on this Journey of enlightenment as well....I have to echo that these too were some of my favorite line's:

"tears dried up.
I was wrong –
this wasn’t a chariot
of lost souls,
it was a ship of dreams"

It was a pleasure to read this work from your pen...Musie

[ladymaybebaby]

Another great installment to the series, and I can see your fan base is building and I'm not the least bit surprised! I'm glad I stopped in to the enlightend board or I might have missed this one! This write is all about the big grey dog itself... I love the way you give life to what is inside the bus. When you think about how many people and stories have sat in those seats, what a cool concept for a poem! Wonderful, and such a great read!

-LMB
xoxo

[ladymaybebaby]

This so deserved to be a spotlight piece from the beginning! Congratulations on the limelight, it is well deserved!

-R
xoxo

[jwesley]

How does one be Humble on paper, without screaming in all caps YES!!

I think maybe by Thanking all the wonderful poets I try to emulate, for their part in this,
and all the lesson they've taught.

Thank you, my friends,

from the Heart . . .

jimmy

[artists_death]

Wow. I mean I have no words. Thank you for that one.

[Josie]

I liked how N's mood changed with the words 'and yet' It was a good contrast between despair and hope. Congratulations for your poem being spotlighted.

[dornicks]

A memorable write,most deserving of the Spotlight. It drives the imagination. Congratulations,

dornicks

[oursummertrees]

Fantastic - I loved the turn around in this. Congrats on the spotlight, it is well deserved!

-A.

[platinummoon]

I have read this a few times and will read it many more. This is poetry as I would like to write poetry.
Perfect concept of loneliness and yet a little hope thrown in to prevent utter sadness and hopelessness.
Congratulations.

[Afishamongmany]

jwesley Thanks and congrats. An evocative strip of writing. Going down "the strip" was like being in the bus going along the road and being part of the change in mood.
Go Well
><>

[musie]

I KNEW this would make the Spotlight and I was right! And this piece was most deserving my friend....CONGRATULATIONS! Musie

[platinummoon]

The more I read it the better it becomes.

[SirFleshwound]

I loved this from the very first line through to the final word. The big grey dog started out as a melancholy oppressive cloud, then the sun broke through and lightened the scene. I could feel the moods as I started the journey. Really love the metaphoric comparisons with life, leaving the reader with an open ended outcome. A masterpiece deservedly rewarded.

[Larsen M. Callirhoe]

I like the comparison of big grey dog to greyhound bus. This really set the tone for the theme of a very well deserved spotlight poem. You really impress me with the way you show the reader the mood you set in your writings. One of your best to date. The journey went from being melancholic to upbeat and heart-warming very fast. I really enjoyed the read immensely. I don't think you meant for this poem to be read as a sad downbeat poem from the beginning. You never cease to amaze me with your writings. So again congrats on a very well deserved spotlight J.

victor

[tangerinepie]

Hi JW..A sojourn filled with magnificent images that makes one a passenger.It reminded me of long bus rides I had to take to go home from school in a distant city.An amazing theme that sets this in a league of its own..a spotlight well deserved..Tangie..

[Sasha]

I just love the imagery at the beginning, it was magnificent!
And the twist of the atmosphere was smooth and delicate, as you took the "moving on" thought and woven a beautiful poem, and I think it's a great example on life and reality.
Congratulations on the deserved Spotlight!

Sash

[whubbard7]

Jimmy! I am so glad that you've recieved a Spotlight for this, this was a fantastic piece. I am no doubt a fan of your exceptionally talented writing style already! We joined TPS on the same day, but DANG! You've got some mad natural talent for this! See you around!
~William