Haunting Journey

By Kathleen-Marie Read

Haunting Journey by Kathleen-Marie Read is a collection of poems and short stories written over the last twenty years. This book is composed chronologically from ages seven to twenty seven.

Haunting Journey is a glimpse into Kathy's heart. Welcome to her dreams, hopes, silliness, and what haunts her... Welcome to her Haunting Journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796060522

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 by Kathleen-Marie Read.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2019914600

ISBN:              Hardcover                 978-1-7960-6054-6

                        Softcover                  978-1-7960-6053-9

                        eBook                       978-1-7960-6052-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Cover illustration: Self-Portrait by Kathleen-Marie Read 2002

Rev. date: 10/11/2019

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

800888

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Feeble Beginnings (Ages 7-15)

Mom (1986)

Dad (1986)

The Duck and the Fisherman (1988)

Going to California (1989)

You’ve Been Gone So Long (1990)

The Light That Love Can Bring (1990)

War at My Door (1990)

The Piano Spoke (1991)

Dit-a-Lane Becomes a Daddy (1991)

Billy (1992)

Earth (1992)

Racism (1992)

A Heart (1992)

Heart to Heart (1992)

A Budding Beauty (1992)

Our World (1992)

Paradise (1993)

Old People (1993)

If (1993)

Romeo (1993)

Juliet (1993)

Cowboy (1993)

The World Is Silent (1994)

Colors (1994)

Lost Dreams (1994)

Now is the Time (1994)

Once Upon a Time (1994)

Chapter 2: Poems Don’t Have to Rhyme? (Age 16)

A Secret Crush (1995)

… But Words Will Never Hurt Me (1995)

A Newborn Baby (1995)

Where Billy Lay (1995)

War (1995)

Lullaby (1995)

The Spell of Depression (1995)

Christmas is … (1995)

The Right One (1995)

Goodbye (1995)

To a Famous Person (1995)

Hitler (1995)

My Shadow (1995)

Off to a Bad Start (1995)

Have You Ever Felt…? (1995)

Adam (1995)

Pain (1996)

A Snowman Named Fred (1996)

Who Are We? (1996)

Endangered Species (1996)

The Sea (1996)

You’re All Alone (1996)

Adios (1996)

An Eagle (1996)

Light in the Darkness (1996)

Romeow and Juliet (1996)

Santa (1996)

Finding Peace (1996)

ABCs (1996)

Stone Age (1996)

Krazy Glue (1996)

Chapter 3: Just a Few More Scrawlings Before I Get Out of High School (Ages 17-18)

The Purpose of Life (1996)

On a Rainy Day (1996)

Grandpa (1996)

Opposites Attract (1996)

Icicles (1996)

Billy’s Song (1996)

Our Love Was Pure Fiction (1996)

At the Site (1996)

Mountain Top (1996)

Memories (1996)

Someday (1996)

When I Die (1996)

Alone (1996)

Eternally Yours (1996)

Let Me (1996)

Life (1996)

The 101st Dalmatian (1996)

The Helpless Victim (1996)

Deck of Cards (1996)

Beyond the Gate (1996)

House Made of Dawn (1996)

The Art of Living (1997)

Burglars in the Night (1997)

Tony’s Dream (1997)

Chapter 4: Turning Around (Ages 19-21)

The Sadness Surrounding (1998)

As I Drive (1998)

Sweet Angel (1998)

Erin (1999)

Mary and John (1999)

Daughter’s Point of View (1999)

Mississippi 1891— Maude and Chester (1999)

Disturbance at Home (1999)

Inspiration (1999)

Ode to my Tears (1999)

Ode to Three in the Morning (1999)

My Heart Is Frail (1999)

The Hands (1999)

Whilst Love be Present (2000)

Sleep for Chocolate Visions (2000)

Salt (2000)

I’m Wandering This World Alone (2000)

Haunting Journey (2000)

I Am Here (2000)

My Favorite Place to Play (2000)

The Purest of Thieves (2001)

Consumed (2001)

There was a Time (2001)

Hold Me (2001)

Don’t Tell (2001)

Myself (2001)

Torn Pages (2001)

Torn Pages II (2001)

Torn Pages III (2001)

Torn Pages IV (2001)

Torn Pages V (2001)

Frustration (2001)

Sadness, Forgiveness, and Fear (2001)

Chapter 5: Between the Lines (Ages 22-25)

Making Bread with Grandpa (2001)

My Great-Grandmother (2001)

Love (2001)

Delicate Sky (2001)

Familiar (2001)

Children of the Puddles (2001)

Love—It Hurts Like Hell (2001)

Silence (2001)

Your Honesty Hurts (2001)

Revelation (2001)

Awakening (2001)

The Boy Down the Street (2002)

Smile (2002)

Torn (2002)

Out of Sight (2002)

You Said it Too Fast (2002)

Inspired (2002)

So, This Is Me? (2002)

Amnesia (2002)

Obsession (2002)

I Enjoy You (2002)

Bitter (2002)

Her Gentle Heart Aches (2002)

Serene (2002)

Admit (2002)

1986 (2002)

Tear (2002)

Who’s your Daddy? (2002)

Runaway (2002)

Today, The Feeling’s Back (2002)

Child of the Americas (2002)

I Keep My Muse a Secret (2002)

Haiku (2003)

Set the Mood (2003)

Hostage (2003)

More Than You’ll Ever Know (2003)

No Hope (2003)

Flashback (2003)

Flies (2003)

Jilted (2003)

Cutting School (2003)

A Story of Freedom (2003)

Captain Read (2003)

It Wasn’t Much of Anything Really (2003)

Bombing in Frankfurt (2003)

