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Open Poetry #49
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icebox
Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383
in the shadows

0 posted 2016-05-01 12:52 PM




Revisiting White Christmas (April 30, 1975)

Some days
the ground shakes and I don't remember why,
each year it takes a bit more
before puzzle pieces fit
so I can recognize images again,
you see,
little earthquakes happen here all the time
but no one pays attention,
like chump change
like thump and crump of mortar rounds
don't make nobody jump,
the dead don't know what hit 'em
and they don't care that I'm alive
so I keep moving,
like when the temperature was rising.

I always stay busy today,
for me
it's the best way to ignore memories,
though nothing makes them go away;
we sure did tell some lies those days
and make some hot pants promises,
always
tell them anything to get a kiss,
but that's the way it is
when you're stalking international bliss
trying to dance
in a world of political romance,
and we sure did put on a good show
though,
bent them over the table don't you know,
theater in the round all around
well look at that
they're all around,
who would notice if a few more go down,
settle a few old nagging scores
in case we're gone forever more,
and ever since Bing started singing
the temperature kept rising.

I was going out today,
or maybe tomorrow,
or maybe I could stay
someone's always willing to pay,
even after tomorrow
when there'd be no more tomorrows;
my god
how we gonna move ‘em all,
how could we just walk away,
would this hollow pearl really fall,
how could it stand
when it was built on spice and ice and opium,
and there'd be no help at all
just that last radio call
just hitchers in the sky
trying to survive
when the temperature was rising.

Could I go back to being someone
in the world
when being no one here
felt so soft and comfortable
that my own skin was my best shirt,
and then
there was all the money that I'd made,
they said I had a special skill set
I wasn't just crawling in dirt with gruntslooking for the safest bet,
I was a master craftsman,
in a workshop
where almost every other tool and blade
seemed dull and bent
someone like me was heaven sent;
be nice though
to find another trade,
‘cause here
we were running out of shade
and it didn't help
to be among the few who knew it all along,
even before the temperature kept rising.

Should we stay,
no one asked me,
those who could already knew
my kind of stories always go over the side,
am I really gonna leave
hell
I'm wearing all I need,
OK
I suppose I had to find a ride;
time to hook a jump seat with the castle jarheads,
we owed each other that at least;
loud noises
real loud
the kind I just can't hear,
the kind that made me feel empty
deep inside,
would I be the last to die?
Nah
that slot was just filled.
Semper Fi!
Check the weather?
Yeahyesterday,
it was 105
and rising.

©2005, 2006, 2010, 2016 by icebox  
  
  
  


© Copyright 2016 icebox - All Rights Reserved
Ari Squire
Member
Posts 488
In The Phallus Lane
1 posted 2016-05-01 01:15 AM


My jarhead days ('66-70) ended in that last year as noted in parenthesis. I'm not a "once one always one" kinda guy, though I can relate to much of what you've written, and written very well from your own perspective I might add. But what's up with all the copyright dates? I thought everything one posted here is regarded as 'copyrighted'.

More feelings and fewer words please

MGROVES
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Elite
since 2004-02-01
Posts 3802
california
2 posted 2016-11-09 02:03 PM


1975, my sons father died 1976, i truly miss that man for he gave me life, joy, and god. if i could turn back time, even for just a day, 1975 it would be.  

My spirit will rise
above the sea~
There will be no drowning
of my soul or me~

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
3 posted 2016-11-10 04:32 PM


substantial writing...james
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