January 12, 2010
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River (SH 36)
He dove down deep again. The musk of river water and silt had settled on his tongue. It tasted of summer memories and love lost. A lot of people wouldn’t swim in the river. They said it was dirty and polluted. A lot of people couldn’t stand the thought of the chance of diving in murky water only to come face to face with one of the ugly catfish that called the river home. John supposed in a way that he and the catfish were sort of alike. The river was his home as well. Now it was anyway.
They don’t tell you how it is when you come home after being away for so long. They leave out the important details like the fact that time waits for no one. People leave and change. Everything is dynamic. John took comfort in the idea that the river hadn’t changed much. It was still murky blue and a little on the cool side. The trees still seemed to reach down over the river as if they wanted to touch the water. It still had the same smell, taste and sound. It was comforting and a safe place to relive old memories.
It wasn’t his idea to come back to Poplar. Circumstances changed though and he was forced to consider something that he never had before. Years ago, he had planned to leave for good. There was nothing in this town for him. Yet here he was, back in the river. Life has a way of turning things inside out.
(36. Something which uses the following sentence: The musk of river water and silt had settled on his tongue. – mode of creation open ( 4pts) )
Comments (8)
Very good
Now I’m wondering why he decided to come home?
I am intrigued by the story & want to read more lol.Wonderful writing Meg !
great piece.
Very nice, as usual. You write in a way wherein everyone can relate to the character in some sense. I had a similar experience last year traveling back home. These things must be universal. I like your use of a river as a metaphor for time moving forward. Although, I might be more of a crab than an ugly catfish! –BTB
very nice…i so enjoy your writing!
You should get twenty points for this Meg! I loved reading it. Why did he come back?? He came back because of the lure of the small town, because of the romance of childhood memories, because people in that town still rememberd him, and because he was born there, and knew every corner and every sidewalk of that town!
My son Sayeed came back to this small sleepy river town along the Mississippi, for all the above reasons, and because the community had done so much for him and his family, now he wants to give back to the community at least some of his self.
Meg this was truly beautifully written.
This was a deeply moving write, Meg. It totally emphasizes that no matter how sleepy a town may be to one, that person can still find something he or she can find solace in. Certain memories are not made to die.
@Cynsjrl - I haven’t written anything more but I’m thinking he came back home to live with his parents because he lost his job… unfortunately not too far of a stretch these days.
@American_woman_USA - @eve1684 - @portiajules - Thank you!
@buildthebridge - Thank you! I think everyone has these feelings sometimes. I sort of feel this way every time I go home to visit my parents.
@ZSA_MD - I do think a lot of people feel this way when they go “home.” The town I grew up in is fairly good sized but it seems that everyone seems to know each other in some way or through some connection. I feel like John when I go back home to visit my parents. Thanks for the mini!
@zionlover - We’re all the better for it, I think. Some memories should last for a very long time.