Blue Lines Blog – Best Of 2011 – Words Poem Project – “Automatic Devotion Redemption Masterpiece”

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3 Libras, A Perfect Circle, Automatic, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Brooklyn, California, Chicago, Devotion, Free write, Giants, Japan, Julia Nichole McGinnis, Key Yemaya Walker, Lake Lucerne, LES, Lower East Side, Mi Alma, MW, Myla Watson, N Lake Shore Drive, New York, New York Giants, NY Giants, Part 2, Poem, Prose, Redemption, The Smith, Tickets, Timothy O'Tooles Pub, W Lakeshore Hotel Chicago, Word Story Part 2, Word Story Part 4, Words, Words Story, Yo Luz Ro-De

“…he smiled at how two reckless kids whose paths kept crashing into each other, and other things after that too, had put together something beautiful…”

I was able to write more material than I had in quite some years during 2011. Though the focus is Blue Lines, it was a welcome and needed break from the editing process. I period that mixed both muse inspired writing and free writing on subjects that ranged from the past, to myself.
“Automatic, Devotion, Redemption, Masterpiece,” is a work that over four parts utilized the short story, and different types of poetry, to tell the story of young couple in works that are based on words supplied by friends on facebook. I wrote each piece of the story serial style that describes the evolution of their relationship over time, and during different periods.
“Automatic” is the first piece that begins with a change in their relationship, written as a simple straight forward short story.
“Devotion” is my favorite piece. This piece of prose written to sound as if it begins directly after “Automatic,” utilizing elements that are meant sound similar to the opening story. It is two poems weaved around each other to tell the story through two different voices, to culminate to a story eventually answers questions left in “Automatic.”
“Redemption,” continues their story utilizing a fragmented short story initially told from their different vantage points. It occurs much closer in time to “Devotion,” than the first two pieces. It answers some questions that the poem “Devotion,” could not explain.
“Masterpiece,” is a story, that I feel the picture in my head was not fully realized in the end result. It maintains the essential elements that I wanted to convey. Again, a short story that tricks the reader in to believing they are witnessing an event, that is actually something much different. In “Masterpiece,” the names of the characters are revealed.

“Automatic”

Walking through the threshold, he vaguely remembered the house. Something had led him to board the flight and fly to his hometown, and aimlessly return to his childhood home. The woman allowed him into her home, though slightly wary of this stranger. Gone were the trees hiding the house from the street. The kitchen had been renovated, and the wall that separated it from the dining room that ran the expanse on the entry floor, was removed to allow for a modern update with stainless steel appliances and tile walls. Wood floors replaced the linoleum that greeted at the entrance, during his childhood.
“You used to live here son,” she asked trying to look into his weary eyes. A slight pain was evident in his eyes, yet she noticed a calm that settled him.
“Yes,” he answered. “The kitchen was half this size,” he admitted as he waved off her offer of a drink. He did not know what brought him back to this house that he had not visited in over the 20 years since they had moved away. Glancing toward the den, he recognized the floor to ceiling windows as they still looked out to familiar trees and Lake Lucerne. He grimaced remembering the adventure he and his friends would have running through the woods surrounding his home. He remembered the cold winter day that they took old wood planks that they had found and wrapping them with grocery bags thought they could create a floating raft. Within seconds the sinking at the crest of the lake proved them wrong.

Blue Lines Blog – Part 4 – Word Provided By Myla W. – “Masterpiece”

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Automatic, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Brooklyn, California, Chicago, Devotion, Free write, Japan, Julia Nichole McGinnis, Key Yemaya Walker, Lake Lucerne, LES, Lower East Side, Mi Alma, MW, Myla Watson, N Lake Shore Drive, New York, Part 2, Poem, Prose, Redemption, The Smith, Timothy O'Tooles Pub, W Lakeshore Hotel Chicago, Word Story Part 2, Word Story Part 4, Words, Words Story, Yo Luz Ro-De

Part 4 of 4 you can read Parts 1 here, 2 here, and 3 here.

Thanks again to Yo, Julia, and Myla for providing the words, I just hope that I did them justice.
“Masterpiece”
Lynn reset herself, she had been around this before, and knew to let the experts do their jobs. The planner had everything set. The flowers were fine, the timeline was moving along, she had no worries. She glanced over as the photographers snapped away with impunity, a laugh settled in her stomach, but she chose not to voice it.
“Tonight will be everything we planned for,” she smiled widely.
“Are you okay,” Rosa burst into the room, baby in arms, surprised at Lynn’s calm demeanor.
“I’m perfect,” she responded holding Rosa’s hand in hers. “So is Elena, I’m just going to need you to be calm,” she smiled taking the child from her arms. “Maybe you need a glass of wine.”
Lynn, smiled, while thinking back those few years, reminiscing on the happy moments, the breakups, the arguments, her slight proposal, and his real proposal some time after. She marveled at New York, and their favorite haunt The Smith, and now the realization of everything they had wanted materialized before them. She sat back amazed. She and Anthony had succeeded she smiled again knowing that today was evidence of that.

