Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Just Before the Road Ends



"Waiting"

Left off the highway and
down the hill. At the
bottom, hang another left.
Keep bearing left. The road
will make a Y. Left again.
There's a creek on the left.
Keep going. Just before
the road ends, there'll be
another road. Take it
and no other. Otherwise,
your life will be ruined
forever. There's a log house
with a shake roof, on the left.
It's not that house. It's
the next house, just over
a rise. The house
where trees are laden with
fruit. Where phlox, forsythia,
and marigold grow. It's
the house where the woman
stands in the doorway
wearing the sun in her hair. The one
who's been waiting
all this time.
The woman who loves you.
The one who can say,
"What's kept you?"


~ Raymond Carver











Painting by Dan Gerhartz


41 comments:

  1. Really enjoyed your reading. I thought of a number of houses I have visited and wish to find the lady wearing the sunshine in her hair. What a beautiful selection.

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    1. Thank you, Steve. It's idyllic ... what so many wish for ...

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  2. You read it beautifully, Teresa. It was a real pleasure to listen. Thank you.

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    1. Thank you, Jenny. I appreciate your latest post very much...

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  3. Wonderful! The man knew how to recognize love when he saw it.

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    1. Yes he did ... thanks, George. It's great to hear from you!

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  4. You have the perfect voice for that poem!

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    1. Thank you so much, Linda. I love Raymond Carver, especially this poem ... your compliment means a lot to me.

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  5. Great blog. I'm following! And I will be the woman in the doorway wearing the sun in my hair!! Very inspirational! Aloha!

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  6. . . . the house where the woman
    stands in the doorway
    wearing the sun in her hair . . .

    I wish I had written that; well, the whole poem, actually. It read beautifully with your voice, Teresa, and a perfect painting to go with it.

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    1. Thank you, Penny. It's one of my favorite Carver poems.

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  7. Oh boy, that is really beautiful but it scares me a little, the idea that if you miss it your life will be ruined forever.

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    1. That line caught me, too. That's what makes Raymond, Raymond. :)

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  8. See how easy and simple life can be. Those are beautiful words and your sweet voice delivered them with perfection. Well done Friend.

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    1. It's the only way to truly live one's life... Thank you so much, Steven... :)

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  9. I loved this, Teresa!

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  10. It was lovely to hear you reading the poem, it really helped make the words "live". A great poem.

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    1. Thank you, Peter. I love Raymond Carver's work, whether poetry or short stories.

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  11. I so much like hearing you read. First you have an extraordinary voice, second your speech rhythms as wonderful, and third, having never met you, it makes me feel as if I have.

    This is a touching, even tantalizing poem. Full of anticipation, full of waiting. And it has just the right conclusion.

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    1. Thank you, Bill. Voices do bring people closer, and tell us more about them. I can imagine yours, but would enjoy hearing it sometime.

      Tantalizing is just the right word. And I do love that conclusion, also...

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    2. I'll try it sometime, although there is nothing particularly distinctive about my voice.

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    3. It doesn't have to be "distinctive," just the voice of a friend I might never hear otherwise ... :)

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  12. A big thank you for this poem, it is new to me and I love it.
    I also enjoyed it even more as I could hear such a lovely voice reading the words.

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  13. Beautifully read. More recitals please.

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  14. Teresa, your voice its pure perfection for reading. I literally got goose bumps over this poem. Immediately coming to my mind was the story "The Bridges of Madison County". As with R.James Waller's novel, I can read this poem over and over and still read it again with great pleasure...and a deep yearning, apparently. I've did a partial search for Raymond Carver's poetry but not getting what I expect. Have you a good link you can give me/us?

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    1. I have a collection of his poetry a friend sent to me called, "All of Us," which seems to be complete. He is a great short story writer, also. You may find individual poems through the Writer's Almanac or the Poetry Foundation sites.

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    2. And thank you for the nice compliment. It's deeply appreciated.

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  15. Oh such a gift.. thank you thank you Teresa Evangeline.

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    1. Joan, I completely missed your sweet comment. I trust all is well in New Zealand.

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