Friday, April 20, 2018

NaPoWriMo: #25 For Vally


This is for my dear college buddy, Val. Who surprise called me tonight from the wilds of Iowa as she drove home to Sioux Falls. Thanks for the call Val! (anytime!) I wish I could dig up a college picture in time to go with this post, but that would take too much digging and I wouldn't get this up tonight. So just imagine....


Phonecoming
A car in the deep dark of Iowa stillness
Shifting past snow dusted farms
Silos housing the grain for nations
Spring not sprung yet
Blanketed serene
To keep asleep
Those harmed by the cursed cold
A lone woman makes her way home
Hurtling past her past
in rolodex remembrances
Braced in place by a campus
that has been renovated beyond recognition
but not removed from her reality
She reaches back
to find that person
who is a friend
The person who is a familiar flashlight
when the stars are distant
calling from afar
She recites the number
dials the digits
and waits for words
to enliven this landscape
where there are shadowed giants
encroaching on her road
Her speed slows
when there is an answer
the sound suspending her disbelief
that it is real
Tonight the gap disappears
Doubt dispersed
She draws breath as she is heard
after pleasantries a plan is put forth
A possible valent visit
to her campus companion
from days gone by
Steady rain now rattles
on the windshield
blurring the brambles
as she ambles towards her destination
A lingering laugh lashes
at the lonely journey
a gust of wind pushing
the top of her van
weather and words wilting together
She concludes she must talk less
and drive more
She gives way to goodbye
Grounded now
Seeing more in orange cast streetlights
Hurrying hounded less
Caressed by caring
She arrives home safe
Spinning warm wool so full
wandering down memory lane

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