Almost full tonight

Leaving is always hard

 

 

Almost full tonight

 

 

 

My lady leaves her lamp light burning

 

I stand, a gravel driveway rough to the touch,

looking back towards an illumined dream

as her silhouette dances on the paper shade,

flowing hair in dark shadows,

unsuspecting emotions sift beneath a mid-night canopy

If I listen closely her voice sings,

breaking the silence which finds me waning

in the dust and flowered reaches

of this eternal road ahead

 

Praying for my safe return

 

The key finds the ignition, some old habit echoes

without thought, alone to turn and teach

This journey, far removed the interstate,

beyond these dash board lights,

calls in undiluted terms and pulls my heart

Asphalt collects my low beams,

flooding my sided visions with blurred darkness

and borderlines of fallen leaves  

shimmering under a three quarter moon

 

I can see for miles and miles beneath its light

 

I miss her, I do desperately miss her

Just barely past the Dairy Queen

at the lone traffic light sitting

a bright glowing red at this ungodly hour

She by now is asleep, smiling, peaceful

as I am alone on the street and in my heart,

an empty beat fills as I leave my love behind

Peering through this dirty windshield at the night sky

Stars collect my thoughts

 

And the moon is almost full tonight

 

 

Author's Note

The italicized lines are lyrics from the Mike McClure song, "The Moon is Almost Full Tonight." Mike comes from Oklahoma and his genre of music is called Red Dirt. If you get a chance, give him a listen. This guy is a true poet, lyrically and musically. The photo is Mike at Flores Country Store in Helotes Texas.

Reviews

[SyberRose]

I love this...i feel the yearning in the lonely night of the traveler wishing he could be with her...seeing her beauty everywhere and feeling her in his heart....Excellent Jack...Rose:)

[Jack...]

Thank you so very much my sweet friend. This song, like many of his spoke to me and moved me to write my feelings out.

[Kelly Scheppers]

"as her silhouette dances on the paper shade,
flowing hair in dark shadows,
unsuspecting emotions sift beneath a mid-night canopy"

...I didn't want this to end! I fell in love with the story, Jack, with the longing you so tenderly scripted between each line.

I'm not familiar with the song, but I really enjoyed your interpretation of it!

My best,
Kelly

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Kelly. I am happy you enjoyed this poem. Mike McClure in my opinion is a poet first, his lyrics are what draw me to his music. Each and every song he writes is a brand new story to me. I appreciate your kind words and hope you have an opportunity to hear him someday.

[Rita L. Sev]

in the dust and flowered reaches
of this eternal road ahead...

These lines drew me to their bittersweet parallels.
This one tells a story, Jack, and I can feel the loneliness in the traveler's heart.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Rita. Mike is one of my favorite artists and his music and lyrics always inspire me.

[shallimarRose]

This is amazing Jack.. I could see everything so vividly in your words. As I read I found myself wondering if he was an on the road musician, maybe a line truck driver or could have been they were separating.. ? so many things went through my head at the same time. That to me is a sign of great poetry. Bravo on this one.. I use to be a country singer in small clubs so I love this type of music already. Red dirt road is a favorite of mine. great job my friend.. xo Rose

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Rose. It can be any of those things. I wrote this to leave it up to the reader to decide what it said to them.