they blasted tanks
with desert sand, he says–
in Lybia, two hours
from the sea & he saw
Gaddafi in a big parade
back then,
him,
being a young man,
out of work for quite a bit,
it sounded like an opportunity
and so he went,
but nothing ever organized,
he shakes his head,
material and tools were missing,
& i nod, then double-check
my tickets, passport,
“beaten land, but
this is where the first flight took me”
he explains,
“was beneficial in a way, broadened
the horizon that gets small at times
if you’re just staying where you are”
the taxi meter drums its beat
into the silence, we both hang
on our own thoughts
and we’re almost there
“too many lost their lives”, his eyes
get dark
as he unloads my suitcase,
“terrible regime, they brought
the country down”
and it was water tanks they built,
he says &
that this may sound crazy but
he never made it
to the sea
in all these months
.
from 3pm EST on, you can find me behind the OpenLinkNight bar at dVerse, serving drinks, washing glasses and handing you the mic to spit poetry across the place… gonna join us..?
jaywalking the moon 
was beneficial in a way, broadened
the horizon that gets small at times
if you’re just staying where you are”
Very poignant!
Claudia, I love how you receive people…take them in and invite us to join the conversation!
Too many lose their lives in too many different places. Yes, moving here and there going to other places is the only way to open up our world to new adventure. We do meet some very interesting, intriguing people and, hear some sad, sad stories.
Very vividly told Claudia.
what an intriguing interaction with him…this is one of my fav things to do…hear other peoples stories…and how they find themselves there…his feelings at the end are palpable…i also find it sad he never made it to the sea…cool piece claudia…
Such conversations reveal much of the world around us…another fine post.
Stirring piece. lots to conjure those times when you read something and have no other choice but to pause in comatose style, just pondering them over. The quote in the middle in particular hit me, “was beneficial in a way, broadened
the horizon that gets small at times
if you’re just staying where you are”
lots of truth and meaning right there. Great write Claudia, thanks
Yep learned from going to NY that one must move here and there to see the world a bit, as adventures do arise. Never know who we could run into.
Such a simple thing to do- talk to a man, listen to his story, see a part of the world through his eyes. But how you weave this into a poem for us- not simple but beautiful. Thanks.
amazing… pure poetry in these lines… his story, a bit from you here & there… his world… great write
The tank image turnaround is very strong, Claudia, and the whole poem is full of regret and sadness, and that strange sense of suspension we get from the true stories of strangers–like reading a living book and being a bit scared that it isn’t fiction. Thanks for the trip.
The lines about moving to a different place, that broadening of horizons.. that’s just true and brilliant I feel. I think Joy is right, it was just like was reading out of a book but quite realistic!
For some reason, this just makes me so sad. Beautiful write, Claudia.
very melancholy, sense of loss and desire. Very thought provoking
Cool write, Claudia. I also love listening to stories of people…always moves me…
sad, poignant, and beautiful, and i get that, the never making it to the sea. a lovely slice of life scene, filled with connection, the stuff that matters most.
Brilliant story. People are great inspirations, and you used that to write a wonderful poem. Thanks.
“Was beneficial in a way, broadened / the horizon that gets small at times /
if you’re just staying where you are” … this one got me thinking. Thank you for letting us in on your conversations, Claudia. I always do enjoy them.
I love your writing style. I’m like a fly on the wall, going wherever you go, interacting with the people in your writing. Seeing the entire scene play out before me 😀
man i love this~ my favorite of yours so far! thanks for sharing!
An intriguing biography here, using such unusual points of reference. You also transform the epic story into such striking and interesting details. I enjoyed this!
Wonderful storytelling. Swords to plowshares – fighting tanks to water tanks and the wasteland offered new horizons. Good stuff!
So much story in this, told by a true poet…you capture all the emotions of hope, regret & anguish of this man, who never made it to the sea….so good.
Thanks for sharing your poetic stories of the people you meet on your travels. You pack so much into a vignette of a brief time.
With the words “basel airport”, you also brought back a few fond memories…*smiles*
Another intriguing journey you’ve taken us on.
I really like the way you use dialogue. It brings us right into the moment. Have you thought about or have you written fiction or even plays?
I read it several times as I would replay an important encounter in my own life. Beautiful and touching.
Other people’s stories- brilliant. …we all need to listen to these. Very evocative imagery. Loved it.
The kind of conversation that we all have from time to time with people we don’t know and never see again. It is splendid how you have written it as a poem, a poem of our time.
Chance meetings can be so powerful! I love your perspective and how you describe things for us…
-Eva
“the taxi meter drums its beat
into the silence, we both hang
on our own thoughts” the placement of this gives space to the conversation…that breath too many forget to take, the pause to let things soak in and thing before speaking….beautiful, tragic poem Claudia.
I could feel the pauses in the conversation, and imagine the thoughts. Great write, Claudia!
This feels like such a private moment, exposed to the sunlight somehow–wonderful piece!
Another winner Claudia. 🙂
you know- I’ve met some amazing characters in taxis…and this sounds like on of the times…just kind of brings home what crazy lives some people can live, can escape from, can overcome…this had a real nice natural flow to it…almost conversational…very well observed
Achingly good. Life’s regrets are sometimes easier to share with a stranger than a friend. You captured the flow of the conversation so well with the rhythm you gave your words.
