Everything dust but his cool words
in the diner, that just-different drawl
that marked him as from not-around-here.
A tall drink of water, hair dark beneath hat
and if his frame was rail-lean yet the sinew
was tough and railroad work demanded
muscle. He talked to you (he loved to talk),
charm reinforced by the monotonous
backdrop: bleached-dry tumbleweed
ranchland, scraggled ranks of prickly pear.
Your courting not about picture shows,
fast cars, stolen touches; only coffee
and maybe pie, sweet talk and dreams
of a lush green future, anywhere else.
Inspired by this dVerse Poets Pub prompt, writing about family history.
Graceful Press Poetry 
Oh what difficult years those depression years must have been, and I am sure many were dreaming of having a future elsewhere. You created a sharp character study here, Jennifer.
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Thank you, Mary. I can’t imagine how hard, and I wish I had more stories of their everyday lives.
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anywhere else but here…and figuring that out by his accent…ha…yeah i understand the attraction to that….cool little glimpse into their love story….
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oh and welcome to dverse…just found your comment in the filter over there and approved it…you should be good to go now…smiles…
enjoy visiting others…
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Thank you, Brian. I appreciate it. What a warm and welcoming group you are!
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I can really feel how even during those years love had to flourish… and those dreams .. that seems to have been fulfilled .. (given its your ancestry).. very nice
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Yes…I was thinking of my maternal grandparents. They always seemed content with their lives…married nearly 60 years when my grandfather died. Thanks for your comment!
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BTW nice to cross path at dVerse.. one of my favorite hangouts… and I try to post every time… next is tomorrow..
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I admire the subtle drawing, the sharp capture of man & his sweet talk of a lush green future, anywhere else ~
Thank for sharing ~
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Thank you for the comment and for the great prompt. I have tried (unsuccessfully) to write about my maternal grandparents in fiction…when I saw this prompt, I immediately thought of them again and had to get some words down!
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I have often wondered, with more than a little despair, what it was like to begin a life together in those bleak days, whether it was in struggling cities or, and maybe more especially, the Dust Bowl. The sense of an empty ring of arid horizon, yet a couple knowing there’s a green future somewhere beyond it, permeates this lovely capture of hard times, Jennifer.
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It’s so difficult to imagine–even with our access to photos and documentaries–how horribly hard life must have been. Thanks so much for your comment.
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You paint a striking vignette in such a concise manner. The times must have surely been every bit as desperate, but through it all we persevere. Well done, Jennifer!
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Thank you so much for reading and for your kind words.
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‘charm reinforced by the monotonous
backdrop’ — nice! Love that juxtaposition.
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Thank you–I was afraid it might be too much of a mouthful. Sometimes a word just jumps in there…
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I call it speaking in tongues when I am writing. Adds a mystical element to our practice. 🙂
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I am perfectly willing to believe that your words are divinely inspired!
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You have a very good soul.
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You paint this picture with a few deft strokes. This is so well done Jennifer. I think this is my favorite, with enough detail to put us there, enough left to the imagination to …well, to allow us to imagine. :o)
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Thanks so much, I really appreciate the encouragement.
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This is wonderfully descriptive. “…bleached-dry tumbleweed ranchland…” yes, the despair is palpable. It reminds me of some of the “cowboy poetry” in tone.
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…and now I need to go read some cowboy poetry… 🙂
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I love listening to it. I bought a CD last time I was at the Bar-D in Durango CO. It’s great read aloud.
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I enjoyed the portrait you drew and the sweet courting over coffee and pie, much better than fast cars I’d say. And dreaming about the future sounds better than mulling about the present.
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Agreed about the courting and the dreaming! Thanks so much for your comment.
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In those difficult times where everyone were affected love can still flourish. It was a whiff of freshness to be in the act of giving! Nicely Jennifer!
Hank
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Thanks very much!
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i love that strength and courage to dream of a better future in the backdrop of a bleak time…there’s much sweetness to it too…
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Thank you for seeing the sweetness!
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As a boomer, I marveled at the love story of my grandparents raising their family during the Depression; an era they never shook off, or forgot; something that marked them for life; like the 60’s did to/for me. An excellent poem, terrific wordsmithing.
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Yes, the hardships of their youth absolutely marked them…and made them strong, I think. Thank you for the encouragement. Your last two words here have made my day.
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Our family uses the term ‘tall glass of water’ for height.
I’m thinking ‘tall drink of water’ means the same thing.
Saw a show once where they showed how folks tried to keep the ‘dust’ from their homes. It wasn’t easy at all.
Thanks for your visit… I just write ’em how I see ’em.
That swan was here, really 🙂
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Yep, tall…yikes, have I been gone from home so long I have forgotten the right expression? Thanks so much for visiting!
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Wowza, what a love story–beautifully told simple romance. I love it.
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Thank you…btw I found dVerse through your blog. Maybe you don’t realize how much you give. ❤
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Oh wowza! What a lovely thing to say–you made my day, Jen!
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the courage to be strong during tough times is admirable ..very nice:)
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Thank you!
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An honest portrait of real love and dreams in midst of hardship…your poem is like sweet words over coffee…charming!
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Thank you for reading and for “charming.” 🙂
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This is so evocative – and really, we don’t need all the trappings, just love, love, love.
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yes, yes, yes! 🙂
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the attraction of the unfamiliar… a very cool portrait and love how they found each other in that difficult time..
and welcome at dVerse…
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Thank you for the comment and the welcome!
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Our parents who came thru the depression years all had such stories of resilience, they did it hard and yet they had in my family at least the most wonderful sense of humour despite the hardship of their life. Your poem reminded me of my dad’s own story.
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My grandparents were so smart and thrifty, and they could make and do things that we’ve lost the art of now (or maybe we just don’t make the time?). And they were loving, caring people. Thanks for reminding me of that–I’m glad you were reminded of your dad, too.
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…I like this very much.. your.images evoked from your pen and imagination led me to another time and place..romantic, too.
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Thanks so much. It’s funny, in a way, to think of your grandparents as romantic, but theirs was a good love story!
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This is a beautiful word painting of the man. I can hear the drawl and the romance, the hoot of the train. I see a land full of sunshine.
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Thank you for reading, and for your lovely comment.
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I cannot imagine this time period that so many lived through. Your words capture it both simply and profoundly. Thank you.
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I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for reading!
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Love the way you’ve so completely set the scene and character…great focus of topic as well summed up well in your closing!
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Thank you, Hannah!
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