What the sky said
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By rjnewlyn
- 8179 reads
It had been a hard climb already – out of the wooded valley and up on to the moorland, sun-drenched and golden with gorse flower. I arrived at an old barrow mound half-submerged in heather, and its gaunt, grey occupant watched me pass before disappearing back inside with a weary shrug.
I was a young man when I’d first sought communion with the spirit world: enthusiastically pouring over dusty old volumes, deciphering the ramblings of obscure magi, full of reckless enthusiasm. As I grew skilled in picking out the dead voices and identifying their shades, the money began to flow in from those who were desperate or curious enough to listen. But my connection grew ever stronger and the spirits multiplied until I could hardly think – not just a few haunted houses, but from overflowing cemeteries and every ancient battlefield, hanging ground, or suicides’ bridge. The clamour was deafening and incessant.
Far above the valley, beyond the barrows, I lay in the long grass and gazed at the bright emptiness above. A lark was singing, invisible; then I heard its ghost, and the ghost of its ghost, ever-multiplying; a thousand centuries of birdsong praising the blue heavens and high summer sun.
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Comments
well done for episode two.
well done for episode two. Wonderful imagery in this!
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The lark makes me think of
The lark makes me think of Keats' Nightingale, lovely ideas and place to be.
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Enchanting, Rob. Tina
Enchanting, Rob.
Tina
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This is our facebook and
This is our facebook and twitter pick of the day!
Get a fantastic reading recommendation every day.
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the ghost and ghost of
the ghost and ghost of loveliness rubs off in an old tale well told.
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Subtly drawn into this one by
Subtly drawn into this one by masterfully minimalist storyweaving that generates wild imagination. Keep em coming, Rob.
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wow, this is wonderful;
wow, this is wonderful; condensed so much backstory&possibilities&images into such a short piece, just absolutely the right words. that last paragraph is absolutely gorgeous. lovely title too. look forward to following more of your work
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