Barnstorming (Week 10 LJIDOL: Exhibit A)

[eeyore_grrl]

		Barnstorming

sometimes life is nothing more than barnstorming
flying from place to place
	landing in fields
	briefly staying emotion to emotion
	offering rides for a price

I haven’t crashed my airplane in *this* many days

I do all my own work, though I consult professionals
		and buy parts

come for a ride, two bucks, maybe $100
		the price of fuel has gone up

but, ya know, perhaps it is time to set my little plane down
build a picket fence around it, with a gate that is always open

grow a garden, marry someone in one of these little towns
set up a life that isn’t on the run
find stability in myself, create it in the world

barnstorming has had its moments
moving cross-country with just my cat and a car full of stuff
I could have stopped anywhere I pleased

now I have lovely tethers holding me here
 	        lovely tethers with names and beauty and peace and calm
I’m out of fuel for my airplane
	the barnstorming ends 
                              
                                here

------

and video rendition http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvTydoceh0Q&feature=youtu.be (video is of me, at my table reading the above poem.)


This was written for week 10 of LJ Idol Exhibit A. I had the topic barnstorming to write about. Monday evening voting opens until Thursday evening at http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/. Feel free to check back and read the remaining 16 (of about 90) entrants and what we've had to say this week! And vote. :D

Comments

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

Most of what I know about barnstorming comes from this book. http://www.amazon.com/Illusions-Adventures-Reluctant-Richard-Bach/dp/0440204887

[tatdatcm.livejournal.com]

Lovely. I especially liked this line: "now I have lovely tethers holding me here
lovely tethers with names and beauty and peace and calm"

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It is true and went with the theme of grounding an airplane, i thought.

Beautiful

[(Anonymous)]

I love it. <3 (from shyblue)

Re: Beautiful

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

Thanks

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

I liked the ending stanza here, and the overall idea of adventure and fluidity put aside for a different kind of loving and living-- at least, in this phase of life. :)

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

most adventures have an ending, hopefully a good one. a lovely one.

[impoetry.livejournal.com]

Forget me. urpoetry.
This is lovely. Especially loved the inclusion of the video rendition. Thank you so much for offering that as well. Great job!

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

Thank you thank you! I'm so glad that people seem to appreciating my poetry.

[theun4givables.livejournal.com]

I'd love to one day get in the car with just a few items and just GO. Sounds like fun. :)

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

It was both freeing and frightening as hell. I did have a destination, California, but still.

[myrna-bird.livejournal.com]

I felt light and gliding over the countryside while reading this.

[cobalt-00.livejournal.com]

I like this - I thought the reading was great. I think my favourite part was the "this many days" line (complete with gesture). :) I hope you advance!
Also, it is apparently national poetry month. Feel celebrated! Somewhere, someone is celebrating poets!

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

i am celebrating and always like this month. More Poetry in the world for a month! :D

[jem0000000.livejournal.com]

I like the imagery, and the plane metaphor.

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

All I know about barnstorming I learned from Richard Back in Illusions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusions_(Bach_novel)

[beldarzfixon.livejournal.com]

Y'know -- well, you don't, but I'll tell you -- I usually don't like poetry. But I *love* your entries. Only thing that would have made it better is if in the video you wore an old-timey aviator cap-and-goggles =)

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

When non-poets or non-poetry-likers like my poetry I have accomplished something good. Thanks for the highest praise!

[kandigurl.livejournal.com]

You have a talent for evoking powerful emotions with just a few words. I can relate to this nomadic feeling, as well as the desire to settle somewhere. Even though I've mostly "settled", I really miss the travel...

[circumspectly.livejournal.com]

Hey you...

I did this poem as a monologue tonight for my film class. It was VERY well received and my film teacher loved it.

I think I'll keep it in my repertoire.

I was supposed to write something, but just didn't have the time...so I told him who did write it, and he was duly and truly impressed.