Birds don’t stop in this town.
I see them fly past, black peppering
blue, going someplace. I’ve given up
dreaming wings. This town
will know my bones. Condoms
sell well in Joe’s corner store – boredom breeds
but breeding’s a trap, a twitch in the smile
of those steel-eyed shrews
who linger late after church.
I walked half a day, out past the salt flats,
after they closed the movie house down. Smoked
the joint she’d brought back from college
when she returned to bury my dad.
I remember how pale her fingers lay
across my father’s hands –
coal miner’s hands, tarred like his lungs;
like this town.
Ryan Stone
First published in Eunoia Review, July 2016.
Winner of the Goodreads Monthly Poetry Contest, August 2016.
First Place in Poetry Nook contest 101, November 2016.
a brilliantly sad portrayal!
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Thank you, Amit. I really appreciate you taking the time to read and leave a comment – it means so much 🙂
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you are welcome … I have been through some hectic time and pledge due apologies for my recent lack of engagement.
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No apologies, mate – I’ve been a stranger myself. I hope your hard times are at an end and the sun is shining over you. Take care.
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that is indeed very kind of you… it has not ended though, guess I am growing used to it 😀 …
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Be strong, my friend. I wish you the best of luck 🙂
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now that means a lot… I am grateful for your wishes!
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Your words portray despair with such resolve. I felt like I was there. Congratulations on the publication 🙂
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Thank you so much! Truly appreciated 🙂
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As always, it was my pleasure reading your lines. 🙂
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Too kind. Thank you 🙂
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🙂
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Congratulations, Ryan! Fantastic piece! 🙂
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Thank you so much, dear Kelly. How have you been? Well, I hope 🙂
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You’re very welcome, Ryan! Yes, doing well, thank you, enjoying the summertime 🙂
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Excellent! Happy to hear it. And very midwinter jealous 😉
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So funny to think of that! You probably get more writing done though, so I guess it’s not all bad. I know I write a lot more when the weather isn’t so great. Hang in there! 🙂
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So true! Have a magic weekend when it arrives for you, Kelly 🙂
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You as well, Ryan. 🙂
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Congratulations Ryan. Lovely and sad poem, beautifully written. ~ Mia
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Thank you, dear Mia. I apologise for not replying to your email yet. Today! I hope you’ve been well 🙂
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You’re welcome Ryan. Thank you, wishing you well too. 🙂
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“This town will know my bones…” ~ So moving & evocative, Ryan! You really transported me to another world with this one. Well-deserved as always. Congratulations! Power to your pen ^_^
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Thank you, dear Yusra. I’ve been wanting to get a poem on Eunoia for ages – stoked! I hope you’ve been well 🙂
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I am happy for you!! Yay!! Way to go Ryan, and the poem is a perfect choice. Loved it!
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Thank you, Dajena. I’m still smiling about it 🙂
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🙂
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Congrats on the publishing! This is wonderful, especially with the picture. When I read this,I get the feeling like this coal miners dust, and debris from the coal mine covers everything and everyone in this whole town; as if it’s choking them. Keep up the great work 🙂
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Thanks so much, Amanda 🙂
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Poignant and dignified. This is beautiful, Ryan.
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Lovely feedback, thank you 😀
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You really got to the heart of this Ryan, eloquent writing beautifully moving.
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Too kind! Thank you so much 🙂
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I can feel the slow, inevitable decay of this town through your words and art Ryan. It is an amazing piece of writing, congratulations! – Lola
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Thank you for your love,y words, Lola 🙂
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It is always a pleasure to visit your page Ryan. 🙂
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😀
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Pingback: Please Help! | days of stone
Superb poem. Hope to see you on the WF forum soon, been a while. All best
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Hello, Shirley! Thank you so much. You’re right-it’s been ages. I’ll head over tonight. How have you been? So nice of you to stop by 🙂
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*Sigh* Hands down, Ryan and congratulations! 🙂
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Thank you my beautiful friend. I’ve missed you.
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I’ve missed you too, hugs! 🙂
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😀
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Oh wow. This was amazing! Really captured so much with such description. Congratulations on winning the Good Reads Monthly Poetry Contest. Great achievement!
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G’day, Shaun. Thanks so much, mate – I’m still buzzing!
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I’m not surprised! It’s the kind of thing that will stick with you 🙂 Truly well deserved too!
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Thanks so much 🙂
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I was not aware of you before but “Coal Town” really got me. I escaped one! Will look for more of your writing.
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Hi, Marcella. Thanks so much for your kind comment. I love to hear when a poem connects. You’re most welcome here – I hope you’ll find more that you like. Thank you for taking the time to leave me some feedback-truly appreciated. I’m glad you managed to get away 😉
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So lovely~!
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Great poem.
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Thank you 🙂
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Powerful, poignant and profound. You have a rich voice.
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Thank you, Ros 🙂
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This is a sentiment to a lost world, of the cause and the reason, of those who are staying and those who are leaving. It’s a story uniquely repeated
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Thanks for reading, Bjorn 🙂
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Love the starkness in this one Ryan…
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Thanks so much 🙂
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This poem makes me feel claustrophobic. You capture the stifling life of a small-town resident very well.
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Thank you 🙂
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Congratulations on the acclaim your poem has already earned. I like your art work that goes with your poetry.
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Thank you so much, Frank. I really appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. Sometimes the pictures take longer than the poems! 🙂
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“black peppering
blue, going someplace” … I love this.
“This town
will know my bones.” … This is so awesome alone, but then the added layering of “Condoms” makes it even more interesting.
“boredom breeds
but breeding’s a trap, a twitch in the smile” … So good.
“after they closed the movie house down. Smoked
the joint she’d brought back from college” … Your line breaks are the best!
That closing. Oh my word, you’re REALLY gifted.
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Fuck! Thank you doesn’t even cut it 🙂
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Seriously talented, man. Stay in the zone. Protect your brain. And keep doing your thing. You’ve got IT.
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clipped wings described with with a soulful air…the ‘writer’ howls silently at the knowledge that he/she too is destined for the same prison.
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Spot on. Thank you, Paul.
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Dark and gritty, with undertones of fading into the grey, and death ~ Excellent share Ryan ~ Wishing you a good weekend ~
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Thank you, Grace. I hope yours is filled with magic too 🙂
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Always a pleasure to read you, dear Ryan. Hope you’ve been well. How’s Summer treating you?
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Good thanks, my friend. How about you? I’m loving the summer days, beaches and sunshine 🙂
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Lucky you! It’s winter here. Brrrr
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A sad reality in words and imagery.
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As always, thank you for taking the time to leave me your thoughts 🙂
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This is brilliant. Tragic but very good.
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Way too kind, but thanks so much 🙂
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