Walking Manstroh

[mishalak]

I have so far to walk still through the endless forest. The road stretches out before me, a gash between the tightly packed pines. These thin sticks with their short branches offer no shade to those on the plain earth track, they just serve to cut off any sense of progress. I've had no rest here alone, I'm walking manstroh. A smooth walk, but weary, every step made as light as possible because it feels like a thousand.

Manstroh is that state on the edge between sleep and death, dream and wakefulness, that place where every action seems wrapped in cotton. Weighted down with feathers of the finest lead. It is not at all a good place because it is so easy to walk right into death's land without even realizing it. The ground has begun to look so very kind even though I lift up my feet and keep going, not giving into plodding along. I know that staggering would take as much effort to cover a yard as a long legged walk will take for three. I walk on ringing in my ears, please let me get there soon.

For then I can rest and leave behind the awful half sleeplessness of going on manstroh as the moon rises.


(I'm not sure where this bit came from.)

Comments

[scottscidmore.livejournal.com]

Where did the term Manstroh come from? From what I remember of German, "man Stroh" would be "one(person) straw", which doesn't seem to fit.

[mishalak.livejournal.com]

I think it comes from a misheard song. Man's Road becomes manstroh. But it got stuck in my head years and years ago and I felt like writing a sort of definition thing. I had in my mind a graceful weary step.

[iamcompubear.livejournal.com]

I'm Now up to 6000 word on my book. I only wish I could write as disciptivly as you can.

[mishalak.livejournal.com]

On the other hand my own project is not nearly so far along. The grass is always greener...

[mrpsyklops.livejournal.com]

Very nice! I like your word and definition - when do we get news of the novel project? (I'm pushing, pushing.... (g))

[mishalak.livejournal.com]

Not until it is nearly done if that happens. I don't believe in any gods, but I believe in luck. And if I talk about doing something too much I'll jinx it.

I try never to talk about what I'm writing until I'm so close to being done that it won't matter.

[mrpsyklops.livejournal.com]

Understood; I've felt that way myself. Good Luck! [anticipation and hope fueling good thoughts on this side of the screen]