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broker6
Member

since 1999-11-07

Posts 132
Bellevue, NE, Sarpy

0 posted 1999-11-21 09:10 AM

Hopes, Popes and Pimps
by ©Richard Budig 1996

My block is just like yours,
Isn't it?
Let's see . . .
The lady in the store
Next door
Sells dope.
Around the corner
Is a bookie
In a big car,
And St. Vincent de Paul
Sells clothes
For the poor.
Up the block, Chin the Chinaman,
Dreaming of riches,
Buys zirconium.
While the bar next door
Enriches itself
On liquid hope,
The pawnbroker one door down
Loans money
And calls it hope.
Girls on the corner smirk knowingly.
They have it, they sell it,
They still have it.
Hopes, popes, pimps
Prostitutes, pawnshops,
Bookies and bagmen . . .
And heaven above stretches afar
While its sole occupant
Endures alone.

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

1 posted 1999-11-21 09:55 AM

Actually, no it isn't.
The lady next door
cares for an ailing husband,
hooking him up to the kidney dialysis machine everyday.
Around the corner
the children play in the park,
parents mindful of their laughter.
Up the block
the firefighters stand watch
in the station house.
On the corner
the spirals of the Church
reach toward the sky.
It's bells tolling the welcoming
of the neighborhood residents.
Heaven above ... there dwells one
who watches over us all.
We are not alone ... and neither is He.
I love the country neighborhood,
neighbor helping neighbor
working hard to see that God is among us.
While I know that the block you describe exists ... I sure don't believe it represents my 'block' at all.
I do not close my eyes to it's existence,
but I do pray for those who reside there.

------------------
~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
noles1@totcon.com

doreen peri
Member Elite

since 1999-05-25

Posts 3812
Virginia

2 posted 1999-11-21 01:41 PM

Richard, I have now read a few of your pieces and I wanted to tell you that you have a very unique style, one which is vivid and creative. With this poem, you have put the reader right there seeing what you are seeing, feeling what you are feeling.... you have painted the scene quite well. Nice work! I will be looking to read more.

-doreen

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

3 posted 1999-11-21 03:04 PM

I agree with Doreen completely. Your poem has a style, a flavor, a grittiness that puts the reader there and makes one experience what you are describing. This is very well written.

Pepper
Member Elite

since 1999-08-19

Posts 3079
Southern Florida

4 posted 1999-11-21 03:27 PM

I too, appreciate the style of your work Richard, as you know by now.Old Feldman is one of my favorites by you.
This is a chilling but real part of many peoples lives today...written very well

------------------
A soul that writes from the heart and shares it, truly gives a gift extraordinaire!

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