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Open Poetry #41
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LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria

0 posted 2007-10-28 10:38 PM




             Paddy O’Keefe

He opened the door with trembling hands
And slowly shuffled out to the street,
Looking confused, for a moment he stands,
A picture of despair and utter defeat.

He pauses a moment at the sagging front gate
And looks both ways with unseeing eyes,
The folk rushing past unaware of his fate
But is he a figure that we should despise?

On a seat on the sidewalk, detached he sits there
And reminisces on life’s daily demands,
The droop of his shoulders reflect his despair,
As he sits alone with his head in his hands.

His face is a road map as if etched in oil
And quite plainly reflect the ravage of time,
His wrinkled old hands tell a lifetime of toil
But many years have passed since his prime.

His sad eyes reflect a wisdom untold,
Of a lifetime of dreams that have flown,
And he thinks of his past as he sees it unfold,
Down a pathway that to us is unknown.

In his youth, what was his ambition’s design?
Did he have a wife and family to love?
What factor has brought him down this road of decline?
Did he accidentally fall or was he given a shove.

It is so easy to condemn and defame
And too often we are all apt to do that,
But would our summation still be the same
If we knew the true history of Pat..

                                                    


© Copyright 2007 Lindsay P Wilson - All Rights Reserved
JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
1 posted 2007-10-29 12:34 PM


Nice writing...James
Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
2 posted 2007-10-29 04:49 AM


His sad eyes reflect a wisdom untold,
Of a lifetime of dreams that have flown,
And he thinks of his past as he sees it unfold,
Down a pathway that to us is unknown.


Very beautiful and sensitive write, dear Lindsay!

Old faces have such intensity, they carry the world, their own and the one of others.

Love,
Margherita


Rick
Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 2903
Victoria, Australia
3 posted 2007-10-29 05:05 AM


Hi Lindsay, enjoyed the read my friend, we all carry our demons and past, when the mask is removed the truth comes out on show, maps and expressions try to explain, or sit in their own making while the days and years pass.
Take care mate, see you soon.

Rick

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
4 posted 2007-10-29 06:10 AM


LP, you painted a very vivid portrait of that poor ole Paddy. I can picture the scene ~ and feel his pain. Yours is an artistic, compassionate, and very observant eye.

Sending healing hugs out to all the Paddy's in the world.


Linda

Marge Tindal
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Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
5 posted 2007-10-29 09:45 AM


Lindsay~
Oh my ... you word-painted this so vividly~

I have see the "Pat's" of the world and so often feel for their sad plight~

This is very touching~
*Huglets*
~*Marge*~

~*The sound of a kiss is not as strong as that of a cannon, but it's echo endures much longer*~
Email -     noles1@totcon.com   

Honeybunch
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115
South Africa
6 posted 2007-10-29 02:16 PM


"It is so easy to condemn and defame
And too often we are all apt to do that,
But would our summation still be the same
If we knew the true history of Pat.."

Well said!  If we knew many other things as well this world would be a better place.


LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
7 posted 2007-10-31 10:55 PM



James, Margherita, Rick, Linda, Marge and

Honey Bunch, what a wonderful thing it is to have such great poets as yourselves

paying me compliments as you do. Thank you very much and hugs to you all.

Lindsay

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California
8 posted 2007-11-08 03:24 PM


Wonderful write LP. Your have such wisdom and understanding of life.
                                 Ida

Khe Iem
Junior Member
since 2007-10-14
Posts 25

9 posted 2007-11-08 08:50 PM


nice story. Khe Iem
Artic Wind
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080
Realm of Supernatural
10 posted 2007-11-10 08:42 PM


really enjoyed lindsay

ARCTIC WIND

Roniece Dawson-Bruce
Member Ascendant
since 2000-01-29
Posts 5689
Sydney, Australia
11 posted 2007-11-10 10:51 PM


another excellent write Lindsay, we sure are blessed to have you part of our blue pages.. keep telling the stories, my friend, they are wonderful! RDB

Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight.........

suthern
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723
Louisiana
12 posted 2007-12-04 11:01 AM


What a wonderful, wise tale... you tell it beautifully! *S*
Pilgrimage
Member Elite
since 2001-12-04
Posts 3945
Texas, USA
13 posted 2007-12-04 04:33 PM


Oh my goodness.  I like the way you did this one, the way I could see it so clearly and well.  Nice.

Nan (Pilgrim variety)

LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
14 posted 2007-12-22 10:01 PM



To you Ida, Khe Lem, Arctic Wind, Roniece,

Suthern and Pilgrimage, your generous reply's have made by day. May the good Lord smile upon you in this festive season. God Bless.

Lindsay

Earl Brinkman
Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183
Osaka, Japan
15 posted 2010-10-05 09:47 PM


I see people like Pat and I wonder how they have ended up that way.  This was a nice sympathetic treatment of the topic.
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