Ghost Town

 

The bitter winds of sorrow

blows the tumbleweed

that was once blissful hope

through the lonely streets

filled with regret and despair.

 

Invisible to the naked eye

is the essence of the happy faces

that once filled the saloon

that looked so much

like you and me.

 

Now the road is filled with dust

covering what was a great love

that was shot through the heart

when it was thought

my aim wasn’t true.

 

As the sun sets in the west

I can’t find the will to saddle up

To leave this lonely town

and move forward into a city

that holds laughter and hope

for the ghost of you is still

the only place the spirit of me

wants to cross over too.

 

 

Reviews

[Lori]

Wonderful poem -- from the title (which so perfectly captures the essence of the poem) to the very evocative end. It conjures up not just images but sensations of loneliness and pain. We feel your spirit trapped here in this place (both in the mind and physically) that really is an emotional Ghost Town, because it's been abandoned by the loved one. I love how we tie the small town's physical place in with the internal state.

[alternative_be]

This takes me back to old westerns and ghost town movies!
It also makes me think of cartoons about the same subject.
I guess they call it demographical changes, but are they always for the best?
People leaving neighbourhood, grocery shops going bust ...
It is a very universal theme though your poem is set in a western setting!
I loved it, but it did make me sad!

[.::Cup^E^Cake*RaWr!*::.]

kudos!!
This is a really good piece!!

[ape domenigoni]

Hauntingly beautiful....terrific job...I love it. It's so sad and has so much emotion in it...I'm sorry you're in a sad place right now :(

[Angelic Darkness]

Love this poem! You intertwined love with a ghost town, and it fit
rather well together:). I love this line: for the ghost of you is still

the only place the spirit of me

wants to cross over too.

This a perfect ending! AD

[emz]

You painted an amazing picture here, a beautiful write that is full of sadness, It reads like a story and i really want to know what the cowboy does next??

Great write as ever Dale

x

[Emily B]

great stuff, Dale. It's a very palpable write. I feel the dust and the dry heat. I feel the lonely. I feel the bitter winds.

[Donna DeLong Matthews a..]

What an awesome picture you have painted with you sad words
of heart break. This I can so relate to dont want to stay but cant
leave... Really good reading here
Hugs
Donna

[Lia]

Beautiful, deep and heartfelt piece, made me cry...Great work. Thanks for sharing x

[Spoken]

so this is how a cowboy's heart breaks.... Your imagery encompasses the essence of a lone cowboy in a dusty town tumble weeds and abandoned buildings saloons run dry and you wonder why you mount the horse and ride on..... so stay... and be close to something you almost had, or ride on and find the one the journey was always meant for.

wow.. guess you inspired the artist in me to review that piece. It's always a beautiful thing to bring something out of someone. Well felt well written well gosh dang you rock :)