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JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America

0 posted 2011-02-03 10:44 PM


What do you do in the midnight of life?
Do you beat the drum and play on the fife?
I thought I knew the answer to it all,
I would greet my end grinning, standing tall.

But now that the end is near I'm in tears,
I'm not talkin' 'bout crying in my beer.
I'm okay, I'm not really that distraught,
It's just that last year much pain was brought.

Getting a dose of the blues is not new,
Sometimes I wake up and have not one clue.
Replaying my life, my favorite pastime,
Though Misdemeanors and Felony crimes.

Spent my life staying ahead of the blues,
I thought white picket fences were for fools.
But I know now it was me I did cheat,
Punching my way through life on Hardluck Street,

Aw, this is just the wanderings of old age,
Thinking back on how I filled my life's page.
Oh, don't get me wrong, it wasn't all bad,
My three children and their mothers made me glad.

If you've read this far and you're bored to death,
No sweat, I will stop, this is not Macbeth.
I hope you don't think I wrote this to whine,
I'm just thinking of life's leftover wine.

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

© Copyright 2011 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved
faithmairee
Senior Member
since 2011-01-05
Posts 1441
Poe Haven, USA
1 posted 2011-02-03 10:49 PM


this is really sad and i' m wondering about the line saying the end is near...are you alright?  your poem is very moving...

There must be a poem in here somewhere.

JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
2 posted 2011-02-03 10:54 PM


I'm fine, Faith. But I am also seventy-two this coming April. I have never had to go to the hospital in my life except when I was young for tonsils and appendix, but hell, I can count. Could happen tonight. I really meant for the poem to not be sad. I wanted it to convey some sorrow that life maybe wasn't  what it should have been, but I'm fine. I appreciate and thank you for the concern. Really.

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

faithmairee
Senior Member
since 2011-01-05
Posts 1441
Poe Haven, USA
3 posted 2011-02-03 10:57 PM


Thank you for letting me know that you are fine.  I was concerned but know I understand why you wrote it that way.  I'm going to go back and re-read your wonderful poem now.  

There must be a poem in here somewhere.

faithmairee
Senior Member
since 2011-01-05
Posts 1441
Poe Haven, USA
4 posted 2011-02-03 11:19 PM


after reading this again, it came across as you intended it to...it didn't seem so sad knowing that you are alright...

i wonder if anyone's life ever really turns out the way they expected that it would...i know mine certainly hasn't...i just try to keep my mind on the things that are important in my life...some days that works better than other days

There must be a poem in here somewhere.

JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
5 posted 2011-02-03 11:22 PM


Faith, when I wrote that it wasn't long after my wife died, two weeks later my first wife died of cancer of the brain, and two months to the day after the first death I had to have my wonderful old dog put down. I lost it that day in the vet's office. Too much death in two short of time.

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

faithmairee
Senior Member
since 2011-01-05
Posts 1441
Poe Haven, USA
6 posted 2011-02-03 11:44 PM


Dear JerryPat-I can certainly understand why you lost it.  That's too much grief to have to deal with at one time...I went through a similar experience although it did not involve a spouse...my step-father (who i adored), my mentor and my best friend all died within six months of each other...that was a very sorrowful time in my life because all three of them meant so much to me

There must be a poem in here somewhere.

faithmairee
Senior Member
since 2011-01-05
Posts 1441
Poe Haven, USA
7 posted 2011-02-04 12:08 PM


Just found your e-mail and wrote back to you

There must be a poem in here somewhere.

JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
8 posted 2011-02-04 08:14 AM


Ah, living and dying, Faith. I am constantly amazed at the process. About the email, I wrote you back.

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

Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere
9 posted 2011-02-04 09:01 AM


Jerry, I feel like these writings are like guide posts for growing older.  You share wisdom and how that wisdom was attained. I love it that you weren't a saint and had multiple marriages...If you can make peace with yourself then there is inspiration for the rest of us.
Lori

JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
10 posted 2011-02-04 09:18 AM


I appreciate your kind words, Lori, and that peace was a long time coming. It wasn't until my children, by both marriages, "found" me that I was able to find it. Writing these poems of mine was a great help along the way. Some questioned the fact that I was putting my skeletons out there for the whole world to see, but it was something I had to do. I wrote Misdemeanors & Felonies: A Memoir as another "confessional. I wrote it for my children, but since it was published many people have read it. I just needed to put the record straight and not sugar-coat anything I had done in my past. I am proud of that book.

Thank you again for understanding.

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

steavenr
Member Elite
since 2003-11-17
Posts 4058

11 posted 2011-02-04 12:52 PM


they say that confession is good for the soul, but personally, I think that nothing sobers up the past like reality...at least, it seems to make things matter more as we grow...older, i.e. (enjoyed your write)
Andrew Scott
Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558
Redlands,CA,USA
12 posted 2011-02-04 10:56 PM


It's always a pleasure to sample your "wine." I'll raise a glass to you and yours. That "Hardluck Street" line was perfect. Just one of many. Thanks for sharing. Peace.

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

Spiros Zafiris
Senior Member
since 2002-10-20
Posts 982
Canada
13 posted 2011-02-05 01:11 AM


..hey Gerry..>.i'm pleased to have read
one more Gerry poem which never fails
to entertain and to inspire admiration
for the poetic heart..>>spiros

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