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

0 posted 2011-11-24 06:25 PM


I am thankful I was born
I am thankful I survived
The first eighteen years of
My life under the guidance
Of my psychotic mother
Ah, adopted mother at that
I am thankful I survived the
Next four decades on the
Streets of America doing
Things that would make me
Lose four+years
Almost got me killed more
Times than even I remember
Yes, America's Mean Streets
Were very nearly the death
Of me, but I survived, and
As I've said, I am thankful
Thankful because otherwise
I would never have gotten
To know my children, Paula
Patricia and Nick, which
Is such an un-believable
Blessing to me it's hard
To explain to others
Sometimes even to myself

I am not thankful for all the
Pain I have caused in my life
I am not thankful that my
First wife, Marionette and I
Were too young and didn't
Understand what we were
Doing. I am not thankful
She died an excruciating death
From brain cancer screaming
For something to please stop
The pain.

I am not thankful that Nanette
My one true love died from
Emphysema before our daughter
Patricia searched for, and found
Her father on the Internet. I am so
Not thankful for what I did to Nick
And Patricia's mother, Nanette
By walking away from
Something so very precious
That sometimes, when I think
Back, I bawl like a baby.

I am not thankful Paula
Patricia and Nick had to
Grow up without a caring
Father to mold and shape
In the best way he knew how
I can never live that down

Thanksgiving, the year 2011
I was thankful for so much
But it was overshadowed by
The dark cloud of who I was
For much of my life . . .

©November 24, 2011 / Jerry Pat Bolton



~*~ He did not wear his scarlet coat,
  For blood and wine are red,
And blood and wine were on his hands
  When they found him with the dead,--Wild

[This message has been edited by JerryPat2 (11-25-2011 01:42 PM).]

© 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 2011-11-25 07:28 AM


Precious Jerry, who you were was but the seeds of the man today who is alive and thankful...It takes the dark to accentuate the light. Bless your heart my friend

Lori

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
2 posted 2011-11-25 07:35 AM


Ah, thank you for your analysis, I know you are right, Lori.

~*~ He did not wear his scarlet coat,
  For blood and wine are red,
And blood and wine were on his hands
  When they found him with the dead,--Wild

2islander2
Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825
by the sea
3 posted 2011-11-25 01:14 PM


jerry there are sad events in your life to not be thankful, but you keep a beautiful soul despite all that and you can offer some light to others now, thanks for the moving write,

yann

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
4 posted 2011-11-25 01:45 PM


Thank you for your kind words, yann, thank you very much.

~*~ He did not wear his scarlet coat,
  For blood and wine are red,
And blood and wine were on his hands
  When they found him with the dead,--Wild

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
5 posted 2011-11-25 11:13 PM


Fine writing...all those experiences made you who you are today...and thats something to be thankful for...James
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
6 posted 2011-11-25 11:25 PM


I keep hearing that James, and I am finally beginning to believe it , , ,

~*~ He did not wear his scarlet coat,
  For blood and wine are red,
And blood and wine were on his hands
  When they found him with the dead,--Wild

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