Melodie (2003)

Nighttime (2003)

You’re the Son I Never Had (2003)

One Thing About My Grandpa (2003)

And Silence Isn’t Yours (2003)

Final Question (2003)

Unwanted (2004)

The Other Side (2004)

Split in Two (2004)

Semper Fidelis (2004)

Chapter 6: Love and Loss (Ages 25-27)

To the Young Marine (2004)

Be Afraid (2004)

Obsessive (2004)

Love Cannot Be Found in a Beatles’ Song (2004)

I Want to Paint You a Picture (2004)

The Last Poem (2004)

Lost (2005)

I Admit (2005)

Home is Where the Cries Remain (2005)

My Name (2005)

Little Johnny (2005)

Pride-filled Silence (2005)

So, I Dreamt I Told You (2005)

You’re Doing the Right Thing (2005)

Grandpa’s Death (2005)

I Believe in God (2005)

Why Do You Laugh Mommy? (2005)

Tattoos (2005)

Grateful (2005)

Sometimes it’s Better (2005)

Broken Children (2005)

Nevermore (2005)

Reformed (2006)

Just a Thought (2006)

Theoretical Romance (2006)

Unwelcome Visitor (2006)

My Prison (2007)

Suicide Note (2007)

Afterword

Grandpa’s Eulogy

Grandma’s Eulogy

DEDICATED TO

My grandparents…

Chester & Annabel Read

Who included me in a world before my own. Who taught me how to be independent, have a good work ethic, have patience, to eat my vegetables, and be respectful. I share their love for cats, grammar, peace and quiet, and not worrying about materialistic things. They were there from the beginning. They gave me a safe haven. They taught me loyalty, responsibility, and to be appreciative. (Thank-you notes were key!) They were the best couple in the world and the greatest example. I love you.

My mom…

Ann Marie Read

Who did the best she could as a single mother barely making it, living paycheck to paycheck. Working overtime, Taking two buses and a train every day just to get to work, struggling with her own anxiety and depression while trying to care for me. I get my sensitivity, love for old TV shows, and corny jokes from her. She had a lot of social anxiety and most did not get to see how great of a person she really was. I don’t think she even saw it. She was very smart, kind-hearted, open-minded, and I only wish I could have made her life happier. Maybe, hopefully, I did. I love you.

17788-thank%20you.jpg

CHAPTER 1

Feeble Beginnings

17788-chap%201.jpg

Ages

Seven – Fifteen

Mom

Mom dropped the bomb

On Grandpa Tom

Tom said to run

`Till we get to the gun

From the gun we met Sue

Who was only two

Who said boo-hoo-hoo.

From Sue we saw a cat

Who made us scat

`Till we get to a boy

Named Natty-nat-nat

From Natty-nat-nat

We met Aunt Pat.

Pat said, "You’re a bore

Eat this apple off the core

Or you won’t get no more

And you’ll have to do a chore."

After Pat we met Bill

Who ate our Uncle Phil

And took us to the mill.

From the mill

We went to school

Where we learned

The Golden Rule:

"If I eat all this cake

Sis won’t have a bellyache"

Mom said that too!

And that is very true.

Dad

Dad was very sad

So he behaved very bad.

From dad, we saw Sam

Who ate the lamb’s ham.

From the lamb, we saw a worm

Who gave us the local germ.

Who we passed to Mike

Who was a tiny tike

Who let us use his real neat bike.

We rode the bike

To oh—Oakland

Where we met the

Texas Baa-baa band.

The Duck and the Fisherman

There was a fisherman. One day he went fishing, but he could not find any fish. A duck came out. The fisherman called the duck Frankenbaby.

In a few years you will be dead, Frankenbaby. said the fisherman. But in a few years Frankenbaby was not dead. The fisherman found out he was magic. So he took the duck to the King and Queen. The King and Queen had just had a baby. The fisherman said Here is a magic duck. Do what you like with him. His name is Frankenbaby.

The next morning the fisherman went to see Frankenbaby. But then he saw dead bodies of the kings who got their heads chopped off. So he took Frankenbaby back home and lived grateful ever after.

Going to California

Chapter 1: Packing and Getting on the Wagon

Today mom, dad, my three sisters, and my eight brothers, and my Aunt Nellie, and Uncle Joe, and Grandma Ann, and last but not least, Grandpa Chet are going to pack for our long journey. We have to make a list of things we are going to bring.

Water

Food, like beans and rice

Beef

Shoes

Guns and knives

Barrels of flour

Rope

Axes and hatchets

Salt

Honey

Whetstones

I said to mom, Are we going to Oregon which would turn off at the Greenwood cutoff? Mom said, no. We got on the wagon. The oxen pulled the wagon up the hill. We heard the howls of the wolves and coyotes. The sun was broiling hot. I thought I was going to die.

Chapter 2: A Small Accident

It took us four months to go from Honolulu to California on a covered wagon. When we were halfway there, some Indians came and so we let out our pet bugs. We had mosquitos and buffalo gnats. They stung the Indians. Uncle George Read sang a song to us called Bay of San Francisco Parties. And another one called Mountain Man, Mr. Redish. Now Mr. Redish went to the bathroom, but little did Mr. Redish know that the bathroom was broken. So, he went to the bathroom and fell off the potty.

Chapter 3: Grandpa Read

Grandpa Read was stuck in the snow. He fell asleep and woke up and saw his highchair sitting in front of him, then he woke up and found out that it was only a dream. A future dream…

Grandpa Read had a dream, a weird dream, a very very very weird dream. His dream was that he and his friends were swimming in the ocean, and they saw a big octopus and a fish on TV, but when Grandpa