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Malcolm J McKinney's avatar

"that we are just accidents of longing"

Still swimming the berth canal.

Great poem.

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Lisa B. Martin    zihuawriter's avatar

Ahhh! The gut wrenching vivid contrasts of Life truly lived. The full spectrum of humanity, the human experience, can be captured in poetry, here. Just 100 or so words? Dare to be big, brief, messy, sharp! Lovely.

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Maha's avatar

Vividly and articulately observed, Lisa. Thanks.

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Patris's avatar

Phew. Well I’m in love.

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Berkana's avatar

Me too Patris

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Berkana's avatar

Descansa ❣️

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Ethan Summers's avatar

Beautiful poem, thank you 🙏❤️

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Shannon McCloud Johnson's avatar

This poem is so timely in my life. And I give it a BIG thank you. I don't really know why though it reminded me of the time late at night and very early in the morning when I was in the most Southern part of Texas. And we were crossing the bridge of The Rio Grande River. There was a massive insect migration. It was so dark and we couldn't see the Sky. A flowing Summer dress and little flip flops I was only wearing. I found it strange though very interesting. The two men that were born in South Texas.....Raymondville in fact, freaked out. It was a very fun and that area is so corrupt. Outlaws we were.

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Jamie Millard's avatar

Oh my! So good. In the darkness there are no shadows of lies visible. Only sweet truth. Any light that we see there is just a reflection of our own. 🙏❤️

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Weston Parker's avatar

A potent series of images.

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Tanya's avatar

I love this poem. It's so cultivated and original and being short on additional words at the moment, I'd second what's written below ...all of it. Thank you for offering some resonance.

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Teàrlach's avatar

Oh I do like that. That is so good.

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Malcolm J McKinney's avatar

Not spelling it birth was a slip, but I think berth works better.

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Malcolm J McKinney's avatar

I originally started this Substack to discuss songwriting or the "berth" of a song, one meaning implied, the other inferred. Both are important.

My Stack is now so much more than I had imagined.

So thank you, and all.

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Sea's avatar

Really great poem. Thank you. Interesting you started here to discuss songwriting. As I am the last of the kids in my family, and an accident, it seems the songs I write, follow suit. All dreamed, or accidents themselves. It’s building the bridge that pleases me the most.

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Malcolm J McKinney's avatar

Tech problem

Song #2 big blank space, scroll down.

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Sea's avatar

Awesome voice, calming and great music. I haven’t gotten to the second song yet and not because of your technical error, lol, have been called away and have to get to driving. But I like on your first song that your bridge says “I don’t know where this is heading,“ and to me, that’s the beauty of the “bridge!” Thanks for sharing Malcolm! I’ll check out song number two? when I get back about Baltimore...

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Jim Duffey's avatar

Question: Did you then arrive via Sea section? Just kidding. You are certainly NOT an accident Sea. Unplanned, yes, but none of us are accidents. Those two knew fully what they were doing back then. Making you was probably a lot of fun!

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Malcolm J McKinney's avatar

I listened to 35, 34, 33

You are for real

My response #1

Go Away

https://youtu.be/5nkfp2bylWQ?si=7HRgcqgYNOsryh2V

Something sure feels peculiar

There's a tension in the air tonight

Like the stretch between shiver and shudder

On the highway to nothing's ever right

I have always been your one, true and steady

Tell me why are you treating me this way

Your lips, they swear that you still love me

But your eyes say

Go away

Go away

It's so hard to follow your changes

When you bury them so deep

And me, I'm laughing in the daytime

But at night I'm crying in my sleep

I have always been your one, true and steady

Tell me why are you treating me this way

Your lips, they swear that you still love me

But your eyes say

Go away

Go away

I don't know where this is headed

But I suspect the direction is all wrong

I can't forsee a happy ending

To this ride that's lasted so long

All that's left is "so long"

Thought something felt peculiar

That tension in the air again tonight

Like the stretch between shiver and shudder

On the highway to nothing's ever right

I have always been your one, true and steady

Tell me why are you treating me this way

Your lips, they swear that you still love me

But your eyes say

Go away

Go away

#2

Baltimore Ain't Got You

https://youtu.be/97H4CcVP1AM

I should be all set now

My prospects all in line

If somebody asked me

Well I'd say I'm doing fine

I've been here several months now

But it seems like several years

And every time zi see rainbows

It's the sun shine through my tears

Train whistles moan, sirens wail and the dogs are howling too

I sing the blues in Baltimore

Cause Baltimore ain't go you

My health is good, the weather is fine

And I'm making money too

But I swear I'm poor in Baltimore

Cause Baltimore ain't go you

Well I can't eat and I can't sleep

And my cat is up a tree

This long distance love affair

Don't seem fair to me

I wish my telephone would tell me

You'll be on your way

To join me here in Baltimore

Tonight if not today

Train whistle moans, the sirens wail and the dogs are howling too

I sing the blues in Baltimore

Cause Baltimore ain't go you

My health is good, the weather is fine

And I'm making money too

But I swear I'm poor in Baltimore

Cause Baltimore ain't go you

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David Picariello's avatar

Your hands are on the wrong side of the keyboard of otherworldly imagination.. however, as our mistress of oscar and wilde imagination would say, "I pondered through out the morning over a poem and where to put the comma, only to take it out again over afternoon tea." This is only one of many memorials I have surrendered to thee darling love of my life and late MRS.

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Miles Lowry's avatar

good one

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