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Open Poetry #42
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Balladeer
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since 1999-06-05
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Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

0 posted 2008-04-27 12:10 PM



It was just a normal summer day south of the border way
The kind of day where one relaxes, passing time away.
The ocean was a sparkling blue,the sand a golden brown,
In that small cove a few miles from the sleepy shanty town.

The small boy walked along the edge where water met the sand.
He bent down, then stood up again with something in his hand.
He then reared back and threw it out into the wavy sea
In such a way I found it sparked my curiosity.

He walked along a few steps more with head bent down and then
He picked another object up and threw it once again.
"Hey, boy!", I called, next time I saw him bend down to the sand
And saw a tiny starfish that was resting in his hand.

He told me that the tide had washed the little starfish in
But, as the tide receded, they could not go out again
So he was doing his small part to get the creatures home
By tossing them with all his might out past the ocean foam.

"But, son", I said, "there's miles of beach out here, if I recall.
The few you're saving doesn't really matter much at all."
He threw another starfish out and watched it settle in.
"It mattered to him", he turned and told me with a happy grin.



© Copyright 2008 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved
Alison
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!
1 posted 2008-04-27 01:08 AM


Balladeer,

This is among my favorite of all the poems you have written (that I have read so far).  I really, truly love this one.

Alison

Seoulair
Senior Member
since 2008-03-27
Posts 807
Seoul S.Korea
2 posted 2008-04-27 01:23 AM


Ah, dear sir Balladeer, this is absolutely beautiful. It is very touching.

Between Golf and the "fierce" fighting, you have more than a lot of poetic time.  

Thank you for the post and I truly enjoyed.  

[This message has been edited by Seoulair (04-27-2008 02:13 AM).]

2islander2
Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825
by the sea
3 posted 2008-04-27 04:21 AM


Hello Balladeer, I have always wish to bring stranded fishes back to the sea,
Perhaps it is true with human beings too.

  Have a nice day

   yann

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4 posted 2008-04-27 06:59 AM


Yo Balladeer,

You've done very good work on this poem.  I like it just fine.

Bobby

Earth Angel
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since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
5 posted 2008-04-27 09:29 AM


A charming story, beautifully ~ and vividly~ told.


Linda

Roniece Dawson-Bruce
Member Ascendant
since 2000-01-29
Posts 5689
Sydney, Australia
6 posted 2008-04-27 07:27 PM


Michael... this is such a beautiful story told...I could hear your dulcit tones reading it too!

love RDB

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

Balladeer
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since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
7 posted 2008-04-27 08:29 PM


Hey, thank you all for reading. Sometimes we get overwhelmed by the complexities of life and we think, "Well, what difference does our little action make in the grand scheme of things, be it voting, energy conservation, or whatever?" Thinking our little offerings make little difference we don't even try, not realizing that the world can indeed be changed...one starfish at a time
Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

8 posted 2008-04-28 10:41 PM


Fantastic poem, Michael! Of course!

My vote means nothing in Philadelphia, however. But in the grand scheme of things it may mean something in the general election.

Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God, but only he who sees takes off his shoes.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

AAB
Member
since 2008-04-10
Posts 99
Canada
9 posted 2008-04-28 10:47 PM


i got an e-mail with that same story in it.. i don't remeber it exatcly, was it perhaps the insperation to this lovely poem?..maybe I'm just having dejavu..
Larrysmom
Senior Member
since 2008-04-03
Posts 533
Florida, USA
10 posted 2008-04-29 12:52 PM


I love the story and I especially love the way this beautiful poem tells it. This is AWESOME!!!

Tammy<333

Toerag
Member Ascendant
since 1999-07-29
Posts 5622
Ala bam a
11 posted 2008-04-29 07:49 AM


Well, there ya go again...trying to save the world one starfish at a time....

As usual ya old phartt....incredible piece of work old man. I often wonder...if you could only golf this well...your only competition would be named "Kitten Woods" instead of "Tiger"....