Blue Lines Blog – Part 3 – Word Provided By Julia Nichole McGinnis – “Redemption”

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Blue Lines, Brooklyn, Chicago, Devotion, Japan, Julia Nichole McGinnis, LES, Lower East Side, Mi Alma, MW, Myla Watson, Part 2, Poem, Prose, Redemption, The Smith, Word Story Part 2, Words Story, Yo Luz Ro-De

Part 3 you can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

Today’s piece continues the story’s 3rd part in a freely written piece of fiction.

The word used provided by CA friend Julia Nichole M. visit her blog here. Enjoy.

“Redemption”
“…you don’t, you don’t, you don’t see me
At all…”

The music played in the background, as she returned from upstate New York. She needed a break after the last few months feeling as if she had prove herself everyday to make him believe her. Although peaceful, she slowly began t realize that she knew so little of him. They spent time together, granted years off and on together, but he seldom spoke of himself or work.
Their previous relationship consisted of fights, her exasperation, and him questioning her. But the one constant was his interest in her, what she did, how her days went. Upon his return, and her happening across him at The Smith, he had been at peace. She still did not know why he had not called, or where he went. She glanced upon her finger, remembering the one night she had worn the ring. The dreary northern day did not agree with her disposition as she traversed back toward the city and her apartment. His ring tone came up and she answered.
“Hey,” half-heartedly, “how are you?”
“Fine,” he answered in a tone she found cold, “where are you?”
“Just took a drive, I’m on my way back now. I miss you,” she offered in a tone that she felt he did not believe. It was disconcerting to her to feel this way. His devotion to her was always evident. She knew she could do no wrong by him, in the past. Now he seemed so distant, like a stranger, yet so peaceful, and easy with her…non-committal.

Blue Lines Blog – Part 2 – Word Provided By Myla W. – “Devotion”

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Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Brooklyn, Chicago, Devotion, Japan, Key Yemaya Walker, LES, Lower East Side, MW, Myla Watson, Part 2, Poem, Prose, The Smith, Word Story Part 2

Part 2, you can read Part 1 here and part 3 here.

Today’s piece continues the story in a freely written poem, that is framed by a separate poem detailing an intimate moment with the predominant female character of these pieces. The two poems wrap into each other, to hopefully progress the second act of this story. I had to add a line after initial save, because this line I kept singing, in a song that doesn’t exist was stuck in my head, and fit.

Part 2’s word was provided by my friend, Myla W. please enjoy.

“Devotion”
They still shone as bright as they did that first day,

She curled in the chair Sunday morning,
His old shirt wrapped her so,
Pulled down wrapping her legs, stretching,
Unseasonably warm rain rapped her balcony window,
Sipping her coffee,
She with eyes closed,
Glancing at the tickets lying on the floor,
She remembered, looked toward her bedroom door,

The setting surprised and amazed her, he, unaware that night,

The night, a faint memory this year and a half later,
He took her like he never had before,
And never would again, did he hate her,
Time allowed her to enjoy, but she knew,
She had finally been ready,
Her new place allowed freedom, something new
Their love right,
Silenced that night,

Blue Lines Blog – Part 1 – Word Provided By Yo Ro-De – “Automatic”

Tags

Automatic, Blue Lines, Brooklyn, Chicago, Free write, Key Yemaya Walker, Lake Lucerne, LES, Lower East Side, Mi Alma, N Lake Shore Drive, New York, The Smith, Timothy O'Tooles Pub, W Lakeshore Hotel Chicago, Words, Yo Luz Ro-De

Today, like other days, I made a normal request for a word to challenge me to write a new piece of something. I’ve taken a slight break, due to the growing workload, so upon a request, 3 friends provided 4 words for me to create new material from. Usually, I’d get 2 max and produce 2 days worth of work. With these words, I have tasked myself in creating a story using different mediums over a four day period to tell this tale.
My hope is to create something that you will like and enjoy.

The first word used provided by NY friend Yo Ro-De visit her blog here.

“Automatic”

Walking through the threshold, he vaguely remembered the house. Something had led him to board the flight and fly to his hometown, and aimlessly return to his childhood home. The woman allowed him into her home, though slightly wary of this stranger. Gone were the trees hiding the house from the street. The kitchen had been renovated, and the wall that separated it from the dining room that ran the expanse on the entry floor, was removed to allow for a modern update with stainless steel appliances and tile walls. Wood floors replaced the linoleum that greeted at the entrance, during his childhood.
“You used to live here son,” she asked trying to look into his weary eyes. A slight pain was evident in his eyes, yet she noticed a calm that settled him.
“Yes,” he answered. “The kitchen was half this size,” he admitted as he waved off her offer of a drink. He did not know what brought him back to this house that he had not visited in over the 20 years since they had moved away. Glancing toward the den, he recognized the floor to ceiling windows as they still looked out to familiar trees and Lake Lucerne. He grimaced remembering the adventure he and his friends would have running through the woods surrounding his home. He remembered the cold winter day that they took old wood planks that they had found and wrapping them with grocery bags thought they could create a floating raft. Within seconds the sinking at the crest of the lake proved them wrong.

