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Open Poetry #45
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Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

0 posted 2009-07-15 02:41 PM


Yo--Bones,
he belongs to this here
exclusive swim club,
don’t you know.  

They meet down Pulaski Park Pier
at the end of Allegheny Avenue,
where they swim in the river.  

It’s a very exclusive club.  

You gotta know
your streets to belong.  

No wet behind the ears
suburban dudes
need apply.

Bobby

© Copyright 2009 Robert E. Jordan - All Rights Reserved
Heart2Heart
Senior Member
since 2009-05-15
Posts 738
Scotland/Norway
1 posted 2009-07-15 02:48 PM


"You gotta know
your streets to belong".  Yes indeed, it's very important, and Bones clearly knows this. Another important tale from the life of Bones.  
Heart2Heart

Billie Cullimore
Member
since 2009-03-27
Posts 315

2 posted 2009-07-15 03:07 PM


Hi! dear Bones;  I haven't talked at you for while, I've been busy, I lived in New Jersey for nine years so some of the things you write about are familiar to me, but I have wondered what you meant by "The Hood"  I have a friend that is from N.Y. she said it just means "The neighborhood"  Is she right?  Any way I like what you write about, you are fun.


Love 'un stuff

Billie C.

Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
3 posted 2009-07-15 04:41 PM


A club of the tough ones, who can enjoy their boldness there, no doubt.

This place seems to hold fond memories, dear Bobby.

Great.

Love,
Margherita

martiniat8
Senior Member
since 2003-06-21
Posts 897
Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic
4 posted 2009-07-15 04:52 PM


glad to know Im not the only one with a summer swim club
D.Lester Young
Senior Member
since 2001-12-08
Posts 1219
Austin, Tx
5 posted 2009-07-15 05:18 PM


Writing the poetic experience of Philadelphia, was a treasure of your Uni-Verse talents.

Weathered like a hundred dollar bill, I would love that experience. I just do not like the parking, I do want to get back to feel the HeArt of Philadelphia.

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
6 posted 2009-07-15 06:23 PM


Enjoyed...reminds me of an old movie I watched with the Bowry Boys...James
rachaelfuchsberger
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Senior Member
since 2007-02-21
Posts 609
Las Vegas, NV
7 posted 2009-07-15 07:43 PM


Dear, sweet Bobby,

I wonder if any girls are allowed to join this club? Maybe if one is tough enough Bones and his crew would consider it? I'm glad Bones has some play time, and he's not always working.

Arana Darkwolf

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
8 posted 2009-07-15 07:53 PM


Thanks dear Heart2Heart,

Yes, it's important to know the streets.  I'm pleased that you enjoyed the poem.  Bones sends his greetings.

Love Bobby

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
9 posted 2009-07-15 07:58 PM


Thanks dear Billie C.,

For the kind words.  It's nice to know you're a Jersey girl. that's great.

Yes, your friend from New York is correct.  The hood is short for the neighborhood.

I'm happy you enjoy Bones and his adventures.

Love Bobby

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10 posted 2009-07-15 08:02 PM


Thanks dear Margherita,

Yes, swimming in the river does hold fond memories.  It's always a lot of fun during the summer.

Love Bobby

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
11 posted 2009-07-15 08:05 PM


Thanks Martiniat8,

It's good you have a river to swim in there.  It's the thing to do in the summer.

Bobby

[This message has been edited by Robert E. Jordan (07-15-2009 10:07 PM).]

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
12 posted 2009-07-15 08:09 PM


Thanks D.Lester Young,

I'm happy you enjoy the stories.  You don't really need a car in Philadelphia, a lot of people don't bother with them.  I have one, but I don't have trouble with parking, as I live across the street from a playground where there are no people living, and no houses.  I'm lucky that way.

Bobby

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
13 posted 2009-07-15 08:12 PM


Thanks James,

We are rather Bowry Boyish here in the Port Richmond hood.  I'm glad you enjoyed the poem.

Bobby

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
14 posted 2009-07-15 08:16 PM


Thanks dear Arana,

Of course girls swim in the river.  The kids here do things like that together, no problem.