Tina @ Life is Good
hey claudia
the tone of this piece is superb – your pitch always feels spot on!
its so easy to suspend myself and allow your words to create a
movie to enjoy and savour… you have a natural style and the ease
which always shows thru and makes every read a pleasure 😀
Good to be back and able to read your words again Claudia. This is, as always, outstanding.
Claudia, I have seen so much of the world now because of your words, and I love that, but the way you are able to relate a story, a character, while maintaining your unique voice, blows me away every time…
A snapshot in time, as seen through the lens of a master photographer named Claudia.
There is no aamananka–for some reason I got signed in with an ancient handle.
Dear Claudia – I am not a world traveler, but I get such a travelogue reading you. I love that you bring the reader into your thoughts as well as your milieu. Excellent!
Being open to travel and to others’ stories — wonderful piece!
Thanks!
Haunting echoes in this… the darkness that shadowed his eyes… the silence shared. Bravo.
Thanks for taking us on this trip.
{ami}
http://sundrysumthins.wordpress.com/
the empathy in this poem was touching, that I, began to feel it with in myself .My mind traveled through memory of the MC.
this is a wonderful slice of real life. big moments are few… explosions, extensive trips, etc. you’ve woven two lives together here, if only for a moment, reminding us of the intricacies of human connection. very nice writing.~jane
What a joy for you, to use your gifts of conversation, to fearlessly approach Peeps, and listen to them. (Peeps love that–grin!)
And what a JOY it is for US to benefit from your willingness to share your experiences in poem after wonderful poem!
Never yet made it to the sea. Some city Peeps never make it out of their tiny neighborhood. God gave us ALL the whole world to rediscover and enjoy!
LOVE and PEACE, Claudia!!!
Lovely bit of dialogue and reminiscence, mixing history and personal histories.
Apparently water does not always find its way to the sea. At least your friend brought water to the desert!
Ironic ending there. Great story-telling. I like the feeling of the narrator being sort of distracted but still receiving the story here.
The taxi driver must definitely cry when he sees what is happening in Libya right now. Yup, terrible regime indeed. I am sure that, though he must mourn his country of origin, he is thankful to be living in Basle.
Fascinating what we can learn…even in a cab the stories and insights that touch us. Another great capture, Claudia.
I love the stories people tell, they can all be so different yet very connected.
Love this as I do all your writing.
Travelling does open up one’s horizons and you always see life from another perspective ~ Great capture of that conversation with the man ~
Top notch! Loved this, authentic.
bringing water to places in africa is very important these days, it’s a dream in and of itself
Claudia… This was very lovely to read. Very awesome. Was I wrong in feeling the lingering darkness of a passing war?
Very poignant, especially since Libya thought of as success. A difficult world – no good ways to resolve conflicts. k.
It’s these random interactions in life that can be the most poignant. Great write.
A very sobering meeting. Random can open eyes at times when they desire rest. You write so well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Claudia, these are the moments of serendipity which change our lives, if only we listen. You listen, you recount, you react. Beautiful qualities, all. Amy
The reader is right there with you, in the moment…making this conversation a touch of genius poetics…Thought provoking, great write.!
A very interesting encounter and conversation. Much more said between the lines. Very nice work. 🙂
Amazing encounter, Claudia! One rarely told but comes as and when. He was a young man and he saw what he could do to better things. And you witnessed part of that history. Great write!
Hank
This reminded me of a taxi ride in Freetown, Sierra Leone back in the 1980’s, The driver was an older man who was deeply distressed about the way things were going in his country. He was right to be as Civil War broke out in 1991 and lasted 11 years, enveloped the country, and left over 50,000 dead.
I haven’t been back but remember the people being gentle and friendly.
Nice write Claudia.
Very poignant piece of work! The conversation added such a layer of obtainable depth that the reality of it can not be denied.
A chilling sad story beautiful told Claudia – wonderful write.
Anna :o]
This is such a sad reality and still so real in places with dictatorship (I’m thinking Syria, right now.) Beautifully written and a good example of how you write life.
Good poem, Claudia. I like the conversational style the delves deeper just beneath the surface.
oh claudia, this is brilliant… perhaps one of your best. this man, this conversation, is so vivid and real. great poetry here, im really moved. always a pleasure to read your work, but this one was especially good.
…ein Moment im Flughafen Basel…
…ein Moment im Leben eines Mannes….
…ein wunderschönes Gedicht …
…Worte, die lebendig werden….
…danke Claudia!
Great use of dialogue. Tis a great effect, and work so well.
something about cab rides…
made me think of things we’re so close to, and never do; of people we’re nearly next to, and never see –
nice piece claudia, thank you 😉
The pause in this “the taxi meter drums its beat, into the silence, we both hang
on our own thoughts” made me catch my breath and pause myself to stop and think…
So well-written, practically reads itself!
“was beneficial in a way, broadened
the horizon that gets small at times
if you’re just staying where you are”
I always wonder how small the horizon I see is becoming. I love the way you captured this moment. Nicely done. 🙂
This poem has given me a much better insight into the action on the ground in Libya and the reality of living and working there as a citizen than all the news-journalist’s commentaries put together. You are outstanding at giving the multiple layers of “local color” in far flung lands, Claudia.
It’s always a delight to stop by! Something surprising n soothing comes up no matter what…
hugs xoxo
I was right there in the cab with you. Amazing how, when you open yourself up for conversation with anyone, you get the most amazing stories. Even if this one is an imagined conversation, it’s so real, so right, especially in the brief silences. Reminds me of Manhattan: I lived there eight years and never did see the Statue of Liberty, except from far off… Amy