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Open Poetry #47
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JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana

0 posted 2011-04-18 07:31 PM


an angel came to me
just dropped down from Heaven
one cheerless and lonely night
I was sitting on the sofa
it was a night like the ones before
and the ones to come
void of the flair for life
reliving my past
not such a positive thing to do
the angel appeared and said
I think I can help
I believed I was finally
having that acid flashback
like they said I would
so I said
"huh?"
angel smiled a radiant smile
of course he did, he was, after all, an angel
I can remake your sorry life
fix things
make you a good guy
instead of the creep you are

well, hell, hallucinating or not
I'm going for that deal
so I said
"you're on, pal, let'er rip
and so he spread his arms wide
I was jerked from the sofa
into . . . the past
jeez
that angel, he
oh I forgot
he looked like Mickey Rourke
he began to heal old scars
covered up moral stains
as I watched, mouth agape
it was as though he was a lifetime
redecorator
ain't that something
I watched in amazement
what that angel did
bad things I got caught doing
as a kid
smoothed them right up
nothing to it
finished with the kid stuff
turned to look at me
ah, here comes the interesting stuff
I looked myself
in my twenties now
Marionette was there, so pretty
"wait," I said, "don't mess with her"
angel looked disappointed
shrugged, a feather or two fell from his wings
said
that's cool, you've lots more bad stuff to cover up
whew, I was thinking, that was close
then into view
came Nanette sitting by the pool
Crystal Apartments, Los Angeles, 1965
"no-o-o" I screamed
"not her, don't do it"
have you ever seen an angel
go into a full-fledged snit-fit
it's not funny let me tell you
but that's what he did
"go away," I said, "leave me alone"
but there's more bad you have done
"I know, I know, just leave it alone"
he left so abruptly
his feathers momentarily caught on fire
I went to the window
opened it, took a deep breath of air
if the angel
had absolved my sins
to Marionette and Nanette
my goodness
there would be
no Paula, Patricia or Nick
I sat back on the sofa
laughed to myself
thinking I'd dreamed it all
until a large feather
somewhat singed, landed on my nose

©April 17, 2011 / Jerry Pat Bolton


~ Don't insult the alligator till after you cross the river. ~


[This message has been edited by JerryPat2 (04-19-2011 11:49 AM).]

© Copyright 2011 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved
Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere
1 posted 2011-04-19 08:15 AM


I love it when you do this kind of writing Jerry! Your "coming to terms with" writing has a way of clearing a pathway of thinking and feeling about things in my own past and your words are very comforting.  Blesss your heart.
Lori

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
2 posted 2011-04-19 08:38 AM


Thank you, Lori. I guess I got all excited for nothing about the comment not being posted. I appreciate your very kind words.

~ Don't insult the alligator till after you cross the river. ~

Word Weaver
Member
since 2011-03-06
Posts 437
California, USA
3 posted 2011-04-19 11:27 AM


There are few things as delightful as a poet's imagination, especially the imagination of the writer of this great poem. Keep that feather Jerry.

Hugs,
Marcia


JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
4 posted 2011-04-19 11:50 AM


I have that singed feather, Marcia, close by and hoping that angel doesn't come back for it. Some things are just better left alone.

Thank you.

~ Don't insult the alligator till after you cross the river. ~

Honeybunch
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115
South Africa
5 posted 2011-04-19 03:46 PM


What's left alone ... festers.  See it, know it, and as you are doing, write it and it's gone.  No, not that easy but it's a start.  Yes, keep the feather!

Helen

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
6 posted 2011-04-19 04:37 PM


Thank you Helen. Yup, I'm keeping it, but damn it stinks.

~ Don't insult the alligator till after you cross the river. ~

Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
7 posted 2011-04-20 05:33 AM


Another deeply captivating write from you, dear Jerry. Those Angels sure have their own way to fix things... making you conscious of things that probably happened without putting too much thought in it. A revival of emotions can be wonderfully healing this way.

Much enjoyed your work.

Love,
Margherita

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
8 posted 2011-04-20 07:39 AM


Always good to see you here, Margherita. Thank you very much.

~ Don't insult the alligator till after you cross the river. ~

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