Yes, Bones does have enough energy for some play time during the day.

Love Bobby    

Bloodline
Member
since 2009-05-23
Posts 236
Oklahoma
15 posted 2009-07-15 08:17 PM


You know I haven't been swimming in years,
My Uncle taught me to swim across
the rock quarry years ago, few would
try it with him, all the way over and back,
very deep and snakey, thanks for the memories,

Bloodline

brneyedgrly
Senior Member
since 2009-06-08
Posts 1125
nowhere and everywhere
16 posted 2009-07-15 08:18 PM



~yo, bobby...

i was a member of that type of swim club here in illinois...

we had the best times...

love,
shellie

don't wait for the storms to end~
learn how to dance in the rain...

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
17 posted 2009-07-15 08:23 PM


Thanks Bloodline,

I'm glad the poem brought back good memories.  We are lucky here in Philadelphia because the Delaware River is now clean enough to swim in with no problem.  

We never did have a snake problem, but years ago there used to be a lot of raw sewage floating in the river.  We used to get a lot of sickness swimming in the river then.

Bobby

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
18 posted 2009-07-15 08:28 PM


Thanks dear Shellie,

It's great that you got to swim in the river in Illinois.  I used to consult in Henry, Illinois, and the kids would swim there in that river too.

Love Bobby

[This message has been edited by Robert E. Jordan (07-16-2009 08:46 AM).]

LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
19 posted 2009-07-16 12:45 PM



I'm so pleased to see Bones enjoying himself for a change Bobby, with a bit of

luck he might meet a nice girl there, I wish him luck.

Lindsay

2islander2
Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825
by the sea
20 posted 2009-07-16 02:57 AM


Hello Bobby, these are important things because Bones makes part of a fratrie at first and then he makes sport, Leaving by the sea I haven't swim since 10 years because of the temperature but I could think to the swimming pool, I like swimming...Thanks for the poem.

yann

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200
Between the Lines
21 posted 2009-07-16 08:55 AM


some of my most cherished memories were swimmiming at a quarry and if there were snakes there, it didn't matter much because the seaweed or plant growth was enough to  scare me as if  it were a snake.

enjoyed the memory

M

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
22 posted 2009-07-16 10:50 AM


Thanks Lindsay,

You will be happy to know that the beautiful Griselda swims with Bones.  The whole gang swims, Butch, Wawa, Felix, and also Bones aunt Marika and Uncle Muck.

It's a sad fact however, that our neighborhood seems to lose one or two kids a year due to drowning in the river.  It's been that way as long as I can remember.

Bobby

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
23 posted 2009-07-16 10:53 AM


Thanks Yann,

It's good that you like to swim.  It's very good exercise for you.

I like to swim too.

Bobby

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
24 posted 2009-07-16 10:59 AM


Thanks dear "M",

I'm pleased that the poem brought back good memories for you.

The current in the Delaware River past our neighborhood is deceptively fast.  If you are not careful, you can be carried away.

The river also has air pockets in the botton.  If you are not careful, you can fall into them, and drown.  One of my young friends died that way years ago.

Love Bobby

Bill Charles
Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619
highways, & byways, for now
25 posted 2009-07-16 02:50 PM


Bobby - does the swim club swim in the Hudson River near NY. Used to swim in that one all the time. Tell Bones to be careful of the tides...

BC

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
26 posted 2009-07-16 03:17 PM


A mutual sense of belonging ~ and some good 'clean fun' by 'Joyzy' boys!


Linda

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
27 posted 2009-07-16 04:06 PM


Thanks Bill,

No, the swim club only swims in the Delaware River.  They swim off Philadelphia's Penn Treaty Park pier, and the pier in Pulaski Park at the end of Allegheny Ave. here in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philly.

The atmosphere is very similar to your experience in New York.

Bobby

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
28 posted 2009-07-16 04:10 PM


Thanks dear Linda,

Yes, it was good clean fun, but not in Jersey.  It all took place in Philadelphia, along the Pennsylvania bank of the Delaware.  We would never swim on "that other" side of the river.

Love Bobby

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