Stalemate in the Park - pipTalk Forums

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RMW
Senior Member

since 2001-03-21

Posts 1424

0 posted 2001-05-21 10:36 AM

Stalemate in the Park

The textbooks said commence in spring.
And so, historically, campaigns began
As soon as there were sufficient blossoms
To provide an ovation
For the pomp and circumstance
Of the passing columns.
I thought of this one day in March,
While watching two, old men, each determined
To maneuver the other from his position
On the chessboard. One called heavily upon his knights,
But the other so preferred his bishops
As to make me think of the relationship
Between church and state.
The breeze cooperated
By exploding burst upon burst
Of pink shrapnel
That floated to the earth
With a softness missed
By the retired generals
And the couple
Entrenched
On the bench adjacent.

RMW

Interloper

Member Rara Avis

since 2000-11-06

Posts 8369
Deep in the heart

1 posted 2001-05-21 10:41 AM

Wow!
Love the contrast ... the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas.
I think you have just 'mated with this piece Bob.
Semper Fi.

Live for love. Without love, you don't live.

VAS
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-11-16

Posts 7450
Oregon

2 posted 2001-05-21 10:44 AM

Vivid!!!

Love it. Oh, if only those who make up the scene could see the scene and learn from it.

To know, too, that they are part of the beauty and wisdom of it.

If only we could get a glimpse of our lives from outside them, to see how we fit into the picture.

Well done!!!

RMW
Senior Member

since 2001-03-21

Posts 1424

3 posted 2001-05-21 10:45 AM

Hey, Mac! I REALLY brighten when I see that you have commented. A guy thing....SEMPER FI!!! And thanks much. Bob

RMW
Senior Member

since 2001-03-21

Posts 1424

4 posted 2001-05-21 10:47 AM

Hi Neighbor (Virginia)....thanks. Yes, be it blinders, or tunnel vision, or whatever, we miss so much. Bob

Decaflame
Senior Member

since 2001-05-11

Posts 1635

5 posted 2001-05-21 10:49 AM

Bob....the pictures you left in my mind of young men and women marching through the columns of commencement to begin their lives and wind up at the end of the boards of time....

vivid, indeed!

Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

6 posted 2001-05-21 11:39 AM

The breeze cooperated
By exploding burst upon burst
Of pink shrapnel
That floated to the earth
With a softness missed
By the retired generals
And the couple
Entrenched
On the bench adjacent.

Such a perfectly painted portrait, Bob.
Too bad they missed the pink shrapnel,
it's such a rare, brief sight.

Cor

ethome
Member Patricius

since 2000-05-14

Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada

7 posted 2001-06-13 11:06 AM

I can just picture it all! Excellent write Bob!

The role of poetry is to utter the un-utterable; to open up
spaces of consciousness and resistance; to language oppressions; to
re-language historie

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

8 posted 2001-06-13 02:10 PM

Bob--This poem leaves me smiling and shaking my head...how do you do that?

Cpat Hair

Member Patricius

since 2001-06-05

Posts 11793

9 posted 2001-06-13 02:24 PM

Bob... you have always amazed me with your writing... this is no exception

RMW
Senior Member

since 2001-03-21

Posts 1424

10 posted 2001-06-13 02:29 PM

Thank you all for recalling this post of some time ago. Capt., it is great to see you becoming acquainted with these fine folks. Though I'm not able to drop in as often as I would like I could not resist sampling a bit of your work. You've not lost the touch. Take care. Bob

jellybeans
Member Elite

since 2000-10-13

Posts 2298

11 posted 2001-06-14 11:43 AM

glad I didn't miss it...really loved this

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