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Open Poetry #49
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JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana

0 posted 2014-09-20 08:46 AM


is everybody on the up and up
and stepping far enough away from
their shadowselves
as they go about their daily habitual
or maybe
we all hide in the acceptable
parts of our life
n'er revealing who we really are
until overwhelming pressure bears upon us
our familiar . . .
our sanctuary to what needs to be inoffensive
we believe eventually
we go to our menacing shadows increasingly
hiding more and more of ourselves
shamelessly until . . .
in the vaporous wishy-washy reflection
of ourselves
and those we chance to meet
we are no longer sure
what they present us are their shadowselves
or the bona fide . . . them . . .

©September 17, 2014 / Jerry Pat Bolton



~*~ If they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~

© Copyright 2014 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved
Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere
1 posted 2014-09-20 09:18 AM


This is one for pondering my friend. You pose an excellent question. Sounds like it will take soul searching to find answers.

Lori

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
2 posted 2014-09-20 09:42 AM


Good morning, Lori, ponder away. I know I have done my share and are still doing so. I was thinking of an old poem of mine when I wrote this. Can't recall the name just now but it asked the question about which face are you going to show the world today.

~*~ If they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~

Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere
3 posted 2014-09-20 10:06 AM


Ha! LOL Jerry! Some days I don't think my face is the end I am showing the world!


Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666
California
4 posted 2014-09-20 10:15 AM


I had a friend who was one of the happiest persons I had ever met... naturally, it was just part of his demeanor.  He moved to a nearby city because he got an offer to join with their police force and I didn't see him for like a 3 year span.  When I did see him again, he was depressed, and had a totally jaded outlook on life.  We spoke of this over a beer and he told me, "I can't believe how ugly humans are.  It's killing me."

He saw a little too much of the "ugly" shadow-selves of others and it was ruining his natural self.  I, even in my childhood, have always had a natural ability to see a bit beyond what people present on the surface, and developed a natural distrust to anyone who presented me an impure image, something which greatly helped me along to this life of isolation I live now.  Truthfully, I'm not really sure who got the worse end of the deal, speaking of my friend and I.

Looking out and pondering is easy though, looking inside and truly seeing can be downright scary.


Michael

latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
5 posted 2014-09-20 12:13 PM


once I told my three sons who are not close enough in age to have the same ideas or sense of humor; that when three people meet they should realize that actually they bring nine personalities together, maybe more to the meeting. The person each is, the person each thinks he is,and the person  each of other two thinks he is. I see many facets to each of my   six children and I am sure others do also. jo    
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
6 posted 2014-09-20 01:01 PM


Michael, police work, the kind that has to go into the streets and deal with the insanity that is the streets can't help but be affected with all those inner demons the street people succumb to. I was on the streets for two lost decades, and there isn't a doubt it jaded me somewhat. Still, I have another part of me which wants to, and sometimes does, see the  light. Thank you for being here today, my friend, and take care of yourself.

~*~ If they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
7 posted 2014-09-20 01:04 PM


Jo, you bring up an excellent point, and one which has pretty much eluded me. The differences in age can alter ones personality and even hard core beliefs. You should be applauded for sitting your sons down and explaining this to them.

~*~ If they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~

latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
8 posted 2014-09-20 05:08 PM


Jerry I thank  for your  nice words to me. My oldest son is 63 the middle son is now 57 and the youngest son is youngest son is 50. Our daughters were born in between oldest daughter is 61 next would be 59 now if alive,and the youngest 43. The 63 year old has often said they all had the same Mom and Dad but not the same "parents" because of course as they came along my husband and I were maturing and had changed a lot ourselves during those years. How clever of him to have said that to me. The boys were never really close .The only connection is they all love music as did their Dad and all had great record collections.  jo
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
9 posted 2014-09-20 05:27 PM


Yours is a story worthy of being on one of the syndicated talk shows, Jo. Quite a story to be sure. That was a profound statement your oldest said to you. I absolutely understand that yes, yours and your husband's perception of life would be different with each set of children being born. I'm just overwhelmed and amazed, plus proud of you and your husband for going the extra mile. Heh.Heh I believe you certainly did that. Thank you very much for explaining this to me.

~*~ If they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California
10 posted 2014-09-21 06:25 PM


Food for thought indeed.
                    Ida

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
11 posted 2014-09-21 06:40 PM


Ahhh . . . As long as we keep thinking, Ida . . . Thank you.

~*~ If they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~

[This message has been edited by JerryPat2 (09-21-2014 07:44 PM).]

Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
12 posted 2014-09-22 06:21 AM


Very good work, dear Jerry. No doubt, we are all immersed in this world of duality and to deny it would be useless. Only when we are aware of this truth, we can also strive to improve our inner balance and accept ourselves for who we are, always keeping a watching eye over our personal peculiarities and possibly choose the way that hurts no one, whether ourselves nor others.

Thanking you for giving us excellent food for thought.

Margherita

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