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The Hinterlands

unaccompanied
I set out to traverse the hinterlands
perceiving myself as a blemish on society
all eyes averted from my unsightly visage
the pernicious shadow of doubt's cloud 
casting an ominous apparition that darkened the mood
  but failed to dampen the xeric ground with needed rain

feigning confidence in my destination
striding past sage and succulent - yucca and agave
longing for the carefree smell of the ocean
and the company of friends
feeling like Abram departing Ur of the Chaldees
seeking astral consolation from the night sky
kneeling to pray to the heavenly sentry
I'd close my eyes to rest from the weary enterprise
  of surviving my high school wilderness


Written 10 Nov 2020

Copyright © John Watt | Year Posted 2020

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Paula Goldsmith Date: 11/15/2020 9:02:00 AM Congratulations on your win. A "wonderful" write with your 8 words and picture. Enjoy your win and day writing away................. Login to Reply John Watt Date: 11/15/2020 11:58:00 AM So nice of you to drop by with your sweet comment, Paula! Thank you, and do enjoy the remainder of your weekend ~ John

Andrea Dietrich Date: 11/13/2020 5:49:00 PM I see congrats are in order! very nicely done and won, my friend. Wish you had more poems for me to see, You were so kind this week seeing so many of my poems. I am now caught up to Nov, 11th and have two days worth of comments to get to now! Login to Reply John Watt Date: 11/13/2020 6:24:00 PM Thank you, Andrea. You are a very special poetry friend to visit all my poems and keep up with all the new ones. Enjoy your evening in the Soup bowl!

John Hamilton Date: 11/13/2020 5:36:00 PM Truly an enjoyable read John, you wove the 8 words seamlessly, and I do relate to those teenage years, like you said good we grow out of it! Congrats on a nice win! Login to Reply John Watt Date: 11/13/2020 6:22:00 PM Thank you, John. The words you asked us to use are very rich words and lent themselves well to poetic musings. I've been enjoying reading the winners you selected, and felt honored to be among them.

Michelle Faulkner Date: 11/13/2020 1:45:00 PM I concur with Sam - your journey through the uncertainty and growing pains of high school is skillfully explored, I think my favorite line is 'pernicious shadow of doubt's cloud' - that is so true of those teenage years! Many congratulations on your win, artistry sibling :) Login to Reply John Watt Date: 11/13/2020 2:31:00 PM Ah yes, I was a walking cloud of pernicious self-doubt throughout high school. Thankfully, like John Cleese's condition of being turned into a newt... 'it got better'. Thank you for the generous comment, Michelle. It made me smile ~ John

Sam Kauffman Date: 11/13/2020 11:21:00 AM From the badlands to the hinterlands, John! What an incredible expose of the hinterlands of high school! Everything explained - "blemish on society (nice double entendre), "pernicious shadow of doubt," "sage and succulent," - in your last concluding line. Love the nod to Abram - God's eternal teenager! Sending congratulations on your win and getting across the high school desert like Moses! Login to Reply John Watt Date: 11/13/2020 12:01:00 PM What an in-depth comment you leave me, my friend! The tasty words we were given helped get this one off the ground. The Abram was the last line to add, as though my muse said, ok NOW it's finished. Appreciate your poetry friendship, Sam. Enjoy your weekend ~ John

Alexis Y. Date: 11/13/2020 10:49:00 AM Hi John, I’m just coming back to say congratulations on your win. It was well deserved. Have a wonderful day and weekend:-) Alexis Login to Reply John Watt Date: 11/13/2020 11:57:00 AM Thank you for the return visit, my friend! Appreciate your kind words immensely. Enjoy your Friday and weekend ~ John

Jennifer Proxenos Date: 11/13/2020 7:07:00 AM The hinterlands so peaceful, away from the hub of society - you interwove your required words, into such a delightful journey, it seems that both readers and writer survive their high school wilderness. Hugs and blessings, Jennifer. Login to Reply John Watt Date: 11/13/2020 11:57:00 AM Your comment speaks to your optimistic spirit, Jenn. Many would see dry, hot, lacking vegetation; yet you see peace and quiet. I love that about you. Yes, high school was a time of much introspection and learning by trial and much error, how to be a social being. Thank you for the wonderful comment ~ John

Constance La France Date: 11/11/2020 10:41:00 AM John, wonderful writing, I think I took that same high school journey _Constance Login to Reply John Watt Date: 11/11/2020 1:01:00 PM I'm glad we both made it through. Thanks for the kind words, enjoy your day ~ John

Harry Horsman Date: 11/10/2020 10:57:00 PM Wonderful poetry, a journey for the reader as well.. Login to Reply John Watt Date: 11/11/2020 12:05:00 AM Thank you for your thoughtful insight, Harry. Enjoy your day ~ John

Quoth Theraven Date: 11/10/2020 9:21:00 PM John, I see you're on the eight step program to find yourself. A worthy exercise in the hinterlands, far away from commerce, far away from the foibles of society. Very nice escape in this write. -Richard Login to Reply John Watt Date: 11/11/2020 12:05:00 AM Lol, the eight step program! I do enjoy the desert, and visit at least once a year to do camping and some hiking. Far away from civilization feels good once in a while. Thanks for the visit ~ John

Andrea Dietrich Date: 11/10/2020 2:25:00 PM wow, what a great METAPHOR for those old days!! You were brilliant to think this up! The 8 words make us all sound so highly intellectual too when we write for this challenge!! Login to Reply John Watt Date: 11/11/2020 12:03:00 AM I was thinking how nearly all of the words felt on the dark side, so that's where they pointed me as I was writing. Thanks for the kind words ~ John

Alexis Y. Date: 11/10/2020 9:39:00 AM WoW! John, You did a fantastic job with the chosen words. The photo compliments your poem as well. Excellent job. Best wishes in the contest. Have a wonderful day:-) Alexis Login to Reply John Watt Date: 11/11/2020 12:02:00 AM Always grateful for your enthusiastic comments, Alexis. I appreciate your poetry friendship ~ John

Heidi Sands Date: 11/10/2020 5:17:00 AM This is excellent. Well written John. The photo looks exactly like places I have been before too. I hope you enjoy the day :) Login to Reply John Watt Date: 11/11/2020 12:01:00 AM Wondering where you visited? This looks a lot like the Southern California deserts I've hiked and camped in. Thank you for the kind visit, Heidi! ~ John

Regina Mcintosh Date: 11/10/2020 4:47:00 AM A brilliant write, dear friend... Love it and the biblical reference... just beautiful - like a soft caress to the spirit... gentle and sweet. God bless you always and I hope you're a winner Login to Reply John Watt Date: 11/10/2020 11:59:00 PM Such a nice comment to read today, my friend. Many blessings to you ~ John