3rd Place | “Almost Heaven”

3rd Place
“Almost Heaven”
David Hartman
Greenville, South Carolina

The postcard read “Virginia is for lovers”
He wrote, West Virginia ain’t for much at all
But I’m sitting here in Wheeling and I miss you
And I’m writing ‘cause you told me not to call
I wish I’d never left you back in Crisfield
But the Chesapeake and me don’t get along
And they say it’s almost heaven here,
But more and more I’m wonderin’ dear
If maybe John Denver got it wrong

(Chorus)
Cause almost heaven don’t mean nothin’ when you’re lonely
It’s a lesson that I’m learning much too well
And the Shenandoah’s flowing way too slowly these days
Living here in almost heaven hurts like hell

She smiled, cause she had moved on out to Charleston
It took three weeks for that postcard to arrive
At a diner where her nametag just said “Darlin’”
Filling coffee cups just trying to survive
And on the backside of a menu she wrote him back
Said the reasons why you left, I think I know
Momma told me men like you were always trouble
Almost heaven, and almost always on the go

(Repeat Chorus)

When her letter finally reached him, he was leaving once again
Had his suitcase packed to head on down the road
But he took that letter with him as he pulled on out to drive
To a destination only heaven knows
And when she turned to pour another cup of coffee
She was surprised to find a set of eyes she knew
He said I don’t know what I want yet, and I’m sorry
But almost heaven’s next to nothing without you

(Repeat Chorus)