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River Beads
| Open Poetry #48 |
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River Beads |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
 Riding double, down the middle of summer One on the handlebars, one on the seat; The bike under us, was a hand-me-down schwinn - A gift from my aunt, a girls-bike for wearers Of floorlevel dresses, A bike with a slopping down frame; So when a girl got on, she didn't have to lift her leg, And give the boys a peek, at what was hidden underneath. Jim and I were ten, And buds, the kind our elders had And spoke of when their talk recalled the men That grouped in bands to fight the natzees. We didn't know what a natzee was, But it sounded Like some kind of godzilla 'skeeter, Or maybe a horsefly the size of a bus. My uncle allowed, That he once shot one down with a cannon. We were glad they didn't fly, Above the river where we swum. We were everyday swimmers all summer. And before we rode the bike to the splash, We'd steal a lucky strike, or camel From one, or the others, suspecting parents. Always taking equal turns at being caught. With no knowledge, of what bashful was Without shame, our jeans fell off Ignoring chances girls might happen by. They swam there to, but not with us. One time we saw a group of them, Peeking through the jewel-weed, pointing; We wondered what the silly fuss was all about? Funny thing is, they failed to come out. Maybe they knew something we didn't But crimenees!, we were smarter than them; Considering that, we pulled up on a rock- Struck the blue diamond, And drove nails in our coffins... The lace of walnut shade draws dapples On bony kid backs...river beads followed The course of the spine..slowly drying On our sun-browned bodies... We choked when we tried to inhale. After the smoke, we yelled at the girls, They wouldn't come out, we scared them I guess, Or maybe their mothers had given stern warnings Of boyheld possesions, it was not time to see? We weren't ready for their company anyway. Being happy just as boys, and not yet men. So to them we shouted, "go, good riddance"; Besides that, we had seen how girls clung, To our older brothers...Strange creatures Like leeches on a swimmers skin. The paths to that past have all grown to brush, All of the puddles, of August-fell showers Are dry...like are the wakes of drug pf fliers; The wind from spun clock hands Has dried up the mud. But mudpuddle water can seek old levels, In daydream vessels, filled with recall. We can tip them at times, When they brim to the surface To slake our dry minds, From the thirst to remember. [This message has been edited by ice (03-29-2012 08:04 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2012 ford hume - All Rights Reserved | |||
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Sheesh! this got too long....sorry This is a poem..that I condensed from a short story I wrote , and posted on a different writers site. If anyone has any interest in reading it, click here.. http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/ice%9Bford/646079/ "Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance." Carl Sandburg |
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JL Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128Texas, USA |
"So when a girl got on, she didn't have to lift her leg, And give the boys a peek, at what was hidden underneath." LOL... Oh, I enjoyed the journey back in time. Great write, Ice...  JL  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
Excellent write and tale, my friend. Very much enjoyed. j. |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Hah! Not all that long, Ice. I relate. Big time do I relate. ~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~ |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
I remember when childhood was fun. Ida |
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ebonygirl Member Elite
since 2011-07-14
Posts 2000California U.S.A |
You brought back fun memories of my childhood. Thank you, Ice. Enjoyed, Ms. E |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
JL " I enjoyed the journey back in time" So did I, this is about a very happy coming of age. Actually, I did a lot of dangerous things when I was young, don't know how I made it through those years...lol Thanks for reading. * Jim W I thought you would like this, as you write nostalgic so well. I do enjoy reading your poems, because of that. Thank you for the reply. * JP "Big time do I relate" I know you do. Sometimes I think we went to the same school of life together, especially in the early grades. Thank you * Ida "I remember when childhood was fun." That struck a nerve, indeed it was fun for me.. I hardly see kids out playing by them selves, even in suburban areas. I do see farm kids playing. I guess most kids aren't allowed to be kids anymore, or they are trapped in the world of electronics, and ponds and rivers don't appeal to them, like they did me. Thank you for reading, and the profound reply. * Ms E I am always happy when my poems stir memories, especially the good, childhood kind. Thank you. i "Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance." |
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Nicole Senior Member
since 1999-06-23
Posts 1835Florida |
This is so full of wholesome innocence, Ford. One of the things that I love about nostalgic poetry, is that it gives me a glimpse at a childhood that is so vastly different from my own. I do not mean to say that I didn't find my own memory treasures; I have some, they are just different than what you have presented here. I've always wondered what it would be like to have the river or pond to play in, with other children that lived just down the way - the ability to ride a bike to those places, and wonder and stumble through the awkwardness of adolescence among peers. Your poem is so full of everything that I have imagined it would be like, and makes it seem like one of my own memories. That is a gift, thank you. |
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bel1e Senior Member
since 2006-07-24
Posts 1631 |
Crimenees!!!! What a lovely window you've opened up here in your heart of memories...I was transported by this, Icy....that you can convey such a pure and vivid connection to a childhood event/memory/emotion is so extraordinary...I swear it feels like my childhood last a mere 4 days...this is wonderful, my friend~*~ |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Gorgeous reading experience, dear Ford! Also the tale was very nice. You created a fantastically youthful atmosphere. And my own memories surfaced pleasantly ... loved swimming in the lake all summer too and had my girl-bike (never actually thought of why it was different!)  Margherita |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
No one quite does nostalgia of boys and toys and puppy dog tales quite like you, m'friend. You are always a joy to read, and you share the wealth of childhood with all, allowing us to revisit our memories by shucking off the smell of mothballs.  |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Nicole This is pretty close to things that happened in my life as a boy. It is your reply, that is the gift...my thanks goes to you.:-) * Bel1e Criminees! what a nice reply.. Thanks fior reading...a 4 day childhood...wow! and to think mine is still going on. Thank You... * Margherita So nice to see you here...smiles "And my own memories surfaced pleasantly " It is me that is blessed by that statement. Thank you. * Sunny/heart listener Thank you, I know you know it is my heart that is speaking here. "allowing us to revisit our memories by shucking off the smell of mothballs." an excellent line in your reply.. See, this is why I like to hang around with poets.....they talk good...:-) "Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance." |
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