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Chasin' The Moon
by JD Clay
Hopped a freight
Southbound outa Fresno
Slept standin’ up
With a jack in my sock
Clickety click
Met a fella
Worse off than me
Had a one-eyed Calico cat
Named Oxymoron
Mean son-of-a-bitch
Traded stories true or not
Each one more tragic
Than the last
I lied about that corporate thing
No match for a crippled man
He asked me for a light
Holding out a crumpled pack of Lucky’s
Then blew a half-assed version of
Ain’t No Sunshine on a broken Hohner
Coughin’ between breaths
Flickin’ his ash
I rolled the steel door back
Gazed up at the coyote moon
Wonderin’ who was chasin’ who
Then howled
A little off key
Headin’ up the Tejon Pass
We slowed and
I looked for a good place to jump
Someplace softer than the last
Pettin’ that ornery cat the old man smiled
I’m goin’ to the end of the line he said
With a labored wheeze
Emphysema I suppose
You can still hear his
Hack in the rail
Left some heavy shit along that line
Old times and sad songs
Faces without names and
Busted dreams
Remindin’ me that some things
Are better off gone
Chokin' back my checkered past
I waved to the cat
Found a friend in the Santa Ana wind
Then threw my pack
In the ditch
~jadi
10/17/2002 Author's Note: Metaphoric rendition of lettin' go.
Posted on 11/21/2002
Copyright © 2025 JD Clay
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Anne Engelen on 11/21/02 at 07:03 PM This reminds me of an old movie I once saw...dang I wish I could remember that title now. Anyway, I thought it was a melodramatic story. Kinda sad...one of tehse stories without a happy ending...just stating facts...leaving the viewer with a funny feeling. |
| Posted by David R Spellman on 11/21/02 at 08:26 PM I think I met that dude too! Great story JD. I can hear the coyote and you howlin' just above the music of the harmonica. |
| Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 11/22/02 at 02:11 PM A masterpiece of imagery, rail culture/language and form. Wish I had written this...glad you did. Hobo hat's off to ya bro! |
| Posted by Mara Meade on 11/22/02 at 07:00 PM A bit of solitude, a bit of melancholy, a wind that calls your name and then blows right through you...and an acceptance of how things are. These pictures remind me of some of Kris Kristofferson's work, some of Johnny Cash's songs.. wow. After reading this I put on KK's The Pilgrim, Chapter 33. Awesome stuff, JD. Got me in the gut. I'll be back to read this again. |
| Posted by Charles E Minshall on 11/23/02 at 05:10 AM Good tale of the rail Jadi.....Charlie |
| Posted by Christina Bruno on 11/24/02 at 07:17 AM Very cool poem, nice rythmn |
| Posted by Oliver Drewman on 11/24/02 at 07:21 AM interesting to say the least |
| Posted by Philip F De Pinto on 11/24/02 at 12:13 PM a powerful and hungry notion, to catch the moon. If you do Jadi, slice me off a hunk. Kinda famished myself. Peace, phil |
| Posted by Glenn Currier on 11/24/02 at 06:13 PM Oh, I have those rails all the lonesome goodbyes in my blood, and a calcio cat, too many packs of Luckys too little luck... Imagery and the broken bones of jumping off very evocative for me, jadi. Excellent. |
| Posted by Kate Demeree on 12/11/02 at 01:33 PM Being as this is my third read, I guess I should leave a comment *smile* I love it JD.... |
| Posted by Mary Ellen Smith on 12/19/02 at 01:16 PM well ditto to all of the above comments...I agree with Tom...what a great song this would make...wonderful work JD! So vivid and real! |
| Posted by Lori Johnson on 01/08/03 at 06:49 PM Did I NOT comment on this? Could've sworn I did. *shucks*
Well, anyway...you are the best at not describing an emotion, but feeling it & we (as readers) all feel it too. That's a talent not learned, it's a gift. Peace to you too, jadi. ;) |
| Posted by Don Coffman on 08/13/03 at 06:44 PM You're an amazing poet. The narrative is pefect, an all around wonderful read. I hope I can evolve to this level of skill someday, thanks for the inspiration. |
| Posted by Max Bouillet on 08/18/03 at 06:22 PM Slice of rail life with a metaphor for all of us to try and apply to our lives. Great story with pangs of wisdom. Thanks for sharing. |
| Posted by Rusty C Arquette on 08/24/03 at 03:14 PM I can't recall anyone liked the way I blew harp, but I ain't makin' no appologies. Most a' the time I blind on squeeze so I didn't know no better. - Phun Reed Doode - See ya' on a slow freight outta' St. Joe - RCat |
| Posted by Charles E Minshall on 09/10/03 at 02:24 AM Good to read again Jadi....Charlie |
| Posted by Ann Lauren on 01/30/04 at 07:56 AM I really love the title for such a great story told through poetic format. |
| Posted by Ulyss Rubey on 06/09/04 at 01:21 AM John S. or William F. couldn't have said it better. There is something special about you jadi.
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| Posted by V. Blake on 02/05/10 at 12:11 AM Gonna go ahead and add this one to my favorites. Absolutely spectacular poetry. |
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