The new shop opened on the seventh of February.
I still haven’t been.
Not even near.
It has an escalator.
I would like to ride it.
To go up and down.
To see the beans from above and below.
The neat rows of cans like apostles on the shelf.
Instead I go back to the place with stories in the windows and sit.
A man comes in.
He smiles at me and my feet twitch.
But I don’t mind him being there.
He has his shopping beside him too.
He sits in the place that is usually filled by Alice or Felder or you.
I look at the back of his head.
His shoulders.
A real body filling up the space in front of me.
How strange.
How strange that I stay.
Then I remember.
The girl who puts sweeteners in her spearmint tea is called Ruth.
Ruth.
I go around this empty town like Ruth.
Gleaning.
Pulling up the roots of names and faces.
Placing them in shelves and rows.
Riding up and down the memories and words.
There are people here.
People who become the stories in the window.
It calms me.
To know that they will return to the same table.
Order the same drink.
Chew the same invisible food.
The man gets up to leave.
It’s a very special place he says
And I smile and say
Yes. It is. Very special.
It is hard to hear my voice.
To share the words out loud.
But as he leaves I know he has given me
A penny’s worth of kindness and love for the day.
Love the imagery you paint in this writing. Very very nicely done!
ReplyDeleteLove the image painted by your words, familiarity, yet tainted with new paints, nearly the image I know.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lisa and Reflections (you managed to use the prompt better than me ;) ) Jae
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely, almost lonely write. You have captured something very special, as you say, "Gleaning... Pulling up the roots of names and faces.
ReplyDeletePlacing them in shelves and rows. Riding up and down the memories and words." I think of the work of the Kindholts(?) he is dead now (even more) they did really wonderful installations. I will try to find them on the net.
Thank you Annell..I have not heard of the 'Kindholts'..I shall research..it would be interesting to see the image it spurred in you..Jae
ReplyDelete"The neat rows of cans like apostles on the shelf." - a wonderful line. :-)
ReplyDeleteLoved the imagery and feelings you captured in this piece Jae.
I loved the narration. The ups the downs. The flow, the ebb...
ReplyDeletelimitless space
Sheesh, for a moment I thought Apostles said Apostates. Then I instantly thought of rebellious beans condemned to bean Hell. You can see how it all went downhill from there.
ReplyDeleteGreat story, the isolation is amazing yet the gentle act of kindness given can change it in a heartbeat. Perhaps there is more to come soon, the trickle never stops, it just slows.
Another fantastic job Jae!
Now that's better Jae, there is hope and optimism in this one. To agree with a stranger that you were in a special place, and to find the friendly ambience a gift. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteI love the short sentences in this poem. They give me a place to pause and reflect on your crisp images.
ReplyDelete"Pulling up the roots of names and faces.
Placing them in shelves and rows"
Great line!
Beautifully written. I love the kindness in the end and especially this line, "The neat rows of cans like apostles on the shelf".
ReplyDeleteMy Blog
I appreciate the calm from the familiar, and the love and kindness at the end. The piece allowed me to hitch-hike as the narrator's mind wandered. I enjoyed the view.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful piece of writing Jae. Loneliness can create an amazing world that few know exist. A word from a stranger can be both friendly or threatening and on recollection you just don't know why. Observing the world as it circles around you is as you show in your writing a fascinating place to be and a wonderful treasure trove for the writer.
ReplyDeleteSuch good rhythm and flow in this piece.
ReplyDeleteLike Ruth--collecting so much beauty. She sees so much, this character of yours. I love the hope in this one and the kind man who lifts her spirits.
ReplyDeleteI love how you describe the bookstore- 'the place with stories in the windows'- and how it's a refuge for this character.
ReplyDeleteI also think there's a great deal of *an outsider looking in*, especially in the way she views the new shop. Perhaps another reference to Ruth?
Thank you for this piece!
People who become stories in the window...beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post.
Meryl
http://departingthetext.blogspot.com
I really enjoyed this story Jae...so much intimacy in so few words...love the cans lined up like apostles too :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful visuals! "To see the beans from above and below" enjoyable with a lovely ending! People really can add substance to the day, and not even know it!
ReplyDeleteHugs Giggles
I really enjoyed this. It is both sad and hopeful at the same time to me. We are such creatures of habit sometimes and that can be a comfort.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susannah..if only the answer came in cans!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Gautami..
Thank you Leiffy - made me chuckle..hellfire and brimstone beans - now there's a marketing line..
Thank you Altonian..must be the spring air..
Thank you Linda - much appreciated..
Thank you Catherine..as always :)
Thank you Kim - glad you enjoyed the ramble around my noodle!
Thank you OldEgg - it really is fascintaing out there..I am glad you feel that way too..there are bonuses to being the quiet person in the corner..
Thank you Kate.. :)
Thank you Lilibeth..it's the best gift..
Thank you Abigail..spot on! definitely the outsider looking in..
Thanks for visiting again Meryl..
Thank you Cynthia.. :)
Thanks Giggles - they certainly can (no pun intended)
Thank you Kylie..
Thanks all for your comments and for visitng..Jae
this one seemed a little relaxing,,,
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful, seemingly simple but heavily layered - stacked... One is drawn right into the world of the I-character. I feel I could easily read a whole novel based on her, written in this style. Loved especially:
ReplyDeleteThe neat rows of cans like apostles on the shelf.
...
He sits in the place that is usually filled by Alice or Felder or you.
...
I go around this empty town like Ruth.
Gleaning.
Pulling up the roots of names and faces.
Placing them in shelves and rows.
Thank you Glenn - it's a nice change isn't it..don't know what's happened!
ReplyDeleteThank you 'Turtle' what a fantastic comment..glad you stopped by..
Jae :)
'the place with stories in the windows'- most gorgeous line I've read today!
ReplyDeleteThat was just wonderful. Pulling up the roots . . . Placing them in shelves and rows. Just a lovely little slice of life.
ReplyDeleteThank you'page210'..I am glad you like it!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks Jerry - kind of you to stop by..
Jae
Yes Jae Yes. I reckon I know her.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda..
ReplyDelete