Highway 12

[amberdreams]

Week one of spn_napowrimo - Theme of the week is Two-lane Blacktop (places and Americana)

Title: Highway 12
Partner: None
Prompt: midnight on the interstate
Rating: Gen/PG
Character/Pairings: Sam and Dean
Tags/Warnings/Spoilers: Show level violence

Belated Acknowledgements: Many thanks to tifaching and quickreaver for helping me polish this! It was rough and ready before they stepped in. Love you both!
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Highway 12

That it’s dark goes without saying.
It is midnight, after all.
The desert holds the silence like breath, refusing to exhale.

“It’s colder than a witches tit,”
Dean complains, slams metal on metal carelessly loud.

Pinyon pines rustle an uneasy reply.

Sam hefts the shotgun, lets Dean shoulder the rest of the burden
 – like Sam has a choice.
Sam’s worry is wasted with only starlight there to see it.

They leave the Impala on blacker than blacktop, step off the highway
Onto earth red by day, old-blood-dark by night.
Nothing ominous about that, no sir.

Sam doesn’t think about portents when he carries his brother back
Torn open.
Dripping blood steams – human heat versus desert chill.
The desert is winning.

Waiting patiently, blacker than black,
blacker than blacktop,
cold iron will be their saviour.

The Impala roars deliverance into the Utah night.



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Comments

[tifaching.livejournal.com]

This is so good. I love the imagery and the Impala roaring to rescue them at the end. Hurt Dean, bad ass Sam and fierce baby. Some of my favorite things!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I think we share many favourite things *wink*
Thank you! Oh and I should have mentioned you in the credits I forgot to add. DOH!

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, you really crammed a lot of imagery into so few words. I love the feel of dark open roads, and the brothers at the heart of it. Thank you for sharing ♥

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I guess my years of drabbling were useful! :D

[jimbobjoe.livejournal.com]

Before I comment on your poetry, I have to say that I love the title for a completely different reason!

So, U.S. highway 12 runs all the way across the northern U.S., from the Washington state coast to Detroit (almost 2,500 miles). It also connects where I live in Montana and my best friend who now lives on the Washington coast. AND, it goes right through my home town. It holds a special place in my heart, so good choice!

Now, this poem is great! I like the end especially. I'm not really a poetry person, so that's the best I can do! :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Oh that's so cool! I chose it because I wanted a road that runs through desert. :D

[jimbobjoe.livejournal.com]

We are probably talking about two different roads, but that's OK. There may be a highway 12 in every state!
:)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Mmm I've no idea! I just found this doing a search for US Interstates.

[ellerkay.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous! I especially loved "Sam hefts the shotgun, lets Dean shoulder the rest of the burden / – like Sam has a choice" - lovely rhythm and so them. Also the rhythm and imagery in "Onto earth red by day, old-blood-dark by night" and the humor of "Nothing ominous about that, no sir." (Your imagery is wonderful throughout; I was just especially fond of the one I pointed out, heh.)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Aw thank you so much! I'm in a writing black hole at the moment so getting any words out is a bonus, let alone ones someone likes!

[runedgirl.livejournal.com]

OMG I love this so much, it's gorgeous! The imagery and the emotion both come through loud and clear.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Yay, thanks bunches!

[crowroad3.livejournal.com]

"That it's dark goes without saying": feels like their mantra!

Also almost feels like it's both of their POV--though it's more Sam (and the omniscience of the desert, and the dark); feels like the brotherbond comes through in the way perspective works in this. <3

[laughablelament]

So my favorite line is:
Sam doesn’t think about portents when he carries his brother back
what a follow-through

Beautiful, old-blood, desert, human heat. Just... damn. <33333