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Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

0 posted 1999-06-25 09:00 PM

I press the button eagerly.
What messages await me there?
I sit in rapt attention
Settled in my easy chair.

BLEEP! "Your mother, son. Why don't you call?
Have you forgotten me!?"
BLEEP! "The cleaners here. It's ready."
BLEEP! "The bugman comes at three."

BLEEP! "Our tee time's set for 12:15
So be there before noon."
BLEEP! "This is your doctor calling, Mike.
Let's check that bump out soon."

BLEEP! "Sir, we have got a deal for you......."
BLEEP! "Congrats, friend! You have won...."
BLEEP! "The FOP needs your support........."
And the bleeping thing goes on!

Now, the sun has slowly dropped behind
The ridge of yonder hill
And the night is fast approaching with
The coming autumn chill.

The birds have made their southward run,
The night is calm and still.
The world revolves around me
Just outside my window sill.

My mother passed ten years ago.
Oh, God! I miss her bad.
My golf clubs rusted from neglect
Just like the friends I had.

The small bump I ignored so long
Has now become full-blown
And, so I sit, a quiet man
Afraid and all alone.

So, when I'm filled with strong desire
To recall good times back then,
I take out old tapes that I have saved
And play them once again.

Fred Hobbs
Member

since 1999-06-08

Posts 329
Tallahassee, Florida, US

1 posted 1999-06-25 09:30 PM

Balladeer,
What can I say? You've done it again. Please post one of your bad one's sometime (if there are any).

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

2 posted 1999-06-25 09:40 PM

Thanks, Fred. There are plenty. I try to be sure they never see the light of day.

Sally S.
Senior Member

since 1999-06-07

Posts 847
Ohio

3 posted 1999-06-25 10:16 PM

~sigh~
Yes, you have done it again. You must hae quite a portfolio....filled with masterpieces. (Please don't tell me these are day to day pieces..hee hee) I haven't read one....not one ....that hasn't been brilliant in their own way. You're a true artist. Thank you.

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

4 posted 1999-06-25 10:54 PM

Thank you, Sally. Yep, day to day. I'm in North Carolina now playing golf and, whenever you see "yonder" in a poem of mine, you can know im in NC!

Poet deVine

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-26

Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley

5 posted 1999-06-25 11:16 PM

A sad poem in it's own way! I'll think twice about deleting my phone messages from now on. Don't think there isn't a subject you CAN'T write about (see the Adult Forum!).

good - better - best - bestest? I've run out of words to describe your poetry, as I've run out of words to describe you!

Krystal
Member

since 1999-06-19

Posts 140
Shelton,WA USA

6 posted 1999-06-26 06:29 PM

Wow... really makes you think about how much you're ignoring in life... and WHO. Good poem, I really liked it! But geez, I like ALL your stuff... Send some sun to Washington state, will ya?? Thanks :-)

------------------
Shannon D. Montgomery
("Krystal")

jfreak
Member

since 1999-06-17

Posts 306
Yuma, AZ, USA

7 posted 1999-06-26 07:16 PM

UH.....yeah....what they said. (left speechless from the outstanding poem and the memories of all the outstanding poems from before)

Jfreak

Alysia
Junior Member

since 1999-06-26

Posts 35
american falls, idaho usa

8 posted 1999-06-26 07:40 PM

Very interesting...makes me think about times I've experienced in life and tucked away only to bring them out of the attic on rainy days. You have a wonderful way with words...continue.

------------------
~ Alysia*

ac
Member

since 1999-06-17

Posts 129
Cayey, PR - USA

9 posted 1999-06-26 11:28 PM

Thank you Balladeer, you've given me, the eternally hopeless packrat, a few more things to save...your poetry and those darn messages on my machine....

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

10 posted 1999-07-07 01:47 PM

Back to the top this totes
for all those new poets.

elvira
Senior Member

since 1999-07-06

Posts 936
California

11 posted 1999-07-12 01:37 PM

i'm with you Sunshine, this one deserves a "lift"

------------------
i never call a poem "nice" or such,
for that would not be saying much

Andrew Scott
Member Elite

since 1999-06-24

Posts 2558
Redlands,CA,USA

12 posted 1999-07-12 02:25 PM

I don't remember who said "Music is the soundtrack of our lives."... probably one of those late night commercials selling the sounds of the 70's, but you would be suprised at what one finds on phone machine tapes. Going back and listening to old recorded conversations when you didn't turn off the recorder after picking up the phone can bring back some of the best of times. And yes, some of the worst. Try it sometime.
As always, Sir Balladeer, your work is supurb. Thanks for this slice of life.

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