9 Comments
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Profanely Sacred's avatar

I'm not familiar enough with the story - though I have seen the movie. But it intrigued me, and the feelings came through vividly.

Eric Johnson's avatar

Yeah, I’m not familiar either the story either. I just invented the scenario—imagining what happened after the movie.

Darren Curtis's avatar

The universe aligns in many ways some more beautiful than others.

In this case you honor your brother with an expression that captures the timeless Tin Man and him.

Eric Johnson's avatar

Your comment is more salient than you know. While driving today something I heard sparked a thought that may have subconsciously underpinned the Tin Man theme. I realized that In the last 10 years I’ve lost my father, brother, stepmother, and dog. Also my two favorite aunts—paternal and maternal. And most recently, a best friend.

Luann Spaethe's avatar

Love this! The reference to the song clicked with me - “Oz never did give anything to the tin man that he didn’t, didn’t already have…”. Brilliant piece, Eric!

Eric Johnson's avatar

I was hoping that last line would seal it if anyone felt lost. Thank you.

Anne Elizabeth Hawley's avatar

I didn't get it, but once I understood, reading the piece again, with all its clues, was a delight.

Eric Johnson's avatar

Im glad it made more sense after knowing the subject. It was fun to write and imagine how frighteningly lonely it might be to live forever.

There were some deep-coded clues. The years of the deaths of his friends were all the real deaths of the actors who played them.

The weirdest clue would only be known to a true Oz aficionado. When he lays the straw at the tree trunk and grabs a hunk for himself = Hunk was the name of the character in Kansas who played the Scarecrow in Oz.

Anne Elizabeth Hawley's avatar

I actually twigged that one!