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leaving Jersey

goodbye Jersey
i am leaving
keep on sleeping
it's still dark 
i kiss your forehead
leave a story
in a pendant
lipstick mark


i grab a coffee
start the engine
driving dreamlike 
through the mist
heading homeward
leaving heartbound
tied your name
around my wrist


goodbye Jersey
i am leaving
when you wake up
i'll be gone
tend your garden
count the blossoms
see that life goes
marching on



and i'm on
the Turnpike
pouring raining
windshield wipers
fight the tears
goodbye Jersey
it's not easy
even after
all these years


Rene ~ March 2011


Taking a break from the prompt this week, but I still wanted to share a poetic morsel with you all. Also I insist (very sweetly) that you visit Irish Gumbo for his smokin' hot take on the Magpie prompt. 
And bring some water...ice cold.

Comments

  1. BAMarch 6, 2011 at 10:27 PM

    magnificent Jersey Girl.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brian MillerMarch 6, 2011 at 10:27 PM

    its never easy...i like the pendant lipstick mark...and the tied around the wrist...very nice rene....

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownMarch 6, 2011 at 10:27 PM

    LOVE this.

    I could hear Billy Joel singing it. For real.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Casey FreelandMarch 7, 2011 at 12:58 AM

    Wow, that was beautiful. Phew. Got me. And not just because Joe Cocker is singing on the radio.

    Very nice.

    Cheers,

    Casey

    ReplyDelete
  5. Irish GumboMarch 7, 2011 at 6:37 AM

    "Jersey, I love you..."

    Spoken to the tune of "New York I Love You" by LCD Soundsystem.

    This one's got some quiet power, Jersey Girl. I dig it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. mrs-mcallisterMarch 7, 2011 at 3:25 PM

    Perfect o!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Emily YoungMarch 8, 2011 at 9:16 AM

    Wow! I love the images you created and the rhythm of your words... My favorite part:

    "heading homeward
    leaving heartbound
    tied your name
    around my wrist"

    It's beautiful. And I could feel her bittersweet sadness, leaving Jersey but hoping the next place would be better...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Other MaryMarch 8, 2011 at 11:28 AM

    Another strong one Renee. You never disappoint.

    ReplyDelete
  9. gautami tripathyMarch 8, 2011 at 12:32 PM

    Awesome...

    I really like how we get so many ideas out of one photo. Everyone interpreting it differently.

    viscous time

    ReplyDelete
  10. signed...bkmMarch 8, 2011 at 3:36 PM

    Oh I felt like this when I left Minnesota....I cried for hours and hours...and never did move back...but the memories are embedded into my heart forever...this was a sweet reminder...bkm

    ReplyDelete
  11. Brigid O'ConnorMarch 8, 2011 at 4:42 PM

    This was so lovely, we have all felt like this at some point.

    leave a story
    in a pendant
    lipstick mark

    - gorgeous line.

    ReplyDelete
  12. ChristineMarch 8, 2011 at 8:37 PM

    Tend your garden count the blossoms see that life goes marching on...exquisite picture of words to be left behind.

    ReplyDelete
  13. MarianMarch 8, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    Billy Joel? that is obviously Bruce Springsteen. Rene, I love everything you write. Just saying.

    ReplyDelete
  14. dustusMarch 9, 2011 at 7:36 AM

    "'cause tramps like us, baby we were Born to Run!" Absolutely love this poem for personal reasons, mainly my childhood. (Billy Joel. lol He's a New Yorker)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Tess KincaidMarch 9, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    Oh, this one is just begging for some music. Absolutely WONderful!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Fred MillerMarch 9, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    New Jersey was always such a relief to me after a day of NYC Expressways in semi.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Coloring Outside the LinesMarch 9, 2011 at 8:58 AM

    I remember this feeling from my childhood, always moving, always leaving my life behind...nice one Rene!

    ReplyDelete
  18. FireblossomMarch 9, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    My favorite tv show, "Mercy" was set in New Jersey. It got cancelled, of course. *sigh*

    ReplyDelete
  19. JinksyMarch 9, 2011 at 2:29 PM

    Leaving is never easy

    ReplyDelete
  20. PearlMarch 9, 2011 at 3:20 PM

    Another one I'd love to hear sung around a campfire...

    Pearl

    ReplyDelete
  21. HelenMarch 9, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    Oh Jersey Girl ~ it will be OK. I've left so many places, they all blend into one big *movin' on down memory*

    ReplyDelete
  22. KavitaMarch 9, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    Awww... you sweet Jersey gal.. We NJers here will miss ya!!
    Thank God you blog though!!

    Gosh.. it's so hard to leave.. had to do it last year when we moved from Dallas.. grr
    So I really felt this one..
    (hugs to you)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis HallMarch 9, 2011 at 9:24 PM

    when you mention turnpikes, you remind me of New Jersey of the U. S., where I used to reside for one year..

    moving words, very entertaining flow..

    Cheers,
    love your tale.

    ReplyDelete
  24. MarshyMarch 10, 2011 at 4:57 AM

    i so agree that music could be played to this...great one shot..cheers pete

    ReplyDelete
  25. LazarusMarch 10, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    Very nice post, Jersey Rocks! I am a native and just moved back, temporarily, to the Shore (Monmouth County.) Love it, love it. Although NH is nice too. I used to have a running debate about NJ vs. NH in law school with a friend from NH. My trump card: NH only has 17 miles of coastline. Jersey Rules!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Charlie ParantMarch 10, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    this is beautiful and so well written...enjoyed it much.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Tumblewords:March 10, 2011 at 10:38 PM

    It just sings! Perfect...

    ReplyDelete
  28. TrellissimoMarch 11, 2011 at 7:05 AM

    Off to pastures new, eh?

    ReplyDelete
  29. EvelynMarch 15, 2011 at 8:56 AM

    "i kiss your forehead
    leave a story
    in a pendant
    lipstick mark"
    wonderful image.
    awww never been and now I miss it.

    ReplyDelete
  30. The Reason You ComeMarch 15, 2011 at 7:26 PM

    Oh, this is good! I agree with everyone who said that your words read like lyrics to a song. All this needs is music! It must be bittersweet to leave, though. On one hand, you're saying goodbye to something that was a part of you. On the other hand, something new is waiting.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Steve IsaakMarch 16, 2011 at 7:28 PM

    Good piece, everything works here.

    ReplyDelete

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