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Saturday, July 2, 2011

Welcome Back


When I left, I thought there was no going back.  As that last day froze in my memory, I somehow thought, the house, the contents, and the people in it, would remain unchanged.
To most it was an ordinary house on an ordinary street, but they would not have known the life which I had lived in it.  
Funny now, this day of my return, is just like that final afternoon.  The January snow rests underfoot, gleaming on rooftops, barely teasing the barren branches of the trees.  The large oak outside my attic window looks taller, telling me it stayed, even though I ran away.
Did the roots of the tree follow me, become touchingly close?  Did it witness my new life, the one without this home?
My father’s angry words tried vainly to catch flight in the breeze, as I slammed the front door shut, leaving for streets that I had never known, for people that spoke differently to me.  Thinking I was moving on.  
It has taken me a while to understand, that the past can overrun the present.  No running away was ever going to change what was left behind, for as I slammed the front door shut, hoping to put the past behind me, I did the very opposite.
He is an old man now, frail I believe. It took many miles for me to get here, but standing now looking at the old house, the journey back has taken more than distance.
I touch the tree before I climb the steps; feel the tough grooves in it's trunk, knowing the roots spread further than the eye can ever see.  The window frames have chipped paint, the glass dirty, but the house knows me, and no matter what he might say, it is welcoming me back.

29 comments:

  1. You've written an intriguing story for the Magpie prompt. I particularly like the last paragraph. Well done.

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  2. Solid narrative - dig the personification and the imagery - specifically the vivid descriptions. Nice piece.

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  3. That very last line, "the house knows me..." is wonderful, as is the line - My father’s angry words tried in vain to catch flight in the breeze as I slammed the front door shut-
    A powerful and complete piece of writing!

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  4. First time I've visited you...but I could not NOT comment this: "the past can overrun the present. No running away was ever going to change what I left behind, for as I slammed the door shut to put the past behind me, I did the very opposite."

    Oh, which wayward Peep has not experienced this, has missed one of life greatest lessons.

    Thank you, 'Sixty-Pair-Of-Socks'

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  5. OMGosh! I LOVE THIS!!!!! This is such a great writing! Great minds do think alike! It is so true to... sometimes the only way that you can truly move on is to go back to the start and heal from there Again, great writing! :o)

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  6. How poignant and powerful. I loved the line, "but the house knows me, and no matter what he might say, it is welcoming me back."

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  7. Wow. That last paragraph is a killer! I love the relationship you weaved between the speaker and the tree. Beautiful! And thanks for visiting my blog.

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  8. love this, the reconciliation, the touching of the tree...beautiful

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  9. I love how you describe the tree... wondering if it followed the main character's life "new life" away from home. Wonderfully written!

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  10. Oh, I think you out-harkened me. :)

    Great take on now and then, place and narrator.

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  11. Nice write,I especially like the last paragraph... profound finish to a wonderful message.

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  12. This was a wonderful story. I really enjoyed it.

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  13. Thanks guys for all your great positive comments, they are really appreciated.

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  14. Wow! Socks if this is an indication of what your book is like, sign me up for advance copies! Really well told and it makes me want to know more.

    Kat

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  15. I guess the past is forever there! So you did go home again..lucky you..lovely piece!

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  16. Thanks Lyn and thanks Kat.
    Just working on the editing of the first 3 chapters now Kat, after that I'll review synopsis and pitch letter, then the scary bit starts, when I begin sending them to 'would be agents/publishers'!

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  17. ahh.. the description touched me.. very finely narrated.. good mag!

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  18. I love the tree - how it's another person almost. And that last paragraph really is just beautiful.

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  19. A wonderfully poignant piece - it sings to everyone who's walked that path. So well done!

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  20. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, with its circular time span, which told the reader just enough to want more...

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  21. This is wonderful. So many phrases captured my heart. The sentiment is so wise, so true. Magnificent last paragraph. Really connects with me - thank you!

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  22. Oh... I can go on picking my favorites lines from this read...but this one is my absolute favorite:
    "Did the roots of the tree follow me, become touchingly close?" -- it spoke volumes!!

    There is nothing quite the same as being given a warm homecoming...
    Very very beautifully written, Louise...

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  23. I really like how your piece tells a story with just the right amount of detail, feeling, and imagery. Beautifully written!

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  24. Beautifully written! This return is not going to be easy.

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  25. Quite the best example of this particular theme this week. Well done.

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  26. Thanks guys for all your great comments, really appreciated.

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  27. The connection to the tree was just superb. We could feel this person touching it. So touching...

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  28. This lovely piece reminded me of a time when I too once walked away albeit only for a short time.

    Wonderful imagery here - great read.

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