He trailered his madness on an old hay wagon and traded a
Padre two pigs and four chickens for an old paint to pull it proper. He set off
on a pencil sketch of a day to try and find a poultice to take the sting out of
his rope burn existence and to look for a woman with lithe fingers and patchy
hair who would appreciate his wit.
On a trail
through the Cumberland Gap he came upon a spring and drank heavily from a cup
made from the skin of a Cork Bark Fir. His madness oozed from beneath the tarp
and crept up behind him as he stared at his reflection in the water. It spoke
to him of wasted energy and lost souls and a need to stay put, the path to
happiness was fraught with tigers. He looked and listened and gave his journey
nary another thought, content in his role of the universal fool unspooling.
... content in his role of the universal fool unspooling.
ReplyDeleteThis portrait has elements of surrealism and elements of the journey of Everyman.
The description of his madness oozing out of its loose binding and peering over his shoulder at his own reflection is just one example of your creative brilliance.
Love this! It is great. There's such wonderful imagery. I especially loved "rope burn existence."
ReplyDeleteYou made him so real, I can almost taste the tobacco juice. Awesome writing, Corey!
ReplyDeleteSo vivid. I especiall like "a pencil sketch of a day" and "rope burn existence"...
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
I like it that the woman's hair will be patchy, and the cup is made from tree skin. As Kerry says, some surreal, some just that dazzle you get from desert sun and the idea of time balling up behind you. Good stuff for an old man, my friend. ;_)
ReplyDeletewhat the hell is this? i love this! you had me at "trailered" and you can keep me.
ReplyDeleteLove this! That line about looking for a poltice to take the sting out his rope burn exsistance it just amazing.
ReplyDeleteuniversal fool - wonderful imagery
ReplyDeleteYou had me hooked from start to finish: I had to keep reading to discover what it was about! The only word I recognised in this zany piece was UNSPOOLING. Love it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a character you have created here, Corey! Loved what you created with the words.
ReplyDeleteI was struck by the same sections that Kerry mentioned. This reminds me of the Fool in the tarot deck, and his journey.
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding me??? This is freaking awesome! You rock, dude. :)
ReplyDeleteThese are my favorites:
"trailered his madness"
the pig/chicken section cracked me up ... love all those /p/ sounds
"pencil sketch of a day"
the description of the woman; I'd like to meet her too ... the patchy hair was priceless!
Great writing, Corey. I always love your work. You're so entertaining.
Love how you saved 'unspooling' for the end of this awesome write!
ReplyDelete(you must be the new grandfather everyone is talking about ~ Congrats!)
As always I am impressed. You give us tidbits that leave us wanting more. Rope burn existence is just one of the phrases I love. Great piece! :)
ReplyDeleteIt spoke to him of wasted energy
ReplyDeleteand lost souls and a need to stay put,
the path to happiness was fraught with tigers.
Truly said Corey! There're leakages but one must be in control as life is full of challenges! Nicely!
Hank
An interesting journey of the universal fool unspooling ~ I say he is a realist ~
ReplyDeleteGreat story here Corey ~
It seems to me, Corey, that you've hit on a near universal truth. Each of us, at one time or another, unravels, if only a bit. Your character seems frayed past the seams without thread or needle. Many of us ( what's the stat? 10%? ) know this level of unspooling. Many of us know that the battle is to continue trying to reel it in and tuck it back under the tarp. Fabulous imagery and inferences.
ReplyDeleteSo your second sentence!?? I love the whole thing but that has some dimension to it...so much vivid and unique packed in this whole piece, Corey!! I love the idea that the path to happiness is such a challenge...true to life, I think. :) Much enjoyed!
ReplyDeleteI love "a pencil sketch of a day" and "the path to happiness was fraught with tigers" and everything in between. I've seen days like that and have met some of those tigers.
ReplyDeleteK
Wow, the "universal fool unspooling," nice phrase. You really brought this man to life for us. I loved it. Peace, Amy
ReplyDeletehttp://sharplittlepencil.com/2013/01/04/twofer/
Corey, you always amaze me~ The vivid journey leading us into this domain...where is the book?! YOUR short stories should be published ;D Your talent is awe inspiring!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!