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Open Poetry #47
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CrazyJack
| Open Poetry #47 |
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CrazyJack |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America 
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he sat in front of them not regally more of a slumping posture wearing a black Grateful Dead t-shirt covering grayish, dust-colored white skin a pronounced wattle and intense lime-green eyes when he spoke thunder roared from his antiquated throat the five very young boys sat in rapt attention as he poured a black spider from a paper sack onto his arm with mouths gaping they watch the spider crawl up his liver-spotted arm until . . . WHAM! he grabbed that spider and bit its head off least that's what the boys swore they saw for years and years the old man had all the warmth of a Wyoming blizzard no social graces there was no finesse when he spoke and as he read to the young lads from one of the many Zane Gray novels he seemed to pluck out of thin air sometimes he would stop reading look somewhere over the boys heads for the longest time sometimes his head would droop a snore would awaken him he'd grin a snaggle-toothed grin reach behind him produce half a pint of vile-smelling whiskey take a small sip cap it and return it to its resting place and resume the tall tales of frontier west cowboys and rustlers pretty barmaids and long cattle drives outlaws and lawmen bawdy houses and girls of ill repute the old man told them those girls were ill with a common cold called repute the boys nodded giggled and looked at one another remembering what one of their big brothers told 'em about the girls after awhile much too soon a woman's voice would call out and the boys scampered up took off running knowing they weren't supposed to be there been warned 'bout that old wild man called Crazy Jack as they ran home the old man's laugh followed them all the way but they'd be back to listen to him read sometime he read about somebody named Macbeth and witches or he might read to them a poem a poem so sad the boys fought back tears as he spoke about the raven and Lenore and so it was they did come back but the old man wasn't there rumor had it townspeople ran him off much to the sadness of the little boys ~ Clones are people two ~ [This message has been edited by JerryPat (01-19-2011 05:36 AM).] |
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| © Copyright 2011 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Rex Allen McCoy Member Elite
since 2000-01-30
Posts 2863Sippin a Timmy's in London |
lousy town's people ... let's string em up!  awesome read |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
You had me enraptured all the way through (well, except for the first moment after the old man bit off the poor little spider's head - until I chose to believe that a man who could tell tall tales so well and with so much pleasure, could equally wish the children to believe that he had done so and had simply played a trick on them). I loved “SOMEBODY named Macbeth” – it really worked well. The ending was very sad. Owl |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
I'm with you, Rex, I'll go out to the barn and git a rope. <><><> Of course he used sleight of hand to make those chil'ren think he'd chomped off that spiders head, Owl. Yes indeed, somebody named Macbeth. Gotta love it. Thank you both for being here. ~ Clones are people two ~ |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Whew! I am SO relieved to hear that the spider was safe! More giggles at somebody named Macbeth. Owl |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
I am happy I could set your mind at ease, Owl. ~ Clones are people two ~ |
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faithmairee Senior Member
since 2011-01-05
Posts 1441Poe Haven, USA |
you're a master story-teller...great poem...i applaud you There must be a poem in here somewhere. |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
I thank you for your kind words, faith. ~ Clones are people two ~ |
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faithmairee Senior Member
since 2011-01-05
Posts 1441Poe Haven, USA |
my pleasure...loved your poem! There must be a poem in here somewhere. |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Smiles, yes, you did set my mind at ease. Owl |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
:-) ~ Clones are people two ~ |
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s1nfully_1nn0c3nt Senior Member
since 2003-10-26
Posts 1105Watertown, NY |
Quite a story. "those girls were ill with a common cold called repute" Ha. Enjoyed. -Trina |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Thank you Trina. ~ Clones are people two ~ |
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Dark Stranger Member Patricius
since 2001-03-19
Posts 13631West Coast |
jp, cool capture...glad he was not a retired priest |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Me too, DS, thanks. ~ Clones are people two ~ |
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Lori Grosser Rhoden Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202Fair to middlin' of nowhere |
Another gem from your treasure chest of story telling. Sadly it speaks of past days where a Crazy Jack didn't have to compete with video games etc. Put me in mind of an Andy Griffth episode where Opie and his buddies are the boys befriending crazy Jack. Loved it! Lori |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Yep, I remember that Andy Griffin episode too, Lori. Thank you for being here. ~ Clones are people two ~ |
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steavenr Member Elite
since 2003-11-17
Posts 4058 |
a very enjoyable write...very visual...nice job |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Thanks, steavenr. ~ Clones are people two ~ |
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ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
You were born a writer! Eric two maggots were fighting in dead earnest! |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Eric, coming from you that is high praise. Thank you. ~ Clones are people two ~ |
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