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JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

0 posted 2012-06-19 07:09 AM

you'd think getting old
would slow down the fire inside
you’d think what you hadn't
discovered at this late date didn't make any difference
still . . .
within my heart and soul I fight on
I have hopes and dreams to conceive of and solve
'ere the last closing of my eyes
an old body given to daily exercise
with thought patterns
of a young man
how is this possible I would ask
the intelligent ones
why do I continue to grope and pound
upon sealed exits
as if I had a chance in hell of opening them
I have a young man's passion
for certain things I haven't completely tasted yet
and I refuse to swallow the sour venom of defeat

ah, I quite understand aspiration
can meet with a cold and uncalculated end
admittedly I am old; still I don't feel weak
although alone; I don't feel lonely
I'm beginning to understand this fire inside me
and with it
the possibility of losing
is greater than that of winning
I'm not a religious person
but there is an image within me
I don't quite understand how to deal with
it is that image of losing
and by me losing I could help
atone for all the bad things in the world
maybe my bruised and suffering inner sanctum
blood-spattered and dying a final death
will smother out this fire in the belly
and in doing so
would cease and erase all human torment

©June 13, 2012 / Jerry Pat Bolton

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

ebonygirl
Member Elite

since 2011-07-14

Posts 2000
California U.S.A

1 posted 2012-06-19 07:50 AM

Hold onto that fire in the belly, JP, you will reignite others with it.
Enjoyed, ms. e

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

2 posted 2012-06-19 08:09 AM

I hope that will be the case, Ms E. Thank you for being here.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

Startime1955
Senior Member

since 2012-04-22

Posts 1072
Alberta, Canada

3 posted 2012-06-19 10:05 AM

Your words lite the fire in many of us...your words heal and awake in this reader...great writing...*BIG HUGS*

*may our dreams ever be magical*

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

4 posted 2012-06-19 10:09 AM

And your words, Karen, are a purification to me. Thank you very much.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius

since 2009-10-10

Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere

5 posted 2012-06-19 12:02 PM

Your fire is a light of illumination that draws one to you like a moth to flame. Excellent write my friend.

Lori

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

6 posted 2012-06-19 12:03 PM

And you, Lori, are a beautiful commenter. Thank you so much.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

ethome
Member Patricius

since 2000-05-14

Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada

7 posted 2012-06-19 01:08 PM

Wow! You dug deep in this one Jerry.
Excellent writing!
I think many many of us can relate to the same feelings at least in part if not completely.
It's the challenge that keeps you striving for the success that whispers in every human's ears albeit through many unique avenues of life.
But you have conquered Jerry and met the resistance head on with passion and desire.
Even finally conquered yourself by drifing into a canyon of relative peace with yourself and others.
Amazing how we can't see that at an early age isn't it?

I found this to be excellent reading!

And, remember, there might be snow up on the mountain but there's still fire down under the hill.....he he....

Have a good one!

Eric

true love never looks after it's own interests

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

8 posted 2012-06-19 01:26 PM

Actually, Eric, there is fire under that hill.

Thank you for your magnificent and inspiring comments on this poem. I concur that it is a damn shame we can't find this peace at an earlier age, but it just isn't set up like that. When we are young we don't so much "write" about things as actually "do" them. Youth is geared toward action, even though many times, in my case at least, that action can be sadly misplaced.

You are correct, I have found that peace with myself and others, and I have found it with enough of the fire left to scream it out in my poems and novels. I feel like I am the happiest man living.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

ethome
Member Patricius

since 2000-05-14

Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada

9 posted 2012-06-19 10:24 PM

Hey Jerry, I don't doubt it for a minute that there's fire down under the hill.

I might be older and not as good as I once was but I'll always be as good once as I always was.

Take care and it's great to see you having so much fun doing what you like the most.

Eric

true love never looks after it's own interests

Startime1955
Senior Member

since 2012-04-22

Posts 1072
Alberta, Canada

10 posted 2012-06-19 10:31 PM

*giggling* you two are just perfect in my book...snow or not I love what I learn from you both each day...*BIG BIG HUGS*

*may our dreams ever be magical*

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

11 posted 2012-06-20 03:33 PM

still . . .
within my heart and soul I fight on
I have hopes and dreams to conceive of and solve
'ere the last closing of my eyes

Each person's kindling may be different... but many of us know such fires...

Excellent write!

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

12 posted 2012-06-20 03:41 PM

suthern, you are absolutely correct about the kindling being different. I know those who fight different battles, but the fact remains they fight the fight. Thank you for your input.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

niteismyday
Junior Member

since 2012-06-19

Posts 35

13 posted 2012-06-20 09:53 PM

This was very beautifully portrayed, nice write.

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

14 posted 2012-06-21 07:10 AM

Thank you, niteismyday, for being here.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

Alison

Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-27

Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!

15 posted 2012-06-21 05:50 PM

Most interesting to read .. I like that.

A

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

16 posted 2012-06-21 06:01 PM

Thanks much, Alison, and by the way, lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy too. I love oatmeal with raisins and honey.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

luminosity
Senior Member

since 2005-11-18

Posts 813

17 posted 2012-06-26 02:12 PM

this is the very essence of being a man...and how different they are from women...but yet...we understand...sigh...I
think I am just past this point...I am slipping into complacency......lol

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

18 posted 2012-06-26 03:07 PM

Please, don't go down that complacency road, luminosity. It is a difficult one to get off of. America as a whole is complacent enough, please stay strong. Thanks for the read and comment.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

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