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Balladeer
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0 posted 2011-02-02 07:19 PM



It was just about a year ago when I felt the desire
Burn within as strongly as a desert prairie fire
To take my pen in hand and put my nimble wit for hire
And make a living as a famous poet.
Although I knew the road ahead would be extremely hard,
I had no doubt success would be my ultimate reward
And asked for wisdom from the nation's oldest living bard,
I asked, "How can I become a famous poet?"

"When you've sat alone with pen in hand", The old man answered me,
"And each passing moment feels like a small eternity
While that piece of paper glares at you, as blank as it can be,
You are on the road to be a famous poet."

"When your pencil pushes down so hard the tip begins to break
And you feel the sweat cascading from a throbbing head that aches
And erasers disappear from dumb, grammatical mistakes,
You are on the way to be a famous poet."

"When the blood from out your arm makes its way down through your pen
And mingles with the ink to form the thought you want to send,
And the you crinkle up the paper and begin to start again
You are getting close to be a famous poet."

"With food and drink forgotten you will sit with brittle lips,
As critics laugh and torture you with cute, one-liner quips,
And your walls will be re-papered by those damn rejection slips.
It's the price to pay to be a famous poet."

"And then one day the world will be a grand and glorious place,
And the sky will be aglow with radiance pouring off your face
And the sweat and tears will disappear and vanish without trace
For the time has come to be a famous poet."

"You will look down at that paper and you'll know that you've created
A masterpiece of workmanship! You'll feel so darned elated
You'll forgive the world the sin of making you feel underrated
For they're bound to recognize a famous poet."

"At the first rejection slip you'll smile and think, 'That silly fool!
At the fourth you'll wonder if the critics ever finished school.
At the tenth you'll throw your pens away and swear a world so cruel
Does not deserve to have you for a poet."

"And when you're six feet under those same critics will proclaim
That your poetry was masterful, deserving of the fame
And the accolades forthcoming will make yours a household name -
You've made it, son. You're now a famous poet!"

Well, as I said, that happened just about a year ago.
His words were quite foreboding; they did not deter me,though .
I knew a man who knew a man on the Oprah Winfrey show
And here I stand - a famous living poet!!!


© Copyright 2011 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved
faithmairee
Senior Member
since 2011-01-05
Posts 1441
Poe Haven, USA
1 posted 2011-02-02 07:27 PM


this is a masterpiece...what more can i say?

There must be a poem in here somewhere.

Balladeer
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Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
2 posted 2011-02-02 07:43 PM


Thank you, faithmaree
JerryPat
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since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
3 posted 2011-02-02 08:34 PM


Nice work.

~ What's The Difference Between Roast Beef And Pea Soup? / Anyone Can Roast Beef. ~

Balladeer
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since 1999-06-05
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Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
4 posted 2011-02-02 08:43 PM


thx
latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
5 posted 2011-02-02 09:01 PM


Okay so now you send her an entry  for her new gig.She has a form to fill out if you want it. LOL
Balladeer
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since 1999-06-05
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Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
6 posted 2011-02-02 09:04 PM


Actually I sent her my book about 4 years ago...never got a reply.   I'm a reject
latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
7 posted 2011-02-02 09:13 PM


She has a contest out now. so you can enter and if the reader likes one of your goodies you may stand a chance.
Balladeer
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Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
8 posted 2011-02-02 09:43 PM


aha...thanks!
steavenr
Member Elite
since 2003-11-17
Posts 4058

9 posted 2011-02-02 09:48 PM


...just one question...who's Oprah Winfrey?
Balladeer
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Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
10 posted 2011-02-02 10:17 PM


I submitted, Dixie, not the ones I wanted but there is a 2000 character maximum. Thanks for the tip. I checked out the judges and all but one are free-versers

Steven, Oprah is the lady that got Obama elected.

Andrew Scott
Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558
Redlands,CA,USA
11 posted 2011-02-04 11:37 PM


What do you mean you're not famous? I see your picture everywhere. Aren't you that guy who wrote for the Globe? If I remember right, you wrote a couple of plays... The Temperature, Romey and Julie Let Mac and Beth Dream of a Summer Night. Ya, that's you.

"We'll chase them like rats across the tundra."

latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
12 posted 2011-02-05 09:54 PM


good for you. Hope you hear it read on her show.
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