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
12 posted 2008-04-29 11:17 AM



Children and their compassion
just seem to rest, hand in hand...
amazing the knowledge we find in
a child walking along the sand...



Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774
Ontario, Canada
13 posted 2008-04-29 07:25 PM


Ahhhhhha ... I was looking for you Michael,
and here you were playing by the ocean!

Bet ya didn't know I was watching you, lol.      

Wonderful as always sweet poet. I love the rhythmic flowing lessons your words teach,
and I love the way you bring the scenes to life.
Loved this, and was inspired to join you. I hope you don't mind?

Best wishes and great big hugs,
/Kit


The young girl watched the man and boy conversing on the shore,
She thought about the lesson taught, then thought of it some more;
She ran back home and sat beneath the pine tree by her house,
And tucked as many cones as she could carry in her blouse.

She walked toward the new construction housing by the mall,
The one that had a forest there, not long ago last fall;
She missed the trees, the scent of pine, the woods they used to play,
And wondered who’d have wanted all those houses anyway.

She walked right past the guarded fence and bent to plant a seed,
First one, then two, then three, then four  --- a simple, modest deed;
A foreman called, “Hey girl, what are you doing over here?”
The little girl looked up and smiled at all the workers there.

“I’m building me a forest,” she replied without a pause,
Then turned her back and started planting more to prove her cause;
They let the little girl continue sowing what she had,
Then watched her smile and walk away … content and feeling glad.

The foreman said, “Get back to work, your lunchtime’s over now”,
He turned to leave, but paused to brush the sweat from off his brow;
He thought about that little girl, and of her futile deed,
Then poured his bottled water over every single seed.


Balladeer
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since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
14 posted 2008-04-29 07:37 PM


That's right, Toe...and if my foreplay was as good as my FORE!, I wouldn't have to spend so much time playing golf!


Thank you all for your kind comments

Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
15 posted 2008-04-29 07:43 PM


Kit....mind if you join me??? You kidding???? That's a standing invitation.

Absolutely brilliant add-on. my girl. You captured the essence of the poem perfectly and carried it on into other facets of life. Why am I not surprised at how well you did it....?

Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774
Ontario, Canada
16 posted 2008-04-29 07:48 PM


LOL, you always inspire me.

Anytime you want to play, you know you've got a standing invitation here too Michael. It's been too long!

Best wishes and more hugs,
/Kit

Toerag
Member Ascendant
since 1999-07-29
Posts 5622
Ala bam a
17 posted 2008-04-30 07:45 AM


Kit...that is simply profound......(especially when this nut Balladeer is the one to have inspired it).....
Toerag
Member Ascendant
since 1999-07-29
Posts 5622
Ala bam a
18 posted 2008-04-30 07:53 AM


Aww crap....I put him to the top again....
Roniece Dawson-Bruce
Member Ascendant
since 2000-01-29
Posts 5689
Sydney, Australia
19 posted 2008-04-30 06:06 PM


LOL @ Toe!  but Toe, he has such a sexy voice!!!     love RDB

Kit, your poem is lovely, absolutely lovely!  

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

Munda
Member Elite
since 1999-10-08
Posts 3544
The Hague, The Netherlands
20 posted 2008-04-30 07:22 PM


Balladeer, you have such a special talent for story telling! Can't you see I'm looking green of envy?

Kit, Deer may be the Master of storytelling, you are definitely the Queen!

vlraynes
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-25
Posts 8229
Somewhere... out there...
21 posted 2008-06-19 03:43 AM


"one starfish at a time"

Indeed...

Love this, 'deer...
so glad I found it tonight...

"When the power of love overcomes the love
of power the world will know peace."
--Jimi Hendrix

patricias closet
Junior Member
since 2008-06-16
Posts 13

22 posted 2008-06-19 09:47 AM


Of course it mattered to him.
You bring smiles this morning.

PC **

Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
23 posted 2008-06-19 10:44 AM


Thank you, ladies. The smiles are mine
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