REVELATION

I was riding down a blue Kentucky road,

alone as usual, wondering about the wooded hills,

so I parked next to a lonely church and went

across the road to investigate an abandoned bar

set back on the far side of an empty pasture.

It was nestled under the trees covering a knoll

that came all the way to the back door which hung

askew by one hinge so some of the tree-filtered

light could leak in and illuminate overturned

tables and bentwood chairs littering the floor.

I watched forgotten ghosts drinking amber

Bourbon as they slouched and laughed

and filled the dead air with smoke

from unfiltered Lucky Strikes and Camels

or spit Redman stains on the floor.

I soaked up the echoes and wondered

for awhile as they

faded into not much at all.

Alone again, I turned back to the spring

trees and climbed the hill, wondering about

the purpose of dappled light on the moss

and fern lined rill cutting a tiny watercourse

through the rocks on its way

somewhere. I laid on my belly and stuck

my face all the way in and drank deep.

It was sweet and cool, so I stayed there

most of the day while water and birds

crackled and splashed their song

at me. Toward dusk I made a lazy way back

to my ride in the shadow of the little church

filled with another kind of Ghost

proclaiming its purpose in white clapboard.

Reviews

[Lorry]

Most people would have taken a camera, recorded it and put it on YouTube under the guise of being an urban explorer.
I may be wrong but I do prefer the old school way of stories that don't come with pictures, or a like button, dagnabbit!
We all know that stories and experiences are to be written and YouTube is for watching people fall down escalators, or if you're really bored, to watch penguins slip and fall or slide spectacularly, don't we? 😃

[Vol]

Lorry,
We've had romanticism, the age of reason, modernism, post-modernism, I think now we are in an era of shallowism, there is no need to be deep or even accurate anymore, because no one knows how to think. Nor does anyone care... we have, as you say, kitties and penguins to watch, so we are busy enough.
Vol

[Lorry]

Shallowism... I like that. Its a more polite way of saying the gene pool needs more chlorine! 😃

[carl]

enjoyed the journey, as I don't get out much anymore. Liked the inclusion of the "another kind of Ghost proclaiming its purpose in white clapboard" at the ending - nice touch. Also enjoyed the various reviews and what they had to say about current culture. Thanks for the post - carl

[Betty Hermelee]

A lovely way to spend a day, poking your head into ghostly adventures...the old bar, and then taking a break by a stream where water flows gently...taking a drink and lingering, musing perhaps on whatever comes to mind... days like this are so good for the soul ...even though you may find some ghosts along the way....vivid images of the countryside, the old bar, the church, the meandering stream, empty pastures....all fits in to a beautiful day
Warmly, B

[Vol]

Betty,
In times like those, I am most alive... and isn't it interesting how such an experience can be so intense, and at the same time calming, refreshing and a bath for the soul.
Vol

[Betty Hermelee]

You're very welcome Vol
Warmly, B

[Poetic Beauty]

Sounds like quite the adventure with the old bar and being surrounded by nature allowing some time to reflect on life

[Vol]

PB,
It is how I live. I really am a weird guy... a gregarious loner. The very happiest I am is On a long motorcycle tour, by myself,,, or deep in a thick green woods back east.
Vol

[Poetic Beauty]

I am both an introvert and extrovert. If I’m stressed or overstimulated from the day I prefer solitude and quiet to reflect. I am a lover of music and shooting pool so those activities can get around large numbers of people.

Really it depends on my mood.