Blue Lines Blog: What I Learned – The Last Three Months (Spawned By Convo)

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Atlanta Braves, Battery Park, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Boardwalk 11, Boston, California, Conversation, Dodger Dog, Hollywood, Karaoke, LA Dodgers, Los Angeles, Lower East Side, Neice, New York, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Prince, Sam Adams, The Cupping Room, The Smith, Tribeca, What I Learned, World Trade Center

So she sits and asks me, “See, you could have had that camera you wanted.”

And I sat back, and quickly pondered a thought that I had already asked and instantly answered. These last three months, less one item that cannot be mentioned, have been exceedingly eye-opening, amazing, and a learning experience. A cursory/limited breakdown:

-I got to say/ask/do something I never said/did, but had always wanted to, and to get an answer.
-Meet my new niece!!!
-Meet my new niece!!!
-Meet my new niece!!!
-I have one of the GREATEST cousins!!!
-Get some character development and city/site information to bolster/delete portions of my manuscript Blue Lines.
-See friends, some of which I had not SEEN since 1995, even surprise friends. Damn that actually applies to a lot now that I think about it.
-Go to the Sam Adams brewery.
-Meet some really new cool people in various places that have become friends…me likey!!!
-See my Atlanta Braves on the road for the first time.
-Go back to Dodger Stadium. Getting a veggie Dodger Dog…lmao.
-Troop New York solo…I’ve never done that. Tribeca, Lower East Side, back to the World Trade.
-Go to Fenway, it would be higher in the list if I had actually gone to a game.
-See my Aunt and Uncle.
-See Prince (again), always primo!!!
-Experience Boston (some).
-Tour Boston.
-Karaoke across the country.
-New restaurants and foods, especially The Smith!!!
-A quick peek into Wine Country.
-Road trippin’.
-Off, On, Off, On…lol.
-All the writing that I’ve done, some based on these experiences.

Therefore, just touching on those brief experiences, and words do not match the emotion, feelings, joy, happiness, sadness expressed during this less than 3 month journey. Like almost all experiences I’ve had, both good and bad, I would not trade them. It’s been a wild and crazy ride, and I’m looking for more…and the publishing of Blue Lines. I can live without the camera and iPad.

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

Updated: What I Learned Sundays – Opportunities

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Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Blue Print Cleanse, BPC, Brooklyn, Cuba, family, Friends, JFK, Karaoke, Key Yemaya Walker, Lower East Side, New York, Starbucks, The Cupping Room, The Smith, Va$htie, Vashtie Kola, World Trade Center

Before I start this post, I would love to thank those who stop by and read Blue Lines Blog, though my manuscript has been a labour of love, for many years, and I’m trying to stay focused in: 1) being ready to share it; 2) sharing some thought, pieces, and ideas that detail it, the process, me, and excerpts…you guys have, since this time last Sunday,helped me break previous highs in my blogs readership multiple days last week. Words cannot express how I felt, and further pushed me to provide content, as just the rush, and weight of the first big day (Sunday) last week, had me wanting to lay low for awhile. Thank you all very much, I hope to be able to continue to exceed your expectations. Thank you!!!

The young man sat back, and as he gazed into her eyes, he realized that the chasm of time did not diminish his feelings.

Hiding out as New York is pelted with rain, and I have no jacket yet, I ask what does this mean? It’s not specific to YOU or any particular person, but yet a whole. Over the last few months, and this year rather, I have been able to reconnect with a myriad of friends and family, meet new people, have new experiences, but nothing hit more closer to home than being in New York this weekend, and spending time with friends that I have not seen ranging from 15 to 4 years. Granted we had renewed the relationships via facebook, in some part, but there is a marked difference in person.

Whether it was being picked up at JFK, karaoke in the Lower East Side, having Saturday brunch, and my new favorite The Smith, a bond was not renewed, or reconnected, but rather refreshed, it’s as if yesterday we were in school, and today was a Saturday or Sunday days after. I noticed a certain love/brotherhood/care that not even this expanse of time could change. It also helps you realize that these relationships we had then, and those new now, are very important. And I do guess that’s what even keeps YOU and I doing something.

Blue Lines Blog: Brunch with Jamie at The Smith posted from iPhone

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Blue Lines, Bowery, Brunch, Conversation, iPhone, iPhone Post, Jamie, Key Yemaya Walker, Lobster, Lower East Side, New York, The Smith, Va$htie, Va$htie Kola, Vashtie, Vashtie Kola

It was 2007 the last time I had seen Jamie, and our phone conversations had become more sparce, we seem to coordinate our conversations in different time zones (England/California) better than we do when we’re both on the East Coast. It was enlightening and mind clearing to walk through the Lower East Side, and then discovering this haunt, that I had wanted to see after Vashtie Kola had blogged about it.
The food and service were both amazing, and if I lived here, I would frequent it often.

The Smith Decor

Lobster Benedict

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

Let the world change you…
…and you can change the world