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Open Poetry #47
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A Lifelong Love Affair
| Open Poetry #47 |
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A Lifelong Love Affair |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America 
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 Free Music First time I saw a linotype It boggled the mind, I was hyped. What in the hell is this monster, I didn't know what would occur. A love affair lasting for years, It also was my life's career. I vividly recall the day, That first I sat in disarray. It was a Rube Goldberg nightmare, So many things for which to scare. Was vital to the printed page, Mergenthaler-invented rage. Too much for me to ever learn, I was confused at every turn. Can't do this, oh don't you do that, It seemed that I was in combat. It wasn't long I pecked with glee, The keyboard with ninety-plus keys. The monster at times gave me hell, Still, wasn't long that I excelled. That began a thirty-year stint, Working among pages of print. Newspapers and print shops galore, I loved typesetting, not a chore. Have set the type for Field & Stream, Even some porn in the extreme. The Shreveport Times did pay me well, Brooklyn's Daily News I did dwell. Many newspapers and print shops, One to the other I would plop. A tramp printer, were men like me, Couldn't stay put we had to flee. Ink ran in my blood, don't you know? Found work no matter where I go. Playboy to your Bible School books, I worked at whatever it took. Computers at last did me in, Linotypes took it on the chin. Better, quieter, cleaner they said, The ink inside my veins has bled. Looking back I do with great pride, I still have printers ink inside. I love the computer, but still, It never gives me the same thrill. ~ What's The Difference Between Roast Beef And Pea Soup? / Anyone Can Roast Beef. ~ |
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| © Copyright 2011 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Lori Grosser Rhoden Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202Fair to middlin' of nowhere |
Pretty cool stuff there Jerry. I think it is cool to be a part of a major change in tecnology and move on in to the future with it. interesting write Lori |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
I didn't exactly move along with the new technology, Lori. In fact I fought it for many years before I accepted the computer. Thanks for your comments. ~ What's The Difference Between Roast Beef And Pea Soup? / Anyone Can Roast Beef. ~ |
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faithmairee Senior Member
since 2011-01-05
Posts 1441Poe Haven, USA |
i enjoyed this so much because it is a personal experience that you are sharing...i feel i know you better because of it and that's nice...always  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 very much, Faith. I hated the computers when they took over typesetting. It took quite a few years until they completely wiped out the linotype. It was like slow death. ~ What's The Difference Between Roast Beef And Pea Soup? / Anyone Can Roast Beef. ~ |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
I enjoyed this one. I worked at a small town answering service for twenty years before moving to Florida. It changed in many ways during that time and grew from one board to three plus a newer telephone console. I loved the work because you get to know many people by voice and manners. My daughter worked in the local bank and she knew the same people by face and manners. The comparison was sometimes a laugh. When behind the phone line, some people are not as nice as they are face to face. These were all business people but I had a whole different mind set on a few nasty ones, who smiled falsely when at the bank.LOL |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Thank you so much, latearrival, and your comment was funny in a sad sort of way. It just points out the hypocrisy of people. Most of us wear our daily masks, according to what the day might hold for us. We put that mask away and done out night masks, and the beat goes on and on and on . . . ~ What's The Difference Between Roast Beef And Pea Soup? / Anyone Can Roast Beef. ~ |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Well Jerry, it made it easy for me to choose a contractor to add a room to my house and also a realtor when I decided to move. The best people always came through over the phone. I might have made a mistake if I had to choose from the bank patrons where the false masks showed. Their smiles were put on along with their business suits.LOL I love the job you had because it was again working with words and what a great diversity of publications. |
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