My Year of Writing Dangerously

On the spur of one of my (increasingly rare) moments of inspiration, I decided that in order to maintain my artistic integrity, and because I can't keep calling myself a writer for much longer without actually WRITING something, I am going to write a poem a day for the next year. The first poem will be posted on August 10, 2010 and the last poem will be posted on August 10, 2011. (Unless, of course, I decide to keep going.) Not all of the poems will be good, and DEFINITELY not all of them will be interesting, but I will gaze around my kitchen, my living room, and Coming Home Cafe until something inspires me, then write a poem about it, as well as my random thoughts on the mundane things that no one notices, but which it is my goal to immortalize over the course of this year.



Monday, October 25, 2010

Day 50 - Hey, cool... I made it to day 50!!

I'm returning to Sugarland tonight. TECHNICALLY I wrote this poem before starting The Project, but it fits so perfectly, because it's a Sugarland song basis, so too bad.

I realise it's very long, but please read it. It's actually a story, and it's a story that has been in my head for a LONG time and I badly want to share it. I wrote this for my Writing class and I like what my teacher says about short fiction and poetry: "They're like orange juice concentrate, and the reader has to add water." That is so beautiful and true, and this I think is a good example.

Also, go listen to this song. Seriously. It is an artful and devastatingly beautiful tragedy, a true masterpiece from two of the most gifted poets ever to have put pen to paper and fingers to a guitar. (Yes, that would be Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush - AKA Sugarland.)

PS. The refrain is stolen directly from the song. Read it and see how incredible these two artists really are.

"If life were perfect and there were no conflicts to resolve, where would any artform be?" -Written by the duo, written in the lyrics booklet above this song.

Very Last Country Song
David sits at home alone
He’s become so tired of
Giving all his life to her
He wishes that he had known
What she was going to be
He doesn’t know that he’s free

Alicia sits and cries
Married faith should never roam
Her husband doesn’t know
Tears crash to the floor, for fear
Of losing her best friend
For his sake, she wipes her eyes

Miranda stares at photos
His half of her was strong
The man who was her life
The husband to her wife
He was her ultimate prize
Even death can’t do them part

But if life stayed the way it was
and lovers never fell out of love
If memories didn't last so long
If nobody did nobody wrong
If we knew what we had before it was gone
If every road led back home
This would be the very last country song

Alicia smells demise
Her hand stumbles with a comb
She tries to tell him no
‘Cause she hates her husband’s tears
This will not be the end
She’s in love, and fear will rise

David’s fear has now been shown
He wants to rise above
All the pain and anger
Fate has tossed the first hard stone
His family down from three
His father’s soul gone free

Miranda dons stilettos
She feels as though it’s wrong
Her and her son in strife
They both need back a life
As she reaches for the skies
Hoping new love heals hearts

But if life stayed the way it was
and lovers never fell out of love
If memories didn't last so long
If nobody did nobody wrong
If we knew what we had before it was gone
If every road led back home
This would be the very last country song

Alicia hates her lies
Unspoken words fill a tome
She’s sure that they can grow
Once she says what he need hear
Their marriage needs to mend
The bedroom door hinge sighs

Miranda finds new mottos
Takes the time to sing along
Happiness at last is rife
Perhaps again a wife
Her long due smile flies
‘Till the door gives her a start

David shrivels to the bone
His mother weeps loud above
He’s not shocked her man’s a cur
He needs a life he can hone
And shape until good to see
 So from this loveless town he’ll flee

But if life stayed the way it was
And lovers never fell out of love
If memories didn't last so long
If nobody did nobody wrong
If we knew what we had before it was gone
If every road led back home
This would be the very last country song
If we knew what we had before it was gone

If every road led back home
This would be the very last country song

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