navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #7 » My Home Town
Open Poetry #7
Post A Reply Post New Topic My Home Town Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania

0 posted 2000-04-16 11:01 PM


My Home Town

This is where I’ve always lived
I call it my home town
I know the sreets and corners
Inside out and upside down

Some things haven’t changed at all
Since I was only four
The neighborhood where I grew up
Still lined with sycamore

I’ve heard the same old stories told
From times with different ways
I feel sometimes as though I lived
Back in those early days

They tell of high society
About the rich and poor
The run down tenaments of today
Housed the elite before

Then there was old Doc Porter
So well loved in this place
Wherever Doc would enter
Everybody knew his face

He was a man of medicine
Who bought up half the town
So rich he was that no one
Ever brought Doc Porter down

Well over six feet tall he was
And walked with tilted limp
When Doc strolled down the street
Far off, you knew that it was him

He gave to every charity
Attended every ball
And spoke with great compassion
And respect and love for all

One day the Ku Klux Clan came in
To march the main street’s length
Doc said don’t pay no heed to them
Those men of little strength

But everyone showed up that day
Out of curiosity
Except Doc Porter who said the Clan
Was a sight he’d never see

So march they did that summer day
Right down the avenue
And all was silent along the way
When they came into view

In sheets of white they only showed
Convictions from within
Then Crazy Mary yelled out loud
“Hey Doc, How have ya been!”

They called her Crazy Mary
Cause she pushed a coach around
They said that she once lost a baby
Now picked garbage off the ground

No one ever paid attention
To anything that Mary said
Till she yelled out that summer day
And everybody turned their head

Sure enough, among the Clan
Was a familiar form ‘bout six feet tall
Walking with a tilted limp
Towering above them all

Aside from Crazy Mary no one
Recognized him in that gown
So rich he was that no one ever
Brought Doc Porter down

Elizabeth Santos






[This message has been edited by Elizabeth Santos (edited 04-27-2000).]

© Copyright 2000 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved
Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296
Purgatorial Incarceration
1 posted 2000-04-16 11:53 PM


Wow! Now this is an interesting tale! Liked it much with an easy flow and twists and turns!
Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania
2 posted 2000-04-17 12:31 PM


Thanks, Christopher, a little tale based on fact
Liz

Marge Tindal
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
3 posted 2000-04-17 02:26 AM


Very interesting, Lizzie~
Told with a lilting line that
held me spellbound.
You're quite the storyteller.
~*Marge*~


 ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
noles1@totcon.com



Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
4 posted 2000-04-17 08:51 AM


Elizabeth,
Done in your usual style, excellent. Love Sy

LindaMac
Junior Member
since 2000-04-16
Posts 23
Houston, Texas, USA
5 posted 2000-04-17 10:40 AM


Great story, great style. Loved it!

 Linda

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
6 posted 2000-04-17 09:19 PM


What a wonderful story, Liz---I think you just brought Doc Porter down...and it's about time.
Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

7 posted 2000-04-17 09:42 PM


Well told, Elizabeth!

Denise

lucky
Senior Member
since 2000-01-17
Posts 1601
Idaho
8 posted 2000-04-18 03:26 PM


I'm always so touched by your work. Nice warm flow. It's to bad I was born in the Ozarks in Missouri and know the tale to well.

Very well said...



[This message has been edited by lucky (edited 05-15-2000).]

Mike
Member Elite
since 1999-06-19
Posts 2462

9 posted 2000-04-18 05:06 PM


Excellent poem.  A true pleasure to read and enjoy.
LoveBug
Deputy Moderator 5 Tours
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697

10 posted 2000-04-18 06:56 PM


Liz, this is a great story... I love the way you tell it. It just goes to show you that you very seldomly actually KNOW anyone...

 "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." -Oscar Wilde

ESP
Member Elite
since 2000-01-25
Posts 2556
Floating gently on a cloud....
11 posted 2000-04-26 01:55 PM


I hope I don't get into too much trouble digging up poetry past!! You had me wrapped around your little finger with one...compelling reading, and like Lovebug said, you never really KNOW anyone. Very clever poem...based on fact too....that makes it even more..er..clever? Ok, lemme shut up now!

Love and hugs,
Lizzie


 "Poetry is the true expression of my soul, it is my ultimate means of communication. It is my rainbow of delight."

Cerenity
Member Elite
since 2000-02-16
Posts 2637
Escondido-California
12 posted 2000-04-26 09:36 PM


Hi Liz,

This was wonderful I really enjoyed it, thank you for sharing,

Love  Cerenity

lucky
Senior Member
since 2000-01-17
Posts 1601
Idaho
13 posted 2000-05-26 07:22 PM


Hello Liz,

Just wanted to drop a line and say how the home town is gone... The few pictures we have left are all that remains. Mom, bless her heart... did all that for me... Now there's just my tears and some apartment complex trying to take there place.

Love @ Prayers
Dale


 If I could paint a portrait, of this life in which I've led, and somehow sketch a story, of the visions in my head, I'd start out with a canvas, stretched tightly in a frame, and in the bottom corner, I'd leave room to sign my name. (Michelle A. Bartley)

Post A Reply Post New Topic ⇧ top of page ⇧ Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.
navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #7 » My Home Town

Passions in Poetry | pipTalk Home Page | Main Poetry Forums | 100 Best Poems

How to Join | Member's Area / Help | Private Library | Search | Contact Us | Login
Discussion | Tech Talk | Archives | Sanctuary