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for President's Day
| Open Poetry #12 |
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for President's Day |
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Stan Member
since 2001-01-01
Posts 120Inland Empire Southern California |
Once in a Lifetime (a true story) Back in nineteen thirty-four, along New Hampshire’s tiny shore, Astride the rocks of Little Boar, when I was eight years old, Hinkle’s ancient lobster dory, in summer morning’s early glory, Plied the ocean territory, by oarlock strong and bold. But afternoons allowed a lull, when oldsters gathered by the hull, And ‘oer the screaming of a gull, were bygone days extolled. Then I a little towhead lad, with every reason to be glad, Because of all the fun I had, helping get the lobsters sold, Was oft’ allowed the license rare, to climb up on a battered chair, And imitate the spit and swear, when salty tales were told. Among the gentry there one day, a spry old crony lined and gray, Smiled at me a special way, through wrinkles manifold, And softly now he raised his hand, to speak of decades he could scan, In which he’d been the guardian, of riches more than gold. The others harked, his words were wise, they often asked him to advise, Or find the ground for compromise, he’d point but never scold. He said, “My friends, you witness here, completion of a plan most dear, I’ve saved for many and many a year, and now it shall be told. When at the age of this young lad, and I a budding Galahad, I met a man of special plaid, ...whose name I will withhold, A moment while I reminisce, about the story’s genesis, Because there’s something here in this, that touches young and old. With that he reached and took my hand, as yet I did not understand, But there was something awfully grand, in what his eye foretold. He said, Back in eighteen sixty-four, when I was eight years old no more, That special man then shook my hand, and to me said these words of gold, "My boy, I’m proud to grip your hand. For you are young, but I am getting old. Do you go forth and love our blessed land, And it will give you back a hundred-fold. "And how I pray this land shall still be free, One day when you are old like me. If so then, choose you some bright young man, And pass along this shake of hand." With that the old man turned to me and said, "Now look! We are still free." A tear his wrinkled cheek caressed, and he asked, with eyelids blinking’, "Oh, have you guessed? The hand you hold, has also pressed ….the hand of Mister Lincoln! [This message has been edited by Stan (edited 02-19-2001).] |
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| © Copyright 2001 Stan Colburn - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Mike Member Elite
since 1999-06-19
Posts 2462 |
*applause* this I liked... well done. |
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Meadowmuse Member Elite
since 1999-12-27
Posts 3263 |
(Applauding alongside Mike) What a grand, rich tale, quite thoughtfully composed. Thank you for it. Claire Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?......Henry David Thoreau |
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Stan Member
since 2001-01-01
Posts 120Inland Empire Southern California |
Thank you very much Mike and Claire. Been under the weather but couldn't resist this President's day to post this. I am so green that I had to edit it into a better format. Hope it reads better now. Note to the lovely Karen: Thanks for the prod, Ms. Best of All. (That means you.) Stan (Guess my age) |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
There's my baby! How are you my sunshine? I'm very happy to see you here...will write tomorrow....love you sweets! and what an excellent day to post this!  |
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